MARS mod legality question.

[KA5S]

Since no one else has posted this, I will:

No transmitters or receivers are Type Accepted >in the Amateur Radio Service<. The FCC does not require Amateur Radio equipment be either verified, certified or have a manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity *except* for 1) multiband receivers that include "a band labelled 'CB' or '11-meter' in which such band can be separately selected" -- pre-1960 ham receivers excluded, 2) receivers covering 30-960 MHz, which must meet provisions of other Part 15 and also not cover cellular telephone frequencies and 3) external RF power amplifiers for bands below 144 MHz, which must (oversimplifying) be basically unusable for 11 meter CB. (There are exceptions.)

We _are_ responsible for meeting the technical requirements of Part 97.

Emissions standards:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/d-305.html#307

RF power amps:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/d-305.html#315
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/d-305.html#317

 

Cortland
KA5S

[WA4MJF]

Probably no one mentioned the FCC
because MARS belongs to NTIA.

73 de Ronnie

[N3ZKP]

<< No transmitters or receivers are Type Accepted >in the Amateur Radio Service<. The FCC does not require Amateur Radio equipment be either verified, certified or have a manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity *except* for 1) multiband receivers that include "a band labelled 'CB' or '11-meter' in which such band can be separately selected">>

This is not accurate. Amateur radios ARE required to get FCC approval before they can be sold in the US. I'm not sure of the actual acceptance language, but the FCC DOES have to approve them. I am unaware of any modern amateur radio that that an 11m (or CB) position on the bandswitch.

Lon

[WA9SVD]

It is NOT illegal to modify any commercial Amateur radio.   (Or any radio, for that matter.)  It IS, however, completely illegal to TRANSMIT on other than Amateur frequencies for which you have the proper class license, or if you have proper MARS or CAP authorization.  (In addition, for CAP use, apparently you are required to use a radio that meets NTIA frequency stability requirements.)  
    ANY other use of a modified Amateur Radio to transmit is illegal, regardless of public service rationale, etc.  It's just illegal.    
    It's not the mod that is illegal, it's transmitting out of band that is.  But IF a mod is performed, then it takes extra care to prevent operation on unauthorized frequencies.

[K3WVU]

KC2FDQ:

Yes, you can use both on MARS.  I found an easy MARS mod for the TS-2000 at http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=1984

It only involves removing a resistor, which can usually be gently pried up from the board with a probe.

73

Dwight NNN0TPR/NNN0ASI EIGHT

[KG4RUL]

I have modified my TS2000X by removing the resistor (you also have to do a specific reset procedure - follow the directions exactly).  In situations like the CAP operation however, this radio is not compliant for VHF/UHF.

Dennis
NNN0FAE
NNN0GBS FIFTEEN
KG4RUL

[KB2TES]

Hello Lon:

How would I get involved in the military affiliate radio service?

Thanks:

Lou C.

[KB3MKK]

The first place to check is to do a search for a MARS site, and submit an application

http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/join.htm

for instance would work, it has a CONUS Mars and OCONUS application, as well as guidelines for who may join