ORIGINAL: BillS
When are we going to start insisting that the radio manufacturers use old or current technology to do away with the antiquated and very dangerous Pin Box?
<Snipped from context>
I guess it depends on who you mean when you say “we”.
If you mean the members of this forum, then there two known members who already have working SS units.
If you mean modelers, the answer may be when you convince all of them to stop purchasing the existing equipment. As long as the members buy, and vote their pocketbook, there is not much incentive for the major manufacturers to change much. Alternately, the answer may be when BPL reduces the usefulness of the current frequencies and the manufacturers see a larger than normal market.
On the other hand, if you mean the AMA, the AMA has no such power. Even an attempt to dictate to the manufacturer’s might have negative legal ramifications relative to liability, IRS status and the relationship with the manufacturers. The current by-laws simply provide no means to do so. Now… the AMA does have a frequency committee, which has as it members a number of manufactures. To give you some idea of the power embodied in the AMA, here is an example. The radio manufacturers made claims that the newer receivers were not subject to interference at two miles range. The AMA prepared to reduce the distance between clubs and flyers, asking the manufacturers to provide documentation. The documentation was not forthcoming in spite of the repeated attempts to secure it by the AMA. We still have a rule requiring 3 miles of separation.