Whole House FM Transmitter 3.0 Safe?

So the FCC has accepted the test results and put their stamp of approval on it, certifying it for unlicenced use.

If you use as it comes then in my opinion it's safe.

Since we don't have a $15,000 meter to actually measure it and the knowledge to use the meter properly, that's what you have to go by.

This transmitter has a "high power" setting that's not mentioned in the user manual that may make it illegal.

This is done because the transmitter may be sold outside the US where higher power is OK.

Mark

I did extensive testing of several Part 15 transmitters over this past summer/fall.  I have the expensive test equipment and 40 years of broadcast radio engineering experience.

The Whole House 3.0, in USA "low power" was 4-5 times over the legal limit.  The Decade CM-10 (now discontinued) was also well over.  The only one I tested that was actually legal out of the box was the current C. Crane unit, and it was about half the legal limit if I recall.

My tests are all posted here.

Is it safe? Probably. Because even being this far over the limit coverage was at best a half a block, that's tested in an open field with nothing to block signal, etc. So you're not likely to cause any interference or issues.

Technically, they wouldn't be legal.  But I only tested one unit.  There could be enough variation in manufacturing and final setup that some may be legal, some maybe worse. I'd like to test a handfull of them for variations but just don't want to spend the money 🙂

Is it safe? Worst case scenario you'd get a NOUO, that says, basically "shut it off or else". I've never seen a case where someone was fined or hauled off to jail without a NOUO first. So that's not the end of the world. You're expected to respond to the notice, and if you show you're using an unmodified certified unit, they're not gonna let you turn it back on if it's illegal, but if it happens enough they may investigate the certification of the unit.

It's worth noting that the FCC doesn't test any of these for certification. Labs hired by the manufacturer do. Results are submitted, certifications are issued. There has been at least one case where fake certifications for some imported transmitters have been documented. 

The fact that you have a certified unit is not a defense for being illegal.  It remains the responsibility of the user to insure it's legal, which as we've pointed out is somewhat silly since there is no inexpensive, practical way for the average user to test his field strength.  I am able to do this as I've worked in broadcast engineering for years and have the necessary equipment. 

My guess is going to be that you can run it forever and no one will care. If someone does care you're going to get a NOUO and have to shut it off. 

I *personally* don't see the point in trying to run a station on Part 15 FM.  The legal coverage is so minimal, and the wide variations in signal caused by a multitude of external conditions are so great that it's just not worth the effort.  There are those who disagree with me and that's fine. You of course do have better sound quality with FM, but it's a trade off -- coverage radius of maybe 200-300 feet and better sound, or decent sound and a radius of coverage of a mile or more with AM. Again, that's just me, and many here will disagree and that's just fine.  To each his own. 

TIB

If you live in a apartment complex where there are 4 families each living in them and its in a community ¼ mile square the Whole House FM Transmitter is a God Send. The sound quality is much better than the SanSonic AX-05B and does not cause harmonics and crap on the dial unless your within 10 feet of the transmitter. The SainSonic AX-05B caused issues all throughout the dial within 75-100 Feet. Yes this transmitter has the $125 price tag, but you can get it used for around $65. I love my Transmitter as it transmits with a 75 uS EQ. Technically its just right for a small community. If I get a NOUO to shut it down all I'd do is shut down and only use the Talking House AM transmitter which with Station8's antenna indoors can cover a mile or two. Stell plenty of juice for a community of quadruple homes each and 60 plus residences. So try and move to a location where you can get the must out of your low power station. I've tried to educate a lot of folks on this. You don't need over a watt to get out like some folks believe. Its all about location.

@timinbovey

Hmm ok so if the FCC does send me a letter I just respond back saying I am useing a certifed one and I will shut it down?

Also the reason I would like FM is I will be able to get more range on FM than AM at night. I do also live next to a school and a park with lots of cars so I can give some people music if they are hanging out. AM however is what I will use for people who cant pickup my FM signial. 

@Thelegacy

Do you know when I can get stations8 atenna. With the wire atenna I get about a mile range in the middle of the day but then it drops. I would love to see how far I can go with this. 

Another thing I have a question about. On another site and on some YouTube videos people say if you use a 1 Watt transmitter and dont interfere with anyone you can get away with it. Some guy said that CB radios use 4 watts so they wont be looking for you with a 1 watt unless you are causeing interference. Also around christmas time I have seem some powerfule transmitters. Most people used 87.9 and some of those was 3 blocks down. I dont have plans to use a 1 watt transmitter I would like to try to remain as legal as I can but it was just a question I was thinking of. 

Thanks 🙂

It's the actual amount of signal radiating from the antenna.

CB radio's are a different thing.....different frequencies and regulations.

Also I don't think 87.9 is legal.

Mark

This is for Informational purposes ONLY and if you DO THIS you will most be in violation of FCC rules. As far as 1 Watt that would go a hell of a lot further than a few blocks. 500 mW on a rubber duck will get you ½ mile at times ¼ mile all the time to a car Radio. 310 mW (Whole house FM Transmitter 3.0 on High power cycle + Mute showing lightning bolt) will get you ¼ mile on the duck and a little more with a wire attached to it to a Car Radio and over 1,000 feet to a digital boom box with a wire attached at the High power setting. If you live in a Metro city near commercial stations it won't take long to get a NOUO with 1 Watt, but I've heard and seen Frankinmuth, Michigan Christmas station going ¼ mile all day long 24/7 365 since 2006. Its a little outside a metro area but not in the sticks. Again you would not need 1 Watt to go ¼ mile. 700-800 mW would get you well over a mile to a car Radio and ¼ mile to a Digital boom box with an Inside Antenna. So your mileage may vary but I'd never even think about a high profile FM station in a metro city. As for the Talking House getting 1 mile on the wire (Which is legal)? That is VERY GOOD. Don't complain because most folks are lucky to get 300-600 feet on the wire. Station8 has not finalized his antenna for the masses quite yet. I'm still waiting to beta test it and I will when I get fully moved into Deltavilla, VA.

If you want to talk with me personally about this stuff call my Rockline when I'm doing a live show. I'll tell you all about my experiences with FM and AM thus far.

I love my AM transmitter. The reason I think I get about a mile durning the day is because 1. it is up on the 2nd floor and 2. I got the wire inbetween by bugscreen and the windo so the atenna is outdoors while the transmitter is indoors.  People on Amazon say with the Whole House FM 3.0 if you are on the 2nd floor you can get close to .5 miles. Not sure if its true but when and if I get the whole house I will do some testing on it. I also read that the wire atenna is illgal on the whole house so guess I will be useing the rubber duck. 

Getting the wire antenna outside makes the difference.  Do this on the 2nd floor and MAN you can improve AM.  If you live near water it can improve AM.

Yea thats how I got mine setup. I play 24/7 Non-Stop music and when the 80's songs play it sounds pritty good but mondern music has a bit of a strugle. So FM I thought can help with people who are near that would like to lisent with better sound quality. 

The Whole House FM is junk. It's cheaply made junk, the AGC does not function, the wal wart is a chinese knock-off, and it comes out of the box well over the legal limit. You'd be better off with a C Crane.

If you use a good compressor like the built in compressor limiter in NextKast and set your sound card  to 18% and the input volume of the Whole House FM transmitter to MAX it will give you headroom without the pumping effect or the over modulation you can get from other FM transmitters.  The Whole House FM transmitter 3.0 has a sweet ALBUM Rock sound and has true 75 us preemphasis.  as far as their power supply you will have to purchase a better one. But you could do this. If you have a good power supply for your computer or a very good desktop you can use the USB port and plug your Transmitter Straight into that to power it. This will get rid of any hum. I've had this issue with many Transmitter. Most of them come with crappy power supplies. So in most cases you need to buy a regulated power supply.

Im assumeing a majority of you have the C Crane modded? I looked online and read reviews about the C Crane and most people say it cant leve the room unless you mod it. Thats the onlything that has stopped me from getting it because I would assume if I mod it that it is no longer legal? Correct me if im wrong 🙂

Thanks 🙂

The C. Crane I tested this past fall (the test is posted here someplace) found it to be well below the legal limit out of the box. The "mod" is to simply access the internal potentiometer and turn the output up. Note that (at least in the model I had) the increase is obtained by turning the control to the LEFT.  It would be legal as long as you only turned it up to the maximum allowed by law -- e.g. bringing it up to 250 uV/m.  Of course you need proper test equipment to do this. 

The unit I tested was 110 uV/m out of the box. Less than half legal limit.  Turning the power control all the way counterclockwise brought the output to 5850 uV/m!  WELL past the legal limit. LIke, 23 times over legal. 

Any mod at all cancels the certification.  Any output over 250 uV/m is illegal, certified or not.  The act of modification doesn't necessarily make it an illegal transmitter, as long as it's within the legal limit. But it does make it non-certified.  However, as we've learned, certification does NOT mean any given transmitter is legal, that's for sure!

TIB

I don't believe that the Whole House transmitter is junk.  I've owned several - they were certified, sounded good and worked well for what they were.  Price performance wise they're tough to beat.