Dear Colleagues:
I am bothered by RF conditions, large and small.
Dear Colleagues:
I am bothered by RF conditions, large and small.
The large RF includes full power radio stations which, for all the many problems besieging the industry, are slowly losing all the old, great, RF engineers to retirement, death, and displacement. A recent edition of This Week in Radio Tech was devoted to the problem, the lack of up and coming young RF engineers to keep the stations going. I would add that a lack of talented radio personalities is further denting the hopes for radio’s tomorrow.
In the small arena, I’m talking about us, this website has diminished into a day room for a half-dozen or less codgers, I include me, recalling the days when tubes glowed. And all of us, collectively, would hope to see part 15 really catch on with a flare-up of new practitioners, but that’ll be the day.
In my own pimping of part 15 I see the problem clearly. I see people who listen on computer speakers, and when I explain to them how an AM transmitter would put the audio everywhere in the house and yard, they tense up and ask: “How big is it?” The part that always kills the deal is the 3-meter antenna. “I don’t think that would look good.”
Very often the subject turns to FM, but you know what a silly joke certified part 15 FM transmitters are. You can’t recommend them, they’re not going to work.
Even if a “hidden white wire glue-sticked up the wall” gets through the conversation, the part about “building a kit” is way over the top and trade school is out of the question.
We could build them and sell them, but then we’d be in violation of part 15 and subject to a large forfeiture. This would not matter if we had a million customers.
This is an example of what it feels like to be near the top of an “Extinct Species List.”
Implants and Armageddon
Why not just have all our communications and entertainment in an implanted device, hooked up to all our senses?
A false utopia, templates for the final struggle between technology and spirit.
The Legacy of Part 15
Mr. Norris is right on with his portrayal of an “always on – always linked” communications future, and we are closing in fast with wi-fi and smart phone devices, but the concern I expressed lies elsewhere.
This world of low power radio is not growing in popularity and acceptance. It belongs to a small island of practitioners who are not increasing. Equipment suppliers are few and dwindling. Extinction is within sight.
I am now convinced that promotion of part 15 is a lost cause because of the general mental dullness of the population who can’t endure the stress of having an ugly antenna. The idea of controlling the program (as with a private radio station) is foreign to them, so long as they are in the program (with their iDevices).
This Or That…So Many Choices
“I am now convinced that promotion of part 15 is a lost cause because of the general mental dullness of the population who can’t endure the stress of having an ugly antenna.”
It is only a lost cause if you allow it to become a lost cause. From my prospective, either they tune in and listen, or they don’t. I can spend all day handing out flyers, business cards, posting in the local papers, even walk the busiest areas of the community with a huge neon lit sign and yelling through a bullhorn. Won’t matter if the listening public is not interested.
There are FAR more crucial things getting lost these days than low power radio or interest in it by the public. So much wrong that it’s difficult to pick a place to start to try to fix all of it. Regardless, that is the very reason why so many things are so messed up..because of lack of general public interest or action, and that includes radio, be it low power or licensed. If the public says nothing, does nothing, then nothing is done, and nothing is said.
Low power radio will continue to live through folks like us and others who have an interest. It’s up to each of us to maintain the flame and if we start paying attention to those not paying attention, then we loose too..as does the public.
The old saying….lead..follow or get the hell out of the way!
RFB
I know some of your comments
I know some of your comments are tongue in cheek, Carl, but I couldn’t disagree with you more.
Over the past years, I’ve seen the amount of Part 15 broadcast equipment grow, not shrink, in choices and in quality.
Cars are still being made with analogue radios – there is a huge legacy installed base out there that will take years and years to disappear, if it ever does.
And while Part 15 FM is relatively unusable in the U.S., in other parts of the world (such as Canada) with more progressive attitudes, it can be deployed successfully.
The biggest challenge for Part 15 is, in my opinion, getting the word out. For if people don’t know you’re there, then they won’t listen. And it can be pretty frustrating thinking that you’re broadcasting into the ether, unnoticed. It’s been my experience that there are and always will be people that are tired of commercial radio – that’s partially why they look for other alternatives. And Part 15 programming is one of them.
I know – that runs counter to the prevailing thinking that if you advertise, the FCC (and the regulatory bodies in other countries) will go after you. That’s easily solved. Stay legal (and yes, that means copyright licensing)! Even invite those regulatory bodies (in fact, anyone) in to inspect your station. You’d be surprised how helpful they can be if you’re co-operative. And remember, there are two sides to every horror story you hear about FCC (and other) inspections.
Again in my experience, I’ve found local newspapers and other local media actually ARE interested in what you may be doing. Artisan Radio has been mentioned on local ‘big’ radio stations – if you take the time to explain that you’re not really competition, what you’re doing and why, they can even be supportive.
And in the unlikely event that analogue radio does die out, there is always the other side of our broadcasting – Internet streaming. Realistically, streaming will always give you more opportunity for listeners. And that’s not going to go away anytime soon. If anything, the opportunities are increasing, with the prevalence of Smartphones and increasingly smaller and more portable web-enabled devices. Yes, the technologies will change, but they always will – you just have to keep abreast of them.
It a Shame but True..
True radio “Technicians” are getting fewer by the day. It’s becoming a throw-away world and the main resolve to anything that’s not working is to change out a box. (No electronics knowledge needed)If it isn’t doing “that”, change out “this” box and it’s all good..
The mystique of electronics is vanishing quickly. The brain power required is being left to a few brainiacs that really doesn’t understand what the product does in the real world. The more bells and whistles that they can design into a product cheaply, the more they can amaze and entertain. Many electronic devices aren’t pratical anymore..
I’ve been to training classes and I haven’t seen anyone under 50 attending. (Motorola) 2-way radio techs are becoming extinct and our jobs are being taken over by their depot. Can’t repair at PC level because you can’t get parts or support. Repair manuals are on a CD and they don’t give you enough information to do proper troubleshooting. Our talent is being protected for the chosen few and they just happen to be in Mexico.. (They don’t fix anything, they just change out boards!)
There’s no curiosity anymore. It’s too indepth and most young people would rather play on a computer and read about things instead of exerting themselves to do anything! I can’t imagine many young folks plotting out a piece of land and laying down 120 ground radials for a hobby! I tried to mentor a few kids but there wasn’t much interest..
We are a dying breed. Hamilton and Chez Radio attempt to make things more simple with minimum designing or engineering skills required but it’s still too difficult! Noone wants to use their brain or hands anymore. If you can’t just plug it in and use it, it’s nothing..
I’ll be an experimenter in one form or another until they pour me into a geri chair and shove me out to pasture. It’s a shame that younger people don’t have that mindset or intrigue.. (A clandestine love affair)
Things Do Go In Cycles
You guys are the experts.
But I thought of a few things.
I guess some RF engineering is
going to go away.
But at some point, there may be
more need for radio again.
I may just be dreaming, but AT&T
wants to take down all of the land
lines, right? And there are forces that
want to take away over the air TV.
Personally I think loosing OTA TV and
land line phone is bad.
Well, you never know, history repeats
itself sometimes. We may need
radio stations more in the future.
Last fall, in Connecticut, a pre-winter storm
took down a zillion power lines down all over
the state. Most of Connecticut didn’t have
power. WTIC AM 1080, Hartford, did an
incredible job helping people. And so did a
lot of other stations. A lot of radio stations
relayed news from the TV stations, because
nobody could watch TV.
It was 45 degrees in our house for about 10 days.
We were lucky to have a lot of blankets. Also,
we were extremely fortunate that it didn’t get colder
than it did. I couldn’t run my Part 15 station, because
too much of it used AC power.
If this ever happens again, I would prefer that my Part 15
station be operational. People were meeting in the middle
of our street all of the time. People were gathering outside
in crowds. One crowd of people saw a house catch fire,
and were helplessly watching the FD try to put the fire out.
The family left for another state when the power went out –
but THEY LEFT THEIR STOVE ON and it burned down the house.
I heard the sirens. it was only a few blocks away.
The thing is – there was such an ongoing constant need for
people to know what was going to happen – right in the immediate
area, I could have just given out some radios to my friends! Everybody’s
anxiety level was so high. And everybody who couldn’t
leave the neighborhood was under piles and piles of blankets
just to keep warm. Oh yeah – the town’s useless info station on
1630 was off the air because it didn’t have power.
And I was under piles and piles of blankets, too.
But I could have had a mike cord with a mike under
those blankets and I could have been giving out some local reports.
I know my friends would have listened – cause there are some
people in the neighborhood I’m pretty tight with. Who cares if
they had to borrow some radios… I know I would have eventually
gotten them back. You should have seen it. It was a constant talk-
fest out in the streets. And because there were power lines down all
over, people really had to confine their outdoor meeting places to
where it was safe. It was really something! I think if I had to do
it over again, my Part 15 station maybe could have helped a few
people, and a few is better than none at all. I was also on the
ham bands, and maybe could have done some good there, too –
but I was just on battery power. Next time I’ll be more prepared
one way or the other! (Oh – I forgot – the phones were out for
a couple days, even the land lines, and then when they came back
on – they were jammed full of calls, and you couldn’t get through.
That’s why so many people were outside talking with each other.
And getting into their cars, turning on the heat – just to warm up.)
On a slightly different subject…
There must be some innovative RF engineers out there still. There
are some pretty amazing “whole radio” chips going out to China from
Silicon Valley. China still relies on domestic radio to a huge degree.
Radios like my incredible Kaito KA-1103 or the incredible DSP portable
I have (can’t remember the name of that radio – senior moment) –
Uh.. Tecsun PL-380?? You guys know what I’m talking about. Those portables were
made for the Chinese market, I think. And then we were able to reap the
benefits of these amazing inexpensive portable radios when they came over
to the U.S. market. (Still not as
good as my Hammarlund HQ-140X, but that’s just a matter of taste.) This
is new RF technology, because there are still some people who need it – and
there were people who still in the year 2010, or so, can design and build this
technology.
One more thing, as long as I’m rambling (I’m on a roll, here).
I am not a big fan of “HD” radio.
However, the actual radios that were designed to receive those
“HD” transmissions are some of the most amazing radios ever
made. (And it was only a few years ago.)
I am an FM DXer when I have the time. (Which is almost never.)
The FM DXing community will tell you that the McIntosh (sp?)
MR-78 FM tuner was the best FM DX machine ever made. This
was in the late 1970s. However, I own an FM receiver that I got
for 100 dollars that beats out the MR-78. It’s Sony’s FM HD tuner,
that is no longer being made. (I can’t remember the model number.)
Also, if any of you FM guys know about better FM DX receivers than
what I mentioned – say something – because I could be wrong, but
i think I am close. Also, the Radiosophy HD-100 – it’s an HD stereo
table radio, has an incredible receiver, too. Maybe as good as the
Sony.
I don’t care about the “HD” part. I’m just saying that somebody had
to design those receivers, and somebody did, and it was only a few
years ago. “HD” radio may be a failure, but those of us in the FM DX
community have been served up some amazing radios, which would
probably have never been made it the “HD” idea didn’t come along.
Of course, “HD” AM is pretty useless. It sounds wonderful if you are
2 miles from a 50,000 watt AM station. Yup, perfect stereo, and
wonderful fidelity. But man, you get a little bit farther away, and the
ball game is over.
Also – I think I mentioned this – but – nobody could watch TV
during that storm, because cable
was out and almost nobody had over the air TV. That was
quite amusing. The TV stations were transmitting to almost
nobody!
Oh well, enough rambling. I just thought I’d mention this stuff.
Best Wishes,
and I hope you’re still awake after reading this.
Bruce, DRS2
PART !5 IS NOT A LOST CAUSE! HA! SO THERE!
On the other hand, Part 13, Part 9, and especially
Part 2 1/2 are in REAL TROUBLE.
Who cares if we are six guys talking in a “Day Room?”
This site is getting thousands of reads from all over
the world. We have friends across the pond that
say hello quite often.
And there is some wonderful engineering work going
on here. We have some of the best people around!
I love my Part 15 stuff. It was one of the biggest thrills
I ever had to find out there was actually a website for
this topic.
I have learned more from this site in four years than
40 years in ham radio. And that is not putting down
ham radio, either. You just have to figure out a lot
of stuff to make things Part 15 work.
So, “Sorry Carl! Only Starkist Makes The Finest Tuna!”
Wait a minute… Did I get something wrong here…?
Uh….. Bruce, DRS2
P.S. Oh yeah, P.S. The sheer joy we get from doing this
stuff RIGHT NOW makes it worth it. Who cares about
tomorrow.
P.P.S. I don’t stream. So my signals, when the thing is
running – are just in the neighborhood. I do have
listeners when the AM 1690 is running. And the CC will
be back on soon.
There are zillions of streaming “radio stations” around.
I think that’s pretty cool. And those of us who do
stream are right up there with the technology.
I rest my case. “KLUNK” There’s a lot of stuff in there.
One more comment and then I’m
One more comment and then I’m done.
Part 15 means different things to different people. The hardware/engineering aspects of the hobby are probably the least interesting to me. I can and do do them, but I begrudge the time spent there, when I could be doing what I really love – the programming. Chasing down music, doing some research, (hopefully) coming up with some innovative ways of encapsulating what I’ve learned in a sentence or two between songs.
And while most of us do it for the joy that we get out of it (certainly not the money, if that’s even a consideration), it’s also nice to get some encouragement via listeners. It gives us that little extra push to continue on and do more (with very little).
And the listeners ARE out there. You just need to let them know that YOU’RE there.
What Was And Now Is Not
A lot can be blamed on what has taken place in the public education system..or rather the lack of what has taken place in the public education system.
Anyone remember auto shop class? School sponsored science fairs? Electronics and electrical courses? Woodworking shop classes?
When the doors to learning and earning are closed and welded shut for good, that tends to put a damper later down the road.
And here we are!
They teach more about how to post a slapfacespace page than anything useful for later in life. I feel sorry for the young generations having to endure that kind of de-education.
RFB
Learning Left Behind
Yes, the learning part of education has been stripped away but the large architecture gymnasiums and huge real estate football fields are still there costing most of the money and preparing students for physical action military service.
My Draft Card
The thread of your conversation reminds me
of when I got my draft card, which, I guess,
means I was drafted.
Lucky for me that my eyes were so bad.
I was a classification 1H. That’s One
followed by an H.
Pretty weird, huh?
I wish I still had the thing.
Even when I was thirty, I looked like I was
about 17.
So when I got carded at bars, I just showed
them my wonderful 1H draft card.
It seems so long ago. But I was doing Part 15
radio then, too.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, DRS2
Draft Status
I wonder what all the many draft status’s are….
1A meant “Elligible”
1F meant “Un-fit”
Now we know what 1H means.
What else is there?
Don’t Know!
I can tell you this, if I had gone to war,
I would be dead now.
I did not have good self preservation skills
when I was young.
And being dead is no fun – not when there
are radios to play with.
Bruce, DRS2
Also
Also, being dead takes a long time.
Well Put – Well Put
Bruce, DRS2
For The Love Of Radio…
As I remember my draft card was 1-H.
It was during the “lottery” draft times and my number was 365 which meant they’d never get to it.
As such the 1-H designation meant “Registrant not currently subject to processing for induction.”
As for the lack of Broadcast Engineers, from my point of view it didn’t pay enough to get into the field.
I have a few friends that worked (past tense) at local stations. These poor guys had to work 3 or 4 stations to make a living and it wasn’t great. Their stories were the same, management viewed engineering staff as a liability which was only necessary at the time because the FCC required it. They only employed staff as part time, no benefits.
I have a commercial license but never pursued broadcast for the reasons mentioned above. It did come in handy for obtaining my current job where we deal with 2-way Public Safety/Service radios.
My son schooled for television broadcast and quickly found the same problem; no to low starting pay, ridiculous work schedules and requirements.
Radio, a great hobby.
Well What Do You Know…
I have almost no memory of
getting my draft card.
So THAT’S what a 1-H is.
It sounds like the middle of
somebody’s ham radio callsign.
Thanks for the story MRAM.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, DRS2