[Yaesu] Modified VHF/UHF rigs

[Glen Zook]

Unfortunately too many people are using modified
amateur radio equipment on commercial two-way
frequencies for which type accepted equipment is
required.  This is blatantly illegal and can result in
severe penalties including fines (up to $11,000 per
day per radio), having the equipment confiscated,
being imprisoned (means go to jail), and if the person
caught using the equipment has an amateur radio
operator's license they can lose their license and NOT
be allowed to ever get one again.  Also, in certain
cases, the agency (company, person, etc.) who holds
the station license under which the modified equipment
has been used can lose their station license, be
fined, etc.

The City of Philadelphia Fire Department decided to
save a "little" money several years ago by purchasing
aamteur radio equipment instead of the commercial,
type-accepted, equipment.  Since they were a "big
city" public safety department they "though" the FCC
wouldn't do anythng.  Wrong!  The city got a VERY
large fine and had to purchase type-accepted equipment
at a considerably greater amount of money (as well as
havng to "eat" the cost of the amteur radio
equipment).

Amater radio equipment does not meet the technical
specifications of type accepted equipment.  Even if it
did, the ability to "dial up" the frequency from the
"front panel" makes the equipment not acceptable for
commercial use.

The FCC has been "cracking down" on such illegal use
for some time.  Frankly, I value my amateur radio
operator's license way too much to take a chance on
losing it.  However, there are definitely amateur
radio operators who don't really care about obeying
the rules and who do not value their licenses that
much.

It is perfectly legal to modify the equipment.  It is
perfectly legal to use the equipment to receive
commercial frequencies (except for cellular telephone
frequencies).  However, it is definitely ILLEGAL to
transmit using this modified equipment on any
frequency that requires type acceptance.

Some amateurs say that they modify their equipment
"just in case" it is needed in an emergency.  It is
true that for a "life and death" situation that you
can transmit using modified equipment provided that
there is NO other means of communications possible. 
This includes land line telephone, cellular telephone,
commercial two-way radio, Class "D" Citizen's Radio
Service Radio, GMRS, MURS, FRS, and amateur radio. 
Frankly, the possibility of this happening is VERY
remote.

Even if the person believes that the situation
requires the use a modified equipment they are still
liable for some very severe penalties issued by local
and state governments.

Remember that not only the frequency of the public
safety organization has to be known but also the CTCSS
tone, digital tone, etc.  Also, many public safety
organizations have gone to trunking systems which
amateur radio equipment is not compatible.

What constitutes a true emergency has a very narrow
definition.  Just because you see a drunk driver on
the road does NOT give you permission to transmit
using modified equipment.  If you come across an
accident in which someone is not badly injured this
does NOT give you permission to transmit using
modified equipment.  And so on.

Frankly, the first line of communications these days
is going to be cellular telephones.  Agreed that there
are certain areas that still do not have coverage. 
But, in general, if cellular telephones don't work
neither are most other r.f. communications systems.

Now, for those people (like volunteer firefighters)
who want amateur and commercial frequencies in a
single radio:  It is perfectly legal to take a type
accepted radio (Motorola, Uniden, etc.) and program
both amateur and commercial frequencies into the unit.
 This way a type-accepted unit is being used where
type-acceptance is required.  Remember that
type-acceptance is not applied to amateur equipment. 
Certain linear amplifiers have to be "certified" but
no other amateur transmitting equipment has to be
"approved" by the FCC.

VHF receivers do have to be certified as meeting 47
CFR Part 15 specifications for incidental radiation. 
But, this has nothing to do with type-acceptance of
transmitters.

Glen, K9STH

--- John Geiger <ne0p at lcisp.com> wrote:

Here is a question I have been discussing with another
local ham, and one that has us puzzled.  I would guess
that maybe 5% of hams are involved in MARS or CAP
(that is probably a high estimate).  So why is it that
80% of the used VHF/UHF rigs and HTs have been
modified for wide band transmit?  Are there really
that many freebanders out there?

Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco


		
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