Frequency Tolerance,
Navy-Marine Corps MARS Ops,
Amateur Radio Equipment,
and
NTIA Requirements
updated 13 OCT 2011
References:
A. NTP-8 (series) Chapter 2 para 283.c
B. NTP-8 (series) Annex B para B410.g
C. NTP-8 (series) Annex B para B520 through B522
Periodically the question comes up, often in the form of a debate, as to whether or not Amateur Radio equipment, modified to operate on MARS frequencies, is a violation of regulations. Do they meet the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) frequency restrictions?
Hopefully The following quote from Chief MARS will help put these concerns in perspective. Reprinted here by permission.
If you have questions or concerns about a specific piece of radio equipment start with your state director, or the equipment manufacturer.
Do not send inquires directly to Chief MARS, or his staff.
"This comes directly from an Official at NTIA (He attends SHARES meetings).
"The frequency tolerance and purity specifications contained in the NTIA Manual
("Red Book") are OPERATIONAL limits. In other words, we must operate within
those specifications. NTP 8 has, for years, specified the same frequency tolerances
as in the NTIA manual and virtually ALL amateur equipment meets these specs out of the box.
The only time they will come after you is if you cause "interference." If you cause
interference, you will be told to "correct" the problem. Period. "We have never had a complaint of any of our members operating outside of NTIA operational
limits.
"When we get up to VHF repeaters, we must have a narrow-band repeater certified with
a J/F-12 number since each of these are licensed by geographic location. We have several
that meet the spec GE, Kenwood, etc. It's just a matter of getting the J/F-12 number."
Bo Lindfors,
Chief, Navy-Marine Corps MARS