Batboard

I got an email back from the FCC saying MDC-1200 is considered by them to be F1D.

Now I have people arguing that it was wrong for me to assume that the FCC OET would even know what MDC was and that they told me the wrong thing.

Ok, so what is MDC-1200? F1D or F2D?

i was always under the impression that it is F1D.... and why did this become an issue for you to go to the FCC w/ it?

There has been some discussion about the legal use of MDC1200 on GMRS. Everyone had their opinion, and I had a feeling it was. So.... I wanted to get an official answer from the Big Cheese themselves. After all, when it comes to communications and wether or not its legal, the FCC is the final answer on the subject.

So I sent an email to the FCC OET asking them what they considered it to be and if it was legal. They replied that they consider MDC-1200 F1D and also legal for use on GMRS.

Well.. now there are some "experts" not from the FCC stating otherwise, and they insist it is F2D, and they also say the FCC doesnt know what they are talking about.

So thats the story and Im sticking to it.

SmilnDon wrote: So I sent an email to the FCC OET asking them what they considered it to be and if it was legal. They replied that they consider MDC-1200 F1D and also legal for use on GMRS.

Gotta love reading judgements like that!

SmilnDon wrote:Well.. now there are some "experts" not from the FCC stating otherwise, and they insist it is F2D, and they also say the FCC doesnt know what they are talking about.

best part about this? Those experts can disagree with the FCC all they want, they won't be the ones bagging you for a fine! Let all these "experts" say otherwise...they're not holding the handcuffs. Who cares if the FCC doesn't "know" what they are talking about....

I agree with you Don. I have been watching the other post and I feel that the OET is right about Mdc1200 being F1D. My understanding is that the OET makes the emission decisions. They are who is responsible the the Garmin waiver and they said that is F2D which is fine. The OET also certifies all the radios. I wonder if the EB doesn't understand what MDC1200 is and it's emission. I wouldn't say that on the other board because I will probably get a few comments for that. I e mailed the FCC for confirmation on your e mail that you got. (I hope you don't mind) if I get the same answer than that is definately the right one and I don't know what to say about the other as you put it "experts".

It has been confirmed again that MDC1200 is LEGAL for GMRS!!!!!!!

the problem is that the OET is not the one charged with ENFORCING the very regulations of the same agency! Mr. Hollingsworth has indicated in many of his EB NAL and warning letters that MDC is not allowed...so a court case may be in order where someone asserts that the charge is not valid based upon the findings of the OET. Hopefully a judge would agree, a dismiss the case, thus the decision would become CASE LAW and this would be the ONLY affirmative defense.

What the OET says is NOT complete grounds for immunity from being sited from the EB.

According to the E mails that were received MDC1200 is legal ONLY if it accompanies a voice transmission. You can NOT use MDC1200 on GMRS for remote control or repeater control access. You can only use it basically to ID units. This has been confirmed a few times

matt1 wrote:According to the E mails that were received MDC1200 is legal ONLY if it accompanies a voice transmission. You can NOT use MDC1200 on GMRS for remote control or repeater control access. You can only use it basically to ID units. This has been confirmed a few times

That would follow in suit with the language of the rules. Tones were acceptable for identification purposes as long as they were less than 7 seconds in duration and followed by voice. There was some other stipulation that made it a 15 second limitation. This is the same rule that gets those disposable GMRS radios authorized to send annoying tones.