Robert Bonomi ) writes:

"way back when", there was 2nd set of frequenceis, besides the 11m ones
for RC controls. I don't remember at this remove (roughly 30 years) just
where it was. Was not used much, gear was much more expensive.

And yes, there were some ham frequencies where RC operations were allowed.


Amateur radio invented remote controlled vehicles, certainly as a hobby.

Since amateur radio was a technical playground, and fairly open rules
to allow that, it was there when someone wanted to fly a remote controlled.
Years ago, there was a bit in QST about early work in RC airplanes, I think
it was Ross Hull (the Australian ham who moved to the US to work at the ARRL
and was never licensed in the US, and died by accidental electrocution) and
Roland Bournes.

It took no special license, since it was allowed under the rules. It
was only later, when the hobby became more popular that a need for
an RC license that didn't require a test came about, with frequencies
set aside for the purpose.

There was a whole period when people would get a ham license because
they were interested in radio controlled vehicles.

That faded with the arrival of RC licenses and frequencies.

The "frequencies" for RC in the ham bands were a combination of where
it was legal to send that sort of thing (but it wasn't specifically
about RC) and gentlemen's agreement, since one didn't really want
interference from other operators when flying an RC plane.

Michael VE2BVW