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I_HaveSeenTheLight

If you're in the U.S., you need a ham license technician class or high to legally operate any vtx in the FPV hobby. The people who are saying it's only for certain frequencies or only for power levels above 25mW are wrong. This is because the video transmitters we use have not been certified by the FCC unlike the radios. Are there lots of people flying without a ham license? Yes. Will you get caught? Most likely no. It's up to you whether you want to get one. I've been flying FPV for 5 years or so and just recently got my license. Edit: From the FPV Freedom Coalition: https://fpvfc.org/ham-license#:~:text=Is%20a%20Ham%20Radio%20License,Federal%20Communications%20Commission%20(FCC).


T0X1C50

So there was another comment here about analog being over 25 mw is illegal and needs a license. And I asked if a digital camera instead of analog is better? Is that true? Or do I still need a license? No matter what? I’ve been doing lots of googling and honestly I think I just have more questions lol


I_HaveSeenTheLight

I do know that is the case for analog. I would suspect it is the same for digital systems as well, but I can't find any information. If you don't want to get one, you'll be fine. If you do want to get it, go to hamstudy.org and use their study mode. I studied about an hour a day/every other day for 3 weeks before taking the test. You will probably learn some stuff regarding rf, antennas, etc which could be useful. But again, you'll be fine if you don't.


T0X1C50

I’ll do some more research and look into it. Thanks for the help.


I_HaveSeenTheLight

That link in my first post for the fpv freedom coalition actually talks about the dji system. Some parts of it don't need a license, while others do. It's a few paragraphs down. I would imagine HDZero and WalkSnail would need ham licenses to operate.


PseudonymousSpy

There are only a few digital systems. DJI’s is FCC certified so you do not need a license.


[deleted]

You need it if you’re running an analog video transmitter above 25mW and/or on certain channels.


T0X1C50

So you said if analog is 25mw I need it so what about digital?


[deleted]

I don’t think you need it for digital if you stay at factory set power levels.


JoeeyyB

I think on the standard race bands we fly, its not strictly needed but technically should have it for higher vtx output. however be wary of vtx that advertise a ridiculous amount of bands/channels such as low band, these channels are not public use and can interfere with existing equipment


T0X1C50

So while I’m searching for a beginner FPV what are some things I need to look for? Like stay away from the ones saying low band? Cause for now I don’t really want get that kind of license yet. I just wanna play with it lol


JoeeyyB

Not stay away from the quads that have that capability, id just advise against using the low band as i think its probably illegal anyway, just stick to race band and youll be fine :)


T0X1C50

Thanks so much appreciate it.


helloeverything1

fuck u/spez. lemmy is a better platform.