Believe me when I say that you do not want one of these LPFM monsters the FCC is dishing out. It will load you with so much trivial requirement you'll lose your family and end up homeless.
What is the legal range for an unlicensed for now at least until a military museum will file the necessary paperwork for a broadcast license? However the station won’t be running 24/7 either when the museum is open for tours or when the veterans command post hosts events like car shows, parades, or maybe dedications!? I was of the opinion that as long as the signal is under a mile like FRS, MURS, CB Radio and other forms of communication that a FM transmitter doesn’t need a license but other publications other then the FCC says in cases you can broadcast as far as 650 to just under a mile! So should we stick to the 200-250 ft rule or what can be done? Thanks
Hello Truckerjohn. The FCC Rule 15.239 states the limit for unlicensed FM in terms of radiated field strength, not range. The 200-foot estimate was made informally in an FCC bulletin of several years ago, but suffers from lack of definition over how sensitive the receiver can be when judging where 200' actually is located. It would not be overly expensive for you to obtain a quality certified part 15 FM transmitter to conduct simple experiments. The Decade brand is a dependable suggestion.
Furthermore, a military museum would certainly be in the favored category for an LPFM license, and for this we suggest contacting recnet.com, a reputable source of assistance with meeting the requirements.,
Earlier in this thread I spoke strongly against the "LPFM monster" but then later spoke in a supportive way to Truckerjohn about the prospects for LPFM for a military museum. Am I a hypocrite? Well, I may be a hypocrite but let me defend having taken both positions in this case. It has to do with the type of organization making the application for an LPFM license, which are given only to IRS/state certified not-for-profit organizations, which consist of a board of directors to which the FCC license is issued. LPFM licenses are not issued to sole individuals nor commercial corporations. History shows that not-for-profits organized strictly for purposes of operating a radio station become coveted centers of conflict within which factions arise to bicker over programming and policy, a well known example being the Pacifica Foundation with a blazing history of internal battles and struggles over station operations. And the difficulties don't stop with tugs of war within the licensee board, these stations invariably end up with 'membership organizations' made up of donors and listeners who hold sway over the fact that their support is needed for the station to survive. This type of station is what I call a monster. But governmental and quasi-governmentalal not-for-profit organizations have the advantage of existing for a purpose other than radio with an LPFM license becoming only an incidental department of the overall organization. Examples include cities, school systems, conservation organizations, military operations and public service entities. It should be mentioned that religions qualify also as licensees of LPFM radio, but I do not believe religions should be allowed to hold FCC licenses which, in my opinion, should be reserved to secular organizations.
The number 1 advocate for LPFM is Michelle Bradley of recnet.com who appears as guest on 'This Week in Radio Tech' about the upcoming LPFM filing window at the FCC.