I was arguing with a coworker today about the use of common business band radio use. Basically he said that the radios we use at work are on licensed frequencies and its a federal offense to own any other common business band radio that can be programed to run on the same business band VHF RX/TX frequencies (standard 146 - 174 MHZ FM VHF business band).
He claims that to set up any common business band radio to use the same channels as we do at work requires a FCC permit and license. I say it does not being that anyone can buy the same radio units plus programing cables and the full OEM programing software online with out question.
I found all of our radio units plus related programing cables and the full OEM dealer programing software packages for all of them on eBay surprisingly cheap which to me says anyone can buy, program, and use any of our business band channels without license and what not if they so chose to.
Who's right? Are our work channels FCC secured by license to us and only us or being standard off the shelf VHF business radio anyone who has a business band radio and programing capacity can also listen and if needed talk on our channels legally such as if they own a compatible VHF business band radio system similar to how the the old CBs were which was basically public access systems if you simply had the gear?
He claims that to set up any common business band radio to use the same channels as we do at work requires a FCC permit and license. I say it does not being that anyone can buy the same radio units plus programing cables and the full OEM programing software online with out question.
I found all of our radio units plus related programing cables and the full OEM dealer programing software packages for all of them on eBay surprisingly cheap which to me says anyone can buy, program, and use any of our business band channels without license and what not if they so chose to.
Who's right? Are our work channels FCC secured by license to us and only us or being standard off the shelf VHF business radio anyone who has a business band radio and programing capacity can also listen and if needed talk on our channels legally such as if they own a compatible VHF business band radio system similar to how the the old CBs were which was basically public access systems if you simply had the gear?
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