How Do I Program SAR Freqs Into My Yaseau FT-2600M

[KT0DD]

I love the guys who use the word freedom. We are not "free". We are allowed certain liberties and priveledges by the government within the law. True freedom is without any control or consequences. we do not have this in our country.

[K1CJS]

How true that is.  Step on the wrong toes and see how fast your 'freedom' ends.

Just as an exercise, I'll go into one way that you can be caught and fined.  Part 90 radios are usually more selective when transmitting.  That is the transmission frequency is more precise--and narrower--than a transmission from an amateur rig would be.  Now, you may say "So what?"  This is the so what.  

Anyone operating on an adjacent frequency would probably be splattered by your illegal transmission through your amateur rig.  Being a public service frequency, any complaint would be just about immediately investigated through monitoring.  The monitoring station hears you and varys it receive frequency so that they hear you clearly.  When you or any of your associates are IDing on that frequency, you give them a point to zero in on--and they will.  

Here come the FCC monitoring people, knocking on your agency's door, and demanding to see the list of people authorized to work on that frequency.  Now they come knocking on YOUR door and asking to see your radio equipment--something that you MUST allow them to do because of your association with the SAR people you work with--and they find the rig that you're using.  The old fallback excuse that 'you didn't know' isn't going to hold water because of your association with SAR.  They're going to tell you that you should have--and both you and the team you work with end up with nice little letters and fines for doing what you should have known better not to do.

Go ahead and laugh--it's happened more often than you think, and in a very short time period as well--a couple of days.  When it comes to public service frequencies, the FCC are faster--a LOT faster--on their policing than they ever would be on any amateur frequency.

[KB4QAA]

I've been in SAR groups over the years and all of them fortunately strongly enforced rules against use of modified ham gear.

Many hams think the freedom we enjoy can be extended with a wink and a nudge to other services.  They can't.

While the FCC has a hands-off approach to the ham bands, that is NOT true about the public service bands.  Going back well over 25  years the FCC has actively prosecuted violators even among ham volunteers to SAR groups, law enforcement and fire/rescue agencies. 

When the FCC gets done you will have to deal with the supported agency that is really ticked off that you brought the Feds down on their heads.

Yes it is inconvenient and expensive.  But you will be legal and have better performing gear for it.