Amateur radio in the U.S. has had privileges on the 60m channels since 2003. It's hard for me to imagine that there have been many radios brought to the amateur radio market in the past 19 years that haven't been capable of transmitting on the assigned 60m channels without modification. Yes, I understand that there may be many older radios in use that require modification to transmit on 60m.
Absolutely. Hand your radio to the Deputy, then come in and complete an affidavit as to why you felt there was no other means of obtaining assistance. Someone will go through it and determine whether there genuinely wasn't any other way, etc. And, someone like a judge may determine if your exceptional circumstances were valid.
But those 60 meter frequencies are primary to other users, so their use by amateurs (which used to be limited to voice, but now includes digital modes) is at the pleasure of the NTIA. That's why you may find MARS stations coming up on those frequencies during COMEXs and asking amateurs for local information that they were tasked to collect and aggregate. They can be used for routine amateur stuff, but at some point, an external (who is more than likely a ham, anyway, but wouldn't be representing amateur radio at that point in time) may come up on frequency and their call sign won't be in QRZ. It can be a liaison band.
I visited W1AW in September. I recall seeing the Harris, but I don't think it's in regular service though it may be held in standby for some future event that requires its capabilities.
Not if you're charged with obstructing or interfering with government operation under whatever local statutes there are. The FCC is inconsequential at that point. They can join in, or the case can be referred for additional charges. Without turning into an outhouse lawyer, this isn't enforcing rules under the FCC's purview.
I haven't been there since 2018, but they, in W1AW, and all the staffers at HQ were very gracious to me. I don't recall seeing a Harris in there, but there was a Rhode and Schwarz professional grade HF transceiver. They did show me some deployable HF setups in shippable boxes that they were making at the time to help support disaster operations in a similar manner that other NGOs with emergency operations responsibilities do. The Harris and R&S may have been for MARS, CAP, USCG, or SHARES operation when an authorized operator is present. They're diligent about proofing guests' licenses before letting them go on the air. My takeaway was they are taking the ESF-2 role more seriously now with the retention of a professional emergency manager on staff, and they're in a good position to be a liaison whenever necessary. I think it's a good step forward for the organization.
Mine are an IC-M710, a TS-2000, an IC-910H, and an ID-800H. We have several VHF repeaters with nets, as well.
)
Nefarious? I don't know. But, when I see a radio that was originally sold for amateur radio use listed for sale online with a photo that shows the radio tuned outside the amateur radio bands and/or the seller lists "MARS mod" or "modded" as a feature, then I get suspicious of how the radio has been used.
