Neil,
No, not even for amplifiers. It isn't stated in the rules that it is illegal to "possess" an amplifier. In fact, think of it this way. You just bought a Harris 50,000 watt AM transmitter on eBay and want to put it in your museum. The fact that it isn't FCC certified under part 15 rules doesn't make it illegal to possess.
§ 15.204 External radio frequency power amplifiers and antenna modifications.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/47cfr15.204.pdf
and
§ 2.815 External radio frequency power amplifiers.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/47cfr2.815.pdf
Phil
Howdy ...
FWIW, I got an answer back from Decade ... and their MS-100 TX is indeed certified! Here's the reply:
"Hi Ken,
Thanks for the error notification.
Our MS-100 series are indeed FCC Part 15 certified.
The FCC ID# is: MCHMS-100
We will do the correction on our web site today.
With best regards,
Sylvain Couture
Decade Transmitters Inc
3232 Richard street
Sherbrooke,Quebec Canada.
J1L 1Y2
Toll free(Canada-USA): 1-888-428-4323
http://www.decade.ca
"
I just got around to looking at all the tube transmitters Ken posted up above. I didn't read much, but liked looking at the pictures.
Here's a cute amp I stumbled across while browsing something else...
Smallest Mini Tube AMP HIFI Audio Amplifer
You have to scroll down the page to get to the detailed pictures.
Just another thing I think is cool.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Smallest-Mini-Tube-AMP-HIFI-Audio-Amplifer-6F3-PCL85-x2-/250718566487?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a5ffdb857
Darned spendy for a 5w stereo amp, but I want one. There's something comforting about the pic of the rose-colored one with the tubes glowing away.
Thanks ... I'll bookmark it.
This stuff here looks minty.. as long as were looking at pretty things, and getting farther from Part15, might as well spy this sexy set..
It's a nice Teac package deal of 2 tape decks and a mixer, with factory road cases and all - (I used to have one of these decks - but worn)
You have to scroll down to see the pictures
http://cgi.ebay.com/ESTATE-TEAC-PROFESSIONAL-2-REEL-REEL-DECKS-MIXER-/140497692225
I used one of those in the early 70s when I was in licensed radio for a brief time.
And that now all that beautiful equipment can be made obsolete by a $350 net book, a copy of Virtual Audio Cable and the free Audacity audio proggy.
"Anybody seen the splicing block?"
Regarding the priced to sale no-name Far-East FM transmitters, I've recently checked out two of them on a commercial Motorola Station Monitor.
The first one came in at about 3 watts output. The frequency was about 2 kHz high. The harmonic output was within spec. The physical construction has some microphonic problems. Slight movement of or vibration near the transmitter modulates the carrier. Wouldn't want to turn the studio monitor up to loud if near the transmitter, it might feedback by vibrating the transmitter box. The Pilot tone was way over deviated at nearly 50 kHz. The Pilot tone is what the receiver uses to synchronize the DSB demodulator to recover the stereo information. Overall the received audio was a little fuzzy (probably that Pilot tone.) There was no pre-emphasis.
The next transmitter was advertised at 50 mw output but came in at 1 to 2 mw. The transmitter was about 4 kHz off frequency. The harmonic output was within spec. There were no microphonic problems. The Pilot tone here again was over deviated at about 32 kHz. Didn't seem to be any pre-emphasis but overall the audio sounded clear.
In both cases there were no adjustments to zero the frequency or to adjust the Pilot tone deviation.
These units, be it the .05 or 5 or 15 or 20, all use the same IC chip heart as the Ramsey FM 100B models. It is the same chip found in many iPod FM wireless units.
Adding adjustments to the pilot and audio chain is rather easy if you have a steady hand for soldering to surface mount components and pads. Also these so called "east transmitters" are quite capable of producing a very clean spectral output, even better than a certified PCS or no certified Ramsey...if you know how to properly peak one and have the proper test gear to do so.
As to the legality of owning one....there is no law saying you cannot own one. There are laws stating that you cannot sell them or import them to sell. But there is no law stating that you cannot purchase one from a foreign seller.
I wish the rule rompers would get it right...at least once on this issue. :/
RFB