I fly on 6 meters does this mean that my instructor has to be a ham too?

As long as you're standing within reach of the transmitter you're the control operator, even if you can't fly the plane.

Sorry, Tim, no third party operation is legal with six meter telemetry/digital one way transmissions/operation. The control op rule only applies to telephony, CW or other modes which have two parties in communication with each other. Obviously, the model cannot be considered in communication.

Normal control operator protocol does not apply to R/C model application, believe it or not.

No, you will not find a rule in the book, or at least you couldn't for a long time, however, an FCC Commissioner who was asked about this some time ago, made it clear that the FCC considered a non licensed operator, regardless of the presence of a license operator in the vicinity of the transmitter, to be unlawful.

Ed Cregger, NM2K

I didn't read the original post, but some years ago in Miami we held a charity event with six models for "Fly R/C" donations. Kraft Radios generously 'loaned' us six transmitters and receivers on six HAM frequencies. The stipulation from the FCC at that time was that as long as the HAM operator was holding the Master Tx and the 'student' the slave, all was legit. Oh yes, after the event, Kraft 'sold' us the radios at way below cost -- all we paid for was shipping and conversion back to 72 MHz. Kraft was a great company!

Yep, they were "the good old days". It isn't that way any longer, Lyman. Hasn't been since the early nineties when an FCC official made a declaration in a public forum. It was considered law after that statement was made.

I miss Kraft. They were a great company.

Ed Cregger

Has there ever been a recorded case where a ham operator was fined, pilloried or otherwise punished for using a buddy box with a student?

There are laws and then there are laws. I wonder who cut that tag off my mattress? :-) Who are those guys sneaking across our boarder?

Red S.

Well, if an accident occurs while operating unlawfully, the AMA, or their insurance carrier, has an out to avoid payment in case of an injury, death or other liability.

Having worked for an insurance company, I can say with confidence that they will seek any way out of paying a claim that is legal. It isn't that they are bad people, but they deal with law each and every day. It is second nature to them. They will smile while denying the claim if given the opportunity. If nothing else, they are polite.

It is also degrading amateur radio operators, those that bothered to comply with the law and legally obtained their licenses, to permit or unofficially sanction, the ignoring of laws and regulations of our government's agencies. Is this the lesson that we wish to teach our youth?

Will you get caught? Chances are pretty slim that one would get caught. However, if we teach folks that we can pick and choose which laws to obey, are we doing them and ourselves a disservice? I would say that we are.

But I am sure that you knew this and was just setting the stage for me to address this issue, Red.

Ed Cregger

They were right down the road from me - bought my 1st ever radio from them back in the mid-70's - right out of the "factory". A 3ch on

There is an excellent chance that it can be brought up to Gold Sticker standards. It would probably cost as much as a modern 3 channel system that also includes channel reversing and an elevon mixer. Such is life.

Ed Cregger

I actually looked in to that back in early 1991 but decided not to mess with it. I may donate it to the RC museum, or just keep it around for sentimental reasons.

Maybe I am old fashioned..but as a Ham radio licensee, I understand that you or I (being licensed) may allow someone else to operate your station if you are right there "in control". I thought the same thing applies to your R/C equipment...that is..someone else can fly using your equipment, providing you are right there to be in control of the "station"...make sense? Frank Schwartz AMA123 W4KFK Licensed since 1946 (Golly! I'm getting old!!!)

| once again thanks or all of the help.... I hope my clubAND the AMA | would back up a brotha incase of an accident

More likely is that if there was a serious accident, your club and the AMA would distance themselves from you as much as is legally possible. At least that's the way things tend to work.

| well one of my planes has my call stenciled across the fuse....

Actually, the FCC regulations require that your call be written on the transmitter. Most people seem to ignore this, but it's in the regulations.

I have a Micro-Avionics I keep for the same reason.

Don

I agree with you. If I'm standing right next to the non-ham holding my 6M TX, I'm still definitely in control.

Don

My first "multi" proportional was a Micro Avionics XLIC four channel rig on

Ed Cregger

The whole control op thing is okay for telephony, CW, RTTY, etc. In other words, as long as you are communicating with another licensed amateur radio operator.

In our case, the fly in the ointment is that we are operating in an uncovered mode known as telecommand. It is a one way signal meant to control a remote object. The control operator rule does not apply in this case.

Ed Cregger

You would be operating unlawfully. The control operator concept is not applied to telecommand operation - the one way transmission used to control a remote object.

The commissioner was quite clear and his comments carry the weight of law.

Ed Cregger

I beg to differ..... Someone is in control of whether that transmitter is ON or OFF. That person is the licensed ham.