Amateur kit limitations only apply to amplifiers and none have ever required "certification". However, amplifier kits capable of being used above 25 MHz are prohibited from sale in the U.S. and its territories without the presentation of a valid FCC license. Each amp kit built is still subject to the rules regarding signal purity, bandwidth of signal, out of band radiation and harmonic interference. Transmitter or transceiver kits have no limitation for personal use.
If, as an Amateur you were to build five amps or transmitters and give them to friends at no charge; no problem. Ham clubs do that all the time. And, yes, all commercial manufacturers of transmitting equipment are required to have equipment sold in the U.S., certified or type accepted. MFJ, Drake, Vectronics and others provide taps to operate their amplifiers on the 12 and 10 meter bands (above 25 MHz). But because of FCC regulations, manufacturers require the presentation of a valid FCC license before the tuned components for the amp are shipped with the unit for modification and operation above 25 MHz. This is done to simply cover ones posterior.
In the recent past, Pilot Travel Centers were taken to court and fined severely for selling ham equipment to non-licensed buyers. The equipment operated on ham frequencies and could easily be changed to operate on the CB band as well. In a separate case, intentional radiators made overseas have been marketed in the U.S. recently in Florida. The FCC included the lack of type acceptance and certification, as well as signal purity and out of band interference, in the legal citation. Believe it or not, they were also marketed as cell phone jamming units. Because the seller was outside of the U.S., the users were the proud recipients of the NOV.
Good engineering practice is generally accepted to be the customary care taken in construction technique and practice, along with operating practices, to ensure a device that operates within the signal parameters set out as minimums in the rules. If the device interferes with other services or licensees, for any reason, good engineering practice is said to NOT be in use.
And finally, in the case of the Part 15 transmitter kit with some of the surface mount components soldered to the motherboard, the board and the attached components are considered a single piece. Without the other parts, the unit will not function. So, the kit is considered still a kit by the FCC. Otherwise, the purist could point out that an integrated circuit chip is actually several different components in a common case. And as such, could not be built into a kit at any point prior becoming a functional piece of equipment. In this day and age, that would be considered nuts. Right?
Give me a minute. I'll be right back after throwing some dirt on my horse. I'm trying to protect the environment. 😉
Amateur kit limitations only apply to amplifiers and none have ever required "certification". However, amplifier kits capable of being used above 25 MHz are prohibited from sale in the U.S. and its territories without the presentation of a valid FCC license. Each amp kit built is still subject to the rules regarding signal purity, bandwidth of signal, out of band radiation and harmonic interference. Transmitter or transceiver kits have no limitation for personal use.
If, as an Amateur you were to build five amps or transmitters and give them to friends at no charge; no problem. Ham clubs do that all the time. And, yes, all commercial manufacturers of transmitting equipment are required to have equipment sold in the U.S., certified or type accepted. MFJ, Drake, Vectronics and others provide taps to operate their amplifiers on the 12 and 10 meter bands (above 25 MHz). But because of FCC regulations, manufacturers require the presentation of a valid FCC license before the tuned components for the amp are shipped with the unit for modification and operation above 25 MHz. This is done to simply cover ones posterior.
In the recent past, Pilot Travel Centers were taken to court and fined severely for selling ham equipment to non-licensed buyers. The equipment operated on ham frequencies and could easily be changed to operate on the CB band as well. In a separate case, intentional radiators made overseas have been marketed in the U.S. recently in Florida. The FCC included the lack of type acceptance and certification, as well as signal purity and out of band interference, in the legal citation. Believe it or not, they were also marketed as cell phone jamming units. Because the seller was outside of the U.S., the users were the proud recipients of the NOV.
Good engineering practice is generally accepted to be the customary care taken in construction technique and practice, along with operating practices, to ensure a device that operates within the signal parameters set out as minimums in the rules. If the device interferes with other services or licensees, for any reason, good engineering practice is said to NOT be in use.
And finally, in the case of the Part 15 transmitter kit with some of the surface mount components soldered to the motherboard, the board and the attached components are considered a single piece. Without the other parts, the unit will not function. So, the kit is considered still a kit by the FCC. Otherwise, the purist could point out that an integrated circuit chip is actually several different components in a common case. And as such, could not be built into a kit at any point prior becoming a functional piece of equipment. In this day and age, that would be considered nuts. Right?
Give me a minute. I'll be right back after throwing some dirt on my horse. I'm trying to protect the environment. 😉
"Also, my last reading of the rules revealed that amateur radio equipment was exempt from the certification requirement."
Hmmmmm. The new TenTec Eagle was held up until the FCC issued a "Grant" so they could sell it.
"Also, my last reading of the rules revealed that amateur radio equipment was exempt from the certification requirement."
Hmmmmm. The new TenTec Eagle was held up until the FCC issued a "Grant" so they could sell it.
It could be that they are required to have "type acceptance" rather than certification. I have read some conflicting information re this.
Since I am not a manufacturer nor is this an amateur radio board I am going to abandon this topic with the advisory that if someone is really interested they need to read the FCC rules. I am not interested in pursuing it.
Neil
It could be that they are required to have "type acceptance" rather than certification. I have read some conflicting information re this.
Since I am not a manufacturer nor is this an amateur radio board I am going to abandon this topic with the advisory that if someone is really interested they need to read the FCC rules. I am not interested in pursuing it.
Neil
commercially built ham radios require part 15 type acceptance and the rules regarding linears above 25 mhz has been dropped.
commercially built ham radios require part 15 type acceptance and the rules regarding linears above 25 mhz has been dropped.