I think I know a way to get the maximum out of not just legal radio, but practically anything else.
Instead of waiting around to get caught for inadvertently breaking the law you go straight to the top and find out what you can do.
Now that the FCC is coming back to work you could call up, ask for Aijet, and pin him down with this question: "Mr. Pai? I would like to know what's legal so I can do it."
The same strategy would work in other areas: "Hello, police chief? I would like to know what's legal so I can do it."
Even on a date... no one wants to be the next #METOO bring-down: "I would like to know how far I can go so I can do it."
Are we together on this?
Ha Ha! good one Carl!
Oh boy I can see this one getting the attention of someone who may have you committed if you were to ask just like that!!
OK on a side note to this and getting more serious. REC(dot)net has lots of information on unlicensed part 15 AM vs FM and I did note that they did talk about an average range of 2 miles and they specifically mentioned the Procaster and Rangemaster AM Transmitters. Also REC(dot)net compares what we are allowed to other countries.
In Canada using BETS-1 they are allowed far more range on FM than we are however due to the on slot of FM translators rebroadcasting what is on AM do to its dying status for commercial broadcasting FM is quickly becoming unusable for part 15 let alone asking for more power on FM.
Since AM is a dying band I do think we do have a ghost of a chance of asking for a special service for general use broadcasting a nice way of saying Hobby Broadcasting. Call it experimental or whatever. as Part 15 AM was meant to allow experimentation with antennas allowing an experimental service or general use service on an already dying band would slow down the illegal use of faulty FM transmitters readily available and causing issues with the Aircraft band and spewing out over deviation causing interference to other legal broadcasters who paid their fees to operate.
Right now the rules are quite clear and though some of us have tried to get a union of hobby broadcasters to try and propose more power I don't think this will happen because most are looking for things to just fall in their lap without much fight.
Right now their are some really nice C-Quam AM Stereo transmitters and I feel that a C-Qual Stereo Mandatory service (Call it C-Quam Experimental License) could be a work around. Remember the FCC grants experimental licenses why not consider C-Quam AM Stereo an experimental service, form a group and then get this passed? The only mandate would be that you MUST use a C-Quam AM Stereo transmitter. Then we could ask for 10 Watts for our experimental service or band. Our organization could start Radio shops that convert AM Radio's to C-Quam receivers.
Look if an AM station can get an experimental license to transmit DRM digital AM and there are NO RADIO's in the USA to receive the signal why can't we get an experimental license for C-Quam AM Stereo whereas there are kits to build that allow your receiver to receive C-Quam? Makes more sense to me.
Just food for thought for anyone who may want to tackle this as a work around.
This last post is a classic example of misinformation wrapped in a bunch of other stuff.
I don't know where you're getting the factoid that 2 miles range for Part 15 AM is "average".
I've been broadcasting for over 10 years under Part 15 and RSS210 AM, using certified transmitters (the Rangemaster, the ProCaster, the Talking House and the Talking Sign being just some of the equipment used).
The absolute best range I've ever gotten, in the absolute best conditions, was a listenable signal just over a mile on a sensitive car radio. I've heard my signal at times close to 2 miles away, but it was faint and I wouldn't want to listen for long (the only reason I picked it up is that I knew it was there).
From my experiences, and what I've read, average range is probably in the 1/4 to 1/2 mile range to a good radio. Maybe double that in noise free, rural areas.
Talking about 2 miles of range as if it was normal really misrepresents what most people can expect and will get with typical over-the-air Part 15 broadcasting.
For BETS FM, in line of sight conditions (with an MS-100), I've seen 1/4 to 1/2 mile ranges to sensitive car radios. Again, I've heard the signal further, but I wouldn't want to listen to it long. The furthest a good portable got was several hundred meters (less than 1/4 mile).
If you're getting anything more than these kind of ranges, then you're likely not legal.
Carrier current is of course a whole different ball of wax, and probably represents the best way to get some decent range under the right conditions.
ALSO
Maybe I missed the original point, but why would anyone need an experimental license to test CQUAM Stereo when we can already freely broadcast CQUAM Stereo without extra permission?
Legacy said........."In Canada using BETS-1 they are allowed far more range on FM than we are however due to the on slot of FM translators rebroadcasting what is on AM do to its dying status for commercial broadcasting FM is quickly becoming unusable for part 15 let alone asking for more power on FM."
In Canada the translator thing isn't happening like in the USA. In Toronto and the greater Toronto area(GTA) from Hamilton to Oshawa(4 to 6 million people), only two AM stations are also broadcasting the same thing with limited power to a local coverage area on FM and they actually went over top of another station that was receivable from outside it's protected area which wasn't good for part 15/BETS-1 anyway. Other than that there's not much of this happening and in the rest of the country there aren't enough stations on AM or FM for it to ever be a big problem for part 15. Zoomer Radio 740 is one of the two stations, think you mentioned you get it there at night? They rely on their AM part for large scale coverage and the FM part covers mainly downtown Toronto and where I am it's borderline....the other station on that frequency is fighting with it. The eastern seaboard of the USA has more stations than the whole country of Canada.