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Cheapie Chinese Radio Type Acceptance

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w4rez

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I see that this topic has been beaten to death in a number of different ways, but I've searched for an answer to this particular question and cannot find it:

When did it become possible for radios with VFOs to be type accepted for Part 90? I always thought that "frequency agile" radios were not eligible for type acceptance.

With that being said, I purchased my first one (a Baofeng UV-82X) and other than the awkward programming, I like it so far.
 

mmckenna

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When did it become possible for radios with VFOs to be type accepted for Part 90? I always thought that "frequency agile" radios were not eligible for type acceptance.

They aren't, sort of. Many part 90 radios have this capability, all my Kenwoods do, however it's always turned off from the factory. It's intended as not being available to the end user. All mine have always needed this function turned on in the programming software.

I think the Baofengs ship the same way, although I've heard some dealers will turn it on before they ship it to you.
 

nd5y

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I don't know how these radios got certification. I have a Baofeng UV-5R and a Wouxun KG-UV2D. They are both fully operational in VFO mode out of the box.

They both have options in the programming software to disable the menu key.
On the KG-UV2D this locks you out of VFO mode and only allows operation on the memory channels.

The UV-5R has a VFO/MR key. If you disable the menu key it only disables the menus in memory mode. If you go to VFO mode the menu key still works.

There is at least one dealer that sells a customized UV-5R clone that has the ability to disable the VFO/MR key and claims full Part 90 compliance that way.
 
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mmckenna

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If you look at how the FCC does type acceptance, it explains some of this. The actual work is done by outside labs that are "approved" by the FCC. They are paid by the manufacturer to do the testing and put their stamp on the documents that are filed to the FCC for the type acceptance. The FCC seems to take these labs at their word and grant acceptance. Seems bass-ackwards.
 
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