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to: Antenna-Carl any update on this?

Re: to both of you 100mw was never allowed on FM :)

Thanks for correcting any information inaccurately disseminated here by yours truly.

I could have sworn that long long ago on the FCC website there had been a section describing Part 15 that said something about 100mW. I probably getting myself confused with the AM regulations. Now however, all the FCC website refers to is an effective service range of no more than 200 feet for both FM and AM! So achieving 6 miles with a Hamilton Rangemaster or anything, regardless of the regulations on paper, still violates the original intent of the part 15 rules.

Here is the current text, right from the FCC website...


http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/lowpwr.html#PART
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PART 15 DEVICES
Unlicensed operation on the AM and FM radio broadcast bands is permitted for some extremely low powered devices covered under Part 15 of the FCC's rules. On FM frequencies, these devices are limited to an effective service range of approximately 200 feet (61 meters). See 47 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Section 15.239, and the July 24, 1991 Public Notice. On the AM broadcast band, these devices are limited to an effective service range of approximately 200 feet (61 meters). See 47 CFR Sections 15.207, 15.209, 15.219, and 15.221. These devices must accept any interference caused by any other operation, which may further limit the effective service range. For more information on Part 15 devices, please see OET Bulletin No. 63 ("Understanding the FCC Regulations for Low-Power, Non-Licensed Transmitters"). Questions not answered by this Bulletin can be directed to the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, Customer Service Branch, at the Columbia, Maryland office, phone (301) - 362 - 3000, e-mail [email protected].

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Russty on 12/31/05 07:01 AM.</FONT></P>
 
*Sigh* Here we go again... (200' rule)

There is no (I emphasize, *NO*) rule governing the range of Part 15 AM or Part 15 FM transmitters. The rules pertain only to field strength (Part 15.209) OR input final power & antenna/ground size (Part 15.219--either set of rules may be used for Part 15 AM) and field strength for Part 15 FM.

The 200 foot figure is *only* the expected range with a Part 15 device that meets the technical criteria set forth in the rules. By using the AM 100 mW power and 3 meter antenna/ground size rules and taking great pains to reduce losses at every point in the installation (plus being lucky to have good soil conductivity), it is possible to *legally* achieve multi-mile ranges with Part 15 AM systems. Most, however, will be limited to the approximately 200 foot range due to less-than-ideal installations and/or poor soil conductivity. -- JasonW

> Thanks for correcting any information inaccurately
> disseminated here by yours truly.
>
> I could have sworn that long long ago on the FCC website
> there had been a section describing Part 15 that said
> something about 100mW. I probably getting myself confused
> with the AM regulations. Now however, all the FCC website
> refers to is an effective service range of no more than 200
> feet for both FM and AM! So achieving 6 miles with a
> Hamilton Rangemaster or anything, regardless of the
> regulations on paper, still violates the original intent of
> the part 15 rules.
>
> Here is the current text, right from the FCC website...
>
>
> http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/lowpwr.html#PART
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> - - - - - - - - -
>
> PART 15 DEVICES
> Unlicensed operation on the AM and FM radio broadcast bands
> is permitted for some extremely low powered devices covered
> under Part 15 of the FCC's rules. On FM frequencies, these
> devices are limited to an effective service range of
> approximately 200 feet (61 meters). See 47 CFR (Code of
> Federal Regulations) Section 15.239, and the July 24, 1991
> Public Notice. On the AM broadcast band, these devices are
> limited to an effective service range of approximately 200
> feet (61 meters). See 47 CFR Sections 15.207, 15.209,
> 15.219, and 15.221. These devices must accept any
> interference caused by any other operation, which may
> further limit the effective service range. For more
> information on Part 15 devices, please see OET Bulletin No.
> 63 ("Understanding the FCC Regulations for Low-Power,
> Non-Licensed Transmitters"). Questions not answered by this
> Bulletin can be directed to the FCC's Office of Engineering
> and Technology, Customer Service Branch, at the Columbia,
> Maryland office, phone (301) - 362 - 3000, e-mail
> [email protected].
>
 
Thank You Captain Obvious!

> There is no (I emphasize, *NO*) rule governing the range of
> Part 15 AM or Part 15 FM transmitters...
> The 200 foot figure is *only* the expected range with a Part
> 15 device that meets the technical criteria set forth in the
> rules.

Thank you Captain Obvious! Of course the 200' effective service range is not a rule, but rather a suggestion. This suggestion from the FCC website does however help to clarify my point though that Part 15 was established not as a means for mass broadcast, but rather for individuals to make personal use of the RF spectrum. That is why special rules were developed for Educational campuses where they are intending to do limited area broadcasting to operate Carrier Current and Free Radiate systems.

Now if someone is able to make and operate a transmitter that fully complies with the Actual Part 15 technical specifications that are printed in black and white and yet still achieve several miles of coverage, and even in some cases build an audience, then more power to them! That is what this whole forum is about isn't it? Golly, if the FCC actually limited all part 15 devices to 200' then pretty much everyone on this message board would be screwed. (Although given the current field strength allowable for FM I doubt you could even reach anywhere near 200' legally in my neck of the woods [NYC area] with the FM band being so crowded.)

However, this branch of the thread was not really intended to be about technical specifications. This branch of the thread was intended to discuss the original intent for the rulemaking of the part 15 policy.

Please don't be too PO'd, and Thank you for your contribution.

Regards, Russty

Happy New Year Everybody
 
Re: Thank You Captain Obvious!

It was obvious to you, then why did you bother to post about it at all? Part 15 AM newbies are forever stumbling across the supposed "200 foot range rule" and getting nervous about breaking the law if their transmitters get out farther. -- JasonW

> > There is no (I emphasize, *NO*) rule governing the range
> of
> > Part 15 AM or Part 15 FM transmitters...
> > The 200 foot figure is *only* the expected range with a
> Part
> > 15 device that meets the technical criteria set forth in
> the
> > rules.
>
> Thank you Captain Obvious! Of course the 200' effective
> service range is not a rule, but rather a suggestion. This
> suggestion from the FCC website does however help to clarify
> my point though that Part 15 was established not as a means
> for mass broadcast, but rather for individuals to make
> personal use of the RF spectrum. That is why special rules
> were developed for Educational campuses where they are
> intending to do limited area broadcasting to operate Carrier
> Current and Free Radiate systems.
>
> Now if someone is able to make and operate a transmitter
> that fully complies with the Actual Part 15 technical
> specifications that are printed in black and white and yet
> still achieve several miles of coverage, and even in some
> cases build an audience, then more power to them! That is
> what this whole forum is about isn't it? Golly, if the FCC
> actually limited all part 15 devices to 200' then pretty
> much everyone on this message board would be screwed.
> (Although given the current field strength allowable for FM
> I doubt you could even reach anywhere near 200' legally in
> my neck of the woods [NYC area] with the FM band being so
> crowded.)
>
> However, this branch of the thread was not really intended
> to be about technical specifications. This branch of the
> thread was intended to discuss the original intent for the
> rulemaking of the part 15 policy.
>
> Please don't be too PO'd, and Thank you for your
> contribution.
>
> Regards, Russty
>
> Happy New Year Everybody
>
 
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