[Scan-DC] MARS/CAP

[Gary Chatters]

>
>Does anyone know what MARS/CAP frequencies are?  And why do a lot of HAMS
>like to modify their HT's to transmit on these freqs, and also, is modifying
>an HT llegal or illegal?
>

MARS = Military Affliate Radio System
CAP  = Civil Air Patrol


MARS is a radio network consisting of military stations and volunteers
who have amateur radio licenses.  Each service, Army, Navy, Air Force,
has its own MARS program.  Hams modify their HT's to participate in
the program.  Although they have to be hams to participate they are
operating on military frequencies under military authorization
and have a separate call sign issued.  The frequencies are often
near existing ham bands.


CAP is a civilian auxiliary of the Air Force.  They do search and
rescue when a plane is missing.  They have a few frequencies for
their own communications and hams may join CAP.

Whether or not it is legal to modify an HT (or other radio) depends
on the HT and what service it will be used for.  Land mobile radios
are type accepted and ham HTs are not.  It is not legal to modify
a ham HT for LMR.  CAP and MARS rules are not quite the same as LMR
and I am not sure about modifying ham HTs for those services.

gc