Now we can derive from this that no 72 MHz transmitter using a bandwidth greater that 20 KHz is legal today. Although this is a good statement, how do we determine that?
1) Any transmitter using the old 80 KHZ bandwidth frequencies is illegal. (If it’s on 72.080, 72.160, 72.240, 72,320, 72.400, 72.960 or 75.640 it is an old 80 KHz unit) 2) If it was manufactured on a odd numbered channel, or a channel below 38, then it is narrow band and legal. 3) If it was manufactured after 1991 it is legal. 4) If it has an AMA Gold Sticker on it it’s legal. 5) Futaba also states that “ALL of their FM transmitters” meet the 20KHz requirement. Not true with their AM units. So if it is a Futaba FM unit it is legal. This leaves us with the units that were manufactured from early 80’s through 1991 on channel 38 through 56 (even numbers) that may not have met the 20 KHz bandwidth. Although the AMA Gold Sticker program was in effect, the program was dropped and current unit do not carry them. Bottom line is if the unit was manufactured before 1991 on channel 38 through 56 it should have a gold sticker, but how do you know when it was manufactured.
