... After reading all this FCC stuff and talking to some in law I feel better about this whole thing. I'm fighting a battle I already have legal certification to use and if I make too much noise they could again take away the legality of 500mW. So either the 250uV/M is outdated and they never wrote the new rules or the FCC F&cked up when they certified the 500mW TX. ...
Three observations:
- Some manufacturers/distributors/users, for whatever reason(s), may only claim that a transmitter is certified to be legal for unlicensed use in the AM/FM broadcast bands, per FCC Part 15.
- Regardless of the Part 15 certification status of a transmitter, it is the responsibility of the operator of an unlicensed transmit system to comply with Part 15, if they want to avoid all risk of an FCC citation at a geographic location subject to FCC jurisdiction.
- The FCC has issued NOUOs to unlicensed operators of transmitters having documented Part 15 certification, when the measured, real-world performance of those systems as installed and operated were non-compliant with Part 15.
One of the things I did with my Ramsey FM100 (the older model not the FM100B) was to add a cooling fan to the chassis just above the power transformer. I drilled a series of holes for air flow in the metal cabinet and added a cooling fan commonly used as computer heat sink cooling fan.
My FM100 was NOT the export kit so it did not come with the 1 watt module. I used the telescopic antenna that came with the kit.
I just wanted to add to the conversation here that I added that cooling fan, because I witnessed an increase of heat on the cabinet top and felt that heat could cause premature failure of the filtering electrolytic capacitors or a possible chip failure.
I noticed the mention of the FM100B with the 1 watt mod causing heat issues, but I wanted to stress that I noticed heat issues with the kit being USA 'stock' legal.
The interesting part of the Ramsey FM100 kit is there is NO certification number on the chassis. I also did not see any mention of such in the kit building manual included with the kit. So, I have ask, are they really legal for use in the USA? I see a lot of talk by many that those FM100 and FM100B's are operating above part 15 authorization. I used an analog Diamond SX-200 meter on mine and the meter in the zero to 5 watts range barely ever budged past zero, you really had to watch that needle for any movement and that was using the external antenna output and a 50 watt dummy load.
I no longer have my FM100, I sold it to a local ham operator about 2 1/2 weeks ago, but I figured I'd share with the rest of you what mod's I did to mine.
Oh, ONE LAST thought. One thing I noticed about my kit. It was built properly, but the BA1404 chip was wired wrong in my kit for the L-R audio inputs. The left audio amplifier was wired to the BA1404 right input and the right amplifier was wired to the BA1404 left input. So basically, the channels were REVERSED at the transmitter output and was the case on an FM stereo receiver.
I even contacted Ramsey about it and they said the makers of that kit were no longer with Ramsey.
I had to cut the traces to the BA1404 chip Left Channel and Right channel inputs and jumper over using jumper wires to correct the problem and restore the channels to their prospective zones.
I have not seen anything on the web about that, so I must be the ONLY one who caught that circuit board error.
Bruce.
There is no way of going smaller than using an FCC Certified FM transmitter in compliance with 15.239, but it is a true radio signal.
This week will see the return of KDX-FM running the same programming heard on KDX AM 1670 and the three web streams. For this I will have a "room radio," used for hearing KDX-FM in one room of the house.
Also, I will purchase another Ramsey FM 25B kit, I liked the other ones, but the people who have them aren't returning them, so I'll be magnanimous and purchase another.
Using the spectrum analyzer I'll be able to set the 25B to match a certified C.Crane Model FT-007, to avoid having any excess field-strength.
Life can be a very interesting experience, at times, but that's not the subject being discussed.
The Ramsay FM100B is not certified, either in the U.S. or Canada. The reason it is a kit is that you cannot sell uncertified transmitters in either country; the assembled version was only available for export (at least theoretically).
I did have a 100, and experimented with it. I ended up getting rid of it because it was too powerful for even Canadian regulations, although I could mismatch the telescopic antenna enough to get it reasonably close. However, it was still more powerful than a correctly tuned Decade MS-100, and it wasn't worth the risk to use it. I did hook it up (very) briefly to a Comet quarter wave antenna and was able to get over 2 miles range to a good car radio on a heavily forested island while broadcasting in mono. Needless to say, that signal was far in excess of the legal limits in Canada or the U.S.
As I posted earlier, the 100 is spec'ed at around 10mw, and it goes to show that you don't need much power to get significant range on FM with a good antenna. That's why I believe it's necessary to talk about field strength rather than power, as field strength translates directly to range (whereas with power, range totally depends on the type of antenna being used).
ArtisanRadio when you said FM100 were you referring to the original FM100 or the FM100B?
There are variable resistors and coils near the FM100 output stage, they either increase the RF power output or lower it, it depends on how you adjust things while using a RF power meter designed for 88.1 to 200.MHz and a dummy load.
Granted my Diamond SX-200 meter is analog and not accurate as lets say a digital readout type would be, but based on what I could see via a analog meter, I believe the FM100 can be toned down to a legal field strength, but I must be fair here and say my analysis is not 100% fool proof either.
Again, having a Potomac FIM41 or equivalent is always more accurate at determining accurate field strength intensity.
My radio station used those Decade MS100 transmitter instead of the Ramsey transmitters. Since we used 87.9MHz, obviously that FM100 would never have tune that low, so we never ventured into using those as part of our multi-transmitter network.
Bruce.
... Again, having a Potomac FIM41 or equivalent is always more accurate at determining accurate field strength intensity.
A Potomac Instruments FIM-41 is not designed for, and is incapable of making accurate measurements of field intensity in the FM broadcast band.
Rich said:
A Potomac Instruments FIM-41 is not designed for, and is incapable of making accurate measurements of field intensity in the FM broadcast band.
Whoops my bad, I was told they were at another part 15 related website.
I'm no engineer, never owned one, could never afford one either.
Do I have the model number wrong by any chance? If so please correct me.
Thanks Rich!
Bruce.
It was an FM100B.
I had a factory assembled export model. I never did see if I could tune it for a lower field strength - I just used it as it came from the factory.
There are two versions of the SainSonic AX-05B. The old one has the BNC connector and is the same as the non compliant CZH-05B which has issues. The new revised AX-05B is 100% legally certified for part 15. It has a TNC connector and filters. I even looked up the info and the ONLY difference between the revised SainSonic AX-05B and the Decade CM-10 is the type of antenna and the PRICE!!!. The SainSonic AX-05B has a reversed TNC and rubber duck and the Decade CM-10 has the telescoping antenna. I looked at BOTH transmitters and the circuit boards are identical. If your talking about that other website the transmitter they refer to is the 7 watt one which Amazon is selling inside hey sainsonic AX-05B box. The 7 watt and 5 watt are the AX-5c and AX-7c which according to James of SainSonic is NOT certified legal in the USA. Neither is the AX- 05B with the BNC connector. This Transmitter the SainSonic AX-05B with TNC connector does show up on the FCC website when you enter the numbers on the back of the transmitter. Plus talking to James the Tech Support of sainSonic asured me 100s of times this transmitter is legally certified part 15. Now saying certification for part 15 means nothing? Then how can you say your part 15 certified transmitter doesn't go over and is illegal? Can you say every person with a Whole House FM transmitter has or is expected to have a field strength meter? Think not. So this brings up two possibilities. 1. The FCC has changed its stance and allows 500 mW Transmitter to be to be certified. Or 2. After the NAB's crybaby lobbying many manufacturers are only using 10 to 25% of the legal allowance. I sorta believe both. But we will never know. What we do know is that certification should be trusted or we throw all our transmitters in the trash and give up on part 15. I choose to go with certification. The NAB trolls will purposely start start misinformation such as the Whole House fm Transmitter goes only 200 feet. This we know is a blatant lie I'll take Frankenmuth Michigan and the Christmas Town as an example. I can hear that Transmitter quite clearly one quarter mile. So too they run this Transmitter 24 7. The range of the transmitter matches the 500mW revised sainsonic AX-05B. That in itself tells me I'm using the same exact strength. So I just want to clear up some blatant misinformation from an anti fm website that is clearly stated anyone running an FM transmitter is a pirate. Well if that's true I guess we have plenty of pirates in America. Now you see it's all the nonsense. Just like the car that passes inspection and as soon as you go outside the inspection tickets for non-compliance you have something to stand because you had intent on following the rules. That is what matters. I'd say keep your keep your manualsand keep your box. If the FCC had a problem they would have had ample time to pull the certification. But they did not so what does that tell you? Common sense tells me its legal.
FIM = "Field Intensity Meter."
At this moment we've lost track of the model, make and number of the professional FIM for FM field measurement, and we're waiting for someone to remind us.
But my memory does think it remembers some things, and one of those is that I believe Rich has mentioned the frustrating fact that the legal field strength for FM is so small that it can't actually be measured by the proper meter.
Do I recall that correctly?
ArtisanRadio said: It was an FM100B.
ArtisanRadio the FM100 and FM100B have totally different circuit boards, I do not nor ever owned the newer FM100B model, but I was able to download the owner's manual while Ramsey still allowed that on their website.
I know the power output circuits are also different. The FM100 required an add-in circuit board and the FM100B required the addition of an RF power transistor.
Since you got the export kit already assembled, my belief is that they sent your kit designed for maximum power output. Removing that transistor and going stock may have brought the RF power down to a legal field strength. And I'm not familiar with the tuning of the FM100B, but I'm sure you could have toned down a bit if you wanted to.
Now onto The Legacy and post number 55.
I agree with you that FM is a constant victim of being called blatant pirate radio. But there is nothing we can do to stop that misinformation, except to try and convince everyone that that statement is not true.
There are several sites out there that cater to part 15 radio hobbyists. There are also several opinions out there that contradict each other.
I do not have the answers as to how we can stop the miscommunication that is plaguing this hobby. I wish I did. But what has to happen for things to be really real is for the FCC to clean up those misconceptions and put an end to all this bias and anti-FM this and that.
I hold the FCC responsible for the confusion. They know these devices exist and are sold nationwide. They also know that not everyone who owns these devices has an education that taught them right from wrong.
I personally know people who went to Walmart and bought a mini transmitter that hooks up to their Ipod and sends a signal to their car FM radio. Years ago people bought cassettes that you'd pop into your cassette deck and plug the included wire into your Ipod, those required NO RF. But, now that those mini FM transmitters are available, people are also using those devices.
Now as I ask these people if they have any idea how those things work or ask anything about FCC rules, they look at me and stare dumb-founded and say "What???"
My point is the FCC can not expect everyone to know, like every school teaches us things in life, that operating these things requires an FCC authorization, can be used incorrectly and put them at risk of violation a federal law.
Now true, every device comes with some type of notice on its outer shell about part 15, but there are no warnings that say this device can subject you to a FCC fine for interference.
I do realize, to some extent, there are notices that that device complies with FCC part 15, but that is commonly about all there is.
I have read and read the rules at the FCC.gov website, but even I have to admit I do have some confusion when the rules start referring to subpart a or subpart b or refer to subpart a-c
This is where I referenced the King James Bible earlier, too much referencing can often lose one in the traffic jam of references.
It wears you down to the point you say screw this, I'm getting a headache reading this mumbo-jumbo crap and you just go on hoping you're doing things right, or you get to the point you just don't care anymore.
But I put the blame on the FCC more than I do any other part 15 website, their word is what counts not that of a part 15 website or a member of it.
Bruce.
Oh and I'd like to address the membership here.
Do you know anyone personally that is in Congress that you can speak to about part 15 radio and it's advantages?
Someone who might take an interest in your ideas and present those to the house floor?
Let's get those brains active out there and think. Who in your local area can have your voice on the floor of the house of representatives?
Bruce.
Well a "gem" is a kind of rare stone or jewell, something of value, and something MrBruce said within the past two posts is very quotable:
"too much referencing can often lose one in the traffic jam of references."
Ya! Yea! Yup! That's what happens to me all the time. There are so many deep naps that began with tracking references. It's an inhuman thing to do, nobody can do it. It explains why attorneys have the reputation of being heavy drinkers.
An almost daily example are the "Terms and Services" where we click "I Agree," but no one ever reads all that gobble-dee-gook and if you try to read it you will never reach the end.
15:239 and 15:219 are the two verses of the almighty part 15 that is recited quite a few times. But again the simple thing is Certification. If you don't have a field intensity meter or a spectrum analyzer the only thing you have as a reference is your transmitter's certification is the FCC ID# and the container. I'd take that as the FCC's word. And if the certification is no good than your saying the FCC's word is no good. Its more important than that of any web site or a third party interpenetration of the part 15 rules. If you have a FIM then by all means try and check and double check. As far as matching your home made transmitter to a certified part 15 FM transmitter I'd go with the one that has the most range and was certified. So far we know the Ramsey and the SainSonic AX-05B have the same range. And the latter is a certified FM Transmitter. Next is the Whole House FM Transmitter 3.0 and even the Gold units but the gold units can only transmit on a few frequencies. I've heard that the 3.0 has more range than the 2.0 so OK you go with the 3.0. And who wants to pay $200 for the same certification as one that costs $54.95 on the SainSonic web site. Well common sense says you want to save money and go for the SainSonic not the Decade CM-10.
This is why I'd have a difficult time being convinced that the SainSonic's certification means nothing. If it was a fake then it was one hell of an inside job and the government was involved. Now I believe in conspiracy theories to a certain extent but some of the ideas are really out there in left field. That said I'm not an FM pirate and feel I'm doing what is right by buying a certified transmitter as apposed to anything else.
As far as getting anyone local here I doubt it. Most folks here have no idea what part 15 is. Some have heard my station when they were close enough and they find it interesting to a certain extent. But they did say they just turn the Radio on and tune to something they like. Yes I know the FCC makes things unclear. But like I said the most logical answer is usually the correct one. The most obvious one after all the gibberish which makes no sense. If that is not what they want, then there should have been an RF output into X antenna rule which too almost already has been written for you. Certified means you don't change the RF stage of that transmitter nor its antenna once certification has been issued. Now that seems simple for me to understand. And if there is a different antenna just like the Whole House FM Transmitter or the Talking House AM Transmitter witch has the transmitter and outside antenna as a unit which was certified for the package. Again some things are not easily found in the part 15 bible but the obvious should be weighed in here. I'm sure congress would agree with that in your local area. AM however has a slightly more clear stance but again certified package means your good in most courts I can be sure of. Otherwise throw in the part 15 towel now because there is no one even the FCC you can trust. One says the sky is blue, the other says its black which is correct?
I wish you luck in finding local congress or officials who might care enough about FM Radio to want to help the hobby. Let me know what happens.
Very good TheLegacy, I heard you and do understand your point about only purchasing an FCC certified transmitter and operate it under it's certification and you're in the clear. I can appreciate and understand that point.
I suppose I should not have shut down my FM station, but then again, perhaps it is time for me to explore the possibilities with AM. Of course the challenge will be that most AM stereo transmitters available are not part 15 certified. The one sold on ebay which is sold already put together and the Chris Cuff one is also not certified, so using those devices requires a little bit of knowledge and testing to avoid that fine line of operating in violation.
This is where I am at with my current transmitter the C-Quam AM stereo transmitter. In a previous topic I asked about the RF transistor that was included in this one I have. I want to make sure someone did not put a high powered transistor in it and get me into trouble. The transistor had generic markings on it, but I believe someone here may have helped me properly identify it. I bought that transmitter already assembled on ebay, it was built by Chris Cuff, not me.
I realize my best advice given would to be to steer clear of a kit for sake of steering clear of a violation and settle with a certified AM mono unit until a stereo unit become available with FCC certification. I just have this thought and it may be a far fetched one, that maybe I can draw the same crowd I had with FM if we tried AM stereo and played old time rock n' roll.
Bruce.