Grey Radios

The title of Grey Radio is given to communications equipment that has been imported by an entity other than a manufacturer appointed distributor or supplier. The term ‘Grey Import’ is more commonly used in reference to motor vehicles that are privately imported. Unlike the motor vehicle importation process though, there are no controls or australian compliance inspection requirements for these radios and as such, they are being introduced into a market of unsuspecting customers who think they are purchasing a legitimate unit at a price ‘too good to be true’.

Some of the problems associated with grey import products include:

• No genuine manufacturer warranty – Although vendors make claims about warranty cover, the original equipment manufacturer does not support grey imported products. Often these products will be sent overseas to be repaired, taking weeks, or even months to return to the user. A genuine product warranty is usually 2 or 3 years in length. Note: Most manufacturers record all serial numbers and confirm the serial number of every unit sent in for warranty repair.

• No ACMA approval – Unapproved radios cannot legally be used in Australia. The ACMA has the power to prosecute those who breach the laws associated with Australian radio communications. Prosecution can include harsh fines and imprisonment. Wrong specifications and programming – Genuine equipment offered overseas usually differs from Australian versions, and may not be pre-programmed to Australian channels. This can severely affect the performance of the radio, and may also impact on the safety of the user.

• Missing/Inactive features> – Missing features may drastically reduce the performance of the unit, and impact on the safety of the user. Other features may need activating by a skilled technician before use, costing the user valuable time and money.

• Unapproved Power Supplies – Power supplies without the correct approval cannot be used legally, and may be an electrical safety and fire risk. Many power supplies also have the wrong voltage and connections.

• Incorrect/Missing Accessories – Incorrect or third party accessories may be included, and in some instances, accessories may be missing altogether. Third party battery packs can also be a serious safety concern.

• No Warranty Product Support – Manufacturers cannot support grey import products with after sale product support, programming, modifications, spare parts, etc.

• Possible Forged Product – It has been confirmed that fake products are available. Fake products are generally not made to original specifications, and as such, the quality is considerably lower.

• Wrong Electronic Serial Numbers (ESN) – Many new products now include electronic serial numbers. Grey Import products will not have the correct ESNs, and cannot be supported in Australia.

• No Re-sale Value – Smart buyers will have no interest in grey imports.

• Customs Confiscation – Customs authorities can confiscate unapproved transmitting devices under certain circumstances.

Any investment in communications equipment these days is quite significant, and a fully informed decision should be made based on all the factors that will effect the required functionality of that investment over the full term of expected service.  ‘Grey Market’ purchases of any kind will all have similar limitations. One of most concerning is the lack of local support or service from the manufacturer. Motorola Australia makes it clear in their letter refering to Grey Radios.

Motorola is a key manufacturer in the Communications Industry, and they fully support the standards and Australian Type Approvals for Radio Products and Power Supplies. All of the products Motorola imports and then in turn distributes in Australasia meet the necessary requirements. Any importer or manufacturer of radio communications products intended for supply in Australia is required to ensure compliance with the radio communications regulatory arrangements as managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Only products supplied by Motorola Australia Pty Limited (and in turn by our Authorised Motorola Distributors) that have successfully passed all the required approval aspects, including record keeping and labelling, and have a Declaration of Conformity completed are approved to be labelled with a C-Tick logo and N44 supplier code (assigned only to Motorola Australia Pty Ltd) as shown in figure 1.

N44

Figure 1

Be aware of any Motorola products (or other radio products) that do not have the compliance as outlined in this letter. Motorola products without these compliance labels WILL NOT be repaired or supported by Motorola Australia Pty Limited. To avoid any risk, we encourage our customers to purchase Motorola radios from Motorola Australia via its Authorised Motorola Dealers.