Some people in our area put up a huge display of Christmas lights on their front lawn (many people come from miles around just to see it). They also have a sign on their front lawn instructing people to turn to 92.7, a VL power station playing Christmas music. I tuned to it, set my trip odometor and found I could get a clear signal for .5 to .7 mi with a complete fade out after a little over a mile. This was in gently rolling terrain but the signal was consistent in all directions. Is this a typical range? I think it must be a part 15 station.
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What is the range of a part 15 station?
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0.5 to 0.7 miles would be a decent range for a Part 15 AM... but there's no way on God's green earth an FM would meet that unless it were significantly exceeding Part 15 power levels. This is in part because FM Part 15 legality is defined by coverage at a certain signal strength, rather than by power or antenna size.
Part 15 FM's have to be 250 microvolts per meter at 3 meters (10 feet) from the antenna in order to be legal. This would mean they'd be 25 microvolts per meter ("complete fadeout" on most car receivers, depending on the terrain) at around 100 feet from the antenna... rather than the 1-mile distance you heard.
It sounds like this station is running 1/4 of a watt into a decently matched antenna, a watt into a crappy random wire, or some point in between.
Part 15 FM's have to be 250 microvolts per meter at 3 meters (10 feet) from the antenna in order to be legal. This would mean they'd be 25 microvolts per meter ("complete fadeout" on most car receivers, depending on the terrain) at around 100 feet from the antenna... rather than the 1-mile distance you heard.
It sounds like this station is running 1/4 of a watt into a decently matched antenna, a watt into a crappy random wire, or some point in between.
I'm positive about the range as my truck has an odometer which goes to tenths. You could even get some vestiges of a signal (peak of a hill) at about 1.2 mi but a stereo and strong signal was locked on for 1/2 mile radius and slightly beyond.
The Christmas music selections were quite good. The display is in the process f coming down till next year. At least the did nopt create any interference as I could get a strong 92.9 adj to 92.7.
So it wasn't a part 15 thanks, vibe.
The Christmas music selections were quite good. The display is in the process f coming down till next year. At least the did nopt create any interference as I could get a strong 92.9 adj to 92.7.
So it wasn't a part 15 thanks, vibe.
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hammondo
Guest
Our part 15 cetrified legal am (Rangemaster xmtr) Church station goes a mile during the week and 2 miles on Sunday when the local factories are not working.
REAL part 15 radio is really not worth the effort. If you enjoy the hobby, thats great, but in all reality why waste the time, and money it costs, to only go to the end of your driveway? Its not worth it.
Actually "real part 15 radio" is worth the effort if you understand the limitations and within these limits it meets your needs. Despite end of driveway range there are good uses for this technology, not the least of which is as a learning experience.
I use my FM tx. for in house listening by means of a walkman and enjoy the super fidelity sound that I can achieve and not be tied down by wires or disturb the family. Almost as good as a direct wire connection to the source.
The AM tx. covers my yard nicely and I use a portable radio to listen to web streaming talk radio while I sit on my rock in my yard as the sun warms my bones.
Those who intend to broadcast to the neighborhood will probably be disappointed but there are other uses for this technology which can be quite satisfying.
To each their own.
Neil
I use my FM tx. for in house listening by means of a walkman and enjoy the super fidelity sound that I can achieve and not be tied down by wires or disturb the family. Almost as good as a direct wire connection to the source.
The AM tx. covers my yard nicely and I use a portable radio to listen to web streaming talk radio while I sit on my rock in my yard as the sun warms my bones.
Those who intend to broadcast to the neighborhood will probably be disappointed but there are other uses for this technology which can be quite satisfying.
To each their own.
Neil
H
hammondo
Guest
BTW, the Churchh station I referred to (below) is AM, 1630. I would NOT mess with a part 15 on fm, as there could be too much "attention" by the wrong people.
hammondo said:
A truly Part 15-compliant FM transmitter doesn't have enough range to worry about getting said "attention," unless your local FCC field agent happens to live in an apartment or urban house right next door to yours.
-- Black Shire
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hammondo
Guest
Correct!
A big broadcaster in a major US city wanted the FCC to come and check out the part 15 broacasters again.
"You want us to come back again? We are talking about 100 mw or less right? Hey! We can't check out
every Mr Microphone in your town. We have more important things to do." said the FCC engineer.
So, try to comply with the rules and the FCC will try to leave you alone.
Remember attepting to comply does count even if you are wrong.
"You want us to come back again? We are talking about 100 mw or less right? Hey! We can't check out
every Mr Microphone in your town. We have more important things to do." said the FCC engineer.
So, try to comply with the rules and the FCC will try to leave you alone.
Remember attepting to comply does count even if you are wrong.
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