If the seller can program it to the correct power and frequency for license free operation, then it is legal to sell it.
If the user can change that programming, then it may only be sold to someone with a ham license.
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Right, so that means this radio is in fact illegal.
For example, there is a youtube video showing how to do basic channel programming by only using the radio. Something as simple as turn radio off, hold in a specific button, turn it on. Now in coding mode.
But what stops any user from just buying the usb cable and programming it with the Chirp software? Does that also fall under user programming?
The regs unfortunately pre-date modern technology. It would all come down to the inspectorās (and then the judgeās) interpretation of ācapable of continuous tuningāā¦
So far, they have accepted password locked settings, and hardware programming (providing programming tools are - theoretically - only available to dealers).
That said, there are a massive number of illegal radios in SA - even advertised and sold openly - and ICASA hardly ever takes any action unless someone is overtly stupid about it (broadcasting on an actively used licensed frequency or publishing intercepted comms).
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Thank you very much. So what @ebendl is planning, should probably fly under the radar then.
Unless I guess you go for the exam, pass it, then can code it up to 5W.
The other option seems that if you go on 4x4 things you can register somehow to get access to ORRA frequencies.
so are all actions resulting in the ālegalā theft of electricity aka load-shedding or the employment of adt to protect you whilst having paid already via taxes for law and order aka sapd 
ā¦ and so we can join the unheard chorus of the exploited masses 
yeahā¦ but come on, two wrongs doesnāt make a right. Flying under the radar is one thing, pretending that it isnāt, in fact, carefully flying under the radar is another 
(Iām not saying donāt do it. Iām saying own it!).
Do you mean, āDonāt ask for permission, apologize if you get caught?ā
I read the post (just register an account at 4x4 forum) and basically:
- Icasa approved it at some point, but still only for HAM radio licensed operators
- Apparently the approval got withdrawn at some point
- Apparently you canāt program it to 0.5w, it always blast out at 5w.
Iām still leaning towards having it as a backup. And then Iād use it at 5w on the PMR 446 frequencies.
Yip, took a while but eventually my account was approved. I registered years ago, that time it was never approved and had to reregister.
Found the same. Will see if these can be programmed to 0.5w.
That said, I now also found we can register for an ORRA license on the 4x4community website (annual) and that lets you legally transmit on the ORRA frequencies. Its per person though, so you would have to register for yourself and your parents whom you want to communicate with. Definitely the easiest route, considering the learning material for HAM, which looks like there is a bunch of old knowledge I need to relearn as I am out of touch with most of it.
This sounds useful! Link?
ā¦ and eventually pigeons - net oppas vir die ouens met airgunne
1 Like
You asking about ORRA?
Can read about it on https://www.orra.co.za
The 4x4comunnity orra license you can order using the process at https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/247811-4x4Community-Radio-license-info-and-questions
The frequencies are: VHF
| Channel | Frequency | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Channel 01 | 161.1500 | 131.8 |
| Channel 02 | 160.4500 | 131.8 |
| Channel 03 | 161.1500 | 118.8 |
| Channel 04 | 160.4500 | 118.8 |
| Channel 05 | 152.6625 | 131.8 |
| Channel 06 | 152.6625 | 118.8 |
| Channel 07 | 152.6625 | None |
| Channel 08 | 161.1500 | None |
| Channel 09 | 160.4500 | None |
ā¦ many a truth spoken in jest i suppose 
- here i have to refer to my lunatic ramblings yesterdayā¦
which makes me recall albert einsteins reply to the journo who asked him with what kind of weapons ww3 will be fought, the grey-haired genius answered āi donāt know, but ww4 will be fought with sticks and stonesā¦ā 
edit
part of my prepper bucket list just arrived - now for a bit of training 
Nice, mine also arrived yesterday. Already programmed both for 16x PMR channels with low power output and 9x ORRA channels with high power output. Works well. I definitely heard no one else in my area on any of the channels, except for noise on PMR3.
Since I have a kidā¦who does all kinds of things to devices, I also disabled the reset and menu items completely.
Channels:
Menus disabled:
And to see the channel names on the display instead of the frequencies:
me being a newbie to this programming [although not radio protocol etc] wonder if you use an app to assist you?
regards
gabriel
Thats correct yes.
First I had to order https://www.takealot.com/uv9r-programming-cable/PLID73200166 and 2x radios.
Then you need to find the drivers for your OS, was abit of a mission on windows but it was some CH341SER drivers I found to be working.
Then you download the Chirp software from Home - CHIRP which can program a bunch of different radios, including these.
Makes it a 1000 times easier to program, though its possible using the radio keypad too if you want to go through that crazy long process to program many channels.
I should probably thank you for this postā¦
Just a bit over a year later, I now have an amateur radio license
ps. Mostly because I like hobbies and can now legally join the conversations on the repeaters in my area. Needed a callsign.
het al baie met my gebeurā¦ seker algoritmesā¦ soms as jy soek kry jy by dieselfde winkel verskillende pryse vir dieselfde items 
then there is the story of the security guard in the packed lift who wanted to impress those unfortunate enough to be in his presence - ācome in charlie bravo, dis yankee 4ā ā¦ radio silence, so the man tries at least twice moreā¦ crackle pop comes the answer ājy is charlie bravo stupidā
Of op ons radio-kring tussen die plaseā¦
Whiskey, whiskey, Whiskey, kom in! Zulu soek jou!
Op 'n keer was ek alleen op die plaas, en ons was ook deel van die Duitse radio-club, dan moes ek vroeg oggend my beste Duitse uithaal: Guten Morgen alle Station! Hier ist zwei eins fĆ¼nf fĆ¼r Row-call. Bitte melden!
Nou jaā¦
Edit: As die ouens haastig begin raak het, want hulle wil veld toe, dan ākeyā hulle die transmitter sodat die repeater beep, om die persoon wat aan diens is te herhinner hy moet nou klaarkry. En daar is min dinge so ongeduldig soos 'n Duitser wat wil gaan boerā¦