Who is SUPPOSED to be able to program radios ?
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:32 am
IT manager Rob has been asking about programing radios for his county. At the risk of having rotten fruit tossed my way ... and I know it is one of those things I should be able to find myself ... what are the current regs about programming?
Showing my age, I remember when the FCC had strict regs about who was supposed to be able to set freq's and play with radios. If we are 100% by the book, can anyone with radio smarts and software do it these days?
I'll rephrase that, can anyone with radio smarts and software LEGALLY do it these days?
It is no big deal programming radios if you understand what you are trying to do and what the software is trying to let you do. Sometimes it is not very intuitive, you are expected to know what they re trying to say even though it is not explained (not explained well, just not explained at all) It makes it look like Microsoft is writing children's books. But it is do-able.
But is it legal? Or maybe even a more important question, is it wise?
Rob might be a very good IT guy. He might take to radio programming like a ham club to a pot of beans. But does being an IT guy qualify him to understand what needs done?
Showing my age, I remember when the FCC had strict regs about who was supposed to be able to set freq's and play with radios. If we are 100% by the book, can anyone with radio smarts and software do it these days?
I'll rephrase that, can anyone with radio smarts and software LEGALLY do it these days?
It is no big deal programming radios if you understand what you are trying to do and what the software is trying to let you do. Sometimes it is not very intuitive, you are expected to know what they re trying to say even though it is not explained (not explained well, just not explained at all) It makes it look like Microsoft is writing children's books. But it is do-able.
But is it legal? Or maybe even a more important question, is it wise?
Rob might be a very good IT guy. He might take to radio programming like a ham club to a pot of beans. But does being an IT guy qualify him to understand what needs done?