Discussion: FCC Advisory on Two-Way VHF/UHF Radios

[AK9R]

"The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has observed that a growing number of conventional retailers and websites advertise and sell low-cost, two-way VHF/UHF radios that do not comply with the FCC’s rules. Such devices are used primarily for short-distance, two-way voice communications and are frequently imported into the United States. These radios must be authorized by the FCC prior to being imported, advertised, sold, or operated in the United States.

Many of these radios violate one or more FCC technical requirements. For example, some can be modified to transmit on public safety and other land mobile channels for which they are not authorized, while others are capable of prohibited wideband operations. Such radios are illegal, and many have the potential to negatively affect public safety, aviation, and other operations by Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private users. Because these devices must be, but have not been, authorized by the FCC, the devices may not be imported into the United States, retailers may not advertise or sell them, and no one may use them."

Full text of the advisory can be found here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.pdf

 

[riccom]

"The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has observed that a growing number of conventional retailers and websites advertise and sell low-cost, two-way VHF/UHF radios that do not comply with the FCC’s rules. Such devices are used primarily for short-distance, two-way voice communications and are frequently imported into the United States. These radios must be authorized by the FCC prior to being imported, advertised, sold, or operated in the United States.

Many of these radios violate one or more FCC technical requirements. For example, some can be modified to transmit on public safety and other land mobile channels for which they are not authorized, while others are capable of prohibited wideband operations. Such radios are illegal, and many have the potential to negatively affect public safety, aviation, and other operations by Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private users. Because these devices must be, but have not been, authorized by the FCC, the devices may not be imported into the United States, retailers may not advertise or sell them, and no one may use them."

Full text of the advisory can be found here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.pdf

This was posted earlier today
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[scanmanmi]

Good thing I ordered mine yesterday.

 

[pb_lonny]

The same sort of thing should happen over here too.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Well, we can close the barn door now that millions of those mutant creatures have already crossed the shores.

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[jwt873]

Most of the stuff they explain as being illegal was illegal already. (ie using non type accepted radios for certain services like GMRS and FRS). But it seems the big thing is that they're dropping the hammer on importation and sale.

I wonder if this has something to do with the US trade ware on China.. (Baofeng and others will probably be hurting over this one). Or, perhaps they were simply getting too many complaints of interference from out of band operators. Interesting...

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Good thing I ordered mine yesterday.

My offer still stands. If anyone has a BaoFunk needing a tuneup, send it my way, I have a shiny new 15 LB sledge hammer.

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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

The telecom industry complained to the FCC about this many months before the silly trade war. In my opinion the FCC was either asleep at the wheel or the AMCREST/Baofeng cartel are politically connected. How many years has this nonsense been going on?

Most of the stuff they explain as being illegal was illegal already. (ie using non type accepted radios for certain services like GMRS and FRS). But it seems the big thing is that they're dropping the hammer on importation and sale.

I wonder if this has something to do with the US trade ware on China.. (Baofeng and others will probably be hurting over this one). Or, perhaps they were simply getting too many complaints of interference from out of band operators. Interesting...

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[n1das]

I wonder if this has something to do with the US trade ware on China.. (Baofeng and others will probably be hurting over this one). Or, perhaps they were simply getting too many complaints of interference from out of band operators. Interesting...

Baofeng (and China for that matter) won't be hurt by the US trade war with China. We (the USA) will be hurt by it the most, something the current administration doesn't (or can't) understand (or doesn't care).


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[n1das]

The telecom industry complained to the FCC about this many months before the silly trade war. In my opinion the FCC was either asleep at the wheel or the AMCREST/Baofeng cartel are politically connected. How many years has this nonsense been going on?

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It's going on for years. The problem is nobody inside the FCC has been checking (until now).


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[n1das]

Good thing I ordered mine yesterday.

I'm sort of tempted to go on a buying spree and buy what I can while I can. OTOH I probably won't do that because the CCRs are such cr@p to begin with and you get what you pay for.


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[KK4JUG]

Good thing I ordered mine yesterday.

That doesn't mean you'll get it, though.

 

[MTS2000des]

In my opinion the FCC was either asleep at the wheel or the AMCREST/Baofeng cartel are politically connected. How many years has this nonsense been going on?

Until the EB gets the FTC/ICE to act and say, serve Amazon and Ebay with "cease and desist" or raid an Amazon warehouse and confiscate these turd radios and makes a big public spectacle, this EB "notice" is a paper tiger with no teeth.

 

[n1das]

That doesn't mean you'll get it, though.

What KK4JUG said. They may get held up at the port of entry by Customs until the manufacturer provides documentation showing compliance with FCC rules and regs.


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[n1das]

When I ordered a Baofeng UV5R online a couple of years ago, the Customs declaration form on the package listed the contents simply as a "toy" instead of what was really in the package.


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[KK4JUG]

What KK4JUG said. They may get held up at the port of entry by Customs until the manufacturer provides documentation showing compliance with FCC rules and regs.


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Even if they've already crossed the pond, it may still be too late. The advisory said they can't be sold, either.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I'm sort of tempted to go on a buying spree and buy what I can while I can. OTOH I probably won't do that because the CCRs are such cr@p to begin with and you get what you pay for.


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There are so many better ways to spend that money, good rum, a nice meal.

 

[nd5y]

They may get held up at the port of entry by Customs until the manufacturer provides documentation showing compliance with FCC rules and regs.

The FCC advisory says these radios are illegal but they granted Part 90 certification or Part 15 certification as a scanning receivers to several models from several manufacturers. Can Customs do anything if a radio has an FCC ID and proper labeling?

 

[n1das]

Even if they've already crossed the pond, it may still be too late. The advisory said they can't be sold, either.

Yep. Impounded at the port of entry until proper documentation is shown. Doesn't matter what the product is. In the case of the CCRs the manufacturers probably won't have any documentation to show or will be incomplete at best.


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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Until the EB gets the FTC/ICE to act and say, serve Amazon and Ebay with "cease and desist" or raid an Amazon warehouse and confiscate these turd radios and makes a big public spectacle, this EB "notice" is a paper tiger with no teeth.

My only concern is with over reaction by e-bay. They will likely ban everything with the word "radio" in it.