Grouchy Neighbors
Got my FM on the air full-time today 24/7. Thought I would be a good neighbor and go to the 10 homes within 200 feet of my property line, just to say hello, let them know what I was doing, and ask them to let me know on the very slim chance there was any interference with any of their electrical devices so I could fix the problem. Everyone thought it was very cool except one guy who made it VERY clear he did not want me to have a radio station, and even suggested he would look for a way to stop it, also guarenteed me an FCC complaint if his cordless phone or TV reception was interered with at all. He even suggested it was against code to have a radio antenna above the roof line. Well, mine is inside my garage and its only 16 inches long and built into the Ramsey. Guess there's one in every bunch!
Has anyone else experienced flack from neighbors about their stations? If so, how did you handle it? Now I figure the guy will file an FCC complaint just to have me shut down. It's kinda funny too, I've never even met this guy before.
Your obviously a great neighbor. Great idea letting them know what is going on.
As for the one guy. There is one on every block. He might just like being a a$$, he might be just having a bad day, he could be running a meth lab, or making child porn and is afraid you will draw to much attention to the neighborhood.
If he complains, which is really doubtful, ask him to complain to you first so you can make a attempt to fix it. I'd keep a log of times of operation, any frequency changes I made, even changes in transmitter equipment location. If your Ramsey Transmitter was built right and is using the little telescopic antenna provided for it. It's doubtful that it will interfer with a "MODERN" cordless telephone or TV unless it is VERY close to them.
Remember under the part 15 R&R. You are required to eliminate any interferance your equipment generates.
You've met your neighbors. That's a great step in the right direction. Be a good neighbor toward them. Checking in occasionally to see how they're doing, giving them a helping hand when you can. How about a Bar B Que!
Don't forget to invite your neighborhood Meth Cook!
Thanks for the reply. I'm sure the Ramsey is built right as I paid the extra $ to have Ramsey put it together for me, and yes I'm using the little telescopic antenna provided. I've heard (on this Forum) that the little Ramsey will usually pass muster if the FCC inspects. Hope so.
1. Regarding grouchy neighbors, see the "Filters?" topic in the forums. oldguy is (or was) apparently having a problem with a neighbor.
2. I have to disagree with lpam somewhat in this particular case:
a. Users of Part 15 devices must not cause "harmful interference," meaning to licensed radio services. Therefore, if the zipperhead complains about his TV (or AM or FM radio when listening to licensed stations), pkradio must do whatever it takes to stop that interference, or stop using the FM box.
b. However, regarding the zipperhead's cordless phone, that is just another Part 15 device. Subsection 15.5(b) says:
"Operation of an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator is subject to the conditions that no harmful interference is caused and that interference must be accepted that may be caused by the operation of an authorized radio station, by another intentional or unintentional radiator, by industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment, or by an incidental radiator."
Also, Subsection 15.5(a) says in part:
"Persons operating intentional or unintentional radiators shall not be deemed to have any vested or recognizable right to continued use of any given frequency by virtue of prior registration or certification of equipment..."
To me, this says that Part 15 devices, and the users of them, are not protected from each other's interference, and the zipperhead would have no basis to complain about interference from a Section 15.239 FM box to a Section 15.233 cordless telephone.
t[b:317480c3e6]regonsee[/b:317480c3e6] said
Also, Subsection 15.5(a) says in part:
"Persons operating intentional or unintentional radiators shall not be deemed to have any vested or recognizable right to continued use of any given frequency by virtue of prior registration or certification of equipment..."
To me, this says that Part 15 devices, and the users of them, are not protected from each other's interference, and the zipperhead would have no basis to complain about interference from a Section 15.239 FM box to a Section 15.233 cordless telephone.
Completely forgot about that, [b:317480c3e6]tregonsee[/b:317480c3e6] is right and I am in complete agreement.
Thanks for the good info! I'm trying to do this all legal on both the AM and FM. I will admit though that my Ramsey FM 100 x-mitter does get my signal out a few hundred feet further than my property line and can be heard in the general neighborhood and I'm assuming this is because I'm on a hill overlooking everone else. So I don't know if the FCC would get technical and frown on that should they inspect. Hopefully this guy will forget about it once he realizes he's not experiencing any interference.
I have been having that problem with a neighbor. I have a problem now because she has a PROBLEM (with life). I have been running a micro station (slightly above legal power) for about 2 years with no prob. She moved in about 6-7 months ago. No prob for first 3-4 months until I told her that I had this little station. I was hoping she would become a listener, instead we become enemys. She came over to complain that my "electric guitar" was causing "wavy lines" on her TV. I explanied that that really couldn't happen. I went over to investigate and found that she was having interference that was "intermittent" in nature....looked like interferrence caused by an electric moter or power lines...She still thought it was my guitar until I explained that the "lines" were on her set... NOW..... and I was not playing.... but standing beside her. Then I make the mistake....mentioning my station. DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB. I tried to explain that it would be...continuious interference not... on & off..on & off... if it were from me.
I'll try to shorten this up...it's getting long...sorry!
She started calling the landlord (we live in a 4 plex) and complaining...he called me & I explained..he agreed..but she kept complaining..so I turned it off for a week to get some rest...she kept complaining "wavy lines"...no x-mitter on...so I shot her! (Just Kidding-I was daydreaming...my fingers are an extention of my subconsious sometimes. )...so I turned it back on..and don't talk to her at all anymore...but now she steals my newspaper! REALLY ( I caught her this past sunday am).
Things got so bad that I called the FCC on myself-if they were coming out I at least wanted to turn down the power a tad (5 watts now). They said they would NOT come out and investigate because it sounded like I'm not doing anything wrong (I said I was Part 15-didn't mention "The 5"). They even sent her a pamplet on radio interference and what each kine looks like and how to stop it.
I'll quit here with my radio saga. I could go on & on. I entertains my friends with this saga by doing an impersonation on my "neighbor". Lisp & all. If you want to here more about all this I will be glad to go on. If you want me to shut up I can do that too!
The end - for now.
Oldguy
BTW-i call myself oldguy because I feel that way sometimes. i'm 57. Had my first pirate station when I was 14...got busted...not by fcc but by the power company when they got tangled in my 8 block antenna (i charged a whole lot of wire at the hardware store to my mom and threw it over the power lines & telephone poles down to my friends house so he could here me. other than the loooong antenna we were completly legal! i then worked in radio for 35 years, became disabled, and now run a pirate station again. what goes around..........................
Oh my GOD that was hilarious. I was reading, expecting the typical interference story - then I got to the "shot her" bit and now I'm wiping the coca-cola off my monitor. Great job.
Don't encourage me...I'll go on & on & onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on &onon & on
Hey oldguy it's fine with me if you go on, I love reading your posts. 😆
You are a fantastic neighbor. I don't think your situation is anything like the guy in my neighborhood who runs a car repair service center from his driveway! And, despite numerous complaints and zoning violations, continues to do so! If someone in my neighborhood, besides myself, was running part 15, I'd surely listen.
Mike