Hi all,

The FCC states in part 15 that your transmitter must not produce a signal 
more than so many microvolts/meter at a certain distance from the 
transmitter.  When stated this way, both the power and type of antenna are
not mentioned, however, this signal is low enough that an antenna with any 
gain or a power level much more than a fraction of a watt would exceed this
level.  The main issue is that you MUST not interfere with any commercial 
broadcast stations who do have a license to operate.

Colin's statement is true that your few watt station can't compete with a 
10Kw station, however, if your neighbor was trying to listen to that station
and it was located 50 miles away, your few watts could totally wipe out that
station for him if you were on the same frequency or very close outside of
the normal 200Khz spacing.

Howard #3


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: FM Transmitter Issues And Questions


> Yes, but wireless routers don't operate in the commercial FM broadcast 
> band.
> That said, I really don't know what the current rules say, although I am
> pretty sure that even low-power stations operating in the commercial
> broadcast band have to be licensed.
>
> Steve
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 19:37
> Subject: Re: FM Transmitter Issues And Questions
>
>
>> of course it's not as cut and dried as that these days because most
>> wireless
>> routers well exceed 100 feet, and you certainly don't need a license for
>> those.
>> I was under the impression that you could run an experimental FM 
>> broadcast
>> station without a license as long as it was less than 30 watts or
>> something?
>> The concept being that a 30 watt station would not be able to compete
>> whatsoever with a 10 thousand watt broadcast transmitter, so there would
>> be
>> no real problem with interference or competition in the market.
>> Maybe that is only in Canada.
>>
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 7:30 AM
>> Subject: Re: FM Transmitter Issues And Questions
>>
>>
>>> Colin,
>>>
>>> At one time, the rule was that an unlicensed transmitter should not
>>> radiate
>>> more than 100 feet, so any combination of power or antenna that caused
>>> its
>>> range to exceed 100 feet constituted illegal operation.  Today, the 
>>> issue
>>> has been muddied by the permission of "low power" operation on the FM
>>> band,
>>> but I'm pretty sure that a license is still required for such operation.
>>> I'm guessing that the 7-watt transmitter under discussion is marketed 
>>> for
>>> "low power" operation, which probably won't let you off the hook if the
>>> FCC
>>> catches you operating one without the correct license.  However, I doubt
>>> that they'll be beating on our doors unless they get complaints, which 
>>> is
>>> highly unlikely.  Even then, from what I've heard, they give you several
>>> warnings before they lower the boom.
>>>
>>> Steve