mr.rc-cam
Posts: 536
Joined: 6/6/2002
From: West Coast,
CA, USA
Status: offline
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quote:
I think that if their is a legality or issue, and more importantly a safety issue then sales of these units should be halted! There are many licensed users that agree with you. But, the laws are directed mostly at the use of the equipment, not the sale of it.
Many of the ebay and online catalog firms that offer wireless transmitters are just small organizations. In rare cases they are sometimes just under-aged kids at the helm. Really. The legal and technical standards are not in their best interests to push in the face of their customers (that assumes that the vendor is even aware of such things).
I would imagine that if the online vendors went out of their way to determined that a user was not licensed to use the RF product, and refused to sell to them, then they would end up with very few sales opportunities. I also have the feeling that many of the sellers could care less that the user would be in violation if the RF device was used.
FWIW, many reputable ham equipment suppliers will not sell such devices to unlicensed users. They will ask for your call sign and then check it against the ham database, where it must match the buyer's address. Others have obvious warning signs on their web sites. Vendors such as SuperCircuits.com go out of their way to make it clear what cataloged devices require which license (ham, commercial, none).
So, the end user is the one that needs to be aware of these small details. Since there are "legal" licensed required applications for the RF devices it does not make sense to ban them altogether.
Lastly, many of the imported wireless video devices are actually illegal to bring into the states (due to eavesdropping laws). But given that these tiny video transmitters are often shipped by postal mail to the US vendor (or direct to the customer), they easily slip through. Heck, US Customs is so distracted from budget cuts that you could bring them in by ship born containers and not worry about confiscation.
{Fatherly mode on}
Folks, it is such a benefit (the basic technical education is priceless) to have a ham technician's license and obtaining one is not at all a hardship. I continue to be surprised that folks will jump through hoops to avoid getting theirs. Just visit arrl.com to see what is required. Cost to take the test is usually under $10. Little old grandma's with little technical background have gotten their ham ticket. Why not you?
{Fatherly mode off}
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Best Regards,
Mr. RC-CAM
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Aerial Photography and Video >> You guys are all breaking the law? 
You guys are all breaking the law? - 
i won't tell if you don't...it's not like were comitting murder or something!!! 
