That's not really ham gear

The owner of a company that sells wireless video solutions has pulled several wireless transmitters from his website.

This after the FCC issued a Citation to Georgia-based Range Video for importing and marketing unauthorized wireless video transmitters and failing to file the proper FCC forms with the US Customs office and the US Border Patrol.

In its July 21st Citation sent to Vladimir Reznik, who is the owner of Range Video, the FCC says that it had previously sent him a Letter of Inquiry regarding this issue.

Reznik responded to that Letter of Inquiry by fully admitting that he first imported the devices in 2006 and that he continues to import the units.

Reznik went on to say that before he ships a transmitter that he switches each unit to operate only in the Amateur Radio Service bands. He also claimed that equipment that transmits solely on Amateur Radio Service frequencies is not subject to the equipment authorization requirement prior to manufacture or marketing.

But in its letter of Citation the FCC says that it appears that the seven transmitter devices marketed on Reznik's website were equipped with external toggle switches. The FCC says that if these switches are engaged it would allow operation of the device on the restricted frequencies.

The FCC has warned Reznik that if he violates the Communications Act or the Commission's Rules in any manner after receipt of the Citation, that the regulatory agency Commission may impose monetary forfeitures for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation.

Reznik was given the customary 30 days to reply to the Citation. He was directed to specify the actions he is taking so as not to violate the Commission's Rules governing the marketing of radio frequency equipment in the future. But the federal regulators really don't have to wait. All they have to do is go to the World Wide Web to find a notice on the Range Video website next to each of these units that reads:

"This item is temporary not available. The FCC is not allowing us to sell these transmitter to the USA because they can be modified to transmit on restricted frequencies."

The Range Video website notice goes on to state that all future transmitter devices shipped to the USA will have this toggle switch permanently removed by the manufacturer to allow transmission only on 910 MHz.

The FCC noted that more than 2600 of these illegal transmitters have been sold by Range Video since 2006.

Source: ARNewsline, FCC