ORIGINAL: Sport_Pilot
How do I change the frequency of my transmitter?
For a unit with crystals: We CANNOT recommend changing crystals to a different frequency. Changing the crystal on your transmitter is illegal unless you have the proper license. The FCC has established guidelines for the modeler's safety and for the safety of spectators. For safety and FCC reasons we must request that both TX and RX be sent to the service center to ensure proper crystal change and retuning to the new frequency. Crystal based radios cannot be converted to another band without parts replacement, and may not be able to be converted at all. Certain radios can be converted, for example, from 72 to 75MHz. Please contact the service center for any other conversions.
The applicable Federal Regulation is as follows:
This is outdated as the license is no longer required, unless recently re-established.
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATION COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
PART 95—PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES
Subpart E—Technical Regulations
Sec. 95.645 Control accessibility.
(a) No control, switch or other type of adjustment which, when
manipulated, can result in a violation of the rules shall be accessible
from the transmitter operating panel or from exterior of the transmitter
enclosure.
b) An R/C transmitter which incorporates plug-in frequency
determining modules which are changed by the user must be certificated
with the modules. Each module must contain all of the frequency
determining circuitry including the oscillator. Plug-in crystals are not
considered modules and must not be accessible to the user.
Yet the FCC has been certifying them with the crystal easily accessable from the front, therefore changing them also legal?
Should I assume that you are referring to the old "CB" type license that used to be required to operate an R/C TX? Yes, that is no longer needed. As for maintaining them it still requires a license. It requires a Comercial Radio Telephone License or working in a shop under the auspices of a holder of said license.
As for the front mounted or easy access crystals (not modules) these are because these same units are sold world-wide where the same regulations do not apply. Nor are the radio bands as jammed with people all trying to use the same space. Modules are a totally different subject and have different rules that allow their swapping as long as certain conditions are met.