I want to order copies of the test data used during the type acceptance of the NWXAM1000, how do i do that?
Put in my request for the documents related to the certification of the NWXAM1000 part 15 low power transmitter.
We shall see what happens. hopefully i will be successfull and this will lay to rest any mysteries surrounding the certification of this famous part 15 intentional radiator 🙂
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
Universal Life Ministries
http://www.ulc.org
Moderator Hunterdonfree
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterdonfree
Pick up the phone and call the FCC Laboratory in Columbia MD?
WDCX AM1610 Part 15
John
Owner-Operator-Chief Engineer-Program Manager
http://home.earthlink.net/~wdcx
I emailed the FCC testing lab in MD. This is the response to my inquiry...
Response:
We only maintain these records back to when electronic filing was started in 1998. The applications in question was submitted in July 1998. Some 1998 files were saved and some weren't. This file is one that was not included because it was a paper submission to the Commission. The Paper Reduction Act requires us to discard paper filings after five years. Therefore, we no longer retain the information you seek. .
it appears we may never know under what conditions that thie Rangemaster was Certified. it would be nice if Mr. Hamilton would produce the Documents outlining the testing conditions uner which the rangemaster passed FCC certification.
but this will forever remain a mystery. Guess we will have to just deal with some agents accepting whip and mast installs and other agents denying them. I was told that the hamilton was certified at 6ft off the ground using a 102" steel whip. if it passed under those conditions it would appear that the part 15.219 rules are not set in stone and that FCC agents should accept at least a 6ft mounting height.
this stems from the recent NOV found here...
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-273690A1.html
[board Admin. edit: this link is something all hams here should read. End edit]
if all the manufacturers(Hamilton, TH, TS, Etc.) who got their AM units certified would post their test data and conditions under which they were certified it would throw a lot of speculation out the window and possibly embarass manufacturers and the FCC. of course this is just paranoid speculation, but you never know 🙂
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
Universal Life Ministries
http://www.ulc.org
Moderator Hunterdonfree
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterdonfree
Rev Robert,
I assume your reason for requesting the documents was for purposes other than to embarass the manufacturer.
Perhaps you could call Keith and discuss this with him. You might benefit by asking yourself what you want to accomplish with this. Just a suggestion.
Neil
I want to end all the speculation. I was told that the hamilton was certified at 6ft. well here we are it's just somebody's word with no paperwork to back it up. if this is true that it was certified at 6ft then the FCC will get a little egg on their face because it clearly violates part 15.219b. how ever the certification shows it was certified under part 15c which covers a lot of territory. if it was certified at 6ft running 100mW input to the final RF stage using a 3m radiator, then the FCC and Hamilton have explaining to do. He claims you can put it on a tower FCC says it must be ground mounted to be legal under 219b.
well the testing data and conditions under which these transmitters was certified will put all this to rest and both parties will have to stand by that type acceptance whether either wants to or not and the consumer installing the device will have hard data to go by in making sure his/her install is legal.
I don't want to embarass anyone. I just want all this speculation laid to rest once and for all with hard evidence. not claims by field agents or the manufacturer.
if all the manufacturers of type certified transmitters certified under part 15 would post this data then i think we could have a pretty good guide to go buy when doing installations and have some hard ammunition in defending our installations.
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
Universal Life Ministries
http://www.ulc.org
Moderator Hunterdonfree
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterdonfree
Rev. Robert,
Ideally, all the information you seek would be available but, according to your information, it is not. Perhaps Keith Hamilton, who knows more than any of us about this, will respond, yet I fail to see what will be gained by this. The Rangemaster was certified according to law, and the FCC rules specify how any part 15 AM transmitter, certified or not, is to be installed irrespective of the certification methods. If one follows the rules regarding antenna, ground, and transmission line, there should be no problem. According to the citation in the link in your previous post, the rules were not followed and the manufacturer was not held responsible. The physical circumstance of the certification test does not preempt the rules regarding operation by the end user.
Neil
Well if I ground mount it around here. not only am I in a flood plane, but it would disappear in the middle of the night and or get banged around by the lawnmower constantly. we have a heroin addict down the road and a paedophile in the other direction who likes to rob houses. so i'm afraid to ground mount it. but according to the rules i have to ground mount it. any suggestions?
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
Universal Life Ministries
http://www.ulc.org
Moderator Hunterdonfree
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterdonfree
Rev. Robert,
I understand your frustration about flooding and security and I do have an idea for you to consider.
Install your tx. indoors. A 108" whip is a problem but perhaps you could mount it horizontally and still get good range. The ground length could still be an issue but it might be worth trying this without a ground to see what happens.
Hope this helps.
Neil
My suggestion is to stop harping on this topic-- it isn't helping our community. Remember that FCC agents comb this website every day. If you buy a Rangemaster transmitter and operate it in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, I don't think you would get into trouble with the FCC. If you did, then you would certainly want to take that up with the manufacturer. If you are using another brand of transmitter or one of your own design, then you would be well advised to stick pretty closely to the FCC Rules if you want to avoid any problems. Keep in mind that a very significant portion of the FCC's operating budget comes from fines. Go check the FCC web site if you want to see how much they fine people (especially licensed stations) for rather minor infractions!
Remember, this is supposed to be a hobby, not a replacement for licensed radio services. If the FCC allowed a higher power level for unlicensed operation, then there would be tremendous competition for the few available frequencies. All kinds of stations would be put on the air-- electronic billboards, real estate transmitters; you name it. Probably nothing YOU would be interested in! Realize that in most communities, there are really only one or two usable "open" frequencies, so it wouldn't take long before those would be snatched up by the first taker. And, by the way, who would arbitrate the disputes between competing interests claiming that they had a right to use a particular frequency? That's why licensed radio exists, and frankly that's why the FCC exists.
All of that said, as I indicated earlier, the FCC does have an official duplicating contractor that has exclusive access to all FCC documents. If you want to, you can contact them and obtain copies for a fee. Here is the link: BCPI FCC Services Official Contractor
WEAK-AM
Classical Music and More!
WEAK,
We differ in opinion whether discussions of this nature "isn't helping our community". I believe this information is useful to those operating or intending to operate part 15 AM.
On the other hand the topic of FCC actions regarding AM and other technical matters has been exhaustively discussed in this thread:
http://www.part15.us/node/1321
It is probably more useful to refer readers who may be new to the hobby or otherwise interested to the linked thread than it is to repeat here what has already been said elsewhere.
Neil
I think the way the transmitter was certified just isn’t important. The question is does it comply with Part 15? If you look at
www.am1000rangemaster.com/groundxmit.html
We talk about complying with the 3 meter rule using a choke we designed. It should be legal to place a transmitter with a choke installed at its ground terminal anywhere since it would be a 3 meter radiator. The choke effectively limits radiation into the ground, taking the ground out of the 3 meter equation. Also it is possible to leave the transmitter ungrounded, it will operate without a ground which satisfies the 3 meter rule though there is no lightning protection when this is done.
With this system we feel our transmitter is pretty squeaky clean legal, it was interesting in discussions with the FCC to hear that many Part 15 transmitters are operated illegally, I think most using antennas they were not certified with. Or others like overpowered FM transmitters or illegal amplifiers. So I feel like we got a lot of attention about this ground wire thing when so many others are way out of the rules.
To try to lay rest the certification thing for you here is what I know, it was certified in late 97 just before the FCC went electronic. It was a pain because at that time you had to wait much longer for a response, I think I had to wait 6-8 months. I can tell you that almost all of the paperwork and pictures was related to the Class B testing, I don’t even think they had the camera outside on the Part 15 test range. The Class B testing was 80% of the work strangely enough, with extensive pictures. So even if you did get the data, it wouldn’t show you what you want, it would just be measured field data relating to the Part 15, and I’m thinking that would be about it for Part 15. No pictures, no information about the test setup.
I hope that lies to rest things instead of stirring the pot!
I was going to do the choke thing, but apparently they(FCC) told Bill that Hamilton may need to get the rangemaster recertified to be able to use the coke in an elevated feed. I don't know the whole story behind this whole thing with Bill and the FCC, but I want to set this up right and legal the first time. I may have to go the Indoor route as i can not have the thing ground mounted here. that would just be asking for trouble.
I think i'm getting overly paranoid, i don't know. Part of my illness is i over analyze situations.
i'm sure you guys can understand that i have $10K+ Invested in the proper equipment from mic to processing. everything is balanced +4dbu. and i have asymetrical processing with NRSC filtering.
Last thing i want is to be told i'm not legal. it seems to me that there is an agenda in NJ and Fla to get any form of unlicensed broadcasting off the MW-AM and VHF-FM bands.
Thank You,
Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis
Universal Life Ministries
http://www.ulc.org
Moderator Hunterdonfree
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterdonfree
Quite frankly, this thread was moments from oblivion until Hamilton graciously stopped by. To imply that there were "mysteries" surrounding FCC certification of a device is not responsible and is unacceptable here.
Let's remember that we are guests in the RF spectrum and that Field Agents are semi-autonomous and tasked with a wide variety of responsibilities.
This FCC Enforcement Bureau Slide Show helped me understand the multiple missions of a Field Agent and how an agent might determine that the action in the NOV referred to might be necessary.
As I see it, as long as our signal can be detected there is the possibility of being asked to turn it off. That's the reality of Part 15, and it's a reality I'm willing to accept before I spend my first penny on the hobby. To me, that's all part of the "cannot be a source of interference, must accept all interference" aspect of the regulation that makes our hobby possible.
There doesn't seem to be a regulation or decision or certification or any other rule or body we can turn to for relief - we can do it until we're told to stop and that's really all there is.
The fact that someone was told to "turn it off" is no reflection on the certified unit used, the manufacturer or the certification process. That's simply the way it is in Part 15.
Experimental broadcasting for a better tomorrow!