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

[AK9R]

Or, clipping a jumper, removing a resistor, multi-key press with power on, like the many of the current MARS/CAP modifications?

Yes, that would work. To the best of my knowledge, these radios don't have that capability now. So, I'm assuming that it would take a firmware change to put the radio into a mode where it's locked down to the amateur radio bands out-of-the-box, but, let's say, a specific key press on power up opens up the radio.

The point I'm getting at is folks like Amcrest and Baofeng Tech, could make the radios they sell compliant with the rules, but they will probably have to convince the parent company back in China to write new firmware.

 

[mmckenna]

The point I'm getting at is folks like Amcrest and Baofeng Tech, could make the radios they sell compliant with the rules, but they will probably have to convince the parent company back in China to write new firmware.

I suspect you are correct.

But as others said, the cat was let out of the bag years ago, and the FCC was busy worrying out the FM broadcast band and auctioning off more spectrum. While I fully agree with what the FCC is doing, they are sort of closing the barn doors after the critters got out.

 

[KK4JUG]

I suspect you are correct.

But as others said, the cat was let out of the bag years ago, and the FCC was busy worrying out the FM broadcast band and auctioning off more spectrum. While I fully agree with what the FCC is doing, they are sort of closing the barn doors after the critters got out.

Too little, too late.

 

[bharvey2]

I believe that some of the more reputable importers/sellers inside the USA were modifying some radios to only transmit inside the ham bands. (Kudos to them) However, software made it "into the wild" opening up the radio's transmitting frequency range. I'm not suggesting that the software came from them but at least it took deliberate effort by the user to circumvent the restrictions on the radios.

 

[KK4JUG]

I believe that some of the more reputable importers/sellers inside the USA were modifying some radios to only transmit inside the ham bands. (Kudos to them) However, software made it "into the wild" opening up the radio's transmitting frequency range. I'm not suggesting that the software came from them but at least it took deliberate effort by the user to circumvent the restrictions on the radios.

I don't believe that for a minute. Though they may be "reputable" as far as their business practices, they're also in the business to make money, not correct government mistakes.

 

[bharvey2]

I don't believe that for a minute. Though they may be "reputable" as far as their business practices, they're also in the business to make money, not correct government mistakes.

Which part don't you believe? I have two of the same model of CCR radio. One came wide open and was listed as Part 90 approved. (Apocryphal perhaps but sold as such) the other radio was for ham used and limited to the ham bands.

Nothing makes me think they were pursuing some higher cause and trying to correct any government wrong but they may have had the radios limited to ham bands for CYA purposes. If some whacker mod'ed his own radio so he could go play super civil servant with his fluorescent vest and CCR well then, the vendor (and their presumably deeper pockets) could claim plausible deniability at the very least.

 

[KK4JUG]

An occasional modification? Maybe. The radios really aren't worth it. And, if they're savvy enough to modify the radio, they're knowledgeable enough know that limiting the frequencies in the radio is only part of the problem.

 

[cherubim]

The same sort of thing should happen over here too.

ACMA already has a similar ruling in regards to the importation, sale and use of non-standard radio equipment.

The FCC ruling goes a bit further and they clearly have more resources to deal with violations whereas ACMA does not.

 

[N4GIX]

I think I agree with the FCC on these. They shouldn't ship in the USA with frequencies that are illegal to transmit on in the USA. Since this doesn't have a Part 90 sticker, even if you had a license for these frequencies, you couldn't use it.

That indeed encapsulates the exact problem. I dare say that the vast majority of people buying these CCRs don't have a clue about frequencies that come pre-programmed into their little toy radios.

They turn them on, find out that they can all talk on channel 12 and never know - or care - that they are using one of the public service frequencies.

I happened to hear a kid talking on 154.8150 simplex a few months ago with one of his friends. That frequency is currently used as a "Law Dispatch" frequency. I happened to glance up and saw the boy walking by my house, so I got up and said to him "Hey that's a cool radio!" During the conversation that followed I mentioned to him that he and whoever he was talking to were on a police frequency. He had no idea, and it seemed to frighten him.

When he asked what frequencies he could use, I had to honestly tell him none at all...

...unless he and his friend got at least a Technician license so they could use the ham band. Long story short, there are two proud new hams in the neighborhood, and two less clueless frequency polluters!

 

[w4amp]

Baofeng is garbage. YMMV.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I believe that some of the more reputable importers/sellers inside the USA were modifying some radios to only transmit inside the ham bands. (Kudos to them) However, software made it "into the wild" opening up the radio's transmitting frequency range. I'm not suggesting that the software came from them but at least it took deliberate effort by the user to circumvent the restrictions on the radios.

When I did my little dumb unlicensed customer charade with AMCREST customer service, the rep recommended I use CHIRP. They know what's going on and how to steer folks into programming them places they should not.

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[KR7CQ]

There are so many millions of Chinese radios in the USA at this point that the horses are already out of the barn. They were $20 on ebay at one point....people bought them in bulk and stockpiled them, especially preppers. It's somewhat like gun control in that you can ban guns tomorrow, but there are already 350 million of them in America. There is no getting rid of them any time soon. People on OfferUp, Letgo, Craigslist, etc., will be selling these radios 50 years from now.

Eventually most all public safety systems will be out of the UHF / VHF bands, will be P25, often simulcast, and will be relatively unaffected by jammers. I can still remember the Phoenix PD regularly chasing people around for illegally operating on their frequencies. When they went to a P25 simulcast system that problem ended immediately. Most remaining issues will be resolved over the next 10-15 years for the most part as agencies migrate to modern systems. That will happen long before Baofengs are gone.

 

[elwood_blues]

Baofeng is garbage. YMMV.

I've been hearing that for years. I got a UV-5R for free about 2 years ago. It works as well as, if not better, than my 5 Bearcat's (Note: I have no need for P25, low band, 700/800, so I can't compare that).

It's been dropped, exposed to rain, snow, zero degrees for hours... For $8 I got a speaker mic that I didn't have to dick around with shorting the earphone jack (ala the Bearcat trick) that has excellent audio. Has stellar battery life (I've gotten close to 18 hours on it today alone in Scan mode and it's still going strong). And it has a drop in charger!

All in all, for a $40 dollar radio, and another $15 for the speaker mic and programming cable, maybe Uniden could take some pointers from them...

 

[KK4JUG]

All in all, for a $40 dollar radio, and another $15 for the speaker mic and programming cable, maybe Uniden could take some pointers from them...

Yeah, right.

 

[BaoFeng_Blogger]

The Easy Way To Eliminate BaoFeng's...

It is unfortunate that in this world, where the purchase of items and products is sometimes dependent upon price/cost because of situations and circumstances beyond ones control, thus the lower cost item is the only option... one finds great negativity toward said purchase... as in calling it junk or garbage. I can see a easy way to remedy the above, while at the same time trying to eliminate that which one considers inferior.

The solution...?

I'm more than willing to send my two BaoFeng BF-F9 V2+ units (with all additional accessories) to anyone who feels that they are inferior... as long as they're replaced with a couple of NEW $200+ units from any one of the big three. The above solution solves many problems for the "Anti-BaoFeng" gang.

First: It removes the offending BF from ever being used again, via a diamond studded silver sledge hammer.

Secondly: It will warm the heart of the "Anti's", them knowing that another evil has been eliminated from the face of the earth.

So please... PM me with name, address, phone number so that we may transact the above... and come to a satisfactory and mutual conclusion to your "Anti-BaoFeng" dilemma.

73 to ya...

BaoFeng Blogger KN4OTS

 

[riccom]

Blogger, and this is why I feel that alot of people are pushed away from getting a ticket, the cost of a radio, if you do not have a 700 dollar handheld, you are a disgrace for being a ham, they do not say it out loud, but the undertones make you feel it


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[BaoFeng_Blogger]

Thank You RicCom...

Blogger, and this is why I feel that alot of people are pushed away from getting a ticket, the cost of a radio, if you do not have a 700 dollar handheld, you are a disgrace for being a ham, they do not say it out loud, but the undertones make you feel it


Sent from my 5049Z using Tapatalk

RicCom...

Thank you for your reply. You've said it ever so well.

73 to ya...

BaoFeng Blogger KN4OTS

 

[kayn1n32008]

It is unfortunate that in this world, where the purchase of items and products is sometimes dependent upon price/cost because of situations and circumstances beyond ones control, thus the lower cost item is the only option.

Right. I agree. When I started out I had to save to buy my first radio. A $150 IC2SAT. It was a great first radio.

one finds great negativity toward said purchase.

Actually not entirely correct.

as in calling it junk or garbage.

Call it as I see it. Baofeng radios ARE junk. Production has little QA/QC, quality is poor at best.

The proof is in the pudding. Many Baofeng, and other CCR’s do not meet spectral purity requirements.

I can see a easy way to remedy the above, while at the same time trying to eliminate that which one considers inferior.



The solution...?



I'm more than willing to send my two BaoFeng BF-F9 V2+ units (with all additional accessories) to anyone who feels that they are inferior... as long as they're replaced with a couple of NEW $200+ units from any one of the big three. The above solution solves many problems for the "Anti-BaoFeng" gang.



First: It removes the offending BF from ever being used again, via a diamond studded silver sledge hammer.



Secondly: It will warm the heart of the "Anti's", them knowing that another evil has been eliminated from the face of the earth.



So please... PM me with name, address, phone number so that we may transact the above... and come to a satisfactory and mutual conclusion to your "Anti-BaoFeng" dilemma.



73 to ya...



BaoFeng Blogger KN4OTS

I have a better idea.

Don’t buy junk. Can’t afford a $100 radio that is known to not transmit Spurs from DC to daylight?

Save a few bucks and buy something that is not junk.

This is not about the cost of the radio but the quality and the purity of the radiated signal. Period.




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[riccom]

Point just proved

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[KK4JUG]

BaoFeng_Blogger, it's not the fact that it's a Baofeng radio, it's what the radio is doing to the airwaves, especially by unknowing (and sometimes uncaring) users. "A rose by any other name........."