The Earl Tablet... an interesting Comms Device

http://www.meetearl.com/
This device was brought to the Monkeys attention by our own @kellory ....


I was interested in the concept, but noticed a MAJOR flaw in the design, that would keep it from being imported into the USA.

So, I did some research in CFR 47 Part 95 which is the FCC Regulations that govern Personal Communications Radio Services, like GMRS, FRS, CB, and MURS. If you read the blurb, linked above, you will notice that the device not only has WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, AM & FM Broadcast, Short Wave, Long Wave, and NOAA Wx Vhf Channels, but it can function on GMRS, FRS, and MURS, as a TwoWay Radio Walkie/Talkie. So far, so Good, No problem... Then they go on to say, that not only can you communicate on these Radio services via Voice, but "
Send secure text or voice messages via Walkie-Talkie; even transmit weather, location, and route information. Signal for help, report fires or alert your group to changing conditions."
There is the rub.... The sending of Text Messages, Secure, or otherwise, is an expressly, Illegal Use, under the FCC Rules for GMRS, and MURS Radio Services, and a very Limited Use for the FRS Radio Service. See CFR47 Part 95.361 (a), (e), & (f) below:

(a) A GMRS transmitter must transmit only emission types A1D, F1D, G1D, H1D, J1D, R1D, A3E, F3E, G3E, H3E, J3E or R3E. A non-voice emission is limited to selective calling or tone- operated squelch tones to establish or continue voice communications. See § 95.181 (g) and (h).
(e) No GMRS or CB transmitter shall employ a digital modulation or emission.
(f) No GMRS, CB or R/C transmitter shall transmit non-voice data.
(j) A MURS transmitter must transmit only emission types A1D, A2B, A2D, A3E, F2B, F1D, F2D, F3E, G3E. Emission types A3E, F3E and G3E include selective calling or tone-operated squelch tones to establish or continue voice communications. MURS transmitters are prohibited from transmitting in the continuous carrier mode.

These rules pretty much make transmissions of Text Messages, on these Licensed Radio Services, Illegal under CFR47Part 95...

The FRS Radio service is allowed to transmit Text & Data under the following Rule CFR47Part95.631 (d): (This is the rule that allows the Garmin Rhino series GPS/FRS Units to operate in the USA......
(d) An FRS unit may transmit only emission type F3E or F2D. A non-voice emission is limited to selective calling or tone-operated squelch tones to establish or continue voice communications, digital data transmission of location information or text messaging.

So, it will be interesting to see if this device can garner an FCC Type Acceptance Certification, without which it may NOT be imported or used in the USA.

I sent a note off to the OEMs, and asked the question.... I will report back what they say....

 

Now if they made a Ham version, with 2M, and 70cm, I would buy one in an instant.... Especially if it had an External Antenna Connector.....
I would "assume" that this could be a Software Patch, that made those frequencies available. .......
I just programmed up my New Vhf/Uhf Base Radio with a variety of frequencies in those and other radio services. Kenwood TM-710A.... Has 1000 Memory
Channels. Mine covers Aircraft, MURS, 2M Ham, Business, Public Safety, Ems, Fire, Marine, 70cm Ham, GMRS, FRS, Marine Uhf, and a few other services that I could think of... I have the matching HandHeld coming, which has many of the same capabilities. Kenwood TH-72a.... Hoping it will be on todays, Mailplane.... It will be setup with the same Frequency Lineup as the Base Unit....

 

Got the TH-72a today on the Mail Plane.... way to many Buttons and Menus, but I got all the channels that I programmed into TM-710a transferred over the TH-72a... so now they have duplicate Channel Setups, without having to retype all those things into a new Radio... Next it messing around with the built-in GPS, and seeing what it will do with Waypoints... and then sending those back to the TM-710a Base Station. After that it will be looking into the sending of Text Messages and pictures back and forth... Oh Baby, Lots of fun in store... with a pretty steep learning curve...