My part 15 station is almost ready to be put on air.
My transmitter is a CZH-05B 100mW/500mW Model.
http://www.elecsky.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=41
My part 15 station is almost ready to be put on air.
My transmitter is a CZH-05B 100mW/500mW Model.
http://www.elecsky.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=41
My antenna is a Portable FM Transmitter GP ANTENNA.
http://www.hllyelectronics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=31&products_id=50
My max coverage will be 1/4 – 1/2 a mile.
All of my music and programs are all in the public domain.
The automation software will be ZaraRadio or RadioDJ.
Ken Norris says
Non-compliant under FCC Part 15 in the U.S.
Tranmitting at those power levels can’t legally be done under Part 15 in the U.S. – Waay too much. If you are doing this in the U.S., you will end up with a NOUO sooner or later.
Part 15 FM in the U.S. is 25 uv/m at 30 meters. You might get out to a good new auto radio at 200-500 ft. with no obstructions. Canada allows up to 100 uv/m at 30 meters.
be careful …
tbone903 says
Non-Compliance
With so many choices of non-compliant transmitters on E-bay, it’s no wonder folks are using equipment that would violate FCC rules. Maybe it’s time the feds looked at where the non-compliant equipment is coming from, and started handing out NOVs to some of the providers of non-compliant equipment in the US. Enough is enough.
kk7cw says
Myopia
The thought you express is accurate and well meant. However, Ebay sells equipment where ever the internet goes, not just the U.S and Canada. In some parts of the world, these over-powered “Part 15” transmitters would be welcome as a first radio service in some backwater of the world. In some parts of the world, your post would viewed with impunity; just another arrogant American.
Ebay could, and should, require disclaimers on such items that these units are not legal in certain government jurisdictions. Please check your government laws and regulations concerning the operation of such a device. Just because it’s illegal in the U.S., doesn’t mean it’s outlawed everywhere (-look at the difference in low powered unlicensed acceptable signal levels in Canada and the U.S.).
It is not illegal to OWN any transmitter sold on Ebay for people in the U.S. It is illegal to put in on the air, if its operation violates the laws and regulations of this country. You cannot legislate compliance. Bad guys are going to be bad guys. You are correct, in some instances, RETAILERS are forbidden to knowingly sell illegal equipment to anyone in the U.S. (re: CB radios sold as ham gear and vice versa)
Obama is not king of the world, he is the President of the United States of America. We do not rule the world, we are but one country among 200+ NATIONS. You are right, enough is enough. But first, let’s be correct in taking the high ground.
Carl Blare says
To Air is Divine
I’m glad to have hesitated before sounding off about this subject, because my comment would have been myopic, as if reality in the U.S. is the one and only.
I was going to ask if selling non-compliant transmitters on e-bay was already violating an existing law, but Marshall saved me from making such a closed-minded remark by presenting the correct and global perspective.
I would only question the king of the world situation, in which “The Radio Announcer of the United States” may assume himself king despite our quaint beliefs.
RichPowers says
What everyone may have missed…
I notice NounosSon hasn’t replied yet, but the topic of his previous post was specifically asking about part15 requirements in Canada..
His location is pretty close to the border
Maybe the whole story of his use of this transmitter isn’t clear yet.
Ken Norris says
Check the original message
Rich …
He’s not from Canada, his profile lists Lynn, MA. He didn’t mention Canada, I did. He only said what he was ready to do and listed some gear, and I warned about the legality.
One of the first things I did when I joined these forums was to D/L and investigate the real rules for myself. Then, even though most of us agree there are some ambiguities, I had (and still have) those at hand for discussion purposes.
But some things aren’t so ambiguous, one of them being the allowed field strength of FM BCB signals. That said, about the only things you can do to improve the situation are antenna height and better receivers.
RichPowers says
Yeah, but..
He’s not from Canada, his profile lists Lynn, MA. He didn’t mention Canada, I did.
Ken, I know that, but a few days ago he did mention Canada, when he specifically asked about Canada’s part 15 rules: http://www.part15.us/node/2757
and Lynn MA only a few hundred miles from the border.
I’m just saying it sounds like there might be more to the story.
Ken Norris says
OK. I live even much closer
OK. I live even much closer to the border. I can imagine a scenario where if I had listeners in a tiny area in Canada, like if I owned an apartment building in Victoria, I could have an stl computer up there and send the audio to a TX.
All it would take is an inefficient antenna to attenuate the signal, but still no range beyond 500 ft. or so.
NounosSon says
Canada
I asked what the rules for Canada were because I know a person who lives in canada and he wanted to start his own radio station. He asked me if I could find out what the rules were.
Ken Norris says
CRTC
If he has web access, tell him he can investigate for himself here:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/statutes-lois.htm
NounosSon says
Thank you Ken for the
Thank you Ken for the link.
Also when I start my part 15 radio station my max ranged is only to be 1000ft to a fourth of a mile.
I did some research and a lot of people said that you can broadcast up to a forth of a mile but thats it.
Jack63 says
Part 15 Equipment
it sounds great guy, however, I’m sure you can’t use this transmitter and antenna under Part 15. I would recommend you
start over here. Get yourself FCC Certified Part 15 Equipment.
We’re trying to stay legal here, and the only way to do it is
to remain within the FCC Rules and Regs for Part 15.
NounosSon says
It is fcc certified
Hay Jack
This transmitter is fcc certified and does comply with part 15 rules. It says it in the manual.
The manual: http://www.czhfm.com/datasheet/CZH-05B-Manual.pdf
kk7cw says
FCC Certification
The manual says that this transmitter is FCC Part 15 “compliant”, not certified. The truth of the matter is a 25 watt FM transmitter can be FCC Part 15 compliant if the signal at 3 meters doesn’t exceed 250 micro-volts per/meter (Part 15 rule for FM).
The manual does contain laboratory testing data for countries other than the United States. This mostly to assure signal purity, not certification.
This transmitter looks very much like the HLLY Electronics FM transmitters available for sale in Europe and Asia. They are definitely NOT certified for use in the U.S. I think it is instructive to see where this company is: Hong Kong.
http://www.hllyelectronics.com/05w-fm-stereo-transmitter-lcd-display-golden-color-p-65.html?zenid=m28cebelpb21qtkks1q7m1vrj3
As a final note, a FM transmitter with a 3-5 milliwatts output into a 1/4 wave rat-tail coaxial dipole antenna can produce a signal that can be heard on a car radio 300 feet from the antenna. I know, because that is how my station works. So, 500 milliwatts is serious over kill for FCC Part 15 FM operation; and very possibly a citation waiting to be issued.
NounosSon says
Ah I see
Ah I see. Well this sucks. I got the transmitter and the antenna as a gift. At least I didn’t pay for it. I am still going to use it though but I am going to be smart about it and very careful. I am going to set the transmitter to the lowest power which is 100 milliwatts. Then I am going to place the antenna as low as possible probably in my basement so that as little signal gets through as possible. Once I get more money I am going to buy a transmitter and an antenna that is made in the USA and is FCC certified.
scwis says
All is not lost
Fortunately, FM is judged on field strength alone, so you should be able to knock that puppy down to a reasonably safe level.
It’s not a topic we cover here too much because most of us are going the opposite direction – trying to get the most out of very little rather than trying to tame a 100 mW ‘beast’ ๐
Here is a PDF on attenuation
http://www.linxtechnologies.com/Documents/AN-00150.pdf
Here is a forum on another site where a person faced just what you are dealing with and attenuated his 1 watt unit down to a 600 foot range
http://lightorama.mywowbb.com/forum81/20800.html
And one of our sponsors, PCS electronics, sells attenuators here
PCS Attenuators
So, a little attenuating and a modest antenna and you might be really happy with what you devise. You might not need to put the transmitter in the basement, either ๐
Have fun!
NounosSon says
I have some good news
I have some good news. My antenna arrived today and it not a normal antenna. It is actually a whip antenna attached to a stand. What I did was I took the whip antenna off the stand and put it on my transmitter. The whip antenna is metal and it can telescope. I found out that the more you telescope it the more range you get. I telescope it about half way and did a range test. My range was about a fourth of a mile but that I was using my Walkman. Also I place my transmitter in my room which is on the top floor of my house. Tonight my dad is going to drive me around our neighborhood and really test the range. Also thank you scwis for all the info.