Hope this is not over-kill.
Now I have got to know where that plotter is, looks like a fantastic tool.
2-11 miles now that is more like it. It would be safe to say that if you ran a 5 Ft piece of wire or telescoping antenna on a 1 Watt transmitter next to a bay window you would do 2 miles at best. Yup that was what I figured by using 310 mW as a reference point. By the way 5 Ft was the right length for 100.1 Mhz using the tool that was posted for making an antenna. I set it for ½ wave. If I had an indoor dipole with a counter poise maybe the range would increase ever so slightly. Something to think about when asking for a Watt. Watt does the plot say about 620 mW, which is double 310 mW? The top 11 miles may be cut in half and be like 5.5 miles which would be easier for the FCC to swallow. Still for a small community 3-11 miles could cover quite a bit and probably not mess things up too bad. Please plot 620 mW to see what we get.
Thelegacy, I'd really like to understand why you think the FCC and the NAB will support hobby broadcasters getting that kind of range, when right now they get upset if an FM signal is over 200 feet. I understand why YOU want it, but I just don't get how you expect to push this thing through those kinds of adversaries when THEY don't want you to have it.
The FM band is getting more and more crowded, not less, and regulation (including music licensing) is getting stricter and stricter. From what I can gather, you don't want to have much regulation, if any, on this new service (kind of wanting your cake and eating it too).
I've suggested that this new service be called neighbourhood broadcasting (I believe others have suggested something similar). A neighbourhood is multiple blocks, not multiple miles. It's my personal opinion that that kind of service has a heck of a lot better chance of getting support (without much regulation) than attempting to be a mini-LPFM. It can even be positioned as co-existing and assisting commercial radio stations, and not attempting to supplant them.
Obviously, my words are not making any sort of impression. And that's OK, but I'm not going to waste any more time on what I feel is a futile effort.
I really do hope that I'm wrong.
But all this technical information surrounding the discussion is very interesting.
The Legacy: It does not work that way.
ArtisanRadio Said:
I've suggested that this new service be called neighbourhood broadcasting (I believe others have suggested something similar). A neighbourhood is multiple blocks, not multiple miles. It's my personal opinion that that kind of service has a heck of a lot better chance of getting support (without much regulation) than attempting to be a mini-LPFM. It can even be positioned as co-existing and assisting commercial radio stations, and not attempting to supplant them.
MrBruce Said:
I think your idea is a good workable idea and I can go for that.
So, I am just letting you know your words are not in vein or being ignored.
We have several active posts here at part15.us looking for change and several anti-posts elsewhere counter-acting our ideas.
I have an open mind and look at every possible proposal and have to admit, some are good and some are excellent and some are asking for too much too soon.
I, for the most part, throw a few suggestions out there to see what the responses are from the rest of the crowd. If the responses convince me, my idea is destined for failure, I'll move on and think of new ideas.
That is what this forum is good for, sharing ideas and seeing whether or not they fly.
At least here, we can openly ask or suggest and not have the red flags thrown in our faces.
Sure we all want to go about things the right way and show the Government that we are responsible hobbyists, who are looking for nothing less than to comply with the current laws, regulations and rules. No problem, but we do have the right to ask if the current laws, regulations and rules still make sense. I personally don't feel that can be addressed elsewhere without being told it's not going to work, or you're dreaming the impossible dream.
I feel even the most knowledgeable people should live life with an open mind and accept that they also could use and need more knowledge from other people, regardless of their level of education.
So ArtisanRadio
Neighborhood Broadcasting sounds like an excellent title to me.
Bruce.
Thanks for the plotting tool. Now I know what to work with. Now things will be in he works. As for the name: In the works. So now I'll plot and see.
MrBruce, don't worry, my feelings aren't hurt if no one listens to me. They are my opinions only, after all. If you guys can get 1 watt passed, all the more power to you.
Here is something to keep in mind too when asking for power. You always go for a little high. Here is the reason: just like in car sales someone will always try and talk you down. Something else to think of is that 1 Watt on an outside antenna can possibly indeed travel 11 miles of a fringe type signal to a Digital Radio and 3 miles of whopping signal to a Radio purchased at a discount store. Yet most folks who want to do hobby broadcasting on FM verses AM may do so indoors. This means that the 3 mile signal will likely be chopped to half the signal. So 1.5 miles is what you get at best. About what you can expect from AM. See how I'm thinking now? Now I don't look like a power hungry fool. You have to remember that most hobby Radio broadcasters may simply connect a 5 foot indoor long wire, telescoping or whip antenna and call it a day. Again that signal will go 1.5 miles and in a rural area in a neighborhood with few houses the closest home may be 1 mile. Look at Edenton, NC. This is the type of broadcasting I'm thinking about. Plus even though the service is separate from part 15 as Alan Weiner suggested for 6.9 Mhz it still won't be a costly venture. So again thinking out of a one size fits all box is a must for any type of service you may want to create. It should be an individual Radio station service not another LPFM or Mini LPFM service.
The subject of the music industry is one I won't get into much because some like to sensor the truth because they can't handle it. I'll just say this: it hasn't worked since they tried to control the internet in 2002 when they wanted to kill p2p. They went to extremes and still it hasn't worked. You can demand all you want but it only works when 99.9% of the population agree. When you have more than 50% who doesn't and who won't stand for it then you have a recipe for failure and maybe a war if demands continue. It will be a case where the industry will have to fail in order to come to its senses and that is a subject for a Pro or anti RIAA forum. Getting back to topic here in the next question or phrase.
I guess we have to analyze why this worked in New Zealand. Why did spectrum management instead of going for the lobbying commercial stations actually listen to the Pirates at the time? You find out why that took place and you have a recipe for a FREE new service that will work here as well. Another reason I took so long to even construct a document is two reasons. One is the translator issue. I want to see what will happen and how many AM's are trying to go FM. Next as some suggest should the service have a different name than extended part 15? and another reason is does the rest of the hobby broadcasting community want to work as hard as a few of us do. I think we need to keep an eye on Alan Weiner and get involved in what he is doing as well. For all I know he could already have a FM Initiative of his own already drafted. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants lol.
To which I say that type of operator doesn't deserve extended coverage.
Artisan said: "If you guys can get 1 watt passed, all the more power to you."
I said: "I detect a pun."
Yes that was extremely funny indeed.
I thought it was punny.
Watt was funnyu????