[Milsurplus] Mil HF rigs not NTIA compliant

[w8au at sssnet.com]

At 05:16 PM 09/13/2004, Peter Gottlieb wrote:
>Does anybody know why most military rigs are spec'd at 1 PPM frequency 
>accuracy while NTIA compliance requires 0.66 PPM ?
>I would like to use mil surplus (and very rugged and reliable) equipment 
>for CAP etc. but am prohibited due to this non-compliance.
>
>Side note:  I have yet to find a rig that wasn't significantly better than 
>that 1 PPM spec, but nevertheless, NTIA compliance is based on radio 
>specs, not performance.

Peter:
Are you required to provide photographic evidence that you are using an 
NTIA approved rig?
I don't think so.
The NTIA rules are to handle the most "unskilled" operators of radios who 
know nothing of
how to tune a radio other than set the digits on the LCD display.

Those that know what they are doing will always be "on frequency" 
regardless of the accuracy of
their time base oscillators, and they will undoubtedly make sure they stay 
on freq.
So who can tell who is using what?

On MIL and MARS channels, and probably others, there is more concern on 
staying within the
frequency tolerance limits than on what equipment is being used.   This is 
why MARS is not
a signatory on the NTIA rules.

NTIA specs are undoubtedly a good thing, but do discriminate against 
technologically competent
folks, putting them in the same category as "appliance operators."

This is just opinion on my part, but to use the thesis advanced by the old 
Country-Western
hit, "Behind Closed Doors," (what goes on behind......)  I would say just 
use your best
judgement.  :-)

Have fun!

Perry          w8au