Range Video busted for selling illegal video transmitters
You know those excellent video downlink transmitters from Range Video that we recommend? Turns out that some of them are a little too excellent, which is to say that they're illegal (more power and different frequenceis than those allowed by FCC regs without a licence). The owner has been cited. Articles here and here.It appears the main problem is that the devices can operated on bands other than those authorized. From the first article:
"The Commission sent Reznik a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) regarding this and noting the following specific items he had for sale on the RangeVideo Web site: 900 MHz 100 mW audio/video transmitters; 900 MHz 500 mW audio/video transmitters; 1.3 GHz 300 mW audio/video transmitters; 2.4 GHz 200 mW audio/video transmitters; 2.4 GHz 500 mW audio/video transmitters; 2.4 GHz 1000 mW audio/video transmitters, and 2.4 GHz 1000 mW cased audio/video transmitters.
According to the FCC, the 900 MHz devices are capable of operation on 980 MHz, 1010 MHz and 1040 MHz; the 1.3 GHz device is capable of operating on 1240 MHz, 1320 MHz and 1360 MHz, and the 2.4 GHz devices are capable of operating on 2490 MHz. "Thus, these transmitter devices cannot comply with the FCC's technical standards and therefore cannot be certified or marketed," the Citation reads.
Reznik responded to the LOI, admitting that he first imported the devices in 2006 and that he continues to import the devices. The FCC noted that he admitted to selling more than 2600 of the transmitters since 2006. Reznik also admitted to not filing the proper forms with the US Customs Office or the Border Patrol.
The FCC also noted that Reznik stated that before he ships a transmitter device, he "switches" it to operate only in the Amateur Radio Service ('ARS') bands. While radio transmitting equipment that transmits solely on ARS frequencies is not subject to the equipment authorization requirement prior to manufacture or marketing, it appears that the seven transmitter devices marketed on your website are equipped with external toggle switches on the unit, which if engaged would allow operation of the device on the restricted frequencies."
[Cool picture of AP plane taken from RangeVideo website]
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Comment by Genesis Factor on August 5, 2008 at 6:19am -
sigh, its true. All because of a switch. They will be removed in future models, so enjoy you illegals, my friends!!! :) You have a collector's item!
And an 8 mile range is CRAZY!!!!
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Comment by dincer hepguler on August 5, 2008 at 11:24am -
i am a happy owner of a 2.4 mhz 500ma range video system.. which switch are we talking about? 8 mile range? wohooo... i want to know how this can be achieved...
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Comment by Gary Mortimer on August 2, 2009 at 12:39am
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Same thing just happened to Hobby Lobby see here Whats more interesting is the link back to the RCgroups review which means lots more people are going to find out about FPV, and I mean people that will worry about licensing.
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Comment by James Pearson on May 13, 2011 at 6:36am -
So what are 980 MHz, 1010 MHz and 1040 MHz used for. All I can find while googling the net is that people generally agree that they are not legal for our uses and are also not legal with a ham license. In general if I want to find out if its legal for me to use frequency X how can I do so. I already tried http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchGeographic.jsp and I cant seem to find a set of inputs that will actually search. I searched Texas, Dallas 900 to 1080 MHz and clicking the search button does not work (when i click it nothing happens).
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Comment by Kyle on May 13, 2011 at 12:35pm -
It's illegal because it falls under the Aeronautical Radio-Navigation slice of the frequency pie:
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf
Text Format here:
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Comment by James Pearson on May 13, 2011 at 3:34pm
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Ah, thanks Kyle. Thats what I was looking for. Yeah... that sounds like something I would rather not interfere with. I was hoping it was reserved for something that no one ever uses any longer and that would not have safety implications.
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