KD4LEI
12-18-2004, 05:44 AM
Gentlemen,
I cannot go into much detail while I am here at work about some information I received in an e-mail. What I can say is that I saw some familiar radio units being used for IED purposes. The reason I say this is that they were originally intended for 2m FM use.
I should be home from work about the time the "rooster starts to crow" and will pass on further info. It's something that will or will not surprise you.
I don't know if the company involved is aware of this yet.
73
Chad,
I hope that this comes as no suprise to you, but the big companies will sell radios to anyone with the cash. They are in business to sell radios after all, and the intended use may not be how they (the radios) are supposed to be used.
I remember some time ago, during one of the revolutions/coups/insurrections in central America somewhere, one of the "commandos" was shown on the nightly news using what appeared to be a two-meter handi-talkie for his communications. Why two meter radios? Well, they are easily obtained and cheap when compared to the commercial model.
This same secenario was repeated during gulf war 1 and gulf war 2. Not mentioning brands names here but let's just say that certain models appear in the hands of rebels more than others, but they can all be readily identified as "Ham Radios". Again, this should be no suprise to anyone who has been paying attention.
Is this a bad thing? Probably. But what can we do about it? Absolutely nothing. The companies involved are not American, so our rules do not apply, and even if they were in the USA, anyone can buy an Amateur radio. Buying a radio is not illegal, using it without the proper authority is the problem.
We can rant, rave, rend our garments in frustration, but it makes no difference to the rebels, terrorists, freedom fighters, jihad followers etc... Furthermore, it makes no difference to the radio manufacturers either. Business is business...
BTW, it seems that most of the time, we see these VHF radios in the hands of the unwashed, but what makes us think that HF is not utilized in this manner also? I seem to remember an Amateur radio (HF type) again, brand not specified here, that was prominently displayed on our national news during the recent conflicts in what used to be Yugoslavia. They were using 75 meters to relay information to the media. Anyone else remember that?
Circle the wagons, Joe Ham, the bands are under attack again!!
73 Gary WG7X