At 06:05 AM 1/15/2012, Clint Bradford wrote:
... Many of those same radios are being sold through
legitimate/commercial dealers ...
OK so far ...
... for FRS/GMRS rigs ...
Not OK - they are not legal for either the GMRS nor the FRS.
We've had similar issues over here with UHF CB, where ex commercial radios have been converted to the UHF CB band (477 MHz). Originally, commercial spec equipment was approved for use on this band, provided the power was turned down to 5W or less (the legal limit) and transmit was enabled only on the legal CB channels. However, converted radios as "high powered UHF" radios became popular due to lack of enforcement. In the last couple of years, we have seen a change in the ACMA's approach, and they have been seen at hamfests confiscating radios that are promoted for illegal use. The word is certainly out that the inspectors do frequent hamfests, and are active in dealing with dodgy stall operators.
Sounds like your FCC needs to take a similar approach and jump on these sales.
... the same Puxing ... was bought in large numbers in the Palm
Springs area for backup coms between all the gated communities in case of an earthquake ...
The day my community uses Wouxun/Puxing products for ANY facet of community service is the day I move. AFTER educating the powers-that-be of the dire consequences of using sub-par equipment to protect their constituents.
That's rather scary, quite frankly.
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com