A true amateur radio operator would gladly help and guide the proper use of anyone willing to learn a new technical area, measure the power of the adquiered gadget, or get a technical tutorial.
I sense an overprotective position from many of the posters here about the entity regulating the use of radio transmitters.
The law was not meant to be interpreted but to be obeyed, but the reason to 'control' the use of radio transmissions is to prevent public airwaves to contribute to crime of any sorts.
To be entitled to use any radio transmitter, a license must be had.
The airwave polluters and worst interference makers in the planet are not radiotinkerers nor the illegal radio operators. Are the F****N compact fluorescent light bulbs
Those killed the radio amateur activity.
And no entity has moved a finger about it.
And if to operate a radio transmitter you need a license, better the government regulating entity start (yes, sure!) by mandating licenses to ALL CELLULAR TELEPHONE USERS. Those
are radio transmitters; in hands of whoever and irresponsable users too, used in illegal activities too, and hard to monitor, and of extreme security danger when misused.
If ever a guy in black knocks at my door about radio transmissions, will get an earful, even if I end in jail. I do not make illegal use of radio, and have a license -no, I have two!-
Miguel
Amateur radio operator -before CFLs-