WEAK-AM

I believe I read somewhere that you can use a Wi-Fi router to “broadcast” audio directly to other computers in your area. Has anyone here done this? What software did you use to stream the audio? How well did it work? What kind of range did you get? Did you get any listeners?

I’ve got a spare Linksys 802.11b router and I think I’d like to give this a try. All suggestions welcome!

Here’s something to think about: Why would we want to cultivate the idea that Part 15 low power radio is some kind of “pirate” operation? That’s what most people tend to think anyway. And it is typically the reason why many legitimate Part 15 operators get hassled by FCC agents.

People often assume that any station they hear that’s not a licensed station “must be a pirate” and therefore should be reported to the FCC. So I have to ask; how is it helping our attempts to legitimize Part 15 low power operation by associating ourselves with the term “Pirate Radio”? Or with those who promote that idea?

In my opinion, this is something to be avoided.

Here’s a handy reference to have on hand – the FCC’s TV Channel Frequency Chart. http://www.fcc.gov/oet/dtv/tvchfreq.html

Here’s a handy reference to have on hand – the FCC’s TV Channel Frequency Chart. http://www.fcc.gov/oet/dtv/tvchfreq.html

It took me awhile to find this. So if you find it useful, you might want to save a copy.

Just received my Christmas present to myself– a Sangean WR-11. It’s similar in concept to the Tivoli Model One. This unit has great sound; not quite as boomy as the the Tivoli, which might be good if you like to listen to NPR. Also, the sensitivity on AM is immeasurably better! From the low end to the top of the x band, it picked up weaker stations with ease. I am surprised at how good it is.

I haven’t fully explored the FM capabilities yet. I suspect it will be relatively ho-hum in terms of sensitivity and selectivity– probably not as good as the Tivoli. Still, it probably will be adequate for most listeners.

I’ll add some more details later.

Most of us are probably AM operators, but if you use FM or if you hope the FCC might someday authorize a useful LPFM service (like they have in New Zealand, where you can operate with 1/2 watt!), then you want to be sure to file comments against the proposal to raise the power of digital FM sidebands by a factor of 10. Comments are due this coming Friday, November 28, 2008. Studies have shown that this will create additional interference to licensed stations, but it will also squeeze out low power FM operators who often are forced to use the 2nd or 3rd adjacent channels where this additional power will end up. It is rather difficult to find the public notice related to this proceeding, but here is the link: http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2008/db1023/DA-08-2340A1.pdf

Please read the notice carefully. Do not bother sending in e-mail comments or brief text comments; the Commission will ignore them. Either use the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or send comments by mail. Instructions on how to submit comments may be found here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ and you can look at previously filed comments here: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov//prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi. You need to enter “99-325” in the “Proceeding” box. As I write, there are about 1145 comments dating back several years. The newest ones are displayed first.

IBOC, also known as “In Band On Channel” and “High Definition” radio, is neither. Many of us who have been associated with radio for more than a few years believe that IBOC is based on junk science, and was approved on the basis of political considerations rather than technical ones.

If you comment, please be professional, spell-check your document, and please be sure to have read the referenced documents in the Public Notice. Don’t just write “this is an idiotic idea” or you will be ignored. I won’t tell you what to write, but please be professional and respectful, and base your comments on technical or economic arguments.

WEAK-AM

Although I have puttered around with Part 15 AM for more than 20 years, it wasn’t until last year that I really got serious about it. I spent well over $1,000 on equipment during the past 12 months, and I was planning on making further investments. However, in view of recent FCC rule “clarifications”, I am wondering whether it’s time to just give up and sell all of my gear on e-Bay while I can still get something for it. What do you gentlemen think?

I own several FCC Certified transmitters. Because one of the posters on this board went to the FCC and hounded them for interpretations of the FCC rules, all of these transmitters are now apparently illegal since they all contain internal matching networks (“loading coils”). If I modify the transmitters to remove the impedance matching networks, the output power will drop to an unusably low level, there will be no harmonic suppression, and the certifications will be voided.

Besides that, apparently I must now install my transmitter within a few inches of dirt, and in addition I can’t use a ground screen to improve the poor ground conductivity in my area. I would have to site the transmitter in a very poor location. Even if I somehow figured out how to match the antenna without the use of a “loading coil” (probably impossible), the signal would only go a few feet under those conditions.

I don’t want to start a technical debate on these “clarifications” but I am wondering what some of you think– Is it time to give up? I can’t afford the possibility of having to pay a big fine. What are you going to do?

I also worry that this is going to put the few Part 15 equipment manufacturers that have supported our hobby out of business.