I won't give too much info before the meeting so that we are on the same page. Again its engineering documents and technical proof for what we are talking about. More info at the meeting. There has (I repeat) has been done. So paper construction is one. Its just at rough part (Ugly construction) but looks good and data is something we can add now. Alot more than the failed 1972 petition. But this is not the only reason for the meeting. There is still that death to part 15 we need to talk about. And its too hard to talk about on a forum and I don't want to publish on a forum what legal proof we have to this.
Uh huh...
I cannot fathom why you wouldn't make something that useful public.
Also, Death to Part 15? I'm not even sure what to say about that...
This kind of information needs to be made available to everyone at the same time. Because something needs to be done quick or else it could be fatal to the entire part 15 hobby. Don't care if your favorite mode of transmission is FM,SW,AM. I will even tell you this I am NOT the one that discovered this bit of information so again this is the type of information that needs to be said one time and one time only and made so everyone understands. If I were to publish this information on here it could be detrimental against our hobby. its way over the head of any type of power initiative. So it's something everyone should attend.
While we are counting down to the meeting on Saturday night I will fill in some details about Allan Weiner's talk about opening an Amateur Broadcasting Band in the 6.9 MHz region on shortwave.
A recent Low Power Hour, I don't remember which one, carries the voice clip from Allan's show on WBCQ when he said he has advocated for a long time for a free broadcast place on shortwave, since so many people want the opportunity to transmit their ideas or favorite music.
To my knowledge Allan has not done more than give lip service to the idea, but he is an "insider" who has successfully become a SW, AM and FM station owner after being a notorious pirate.
On a recent ALPB meeting Anthony Atrain Radio, who occasionally broadcasts on WBCQ, has agreed to approach Allan Weiner to discuss the idea of seeking a place on shortwave for hobbyists.
Purchasing airtime on WBCQ is inexpensive and provides an entry to worldwide broadcasting available to part 15ers.
I'm confused.
Thelegacy mentions in his last post that this meeting is what we have been talking about. We've (in this Forum, at least, and at some of the ALPB meetings I've attended), been talking about a lot of things, many opposed to each other.
Is the FM initiative about unlicensed operation or an inexpensive or free licensed operation? Is it going for 1 watt (maybe more), 1 mile (maybe more), FM, AM, Shortwave, no antenna restrictions, Station8's antenna, dedicated channels, 87.9Mhz? Is it going for a reduction in streaming licensing fees, over-the-air licensing fees, no licensing fees? The imminent death of Part 15 radio?
The paperwork is all done, but the facts just need to be added? I thought that facts were gathered before any decisions were finalized?
My head hurts.
It has to do with a statement I made in a post many didn't get to read because I posted it in anger and said some things I should not have. I said in a angry post “What makes you think there is not already a scheme to kill Hobby Broadcasting in the dead of night just like Internet Radio was all but killed?” But now that a member of the Initiative who actually helped to construct the document wanted to gather some information to help us get more power for FM stumbled on this secret plan to kill part 15. It was accidentally found and needs to be discussed because it involves plenty of demands that will all but make your hobby useless if they get what they want. It was a recent find and well hidden. It was a shock and awe in the way it was carefully crafted. I don't think they wanted it known to us till it was TOO LATE!!!!! To save our hobby we may need to seek legal representation and could be a call to arms for everyone who has not ever had the experience in saving something they have the passion for. You may think this is not a reality or it can't happen? We who have found this information say it can and most likely will if the same pattern for Internet Radio happens here. For now we may have a chance if and only if we all have the information at the same time and plan a strategy for an all out strike against the enemy. This group in question will not stop till part 15 hobby broadcasting is dead and Gone. We however if we unite can have a chance to save it before its too late. If not for yourself, do it for the community who counts on you to be able to legally broadcast. Even if you hate my guts this information may be important to you. Thanks for your time and understanding.
The Initiative will be talked about as well, but this recent find needs to be a focal point before the Initiative is even brought up.
LOL Oh my god...
Edit: FWIW I'm not aware of anyone that "hates your guts" Legacy, so I think you are good there.
I really don't think so either. Except maybe the enemy who hates all of part 15 lol. Just made a bold statement to get my point across. Its not just about me, the FM Initiative anymore. Its because of the accidental find that is alarming. So much so I don't know how I can sleep tonight. Really I have a reason for all of this. some things you just need voice to express and not text. Real time. I really hate talking in text.
This discussion has become so
This discussion has become so convoluted I cannot figure out who wants what. It has morphed into different frequencies, modes etc. I agree with Artisan. The first and most logical is shortwave. The NAB has no claim there. And there is skywave propagation that will allow for world-wide coverage.
This discussion has become so convoluted I cannot figure out who wants what. It has morphed into different frequencies, modes etc. I agree with Artisan. The first and most logical is shortwave. The NAB has no claim there. And there is skywave propagation that will allow for world-wide coverage.
My shenanigans always caused my mother to say, "What will the neighbors think?"
So I got curious and started dating a neighbor. Once we'd become friends I asked, "What do you and your parents think?" To which she replied, "Well, we've always wondered what your family thinks."
Shortwave is the most likely candidate. If anything I see them opening up the ISM band more than anything else. They've already done it once for 13.560 MHz and that was pretty recent.
First of all, I think that we need to get rid of the histrionics.
I don't think that anybody of any importance (read licensed broadcasters) is out to get LEGAL Part 15 broadcasters. We're just not that important, and don't impact their business models in any meaningful way.
Are 'they' out to get pirates? Yes, because they do have a potential impact, both in term of interference and audience, which does affect their business.
Do legal Part 15'ers sometimes get lumped in with pirates? Yes, of course. Mostly due to ignorance. But Part 15 operation (i.e., intentional radiation) has been around for a long time, and it's not likely to go away.
Is it possible that the FCC will revise the Part 15 rules? Again, yes. But don't forget that that's what is being asked of them now, by us, collectively. And historically, they've given as much as they've taken away.
There is no 'enemy'. There are just individuals that make up organizations that are trying to survive in a changing landscape.
I know what my objectives were/are as a Part 15 broadcaster. To transmit sound recordings that you can't get anywhere else locally. To maybe pick up a few listeners other than myself. To hone my skills, learn something and have some fun. And when I was on Bowen Island, to provide unique services to my small community that wasn't serviced by any radio station in the area (even though you could certainly a lot of them) - I hope to do the same thing here in Osprey Village, Pitt Meadows.
Would I like to get a bit more range, even here in Canada? Yes, of course. I would like to get several blocks of solid range to an ordinary portable radio. I don't think I'd want any more than that, as it opens up a whole other can of worms in dealing with potential interference issues, and quite frankly, I'd just like to focus on the broadcasting.
I also vehemently believe that legal Part 15 broadcasting helps licensed radio stations, once you get past their potential knee jerk reaction to your existance. You're doing stuff that they don't You're picking up listeners (if indeed, you are doing that) that wouldn't ordinarily listen to them. And anything that gets people turning on that radio helps the business of radio.
There will always be those short signted individuals that just want to stomp on anything that doesn't fit into their view of the world, or that they think is getting in their way, regardless of whether it is true or not. They want to provoke emotional responses, as they certainly don't want argue in an arena with facts and logic. The best thing to do is to continue on with what you are doing, and ignore them. Responding is just playing into their hands.
While I have many problems with the way the Initiative is playing out at this time (I believe it is too scattered, and not focused enough on realistic objectives as opposed to wants), I still think it is a good thing. I wouldn't worry about what others are doing, but rather what WE are doing.
After all, that's really all you can control.
A potential threat to Part 15 broadcasters which had recently occured to me, -- or rather, I should say a potential problem for, since "threat: indicates a deliberate action against... but even more specific.. A potential problem for part 15 AM broadcasters (as the part 15 FM broadcasters already suffer from the situation, which by the way is why I consider the FM initive to be a pointless quest).
What occured to me while reading a recent Radio World article that talked about the current licensed staions in the expanded AM band (1600-1705), and considerations of licensing even more stations than there are now.. if this does ever happen, it inturn would of course further hamper our own choices of available frequencies, and possibly in extreme circumstances pratically force our stations entirely off the air as we would have to clear those previously open channels for any new stations which may suddenly arise to reside there.
The article I'm taking about is at http://www.radioworld.com/article/a-tale-of-three-x-band-stations/278045 with particular emphasis on the side article there titled: X-BAND AND REVITALIZATION..
Incindently, where it mentions "The commission also wants to know if it should allow other classes and powers of stations.." Maybe that is the area this FM Initive thing should be focusing it's energies in.. becuase the way I see it, what your doing now is just looking for a way to legalize pirate activity.
Excerpts from the article:
"..The FCC then asked new questions. Should it open the expanded band to even more stations? Under what circumstances?
Some observers think the band is underused; some say the FCC should offer space on the band to applicants for new AM stations, or strictly to existing daytimers, or perhaps to owners who would operate the first permanent all-digital AM radio stations in the United States...
..Stations in the expanded band are allotted on a minimum distance separation standard similar to FM stations, with the goal of promoting a higher-quality service, rather than using the contour-protection procedures used for standard-band AM stations that maximize the number of stations on each channel. Should that system remain in place? If not, should compliance with contour protection standards be limited to use of M3 ground conductivity for contour prediction, or should the FCC allow the use of measured ground conductivities in predicting contours?
The commission also wants to know if it should allow other classes and powers of stations, or whether it should authorize the same power (such as 10 kW day / 1 kW night) for any new expanded-band stations. And should it allow complex directional patterns or limit applications to non-directional and simple directional stations, those with no more than three towers?
Yet again, if the expanded band were to be used only for all-digital operations, the FCC wants to know how contour protections and allocation standards would work. But noting that testing of all-digital AM operations is still continuing, its staff added: “The absence of a technical record leads us to believe that it may be premature to discuss limiting the expanded band to all-digital operation; however we welcome comments that include technical data that would further inform us on this issue.” Comments on MB Docket 13-249 are due March 21.
http://www.radioworld.com/article/a-tale-of-three-x-band-stations/278045