Lee,
What is the source of your statement a few posts back?
“WARNING: The FCC also states it is illegal in the USA to posess,transport,sell,market,own or operate any transmitter that is not a kit that does not comply with and bear an FCC certification ID tag.”
The applicable FCC rules I have located are stated below. Nowhere is it written that it is illegal to own or posses such a transmitter.
The simplest statement is in the document OET BULLETIN NO. 63, “UNDERSTANDING THE FCC REGULATIONS FOR LOW-POWER, NON-LICENSED TRANSMITTERS”:
What happens if one sells, imports or uses non-compliant low-power transmitters?
The FCC rules are designed to control the marketing of low-power transmitters and, to a lesser extent, their use. If the operation of a non-compliant transmitter causes interference to authorized radio communications, the user should stop operating the transmitter or correct the problem causing the interference. However, the person (or company) that sold this non-compliant transmitter to the user has violated the FCC marketing rules in Part 2 as well as federal law. The act of selling or leasing, offering to sell or lease, or importing a low-power transmitter that has not gone through the
appropriate FCC equipment authorization procedure is a violation of the Commission's rules and federal law. Violators may be subject to an enforcement action by the Commission's Field Operations Bureau...
Actual regulations:
§ 2.803 Marketing of radio frequency devices prior to equipment authorization.
(a) Except as provided elsewhere in
this section, no person shall sell or
lease, or offer for sale or lease (including
advertising for sale or lease), or import,
ship, or distribute for the purpose
of selling or leasing or offering for sale
or lease, any radio frequency device
§ 15.1 Scope of this part.
...
(c) Unless specifically exempted, the
operation or marketing of an intentional
or unintentional radiator that is
not in compliance with the administrative
and technical provisions in this
part, including prior Commission authorization
or verification, as appropriate,
is prohibited under section 302
of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, and subpart I of part 2 of this
chapter.
Communications Act of 1934
SEC. 302. [47 U.S.C. 302] DEVICES WHICH INTERFERE WITH RADIO
RECEPTION.
...
(b) No person shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, or ship devices
or home electronic equipment and systems, or use devices, which fail to comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.
...
These things are spendy, but I'm convinced it's the best Part 15 FM transmitter available, although I believe that while it's Part 15 approved (published specs show it falls right on the legal limit), it may not carry the certification sticker ... I'm inquiring about that directly from Decade now.
I intend to purchase and set one up in the business park where my studio is, with continuous running blurbs about what all the businesses are offering (inexpensive MP3 player set to repeat playlist). Drivers should have no trouble tuning it in as they come up the lane or while passing by the reader board. I'm writing a proposal to the business park owner to get it paid for.
Phil B,
I think without argument, most of us here understand that the regulations you cite are exactly what is written down to guide the FCC in the interpretation and execution of its duties. However, you have missed perhaps the most influential part of the rules; case law. Administrative case law allows regulating agencies of the federal, state and local governments and the courts to execute laws, rules and regulations, and their interpretation, flexing to the needs of the people and technology. Case law is history recorded. Laws are by their very nature dynamic, constantly changing. Otherwise we would still be living in the Dark Ages. Application of technology, regardless of it's individual history, is in constant flux. FCC rules and regulations should never be considered in the same league with the laws of nature.
Recently, several cases including KenC in Stayton, Oregon have pointed to the fluid interpretation of the exact meaning and application of the rules and regulations. Liberty Radio near Omaha had a similar experience. The overall affect of the ultimate ruling was chilling on many practitioners in Part 15 broadcasting. The argument could be made that none of these cases were "text book" interpretations of the current rules in their totality.
Let's not forget...the addition that administrative case law gives to the total understanding of what each of us enjoy (Part 15) for our own personal reasons.
So, even though you have reminded us of the actual verse and verb of the rules and regulations, the real world interpretation and execution is marginally different from your account. The final interpretation still leaves room for argument. This discourse is healthy and moves the entire discipline of Part 15 forward for the progressive use of the technology. We should agree that Part 15 is multi-dimensional as a broadcast and communication discipline and unique experiential technology. We cannot know where we are going without the knowledge of where we have been.
Even after nearly a half century working in radio and television, I do not consider myself an expert. The more I think I know, the more I know, I don't know. I'm just sayin'.
Marshall, what is wrong with your website?
I would buy this right now if I hadn't of already spent so much.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Remco-Radiocraft-Transistor-Radio-Broadcast-System-/380308671248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588c29cb10
This is cool..
Anyone you know?..
http://cgi.ebay.com/AM-BROADCAST-TRANSMITTER-ANTIQUE-RADIOS-/130474744812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e60e69bec
What is fluid about Ken C's situation? A 40' or a 12' ground lead doesn't meet the 3 meter standard no matter how you measure it. Not much mystery there.
You wouldn't be able to get away with this transmitter in Canada if you were investigated. All FM transmitters, unlicensed or otherwise, have to be certified by Industry Canada (not just the FCC) or you cannot use them.
Remember the KENC ground leads, and all, were within the length limit of the rules (less than 6 inches to grounded metal). If you remember the "back and forth" with the FCC and the OET on the ground filter situation with Keith Hamilton. From my perspective, the outcome was inevitable. However, to the unlearned masses yearning knowing about mounting your AM transmitter on a metal roof or tall metal object, the outcome would appear fluid. The outcome to many here was NOT a foregone conclusion. As you know, having fewer mysteries in life can make for a boring existence, here and there. I like coloring outside the lines occasionally. You?
Rich Power,
The website problems lie with the ISP's server. They have apparently ghosted the site several times and access for FTP upload has been messed up. The promised solution is forth coming. The site you have access to is over 2 years old. The updated site is ready to publish, but because of the ISP problems cannot be accessed. I know, clear as mud. Apologies.
I have changed the Internet link, to remove the confusion, for now. Firefox is the only browser that can access the old site. I don't know why.
I get it just fine on my iMac w/Safari 5.0.2
Yeah, that's kewel. Although there are tube kits and home-brew tube circuits all over out there;
http://www.antiqueradio.org/transmitter.htm
http://www.dogstar.dantimax.dk/tubestuf/amtx-4.htm
http://www.radiomuseum.org/forum/15v_am_tube_transmitter.html
http://www.electronixandmore.com/project/10.html
http://mikeyancey.com/2-Tube-AM-Broadcaster.php
http://www.ontheair3.com/index3.html
... just a sampling 😉
Some of the folk here more or less discarded the idea of using a loop antenna (magnetic loop rather than electric monopole) for transmitting Part 15 AM, but here's a working design I intend to try out:
http://www.techlib.com/electronics/amxmit.htm#field%20strength%20meter
... scroll down to "Unfair Radio Transmitter".
There are couple of good reasons for doing things this way 1) Magnetic loop antennas are easier to load, and 2) The radiated signal seems to pass through objects easier.
The reasons why it shouldn't work very well are given in an earlier thread regarding the issues.
http://betatest.part15.us/node/1913
Marshall,
Let's put on the brakes here and start over. I assume you are talking about what I said earlier today in my "WRONG,WRONG and WRONG!!!!" reply to Lee's previous message with the same subject. In my message, only the first two paragraphs are my words, the rest is all pasted from various FCC documents as backup material so people wouldn't have to wade through the FCC site to see if I was telling the truth.
The sole point of my post was: Nowhere is it written that it is illegal to own or posses an uncertified transmitter.
That's all. Nothing deep there. If fluidity and case law can somehow make possession of an uncertified transmitter illegal, then I wouldn't want to live in the US any more. I think you probably glossed over my post when you saw all the FCC rules. It's never a good idea to put a bunch of FCC rules in a post if you want people to read it!
After reading all the part 15 forums over many years, the "whisper-down-the-lane" phenomenon is tediously persistent. Sure as shootin, a year, or whatever, from now someone will post somewhere that they heard it is illegal to buy, own or possess an uncertified transmitter because they read it somewhere on the web.
Phil
I believe, without looking it up, those words are used in the rules (maybe not part 15) regarding amplifiers which can operate on the 11 meter CB band.
Neil
Right now would be a good time for somebody to mention they had a 50kW "museum collector transmitter" on display in the basement.