Whether you are a broadcasting veteran or NEW to Part 15 Radio, Welcome!

Our name ‘part15.org’ is derived from the particular section of regulations that govern low power, license free broadcasting in the United States.  However, license free broadcasting is permitted in many other countries, and our membership is truly global.

We welcome everyone from anywhere to join our forum, share knowledge and ask questions.

What is Low Power, Legal, License Free Radio?

Around the world, governments manage their radio spectrum, and have policies in place to ration a limited number of frequencies for broadcasting.  Anyone wishing to broadcast must obtain a license from their government, by meeting specific regulations, and usually paying for that right.

Some locales, however, do allow license free broadcasting, with strict rules designed to limit range.  These rules are varied and can include restrictions on field strength, input or output power, antenna length, etc.  Interference to other, licensed entities is also not allowed.

Most countries also have some sort of transmitter approval process in place for these low power devices, that allows them to be marketed and purchased.

It is the responsibility of the users of such devices to ensure that they follow the regulations applicable for their location.

Summary of the Canadian rules:

Canadian Regulatory Bodies & The Rules Canada has two regulatory bodies that oversee users of the radio spectrum.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), formerly Industry Canada (IC) is responsible for the technical aspects of transmitting any radio signal, both broadcasting and non broadcasting.  Their focus for low power, unlicensed transmissions is to limit interference to other, licensed users.  What that generally means is that they want to severely limit the range that such transmissions can travel, and they do this in a variety of ways, which will be described later.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is responsible for the content of all broadcasting transmissions.

And now we get to perhaps the most confusing aspect of Canadian regulations.  What exactly is broadcasting?  This is an important question, because there are different sets of rules for both non broadcasting and broadcasting endeavors.

Broadcasting is simply defined as any radio signal that is intended to be listened to by a member of the general public.  How’s that for vague?

So let’s dive a little deeper.  First, the word ‘intent’ is very important.  Radio signals can’t be stopped by walls, or property boundaries.  So anybody can theoretically listen to them.  But if you’re the only listener, or perhaps you and a few friends in neighboring houses, your intent is not to have members of the general public hear.  They don’t know about you, and you are bounding your transmissions.  That would not be broadcasting.

However, if you go out and tell everyone in your neighborhood that you have a radio station, perhaps use multiple transmitters in an attempt to extend your range, and maybe even take in advertisements, that could certainly be construed as broadcasting.  You intend for as many random members of the public to listen to you as you can get.

So what exactly does all this mean in practical terms, both in terms of the rules and the regulatory bodies.

First of all, ISED has two sets of rules for unlicensed, intentional transmissions; one for non broadcasting, titled RSS210 (and an overview in RSS-GEN) and one for broadcasting (BETS or Broadcasting Equipment Technical Standards).  Both sets of rules lay out the criteria for a clean signal, with no harmonics and spurs, and both attempt to limit transmission range (RSS210) and broadcast range (BETS).

We’ll go into more detail later, but let’s consider RSS210 first.  On the AM band, transmitters that meet RSS210 specifications can have 100 milliwatts input to the final stage, and an antenna system (including ground wire) of no more than 3 meters.  There is another option that relies on field strength, but it’s not meaningful in terms of range so we’ll ignore that for now.  On the FM band, transmitters can generate a signal with field strength of no more than 250uv/m at 3 meters.

Now let’s look at BETS.   BETS specifications only deal with field strength.  On the AM band (BETS-5), the maximum field strength for an approved transmitter is 250uv/m at 30 meters.  On the FM band (BETS-6), it’s 100uv/m at 30 meters.

Now, the CRTC requires that all broadcasting endeavors have a broadcast license obtained from them.  I bet you were wondering when the CRTC would come into play.

However, the CRTC has multiple exemptions from the requirement of licensing, and transmitters that meet the unlicensed BETS specifications is one such exemption.  However, there are caveats to that exemption; again, we’ll go into more detail later, but they relate to the content of the broadcasting and the CRTC always reserves the right to demand that a BETS-5 or BETS-6 station apply for a broadcast license (which effectively shuts you down, as they’re extremely difficult and expensive to get).

So, BETS or RSS210?

It all depends on what you want to do, what kind of range you want to achieve, and how you will be listening to your transmissions.

There are no BETS certified AM transmitters being sold today, and I’m not sure if there ever were any.

There are, and were, several BETS certified FM transmitters.  Currently, there is one available, the Decade MS-100, which comes in various flavors (mono or stereo) and with various options.  If you want to emulate the ‘big boy’ licensed radio stations, and broadcast, this is your only choice.   You do not require an ISED license to use it, and the CRTC has a license exemption as well.

There was another BETS certified transmitter available in the past, the Decade CM-10, but it has been discontinued.

Now, on to RSS210.  Remember, transmitters that are certified under this set of regulations are not supposed to be used for broadcasting.

On the AM band, again, there is only one that is currently available, the ChezRadio ProCaster.  In the past, the Talking Sign was also available (made by the same company) but it has been discontinued.

On the FM band, there are several transmitters to choose from.  The Broadcastvision (BVE) AXS-FMT (the one with analog input only) and the Whole House 3 are current.  There were several Canakit RSS210 certified transmitters available in the past, but they’ve fallen by the wayside.

Summary of the USA/FCC Rules:
https://www.geocities.ws/raiu_harrison/mwa/part15faq.html

A question commonly asked is how far do you go?
It should be noted that any estimations of distance is largely dependent on the receiver quality as much as transmitter power or field strength. e.g. the same approved transmitter install can yield different results with different radios.

License free operation permitted in other parts of the world.

Canada	FM devices may not exceed a field strength of 100 microvolts at 30 meters.  AM devices are limited to 250 microvolts at 30 meters.  All devices in Canada must have an antenna permanently attached to the transmitter.  See Industry Canada BETS-1.  Canada RSS-210 which is not for “broadcasting” to the general public is identical to FCC part15 for AM and FM bands. For broadcasting, e.g. neighbourhood radio station, you need BETS-1.
CEPT nations including the European Union	FM falls under the “Wireless Audio” provisions of CEPT/ERC/REC 70-03 which calls for a maximum 50 nanowatt (0.00000005 watts) maximum ERP. Russia restricts transmitters to enclosed locations such as buildings and vehicles.  There are no provisions for AM.
Australia	FM is limited to 10 microwatts.  See ACMA Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class License 2015.
Federated States of Micronesia	Same standards as FCC part 15.
Japan	AM and FM is limited to 500 microvolts per meter at 3 meters under a blanket regulation for all spectrum below 322 MHz.  See MIC Regulation of the Extremely Low Power Radio Station (English).  Our interpretation of the law also states that devices must bear the Technical Conformity Mark in order to be legally used in Japan.
Brunei	FM: 60 dBuV/m at 10 meters.  AM: 57 dBuV/m at 3 meters.
China	FM: 3 milliwatts ERP.  84~87 MHz allowed 10 milliwatts ERP.  Type acceptance required.
Hong Kong	None specified.
South Korea	500 microvolts per meter at 3 meters. (similar to Japan)
Malaysia	FM: 50 mW EIRP
Mexico	Any short range device used within Mexico must be certified by the Instituto Federal de Telecommunicaciones (IFT).  Based on an REC consultation with IFT in 2016, it is not clear whether IFT will certify a short range device on 88~108 MHz or in the AM band for use in Mexico. Unlike in the CEPT areas and other jurisdictions, Mexican documentation on short range devices does not address the broadcast bands. Due to the lack of a specific standard for short range devices in the broadcast bands, we must also assume there is a prohibition on “home brew” devices.  Our consultation will continue and we will update if new information surfaces.
New Zealand	“Audio senders” are allowed 0.00002 mW EIRP on 88-108 MHz.  There is also an unrestricted allocation on 107-108 MHz for 25 mW EIRP.  This is not to be confused with New Zeland’s LPFM General User License that allows stations to broadcast up to 1 watt EIRP on specified spot frequencies in the FM band without having to obtain a broadcast license.
Philippines	Neither broadcast band is specifed in Philippines NTC regulations on short range devices therefore suggesting that use of such devices is prohibited in the country.
Singapore	AM: 57 dBuV/m at 3 meters.  FM: 60 dBuV/m at 10 meters.
Vietnam	FM: 3 microwatts ERP
Kingdom of Tonga	FM: 10 microwatts.