[Milsurplus] "More FCC Foolishness"

[Dennis Weal]

There are several ways to go in using Mil surplus rigs without a license and several more if you are a Ham.

There is a service called MURS which allows license free use of 5 channels in the VHF hi band. 151.830, 151.880 and 151.940 Mcs can be used with the old narrow modulation 
of 3 kcs. In addition 154.570 and 154.600 Mcs can still use 5 kcs deviation. All these are FM. Maximum output power of 2 watts with no restriction on antenna height (except FAA). Prc-127 and Prc-127A radios can be turned down to 2 watts easily.

Family service freqs in the 462-467 Mcs band is license free as long as 250 mw output power is observed. Most Mil surplus radios cannot be turned down to this level but can be swamped or attenuated to meet the requirement. 

And of course good old class D CB freqs at 26-27 Mcs is available too. 

Now I know the purists will jump all over this but you can go to wally whirrled and buy so called family service radios with 22 or more channels BUT only 14 of those channels are license free. The balance are GMRS freqs which require a license. And most of the high power radios produce 4-5 watts of power ( the ones that say 20-50 mile range [phat chance]). So if you have a service monitor and a spectrum analyzer you can get the proper modulation or deviation specified for the band you are using and even if the radio is not type accepted you won't violate other users bandwith. Check the receiver osc so that you don't violate FCC part 15 for sperious emissions.

OR you could go and get a ham radio license. Just memorize some answers from the study guides and you are in. If appliance operator CB's can get licensed then anyone with enough intelligence to restore old Mil gear certainly can. Ham radio gear doesn't have to be type accepted by the FCC gods. 

Good luck and have fun.

Denny