[NSRCA-discussion] 2.4g antenna

[John Pavlick]

Yup I hear you. Just like in the old days when people used to <illegally> swap transmitter crystals on non-modular radios. Just because it "works" doesn't mean it's working within the requirements of the FCC.
 
John Pavlick

--- On Thu, 2/25/10, steve hannah <shannah1806 at gmail.com> wrote:


From: steve hannah <shannah1806 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] 2.4g antenna
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 5:36 PM


Bill is correct, you can't just swap antennas and be legal.  There are a lot of complexities when it comes to how something is certified under part 15, as all of our 2.4GHz radio equipments are.  I haven't looked at my Futaba TM-14 module lately ( I sort of take it for granted), but I don't believe I can remove the antenna, as there is no connector.  I may be wrong.  However, that is exactly what the Part 15 regulations intend.  If your module is to be installed by someone other than a professional then your antenna can't have a connector (or standard electronics connector) on it.  I am not sure why Spektrum antennas have a connector on them, as it seems that the casual user could remove it and replace it.  I guess someone with more time on their hands than me would have to read their FCC authorization.  If your antenna is removed and replaced then it must be with an antenna that is electrically identical to the one that was used for testing and
 authorization.  The casual user has no way on earth to tell if this is the case, so if they modify their transmitter in this fashion then they are breaking the law.  FCC fines can be pretty steep.

My recommendation is don't even try it.  Just because you can stick an antenna on your RF module, it doesn't mean that you should try it.  Stick with the manufacturer's parts.




On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 12:57 PM, Bill's Email <wemodels at cox.net> wrote:


Steve Hannah wrote:

Usually, as long as the antenna gain is the same then you are ok.


My point was not that the antenna may not work. It was that according to the FCC you can only use the RF module with the antenna that it was certified with. This is no real big deal except for the fact that the AMA wants you to comply with all FCC regulations. Chances of it being an issue are pretty small, but that does not change the technical legality of using an uncertified antenna.

Next time I'm in Wal-Mart I'm going to swap out an new antenna on one of the carts and take it for a spin!! :~}  Mostly I love that this comment will make absolutely no sense to 99.9999% of the people out there!!







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