Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has asked Canadian retailers of Baofeng, as well as other brands to stop selling these radios.
I’ve said it over and over again. Owning an amateur radio requires a license. Despite what others may have told you online or elsewhere, this is simply a fact and is enshrined in law.
Over the past few years I’ve heard every excuse for ignoring this law. Some of the most common ones have been:
When SHTF laws will not apply.
Who’s gonna catch me?
I only use it to listen.
The list goes on, but those are the ones used most often. The first one, regarding no rule of law in SHTF may or may not apply. There are any number of scenarios where the government may actually use excessive rule of law. It would not be out of the question that the airwaves could be monitored for illegal communications. Remember, anyone with a receiver can hear what you say on the air!
If you only use your radio for listening, then that’s great, never pushing that PTT button ensures you won’t be heard or tracked, but you’re still circumventing the law. Keep in mind that you can inadvertently hit the PTT, just like you can “butt dial” 911 on your cell phone.
The real issue comes up when people think they can’t be tracked. The problem with the majority of less expensive radios is that they can be programmed outside the amateur bands. Many people like to use them for FRS/GMRS frequencies. These radios are overpowered for these free services and using them for this purpose can cause interference for others that are using legal radios. But it doesn’t end there. Lots of users have been programming them outside the ham bands, thinking they won’t have hams complaining. The problem is that they are often programmed to use Mobile Land frequencies, otherwise known as Commercial Radio, where legal users have paid for exclusive use of specific frequencies, again causing interference.
This is what has led to an all out ban on these radios. Illegal users have been causing interference with legal users. When this happens, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will investigate, track, and fine these users. The problem became so widespread that they have now cracked down on the radios themselves instead of the illegal users. Is it fair, maybe not, but it seems to be the only way to get a handle on the situation.
Hopefully sometime in the near future, Baofeng and the other manufacturers will create a firmware version for Canada that will limit their frequency ranges and bring the radios into spec, but until then you will have a hard time finding these radios for sale anywhere in Canada. Even Ebay is clamping down and removing the listings of these radios if they are shipped to Canada.
In the meantime, we are looking for quality, inexpensive radios for our online store. Please be patient and visit the website to sign up for notifications so you can keep up to date on the situation. Also keep in mind, that if you already own a Baofeng radio and need accessories, we continue to have lots of items in stock.
