Conference vmszoo::rc

    Diane,
    
    I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but your rig isn't on _any_
    channel legal in the U.S.  Different countries use different frequency
    bands, most of which (if not all) _do_not_ correspond to the band(s)/
    frequencies assigned by the F.C.C. in the U.S.
    
    As a courtesy to foreign competitors in world competition events,
    the host country will usually allow the temporary use of the foreign
    frequencies but "temporary" is the key-word in this special
    circumstance.
    
    I'm afraid, the only way for you to legally use/race with the radio
    you purchased in Hong Kong is to send it to the U.S. distributor for
    that radio and have the frequency changed to one of the legal channels 
    assigned to R/C surface vehicles (cars/boats) by the F.C.C.  
    
    I've deliberately overused the word legal because it is, indeed,
    against the law to operate on any but the F.C.C. assigned frequen-
    cies and, while it doesn't happen often, the F.C.C. can impose severe 
    fines/penalties for operalting on illegal frequencies/bands. 
    
    Unfortunately, you have only two alternatives: have the frequency
    changed or purchase a new radio.  What you've run into here is one
    of the drawbacks to buying radio gear in a foreign country.

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    You can probably (!) do OK if you just change the crystal.  Most 27/29
    MHz low power radio transmitters do not use an awful lot of critical
    tuning in the transmitter final; it's just a brute-force linear amp. 
    Going from 27 to 29 MHz is a lot less brutal than 27 to 72.
    
    Write to the manufacturer; you may be in luck and only need a new
    pair of crystals (which you can swap in yourself).
    
    If the mfg. says it's OK, but you are afraid to do it yourself, find a
    radiotelephone licensee and have them do it.  Have the mfg's letter
    saying it's OK to do handy for them to read; _I_ certainly wouldn't do
    it unless I had either a specific go-ahead from the manufacturer or a
    benchful of test equipment. 
    
    Good luck;                                                 
		\__    		-Bill
	  {((___O===--0'         Yerazunis
    
    				(FCC Commercial TPhone/Radar PG-2-4483)
                               

    The guy in the hobby shop in Georgetown told me 29 Mhz is a new
    frequency assigned to RC -- just not available here yet.  Is that
    possible?  How do I find out for sure?  They guy in Hong Kong checked
    it against a list and said it was okay too????
    
    Diane

>    The guy in the hobby shop in Georgetown told me 29 Mhz is a new
>    frequency assigned to RC -- just not available here yet.  Is that
>    possible?  How do I find out for sure?  They guy in Hong Kong checked
>    it against a list and said it was okay too????

Call the AMA at (703)435-0750

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
================================================================================

    RE: .2 & .3,
    
    Moving to 27mhz _might_ be a viable alternative for a _car_.  With
    the abundance of high-powered 27mhz CB rigs in every other car or 18-
    wheeler, I'd certainly never consider 27mhz for aircraft use.  Also, 
    though I no longer know what they are, there are specific frequencies in
    the 27mhz band for model use; you can't retune just _anywhere_ you'd
    like in the band.
    
    RE: 4 & 5, 
    
    I'm certainly not gonna' question anyones veracity but, as far as
    I know, have heard or read, the _only_ frequencies legally allocated
    for model useage are the old 27mhz frequencies (which virtually
    _no_one_ trusts to use] the 72-75mhz freq.'s designated for exclusive
    use by model aircraft, cars/boats and the 6-meter HAM-band which
    requires a Technicians' License from the F.C.C. to use legally.
    
    I've, personally, never heard of a new, upcoming 29mhz band (though
    I've learned enough over the years not to bet against it).  Frankly,
    I can't imagine why we'd need more frequencies...we've got more
    than we can effectively use right now.  
    
    Diane, I think the best thing you can do is to take Kay's advise
    and call the AMA for a first-hand answer (and  PLEASE post AMA's
    response here).  You may have to ask for the Frequency Coordinator
    or whatever they call him to get your question answered. 
       

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al             
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    I thought the AMA (Association of Model Aeronuts) only dealt with
    planes?
    
    Willie

    			-<A Related Question...>-
    
    I have recently ordered a second Futaba R2GS receiver on
    Channel 84 (75.870 MHz) in order that I might use my Futaba
    FP-3EGX marine transmitter with a second boat.  Futaba
    tells me I can be confident that the second receiver will be
    fine-tuned to the proper frequency (75.870), and should work
    with no problem with my existing transmitter.  Can I trust their
    claim?  Is there some relatively simple way the precise tuning
    of my original TX and the new RX can be checked?  Can anyone
    recommend a place to do this, preferably in the Boston area?

    Thanks in advance.
    
    Bob Ross

    I've got a Futaba supplied F.C.C. Frequency Allocation
    chart at home which I'll post if no one else comes up
    w/ the same info prior to then....
    
    DougT 

    The list from Futaba doesn't list 29Mhz as a U.S. freq.
    They don't bother to date the list, but on the other hand
    it's from a fairly recent production run ( Consider that
    a disclaimer, I'm merely an instrument to transfer this
    from paper to notes...;^)
    
    26MHz to 27MHz Air/Car/Boat
    72/75MHz       Air
    75MHZ          Car/Boat
    53MHz          Air/Car/Boat-FCC License req

    DT

        It's been a while since I've been current on frequency allocation,
        but 29.xxx may be in (or at least near) the 10 meter ham band.
        While it might be legal to use such a frequency with a HAM
        license, I doubt that any contest will allow the use of such an
        odd-ball frequency, license or not. When shopping abroad, be
        POSITIVE you know what you are buying; its too easy for a good
        deal to turn around and bite you. 
        
        Bob	WB9WDV
        still doing RC on 53.x, legally 

Just read a note last night in the latest issue of RCM.
ROAR has moved and here is there new phone number.

(404)543-8908

If you call them and they haven't heard about any new 29 Mhz surface
frequencies then you have definitely been Hong Konged.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
================================================================================

    Well, Kay was right -- I've been Hong Konged!!
    
    Tried AMA several times -- couldn't get ahold of the right guy.
    Called the ROAR number today, they didn't know but referred me to
    Bob Novak, Novak Electronics.  Turns out that 29Mhz is indeed a
    ham radio band and is usable WITH a license.  He said it wasn't
    really worth it getting the license though, as I'd be fighting
    interference with the radios all the time. So....... it's time to
    find out how to get my receiver retuned. Oh well, so much for a
    good deal!
    
    In defense of the guy in Georgetown, he wasn't sure, but said there
    was a new frequency, and thought it must be the one since the guy
    in Hong Kong supposedly checked it out for me.
    
    Diane
    

    Still not quite right. The 10 Meter Amatuer radio band
    covers 28.000 - 29.700 MHz, so the frequency you mentioned
    is not usable by U.S. Amatuers either. Also someone mentioned
    a couple of replys ago the use of the 6 Meter amatuer band
    using the 53 MHz frequencies. The information I have says that
    those frequencies are expected to vacated by 1990, and 50.80 -
    50.98 MHz should be used. This allows 10 channels with 20Khz spacing.
    Are there any hams out there that know of any equipment available
    on the new frequencies?
    
    Wayne

	Re: .15

        The 53 MHz frequencies should be usable for RC indefinitely. The
        disadvantage is that they may be close to amateur repeaters
        operating in your area, that might cause interference problems; no
        different than the problems on 72/75 MHz. They are also right next
        to TV channel 2, which can also cause interference if it is in use
        in your area. There is a channel 2 in my area, but I've never had
        any problems there in almost 10 years of use. By mutual agreement
        (according to FCC laws, you can do just about anything you want
        with the proper license) there will be no such repeaters in the 50
        MHz portion of the Ham band where RC 00 thru 09 are allocated.
        They are at the opposite end of the band from channel 2, so these
        may be a better choice for new gear, but at least my old gear
        should be legal past 1991. 

    Actually, I made a mistake on the frequency (memory is going!) --
    my frequency was 29.695, and my friend's is 29.605.
    
    Meanwhile, I lucked out.  Talked to the hobby shop, they will loan
    me a receiver while sending mine back to Futaba for retuning.  I'm
    in the process of swapping receivers and crystals now so I can check
    it out before sending mine off for 6 weeks.
    
    Diane
    

    Well, I really got Hong Konged!  I swapped the receivers and crystals
    and it didn't work -- car had seizures.  Upon further research,
    I am told transmitter itself has to be retuned (a capacitor??).
     At this point, it looks like it may be cheaper to just give up
    and buy a new radio.  Such a deal I got!!
    
    Diane
    

>    Well, I really got Hong Konged!  I swapped the receivers and crystals
>    and it didn't work -- car had seizures.  Upon further research,
>    I am told transmitter itself has to be retuned (a capacitor??).
>     At this point, it looks like it may be cheaper to just give up
>    and buy a new radio.  Such a deal I got!!
    
>    Diane

Diane,
since misery loves company maybe you'll appreciate this story. A friend of mine
wanted a Hirobo 1/7 scale Huey helicopter. His wife went on an around the world
cruise that stopped in at Hong Kong. He talked her into stopping in at a shop
and calling him at home. He told the shop owner what he wanted, they gave his 
wife a cup of tea and wrapped the copter up for her. They even called a taxi
to take her back to the boat.

When she got back home they found out that the box contained a Hirbo 1/8 scale
Huey. Cost of a Hirbo 1/7 scale Huey: $1200 (At that time). Cost of a Hirobo
1/8 scale Huey: $600. Such a deal he got!

He had a friend that was going back to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks so he
gave him  all the documents and asked him to stop in the hobby shop and 
straighten out this little mis-understanding. The shop owner said he was sorry
but the shop had changed ownership since the sale and the new owners were not
responsible for the previous owners mistakes and no, they didn't know the where 
abouts of the previous owners

Dan Eaton

    Actually I came out better on this deal than I should have......My
    friendly hobby shop man sold me a Futaba Magnum Jr. with receiver
    for $45 + the extra servo I had.  Since I only spent $35 for the
    Futaba Attack in Hong Kong, I still got the Magnum for $80.  Meanwhile,
    I sent the other radio and receiver back to Futaba for retuning,
    and can sell it to the hobby shop when it comes back.  So, my Magnum,
    Jr., in the end, will still be a good deal!

    With the exception of the crystals [$14 each seems a bit steep to
    me.....], the labor for retuning is just a few bucks each for the
    transmitter and receiver, so that's probably not a bad idea.  Where
    did you manage to find a hobby shop that will deal with used equipment?
    
    Willie

    The price on the crystals was for two.
    
    Pratt Coin & Hobby in Georgetown will take tradeins pretty regularly.
    He has a pretty good stock of used stuff and rebuilt stuff.  Really
    nice
    guy!  He's in Georgetown Square on Route 133 off 95 or 495.  Route
    97 also takes you right into Georgetown Square.  If you talk to
    him, tell him I sent you.
    
    Diane

    Thanks, Diane!
    
    	I don't get to Georgetown too often, but I do goto Ipswich almost
    weekly, I'll have to check him out.
    
    Willie

    Georgetown is only 15 minutes from Ipswich.  Just take 1A North,
    left onto 133 right into Georgetown square.  He's on the right,
    in the block before the blinking traffic light (row of grey buildings).
    
    Diane
    

    re.6 
    hello, I was just browsing trying to find a list of frequencies
    and bandwidths you use for RC. you mentioned frequencies on the
    CB radio band for RC. I don't know if they are still used but the
    following were radio control freqs.
     
       26.995
       27.045
       27.095
       27.145
       27.195
    can't say I would use these for anything critical, since I have
    heard some pretty strong signals with hispanic accents. 
    I could just see a 27mhz garage door opener and a mercedes:^)
    lata...galen
    p.s. I am still looking for the list of freqs.