Brought to alert by recent warnings that there is some kind of a big crack down, from a few members who took to the hills of non participation, I first looked out the window.
Brought to alert by recent warnings that there is some kind of a big crack down, from a few members who took to the hills of non participation, I first looked out the window.
A guy was walking two tiny designer dogs for his girlfriend, nice of him. No surveillance by triangulation.
In any case, I reviewed my stations for compliance. 101.9 and 107.1 were so weak I can hardly get them only a few feet away, coming from certified Mickey Mouse transmitters.
AM 970, the carrier current station, was last set as low as it will go, 1/4-Watt, and then turned off anyway, since there’s more to be done regarding feild measurement to assure compliance.
AM 1550, the AMT3000, has recently been upgraded with a triangular loading coil and two-pole baseboard ground radial driving the Wintenna (window frame as antenna), and has its resonant signal which falls off rapidly at the public sidewalk.
AM1680, the AMT5000, another Wintenna installation, happens to reach a block or two, so I considered my frequent statement that “I am not trying to reach an audience”, and shut it down.
Looking at the wider world a visit was paid to the FCC Enforcement database and noticed that NOUO (Notice of Unauthorized Operation)letters between June and the end of August included about 5 FM stations in various states measured at field strengths well above the part 15 limit.
No trouble on AM, except for a few licensed stations who had discrepancies.
The big crack down has yet to arrive.
Carl Blare says
So Then Why
Why is our AMT3000 so relatively inefficient given the added ground plane and loading coil?
Because the Wintenna is an inefficient antenna, being part of the building wall.
If the same system were attached to an outdoor antenna, away from obstructions, the coverage would take off for hundreds of feet.
But for what we do, serving the house and yard, this little system is perfect!
kc8gpd says
Give it time. could take a
Give it time. could take a few months. remember it takes a few months from an enforcement action brought on someone to show in database. have seen it taker up to 3 months.
I’m just going to keep my head down for a while. i have enough issues at home right now to need to deal with an FCC visit (which ultimately would find me legal but i’m presently not running anything) or deal with any civil slapp suits.
i have more involving my kids that just got piled on top of everything else going on.
so i’m done for a bit.
RFB says
Full Operation
My stations are on the air and will remain on the air regardless of what’s going on elsewhere. I know my stations are fully compliant and I have the necessary test gear to ensure they are and to prove their compliance on the spot, at any time, any day, to anyone.
Not knocking the shutting down of your stations, but it IS a sure fire way to make sure your in compliance! 😀
Fear is the worst enemy to battle.
Never give in to fear.
RFB
Carl Blare says
The Benefit
There could actually be a benefit to the occasional crack-down scare.
Such scares might cattle-drive part 15 operators into the corral of compliance.
This website, part15.us, since I’ve been a member, has fastidiously been on the side of rule compliance, and members take umbrage at any talk of “skipping” certain checks and balances.
Naturally it is tempting to “cheat a little”. 120mW today, 250mW tomorrow, on up the power sets.
I had the crazy idea of 12-foot antennas.
But a good scare fixes everything, and the inspectors never actually need to come out.
kc8gpd says
i would know I’m legal but
i would know I’m legal but with everything else going on right now last thing i need rigjt now is explaining to the yl in one ear and fcc in the other simultaneously that im legal