EMC191 Type Accepted? 1/2
To:  Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:  Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:  Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
     California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

EMC184 Type Accepted? 1/2      For release 7/5/99

Query:  Please explain "type-accepted" equipment for use in
EMCOMM Units. I keep hearing this term but it isnšt clear what
it signifies.

Response:  This is an interesting and relevant question.
Most often this term comes up relative to modification of the
Amateur radios as to use on agency PUBIC SAFETY frequencies.
However, it can come up in agencies that operate on BOTH the
Amateur and Public Safety channels. Sometimes it is easier to
just switch a frequency in a unit that to go to another radio.

Radio equipment for use on PUBLIC SAFETY EMCOMM (non-amateur)
frequencies must be type accepted by the Federal Communications
Commission.  It must have been found to be acceptable for 
transmitting a "clean" and stable signal. For example, all
spurious radiations must be kept below a limit prescribed by
the FCC.  Type-accepted radios are labeled as such, typically
on the rear or bottom panel.

Further, modified Amateur radios are not necessarily "clean" or
frequency stable to FCC type-accepted standards. If operated
outside the Amateur Service bands it could cause spurious
radiations (and resulting interference). As a result, some
agencies have issued specific prohibitions against the use of
"modified" Amateur radio equipment by their units as a precaution
to avoid inadvertent use on government frequencies, and hence,
embarrassment to the agency.

Mike Krueger, N6MIK, Orange County RACES Assistant Radio Officer
and Training Officer, explains the situation clearly.  "Expanding
the frequency of your amateur rig is legal, but using that rig to
transmit on Public-Safety frequencies IS NOT legal. Amateur
radios are not FCC certified for operation outside the amateur
bands."

Continues, next week, bulletin 192.
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EOM