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I saw that on Ebay a few weeks ago and thought it was very interesting. I’m thinking that in the United States, even if it meets FCC 15.219 specifications, the FCC must give it certification. The Chez Procaster and Hamilton Rangemaster have that. The FCC gave them certification numbers for their transmitters. These transmitter overseas (away from Canada and the United States) maybe fine to use, but having a Certified Transmitter is great, however, I have heard you can use a non certified AM Transmitter in the United States providing you can prove it won’t cause any interference. I can’t back up what I heard.
Would be nice if folks like this in the U.K. would go through the channels to get their AM Transmitters Certified in Canada and the United States.
I have understood, and correct me if I am wrong, that transmitters like that Hurricane from the UK, The Asmax from Greece, the Sean Cuthbert, are OK to use even if they are not certified in the USA as they meet the rules although the certification varifies it meets the rules. A kit can be used also if it wasn’t marketed but the operator is responsible for it being legal.
In Canada it’s a different story. Any transmitter has to have the certification number to be used. You can’t even use the Talking House here because the FCC # is not accepted here.
If I purchase the Hurricane from the UK or the Asmax or the Sean Cuthbert or even the Talking House and I get a visit, it doesn’t matter if it “meets” the rules as they are the same here as the USA….no use without a Canadian certification. That’s all they go by. I can’t use the Hamilton Rangemaster either as it’s not approved here. I have always questioned why if the standards are the same why I couldn’t use the Rangmaster here. But no, I am importing an item not approved for use here and would have to cease and desist unless it gets an Industry Canada(now ISED) number. I was read the riot act about this very subject, and shown the written rule. That’s all IC cares about. Not fair I know as the FCC certification should be accepted in my mind. As for the UK one or the Asmax from Greece I guess they don’t want to invest the money for it to be approved and sell them here thinking it doesn’t matter. They have disclaimers saying they are not responsible for any issues arising from using there transmitters in your country.
In fact the Spitfire and the newer Hurricane isn’t even legal in the UK were it’s made and their market is aimed at N. America and some other countries. At least we have the Procaster which is as good as the best of them, and approved for Canada. One is all you need.Hi Mark,
Let’s for a moment remove the “Legal Rules” for a moment. Is the Spitfire Hurricane just as good as the Chez Procaster? We wouldn’t really know until it was tested. It would be a cheaper alternative to a Procaster or Rangemaster. A test doing the same set up as you doing with the Procaster and seeing the results would be interesting.
Now, putting in the “Legal Issues” in place. Correct, I didn’t think about this in the United States, but the FCC is a some more liberal about what you can do on AM Part 15 than ISED in Canada is. This could be why they are selling their products so cheap. They want the user to bare the burden if they get caught using the box and it even if it doesn’t meet standards, it’s not their fault.
While I think you told me there is a rule in Canada with Part 15 AM a Unlicensed User has more power in field strength, what’s the point of buying something not certified by the ISED?
I know who Sean Cuthbert is. Last I heard he was in California. He doesn’t build bad stuff, but in my honest opinion, it doesn’t meet up to Procaster or Rangemaster. By the way, I noticed your PC is running different automation software. Is that the free version of Radio DJ I’ve heard about?
The automation I use is free version Play It Live. The Sean Cuthbert transmitter is not legal technically at all because it’s a marketed home built kit…..A- not approved and B- an unregistered business. If I was an engineer and designed what Sean Cuthbert does at home and started selling them on Ebay I would be in handcuffs if caught, well that may be a little exaggeration but you know what I mean. Procaster, Rangmaster, Decade, are all home businesses but registered and selling a certified product.
Who knows if the Hurricane one from the UK is as good as the best….range wise or sound quality wise? It may be or not. With AM what matters is the power actually getting to the antenna and that can vary from one to another. I agree it’s a cheaper alternative.You said “While I think you told me there is a rule in Canada with Part 15 AM a Unlicensed User has more power in field strength, what’s the point of buying something not certified by the ISED?”
No, the two countries are the same. FM is where it is more here.
All IC cares about here is it has a IC number. I can’t use something that doesn’t, legally.
So to be legal the only FM one I can use is the Decade, and the Procaster for AM.
If I had the Sean Cuthbert for example I could get it approved but the lab fee is $3000.00 and they’d need the schematics and all info.
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