It's obvious there's an unlicensed FM broadcasting hobby, there's I don't know how many dozens or hundreds of low priced FM transmitters to choose from and rogue FM stations get shut down on a rather consistent basis, so a lot of people are buying and using them.
But a true Part 15 FM hobby... Is there such a thing? There's so little potential for a listening audience, which really kind of eliminates the whole point.
Although in Canada has a little more potential to achieve a listening audience with your "part15" FM station. I'm not sure if it's because Canada's climate is less polluted than the United States, or if it's because of some genetic advantage Canadians have that gives them better eyesight, but due to Canada's greater "line of sight" it enables you to legally broadcast farther there.
Ok, I'm just kidding, but the stated range of the FM Procaster which seems to indicate you can see farther in Canada than you can here!: https://www.chezradio.com/procaster-fm :
Range
Typical line of sight range is approximately 75ft to 150ft or more (USA), 150ft to 300ft or more (Canada).
But kidding aside, If I could fantom a use for a part 15 FM transmitter, and decided to buy one, the new the Procaster FM would be my choice.
If I were just starting in the AM hobby today, even though money is more of an issue to me now, I know I would still buy a Rangemaster, because it's the best, if you're going to do it, then do it with premium ingredients, the most necessary of which is the transmitter itself.
Likewise, if I were to decided I wanted an FM broadcast too, then the Procaster FM, although $400 is a lot more expensive than most, it's still probably the one I would buy. I'd feel confident with it, we know who the manufacturer is, it's not a piece of mass produced junk, it's built to last, nice metal casing and can be installed inside or out. Yeah, I would bite the bullet and buy that rather than any of the $50 transmitters flooding the market.
But you see that's the thing.. What can you really use a compliant Part 15 FM transmitter for? Broadcasting around the house? Sure, but if that's all I could hope for than I'd probably just settle for a $30 xmtr.
Yeah, a Rangemaster (AM) is about three time the price, but because of 15.219 it has a lot of potential legal range.
So what has the Procaster FM got besides being a quality well designed product? Or any part 15 FM transmitter at any price, none of them have range, so there's no potential of a listening audience to be gained by utilizing one.
So are there really any (legal) part 15 FM stations in operation now? Has there ever been? Is Part 15 FM a hobby, or merely a capability?
There are definitely uses for Part 15 FM.
Parking lot radio for one. (Small) shopping mall radio another.
Basically, anything that requires high quality sound, over short distances, without the potential interference that is prevalent with AM.
AM isn't much use in concrete jungles either, so even there FM is a better choice than a jumble full of static.
For general broadcasting use, not so much. Here in Canada it can be more useful, but there's still not that much difference between a couple of hundred feet (Part 15 FM) and a couple of hundred meters (BETS).
Here in Canada, if I were in a rural or semi-rural area (or even a semi-built up subdivision with low rise primarily wood housing, I would use AM. As I have in the past.
@artisan-radio I agree there's definitely uses, but for a hobby station I just can't see it. The Walmart pop-up Drive-in theaters during covid used FM transmitters, banks have used them in the past, the Atlantic Records part15 escapades in the 1990s, were all mostly AM, both free-radiate and carrier current, but they did use part 15 FM at a parking lot for their Robert Plant promotions.
So yes, there are uses, but like I said, Part 15 FM is a short range capability, but there's not ever been any part 15 hobby FM stations that I can recall.
Is Part 15 FM Broadcasting a hobby?
If you count the hobby as broadcasting to a general audience, with no commercial ties, then I might agree that it wasn't, at least in the U.S. Although there have been some here who used it to broadcast throughout their apartment complex, and that could be construed as a 'general audience'.
In Canada, I'd say, yes, it can be a hobby. In the right location. But then, that could even be said about AM. If you're in farm country, with large acreages, you're primarily broadcasting to cows and the like.
@richpowers In Canada with BETS-1 FM and you live in an area with many homes around you in close proximity like a block in a town or city you can get to many potential listeners. It can be a hobby. I had listeners with FM but admittedly 3 houses away from me with houses close together. With AM that's the same in the USA and Canada if many residences around you within 1/2 a Km(500 meters/1640 ft) you have a strong signal to many homes and hundreds of potential listeners and a much lesser signal needing a good receiver out to 1Km as I get with the Procaster from indoors and getting a ground from a 3 prong earth grounded power supply. If you live in the country with no homes in close proximity FM even BETS-1 isn't useful if you call a hobby getting listeners but AM is! In the country even if homes are scattered further apart AM can reach residences up to a km to 1 mile away depending on receiver. AM has the advantage also of following terrain due to the long wavelengths. But in the USA I get it why if you want to be legal FM is not a hobby.
But even with AM if you are in the country with no residences within a km, a bit less than half a mile, maybe more with a good set up it would be just for yourself. Depending on how you look at it that may or may not be a hobby.
If you are on a boat get closer to shore where people are living along the lake, or ocean, where ever you are.
... But then, that could even be said about AM. If you're in farm country, with large acreages, you're primarily broadcasting to cows and the like.
Yeah, range means nothing if there's no one there to hear it!
What prompted this topic was when Mark mentioned that the only sale the new Procaster FM has had was the one that he himself bought. So I figured that for all I know - I don't even know if I still have my old FM transmitter, so I figure maybe I'll go ahead and buy one just to be supportive (I know most part15FM are priced under $100), so when I saw the $400 price tag it slowed me down drastically, but I also know you generally get what you pay for, so it's probably worth it.. IF you have a real use for one, like a particular situation at a particular location. That's a lot of money, but hobbiest spend a lot of money on their stations, so that's where the question came from. Are there any part 15 hobbiest? It doesn't appear so, so If not, then who would ever pay $400 for a part15FM transmitter.
I'm sorry, obviously the answer is..
@mark I don't think my FM transmitter (I forget the name, it was those little square boxes that were so popular about 15 years ago), I don't think the signal ever traveled as far a three houses - at least not for indoor reception.
I actually would pay $400 for that transmitter if a particular consistent use for it arose, but if I just wanted one to play around with or whatever I just buy one of the $30 models.
I wonder what market Gerry thought that premium priced transmitter would be geared for?
@richpowers The Procaster FM has been reduced to $285 in attempt to get some sales which is less than even the BVE and ACC-100 and all other quality FM transmitters. He also suggests tips for increased range like putting it on a metal surface or lining the surface with aluminum foil which makes a significant difference as I saw at his place with an FIM. Depending on frequency the difference can be up double to triple the 3 meter reading with no metal. He is considering adding in instructions jumpers for higher power with disclaimer that doing so is at your own risk and voids certification.
But remember due to tariffs the price can be more when you get it. Maybe 25% more.
@mark Took a look at the BBC, I'm pretty sure that's the same one that were utilized for covid Walmart drive-ins (which does demonstrate an excellent use) I also noticed it's one of the very few part15fm transmitters on the market that cost over $100
@richpowers The Procaster FM has been reduced to $285 in attempt to get some sales .....
But remember due to tariffs the price can be more when you get it. Maybe 25% more.
Clearly states * Prices include free shipping to Canada and the lower 48 US states, so it doesn't appear tarrifs will have any effect for the consumer.. even if it did it wouldn't translate so high as a 25% increase on an individual product.
@richpowers Shipping is free but, tariffs are out of his control. They may or may not be added. It's the customs in your country that put on the tariffs.
@mark Can't say I know about these things but a quick search actually says a 35% increase (depending on the product), however there's something interesting called USMCA exception, which is basically a certification that the product originally comes from where they say it does.
- USMCA exception: This 35% tariff does not apply if the product is certified as originating from a North American country (Canada, U.S., or Mexico) under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA).
If the product is CUSMA compliant, then no tariffs. But some things are not compliant, not sure about this particular product.
And I remember reading somewhere that the tariffs are supposed to be submitted to the U.S. government prior to shipment by the importer, not added after the fact (that would be a nightmare for U.S. customs and slow things down considerably). As an example, AliExpress adds the tariffs into the price. I believe that E-bay adds the tariffs into the shipping cost - I'm seeing plenty of listings with inflated shipping costs where they would normally be much, much less.
@richpowers...You said " All legal FM transmitters that are certified I also noticed it's one of the very few part15fm transmitters on the market that cost over $100".
Other than the "toys" for getting audio to your car radio all certified part 15 transmitters are more than $100. Except for maybe the Ccrane.
@richpowers...You said " All legal FM transmitters that are certified I also noticed it's one of the very few part15fm transmitters on the market that cost over $100".
Not what I said. What I said was
@mark Took a look at the BBC, I'm pretty sure that's the same one that were utilized for covid Walmart drive-ins (which does demonstrate an excellent use) I also noticed it's one of the very few part15fm transmitters on the market that cost over $100
I didn't even think of certification (oddly enough) In the US we only need worry about compliance. Certification is not a requirement to broadcast here. But I get your point, because it is a requirement there.