$14,000 fine from FCC for selling unapproved FM transmitters
They'll be fined out of business soon. This is Fine number two for them.
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
Universal Life Ministries
http://www.ulc.org
Moderator Hunterdonfree
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterdonfree
They'll be fined out of business soon. This is Fine number two for them.
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
You have direct personal knowledge of this?
This is the second fine levied by the FCC in the past year, and for the same reason. Both Hobytron and Ramsey have been fined for marketing FM transmitters that are capable of illegal operation. My understanding is, the issue was not with electronic kits for sale, but with wire-and-tested transmitters or exciters not capable of certification to due the rf output being too high. Ramsey continued to sell the FM-30B kits after the FCC judgement. However, Hobbytron has pulled their units and kits from the market until this is resolved. Check out the aformentioned web site and you will see what I mean. And Robert is correct. There isn't a lot of profit in transmitter kit sales and even less in wired & tested units. So far, Hobbytron has paid upwards of 24-thousand dollars in fines in the last few months. The company has to sell a whale of a lot of units to make up for the boo-boo. You make the judgement call.
Marshall Johnson, Sr.
Senior Pastor, President
Rhema Christian Fellowship, Inc.
Rhema Radio - The Word In Worship
AM 1660 - FM 93.5
http://www.rhemaradio.org
Doesn't Hobbytron sell other things besides FM stuff? That's what I meant.
WDCX AM1610 Part 15
John
Owner-Operator-Chief Engineer-Program Manager
Yes, they do. But, just like the Ramsey Electronics folks, the reason they sell these units is that they add a substantial sum to their bottom-lines. Otherwise, the FCC would probably let them get away with a slap on the wrist. One of the big issues before the FCC right now, as you know, is FM "mods". Well, the units we use for part 15 broadcasting are considered by the feds as FM "mods". It is my belief, however, Part 15 broadcasters go out of there way to avoid any kind of interference, intentional or otherwise.
My understanding is, a pretty good chunk of Hobbytron's business worldwide is FM transmitters. That's why Robert said what he said. It takes selling thousands of hobby circuits to make up for the lost profit paid out in fines.
Marshall Johnson, Sr.
Senior Pastor, President
Rhema Christian Fellowship, Inc.
Rhema Radio - The Word In Worship
AM 1660 - FM 93.5
http://www.rhemaradio.org