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Reprinted from Carl Blare’s blog with his permission with a few thoughts of my own…..
“A dwindling number of radio hobbyists carry on with the ‘original’ form of part 15 hobbying, operating micro-power AM or FM radio stations receivable by a very small audience of neighbors on ordinary radios. The government (FCC) can do little more than physically track down and meddle with these small operations, which happens rarely based on complaints, which are few. Meanwhile, without fanfare, Part 15 (no license required) technology has moved upwards into the microwaves particularly the Wi-Fi bands at 2.4 and 5 GHz where most of the population scopes the world from home computer work stations little realizing they are ‘broadcasting’ on accessible airwaves that can be spied on from passing cars and hacked. Government agents and other bad actors possess the means to plant spyware or criminal ‘evidence’ via the ubiquitous Wi-Fi route. Part 15 is now inward and no longer outward. Rather than reaching a small public from a private studio our privacy has become electronically public”
My thoughts. Putting aside the harm of micro-waves in the 2.4 to 5 gigs wifi and bluetooth bands this is really not part 15 radio anymore. It’s not the same. Radio is free, no one can track/hack you and setting up a wi-fi over the air station, if it can be done, what would someone listen on? Radio is wireless, why is moving up to microwaves better? We are supposed to be the ones making radio “great” again.
The part 15 hobby was based on transmitting in the AM and FM bands and having a mini unlicensed station allowed by Canada and USA governments. What is the advantage of figuring out how to transmit a station in bluetooth? I don’t get it. In my mind we are supposed to be about “old fashion” radio and if, as Carl’s blog stated, “we” are moving away from that, we are the ones taking radio away from the people when we are supposed to be bringing it back.Bluetooth could have it’s positives as a way to get your signal to your Procaster in a remote location from your studio but consider this….if you need a cable to get it power why not just use 4 conductor cable to get the audio there also. Even streaming is getting away from the whole idea of the hobby of radio broadcsting. If Carl is right it’s a sad thing that radio is dying along with part 15.
I will now go on a rant about microwaves. This is bad for you! It’s a fact and even the companies know this and even tell you in a special place in your phone all the warnings and advice that no one reads or listens to. Have you ever looked it up to see? It’s there in every phone!
Why does wi-fi and bluetooth use the 2.4-2.5 gig part of the spectrum? Because it’s free. That part of the spectrum is not regulated. The companies don’t have to have an expensive license to operate there. It’s money. Not what is good or bad for you. There is much credible scientific evidence as Carl and I know about the harm of micro-waves. The companies know it also and quietly have the warnings in every smartphone made.
Regular radio waves in the commercial AM and FM bands are harmless. Never has, in 100 years have you ever heard that they hurt you in any way.
Why does everything have to be wireless? Why can’t the phone be at home corded? Cell phones have their uses….for emergencies. And it’s off the rest of the time. Why does your internet connection have to be wireless when the computer is in one place in the room? Why does a mouse have to be wireless? Why do you need a bluetooth thing stuck in your ear frying your head with bad micro-waves so you can walk around blabbing with your phone in your pocket? Why do you need wireless speakers? Pairing with a phone to a speaker? I don’t understand this wireless obsession.
I sure don’t need it. This is the same radiation as your micro-wave oven which is shielded for leakage. The only pairing I do is my Procaster to my radio.
Why do I have to have a smartphone?…..because I have to be modern….everyone else does? If everyone jumps off a cliff do I have to do it too?
In conclusion If radio has been taken away from the people….the people have taken it away from themselves. We, the part 15ers should be bringing it back….keeping it alive..making it great again! I love the past. I will never be moving up to micro-waves. I’ll stick with medium waves.i use a 900 MHz Part 15 Spread Spectrum ISM Band IP / Ethernet Link to go to the next building to feed barix signal between my studio and procaster.
use regular 2.4/5g WiFi for my home internet. i would have hardwired it via public internet but i am using uncompressed pcm so i wanted a solid private link between sites.
I don’t think we all need to start wearing tin foil hats to protect ourselves from errant radio waves.
There are many and varied reasons to utilize wifi and/or bluetooth within the world of Part 15 broadcasting.
The only viable way of distributing an identical broadcast to another transmitter physically located some distance away is to use wifi. At some point, signal loss over cables becomes a significant factor.
Bluetooth is useful to eliminate cable clutter. Plus it eliminates the chatter from your significant other.
The thing to remember is that very few wifi routers and bluetooth transmitters use high power. They also utilize digital transmission which is much more efficient than analog. While I still would limit the amount of time holding a cellphone to your ear (or in a back pocket), or using bluetooth earphones, or putting my head directly next to a router’s antenna, I would also limit the amount of time spent near the antenna of any form of analog transmitter.
Moderation is the key to everything.
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