What would it be like if rules were as follows...
Sec. 15.217 Operation in the band 150-190 kHz.
(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage
(exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed fifty (50) watts.
(b) The total length of the transmission line (unless shielded), antenna, and ground
lead (if used, also exclusive of ground plane and ground radials) shall not exceed 50 meters.
(c) All emissions below 150 kHz or above 190 kHz shall be attenuated
at least 20 dB below the level of the unmodulated carrier. Determination
of compliance with the 20 dB attenuation specification may be based on
measurements at the intentional radiator's antenna output terminal
unless the intentional radiator uses a permanently attached antenna, in
which case compliance shall be demonstrated by measuring the radiated
emissions.
Sec. 15.2171 Operation in the band 190-300 kHz.
(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage
(exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed ten kilowatts.
(b) The length of the antenna shall not exceed 1/8 wavelength.
(c) All emissions below 190 kHz or above 300 kHz shall be attenuated
at least 20 dB below the level of the unmodulated carrier. Determination
of compliance with the 20 dB attenuation specification may be based on
measurements at the intentional radiator's antenna output terminal
unless the intentional radiator uses a permanently attached antenna, in
which case compliance shall be demonstrated by measuring the radiated
emissions.
===============
Sec. 15.2191 Operation in the band 505-635 kHz, 905-995 kHz, 1255-1335 kHz, 1355-1395 kHz, 1405-1445 kHz, 1455-1485 kHz.
(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage
(exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed 10 watts.
(b) The total length of the transmission line, antenna and ground
lead (if used) shall not exceed 1/4 wavelength.
(c) All out-of-band emissions should not exceed the levels in the other parts, unless the emission is centered on a frequency divisible by 10 kHz, and is intended for reception by AM broadcast receivers. The exception does not apply to frequencies below 505 kHz.
Sec. 15.2192 Operation in the band 635-905 kHz, 995 - 1225 kHz, 1495 - 1605 kHz.
(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage
(exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed 5 watts.
(b) The total length of the transmission line, antenna and ground
lead (if used) shall not exceed 1/8 wavelength.
(c) No operation is permitted within the 50uV/m contour of a licensed clear channel station on the same frequency, and nighttime operation is not permitted within the predicted 250uV/m 50% nighttime skywave contour of a licensed clear channel station on the same frequency.
(d) All out-of-band emissions should not exceed the levels in the other parts, unless the emission is centered on a frequency divisible by 10 kHz, and is intended for reception by AM broadcast receivers.
Sec. 15.2193 Operation in the band 1225 - 1255 kHz, 1335 - 1345 kHz, 1395 - 1405 kHz, 1445 - 1455 kHz, 1485 - 1495 kHz.
(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage
(exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed 100 watts.
(b) The total length of the transmission line, antenna and ground
lead (if used) shall not exceed 1/2 wavelength.
(c) Operation is not recommended within the 0.5mV/m groundwave contour of a licensed broadcast station.
(d) All out-of-band emissions should not exceed the levels in the other parts, unless the emission is centered on a frequency divisible by 10 kHz, and is intended for reception by AM broadcast receivers.
Sec. 15.2194 Operation in the band 1605-1800 kHz.
(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage
(exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed 50 watts.
(b) The total length of the transmission line, antenna and ground
lead (if used) shall not exceed 1/2 wavelength.
(c) All out-of-band emissions should not exceed the levels in the other parts, unless the emission is centered on a frequency divisible by 10 kHz, and is intended for reception by AM broadcast receivers. The exception does not apply to frequencies above 1800 kHz.
Sec. 15.2195 Operation in the band 505-1800 kHz.
(a) This section applies to man-made radiators transmitting signals not intended for reception on an ordinary AM broadcast receiver, for example light dimmer switches, computers (including power supplies), fluorescent lights, power tools, and other appliances.
(b) The field strength of any of these types of emissions in this band shall not exceed 2.5 x 10^-300 attovolts/exameter at 3 x 10^-300 attometers, as measured from the exterior surface of the device.
=====================
Sec. 15.??? Operation in the bands 2300-2495 kHz, 3200-3400 kHz, 4750-4995 kHz, 5950-6200 kHz, 9500-9900 kHz, 11650-11975 kHz, 13600-13800 kHz, 15100-15600 kHz, 17550-17900 kHz, 21450-21850 kHz, 25670-26100 kHz.
(a) The field strength of any emissions in these bands shall not exceed 25 volts/meter at a distance of 30 meters.
=====================
Sec. 15.239 Operation in the band 88-108 MHz.
(a) Emissions from the intentional radiator shall be confined within
a band 200 kHz wide centered on the operating frequency. The 200 kHz
band shall lie wholly within the frequency range of 88-108 MHz.
(b) The field strength of any emissions within the permitted 200 kHz
band shall not exceed 50 millivolts/meter at 30 meters. The emission
limit in this paragraph is based on measurement instrumentation
employing an average detector. The provisions in Sec. 15.35 for
limiting peak emissions apply.
=========================
Sec. 15.??? Operation within the bands 54-72 MHz, 76-88 MHz, 174-216 MHz, 470-890 MHz
(a) The field strength of any emissions within these bands shall not exceed 2.5 volts/meter at 30 meters.
==========================
Or, what could you guys come up with that's realistic and allows us to get reasonable range without a license AND without too much interference to licensed stations?
I think this is very reasonable. The original Part 15 rules were, except for recent minor modifications for WLAN/WAP and other computer related wireless devices, designed for radio equipment back in the days of tubes, early transistors, and no IC's. Todays equipment, home-brewed or professional is 99.9% solid-state and designed to much better specifications than transmitters 50 - 60 years ago.
I think this is very reasonable. The original Part 15 rules were, except for recent minor modifications for WLAN/WAP and other computer related wireless devices, designed for radio equipment back in the days of tubes, early transistors, and no IC's. Todays equipment, home-brewed or professional is 99.9% solid-state and designed to much better specifications than transmitters 50 - 60 years ago.
so how do we submit it (or something like it) to the FCC without N*B or R*A* or other you-know-what knowing about it until it's passed into law?
i think we're allowed to say certain dirty words.. like NAB ... RIAA .. 😛
might keep some folks from getting fined or thrown in jail as well.
Looks good!!
When will it be law? (Sic)
Here I go again:
1. On getting something passed without NAB or RIAA finding out:
a. No way by normal FCC procedures. There has to be a notice and public comment period.
b. Maybe by public law, by having a sympathetic US Senator or Representative tack a provision onto a huge and unrelated bill that no one will want to vote against and the president won't want to veto. However, given the influence of NAB, RIAA, and the like, I wouldn't count on this.
2. The FCC is probably not going to expand Part 15 much beyond what it is now. The potential for interference gets too high, which is why anything substantial must be licensed for coordination. In particular:
a. 15.2171: Nothing and nobody are going to run 10 kilowatts (10,000 watts) without a license. Period.
b. 15.2191/2193/2194: 1/4 wave at the frequencies concerned is huge. Do the arithmetic.
c. 15.2194/2195: No way can you operate on 1800 kHz. This is the low end of the 160-meter ham band.
d. Good receivers can generally pick up tenths-of-microvolt signal strength levels. On 13,560 kHz you can emit 15,848 uV/m (measured at 30 meters; this is 15.848 mV/m). Volts/meter signal strengths are enormous, and may even be classified as hazardous. Even 50 mV/m is high.