Sport_pilot,
I absolutely understand the difference between certified and licensed. I also understand that the Quote from Futaba's site may have mistated that the shop must be licensed. But, what I am trying to avoid is new people thinking that a radio does not have to go back to a shop if the crystal is changed. When you state that the requirements for a "license" has been removed some may mistake that for meaning that it doesn't have to be sent in to a shop. This is exactly what I am trying to avoid happening. When confusion is created like this it leads to somebody making the mistake and winds up in trouble because of that.

When all is said and done a crystal change in a transmitter needs to be done by somebody that can certify that they radio is transmitting on the proper frequency after the change, and retune the radio if it's not. Plain and simple, this must happen.

And yes, I agree in that I have seen people yell at other for removing the crystal. This is wrong and those doing the yelling are misinformed. There are no issues with simply removing the crystal, and in fact the same crystal can be removed and replaced with no issues to the radio. But if a different crystal (even one on the same channel) is placed in the radio it's output needs to be checked and retuned if needed.

As far as having the crystals accessible, this is a loophole that manufacturers have exploited. They will produce a case for their radios and they are sold worldwide. In most countries this is not an issue, but here in the US it is. The FCC regs stated (paraphrase here, not an exact quote) that the crystal can not be user accessible. So what the manufacturers did was to put a piece of tape or hot glue to secure the crystal in the radio, and unfortunately the FCC approved this as not being "user accessible". Yes, it's a loophole they exploited. But it doesn't override the need to send a radio in for service.

With all other considerations aside, it's just in a pilot's own interest to send a radio in if he changes the crystal. One of our members here (CGRetired) had a radio that the previous owner changed the crystal in. Instead of risking it he sent the radio in to have it checked. Since the radio wasn't retuned to the new frequency the radio was transmitting at about 1/2 the power it should have been. So had he flown with it he could have been at risk of losing his plane.


Ken