[Admin Note]  This discussion started off at http://www.rcindia.org/beginners-zone/hobbyking-6-channal-2-4ghz-exceed-rc-radio-setup/ and has since been split into a separate thread.

I just can't understand when "Radio Remote Apparatus" is a restricted item under Indian Customs HS code 85269200

http://www.infodriveindia.com/HS-Codes/85269200-Radio-remote-control-apparatus.aspx

How can one 'arrange' to import the same under legal cover. I mean today I again called my very own customs link (the highest official in a state, my blood relation, thus he could not be wrong) and he re-iterated that there is a long,long procedure get a 'license' to import such items, is much longer than getting a petrol pump or liqueur shop license. The HS code is not only for occasional personal importers like us but for anyone, be it a commercial, entrepreneurial or organised entity. Restricted means 'barred' unless there is a considerable reason for exception.

There are few LHS who are claiming that only their Tx are imported legally. It would be great on LHS part to properly educate the buyer regarding the consequence and not mislead the hobbyist. Its great that LHS some how snoop the Tx and make it available to Fliers at whatever cost. But to put the false claim that they are 'Legally' imported is what infuriates me. This false claim may get any unsuspecting newbie into trouble when he flaunt the Tx in front of authorities, only to learn that all his confidence of its legality was a mirage shown by some one for its commercial interest.

Unfortunately, even after NCC and IIT having so many RC events and even some cine star / MP involved in this hobby, the hobby is still flourishing under the cat and mouse game of legality and acceptance.

I have asked this here of someone who imports radios (but he did not mention anything about legal status), and got an honest answer that efforts are going on.  I have asked the same question elsewhere when it was touted as "legally imported", and was met with solid silence. 

The LHSs have enough issues already, so why complicate their lives ? I left it at that.  It would have been prudent on the part of sellers to at least not advertise legality as their advantage.  Just project that they are dealing with procurement, shipping and after sales support/service for the customer.  That itself is enough.

I think this is a classic case  thread hijacking .
The person who started this thread  started it for some info. regarding his problem .
The reply by Ujjwal has nothing that will help the poster  to sort his problem .

So please make it a separate thread as such , we have enough problems with this hobby in any case and the least we want is to have this post  create problems for the hobby in general.

No where in my post have I referred to the points made by Ujjwal so why is this raised on a thread  where it has no significance .

It would be better to  discuss an individuals problems  with govt agencies in private rather than  a public forum.

Ujjwal
If you feel infuriated with something then please  take it up on a 1-1 basis with the person's concerned on such sensitive matter it is better for all.

You interpretation of the word legal need not be the same as someone else .

I don't see a point in  creating a problems for others when one individual has had a problem.

Sai

True   The LHS radio import discussion would be better off as a separate thread, so I am splitting it !

A note has been made at the top of the thread to show where it has been split from.

So Now all know whom to blame if Radio imports becomes a problem in  future Ujjwal and Anwar    
As this thread is pertaining to LHS only , as usual no one questions  buying from abroad though Ujjwal's problem as I remeber was when buying from abroad  .

The parent thread to this was the case of Hobby King not providing info to the buyer that the program might not  work with Vista  and a non working software  but that is OK they are not LHS 

don't blame us LHS we have been  doing our best to ensure supply but with this sort of detailed analysis out in open   due to a word " LEGAL " being used or not used   and the prevailing  preexisting problems can't say what will be the effect .  .


Sai

Nope, it is just a warning to LHSs that even end users are watching, and are getting sophisticated

than how come i got my hitec radio before 3yrs ! it was legal i paid the customs ,it was opened before reaching my hands and i asked the postman he said its a work of custom guys !
just before week i got my radio from hong kong clearly written on that " Radio control for RC plane" belive it or not i didnt pay any customs!!!!!!!!

Regards
Praveen

You are missing the point  , which is that it is not on any official piece of paper that such and such models/brands are fully legalized in our country.  All other experiences are circumstantial / luck / fate etc.

I think it also depends on the location of the importer. Probably its the strictest in Bangalore.

If RC radios are of a big issue, websites and forums like this wont exist. Ebay would have banned sellers from listing rc radios, you would have to get a license to fly with NCC etc etc. I think the frequency is Gov's main issue, they are more concerned abt FM radios than AM( if my understanding is right). The recent customs issues with 3000 rc planes is a typical example. They were all using illegal frequencies. Because of the population issue in India, Gov cant pay close attention to local areas or local groups unless there is a decentralized authority to overlook such activities. So Gov is restricting civilians from using rc radios to prevent future iuues. These things make me want to leave the country immediately... I am proud being an Indian at the same side frustrated with the admin system...

I know one day this hobby might get accepted/acknowledged but you and me will be 80 years +

Look at the news that came on tv. He would have been in jail by now or would have been heavily fined for public rc flying. I didnt hear anything about that..did you?

Jerry -

Two things are to be noted in the current environment.

1) An accident cause get you in serious trouble.

2) Any day, any official can ruin your day.  So far, this is just a possibility (for the vast majority), which is good.

Beyond that, there is not much to sweat about RC in India now.  We all would like to see a formal body with rules around RC, but nobody is doing anything about it, and that includes me and you

Anwar

I am saying all this because I feel like I want to do something about it and I need help from all the fellow members. But, honestly the best gov can do is to assign an NCC Wing officer to overlook our activities?  or We have to try to register a group of flier's as a club. But the question with showing up infront of authorities has its own problems

(1) Get proper paper work and license if needed to operate RC Radio
(2) Educate the officials about RC hobby
(3) Need more than 20 members(in Kerala) to register as a club?

We might even need to make a mass propaganda and forward it to the sports minister/ministry etc. Why dont we try to contact the already famous/experienced rc hobbyist's (like Madhavan etc) to enhance the current situation?

I am not sure where to start. 

May be people like Sai / Rajesh / Sushil know the details of previous such attempts, if any.  There are high profile flyers, and people from the various armed services.  Yet, so far nothing seems to have been done collectively.  The fact that we are living in times of proxy wars does not help either.

But one thing sounds sure enough. Such attempts would stand better chances when initiated from places like Chennai / Bangalore / Pune etc where there are already sort of official flying grounds, and a large number of members.

The full approval of radios themselves are somewhat more straight forward...  the importer / LHS needs to work through the red tape and get it done.  So far, all the shops seem to have taken the easy route on this; and quite frankly, we cannot blame them for it.  Just the amount of red tape is one reason.  Unless the LHS is an exclusive dealer and does enough sales, there is no financial incentive either. Radios having full approval is a significant step in the complete legalization of this hobby though, and we continue to wait !

The problem is that this might just land up doing the reverse of what we are looking for. In India, responses are usually based on whims and/or knee jerk of some individual, somewhere, who is totally ignorant of the issue/s. And if some silly a**h*** decides it to be a threat/dangerous, we have had it.


I wonder if you have thought about the fact that we  have so many frequency "bands" in use here. This is because of the country of purchase of the radio sets. There are sets on 35, 36, 40, 50, 72 & 75 MHz. And of course 2.4 GHz. Which band would one want as "official"? The rest would then be "officially illegal" creating havoc and a lot of angst amongst those who have "lost out".

I really think it is best to leave things be. Better to put significant efforts into reducing the chaos I have witnessed at various fields (including ours), instilling careful and disciplined flying habits etc. Calling attention to the "powers that be" may well open up a Pandora's Box.

As backwards as it sounds *initially*, I agree totally.  This seems like the right course of action (for now) considering the ground realities.

The fact that 2.4Ghz is being widely adopted would help with the "standards" part, hopefully soon.

In which case I suppose that would be our line of advice to modellers and LHS'es as well. Stock up 2.4Ghz radios and let ppl phase out the use of older systems. Like what Sushil mentions thats not an easy thing for many modelers. BUt new investments can be towards 2.4Ghz and hence better legal compliance.

even one can use (2.4Ghz) moduls on existing 35-70Mhz radios which will convert it to 2.4Ghz and also will not require to LEAVE his/her radio, and its cost efficient also