On Thu, Sep 8, 2016 at 4:03 PM, Dave Zoller dzoller@reddevil.com wrote:
I just got a set of Baofeng BF-888S radios from Amazon and Chirp works like a dream for programming them. Unfortunately, I am a network administrator and know very little about which frequencies are and are not legal. We want the radios for short range comms in our manufacturing facility, which is not that large. I've set channel 1 to use FRS-08, 467.5625 MHz, which I think is legal. I haven't heard anyone else using it, but I'm in a fairly rural area so that doesn't surprise me. I also have it set on the lowest transmit power, which adequately covers the area I need covered.
I have some questions: Is that a good/safe/legal frequency to use? What would be some good alternative frequencies if I discover that another group uses this one? Will Chirp allow me to set all the channels to the same frequency so I can prevent these guys from using an illegal frequency? Is it a good to do that (or something like it)? Any other advice?
Thanks in advance, -Dave
Hi Dave,
Assuming that we are discussing use in the USA...
The BF-888s has been certified by the FCC for part 90 use. But only the radios that ship from the factory with a sticker applied that includes the FCC ID have this certification. Usually a radio with the sticker costs more than the same radio without one, so most (if not all) BF-888s radios sold in the USA do not have this needed sticker. Without a sticker, it is not certified for any service. In that case it can only be used by a licensed ham on frequencies authorized by FCC part 97 because certification for this type of equipment is not required.
Usually discussions of this type are frowned upon on this type of forum. I would be happy to discuss it further if you would contact me directly.
Jim KC9HI