Peter Wieck a écrit :
On Aug 26, 6:10 pm, Syl wrote:
Peter Wieck a écrit :



For the money, and if you can get to Kutztown, I will have a
consignment of SSTRAN AMT3000 units. $80, including all taxes and with
the SMT chip already installed.
Peter,

That transmitter is NOT FCC part 15 compliant for what I know.

This would be misleading as the OP requests a part 15 transmitter
BCB.

Syls

From the website:



· Legal to use in the US, no FCC license required

· Fully compliant with FCC Part 15 regulations

· 100 mW input power

· 100% Modulation

· 20Hz to 20kHz ±1 dB Audio Response

· Very Low Distortion

· Adjustable Audio Compressor/Limiter

· 10 kHz and 9 kHz channel spacing options

· High Quality PC Board and Components

· Comprehensive Instruction Manual

This is a "HOME MADE" unit - which means that it must meet maximum
power radiation requirements, antenna developed length requirements
and various other regulations. EXACTLY the same as the Ramsey kit, the
AES kit, the L'il 7 Kit and any of several others.

What it is NOT is approved to be sold as a full-built unit.

Makes it Part 15 - compliant.

But, by removing the spaces, you can get chapter-and-verse from Phil
Bolyn at info at sstran dot com.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Hi Peter,

Thanks. Several of those specs do bring questions though as they aren't
properly defined (unless they are in the full FCC documentation ?

i.e.

a) Just what "very low distortion" means ? To me, very low distortion
would be 0,001% as a minimum. But I understand that in the real world
of transmitters, 0,1% is probably considered very low distortion figures
? This based on the presumption that attaining 0,001% distortion figures
is easier to attain than using tube technology. Correct me if I am wrong.

b) Adjustable compressor/limiter. To what levels ?

c) High Quality PC Board and Components. Does this means the
homebrewer can't use Chinese made parts [grin]

Of course I do not mean to start a discussion on these points,
merely thinking out loud...;o)

But...I now better understand the requirements for part 15. As It shows,
the only difference between a commercial unit and a homebrewer's is the
latter does not have to pay labs testing and approval for his
"concoction" whereas the former (the manufacturer) has to have the FCC
seal of approval and the of course the onerous fee(s) along with the
approval tag.

I wonder how the FCC manages the homebrewer's "concoctions", other
than reacting to complaint(s) ? I suspect this is what happened
to the kit builder whom got fined sometime ago ?

Syl

I wonder how the FCC manages the homebrewer's "concoctions", other
than reacting to complaint(s) ? I suspect this is what happened
to the kit builder whom got fined sometime ago ?

They basically respond to complaints, as I recall. It's a common-sense sort
of rule. You can transmit at a power level that covers your house, or your
yard at best. You can't go above that level without possibly interfering
with your neighbors' reception. Duh. I'm not interested in building a pirate
radio station, so I can't imagine why I'd want a transmitter that could
broadcast beyond our house.

I dimly recall discussions about that kit builder, but it seems he was
selling manufactured units as "kits," or possibly selling non-compliant
manufactured units without going through the certification process.

If you're simply piddling around in the basement and trying to build a
house-level transmitter, there is no certification process. Just don't
interfere with reception in your neighbors' houses, lest they complain.

Common sense rules :-)

Phil Nelson

Maybe this will help?

http://lowpowerradio.blogspot.com

Cheers!

Forgive the top posting - note the interpolations.

On Aug 26, 10:43*pm, Syl wrote:

Thanks. Several of those specs do bring questions though as they aren't
properly defined (unless they are in the full FCC documentation ?

Well, not really - what the FCC requires is apart from many of the
specifications shown. Example: US Federal requirements on automobiles
write to certain requirements - leather seats is not one of them. Part
15 writes to certain requirements - Accepting stereo inputs,
broadcasting 20hz - 20khz, and very low distortion are not amongst
them. They are the leather seats.

a) Just what "very low distortion" means ? To me, very low distortion
would be 0,001% as a minimum. But I understand that in the real world
of transmitters, 0,1% is probably considered very low distortion figures
? This based on the presumption that attaining 0,001% distortion figures
is easier to attain than using tube technology. Correct me if I am wrong.

In the specifications - which you have to dig further into the site to
find. However from my discussions with Phil, that VLD is relative to
most commercial broadcasters and also a function of the much broader
bandwidth.

b) Adjustable compressor/limiter. To what levels ?

Also in the specifications.

c) High Quality PC Board and Components. Does this means the
homebrewer can't use Chinese made parts [grin]

I am not so sure how to answer that question. I have seen homebrewers
use the functional equivalent of Venusian water buffalo poop in their
rigs - as long as it meets the radiation requirements of Part 15, I am
not so sure the Feds will care. Phil sources his parts from all over
the place - but many of the custom parts are made locally - not in
China.


Of course I do not mean to start a discussion on these points,
merely thinking out loud...;o)

You mean that you are not taking a page from Mr. Byrns' book and
attempting to poison the waters around what should be a pretty simple
discussion? ;-{ 0

But...I now better understand the requirements for part 15. As It shows,
the only difference between a commercial unit and a homebrewer's is the
latter does not have to pay labs testing and approval for his
"concoction" whereas the former (the manufacturer) has to have the FCC
seal of approval and the of course the onerous fee(s) along with the
approval tag.

Something like that.

I wonder how the FCC manages the homebrewer's "concoctions", other
than reacting to complaint(s) ? I suspect this is what happened
to the kit builder whom got fined sometime ago ?

Basically, the FCC (as it is presently constituted) is a dumping
ground for political hacks owed a small favor and the sons of wealthy
political hacks owed a larger favor. There is not a scintilla of
competence throughout its political-appointee management and hasn't
been for perhaps the last 6 - 20 years (maybe much longer), depending
on whose ox was gored most recently. For the most part, its
regulations are written so vaguely that the adage "Money talks, the
rest walks" covers their behavior. The individual who was assembling
SSTRANs for resale got fined by the FCC because a competitor selling a
fully-assembled product WITH the FCC compliance certificate at over
10X the cost felt threatened and injured - and had the money and was
paying the fees to get action.

It is interesting to note that said kit-builder is back and has done
the thing he should have done in the first place to be in full
compliance with Part 15 (not sell assembled transmitters) yet still
perform the service for his customers - so simple and so obvious that
he missed it for years and was fined. He is now bullet-proof in that
sense. Care to guess how he is doing it?

Put it this way, every single solitary AM transmitter *KIT* sold in
the United States today for single-house use from Vectronics to Ramsey
to SSTRAN to the L'il 7 et.al. that calls itself "Part 15 compliant"
is subject to the same regulations. It is my opinion based on my
experience with most of them that the SSTRAN happens to be the most
convenient unit to use and short of a parts-box home-brew represents
the best value-for-money in addition to its convenience. That Phil is
a distant neighbor and a decent guy does not change any of that.

As the "other" Phil notes, the FCC reacts to complaints. If the
complainer is of the party-in-power and also has money may affect the
speed and effectiveness of their response - though not necessarily.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

In article ,
says...


That "part" is unclear to me. I try to understand what makes
a transmitter Part 15 compliant

Syl

Part 15 Compliant is one of two possibilities.
#1.. Transmitter is actually FCC type accepted... read EXPENSIVE PROCESS

or

#2.. Home Built or Kit Built unit for your own use... but still meets
the requirements of 100 mW and antenna etc etc etc..

Both #1 and #2 above must NOT interfere with commercial services.

Again Both of the above would only be investigated by FCC if complaints
were filed.

The Guy thats back to building the kits again ... this time legally is
probably still leaving the unit in a somewhat "Kit Form" requiring
enough final construction to the end user to comply with FCC rules.

John k9uwa

Peter Wieck a écrit :

Of course I do not mean to start a discussion on these points,
merely thinking out loud...;o)

You mean that you are not taking a page from Mr. Byrns' book and
attempting to poison the waters around what should be a pretty simple
discussion? ;-{ 0


I knew someone would catch this one...


It is interesting to note that said kit-builder is back and has done
the thing he should have done in the first place to be in full
compliance with Part 15 (not sell assembled transmitters) yet still
perform the service for his customers - so simple and so obvious that
he missed it for years and was fined. He is now bullet-proof in that
sense. Care to guess how he is doing it?

Dunno how he does it but
the way "I" would do it is build the kit for free and get the
customers to pay for an irrelevant item (say a label) for the whole
cost I would charge building the kit, or better yet, have the customer
install a few parts by themselves and send the kit in for repair
'cause it doesn't work...

Much like those selling pirated CDs from well known "free movies"
archives and not charge for the actual CD content but for the labour and
material cost...

Syl

Tio Pedro wrote:

"Syl" wrote in message
...
Tio Pedro a écrit :

Dear Senor Pedro,

That "part" is unclear to me. I try to understand what makes
a transmitter Part 15 compliant when homemade as opposed
to a commercial unit. Does the 100mw input still holds
(but owner/builder doesn't have to get "approved" by FCC) or
is it a don't get caught transmitting on a commercial
frequency -i.e. create interferences- and you'll do fine thing ?

Syl

Mon Ami

I tried googling the FCC website, but not much luck...
There is (was) a section that mentioned that it was legal to build
a part 15 transmitter, provided it meet the FCC requirements for
regarding power, antenna limitations and spectral purity. There
was a limit on the number of such devices that could be built and
owned by individual as well.

Pete


You want to wade through CFR 47, part 15. That has the laws the FCC
is supposed to enforce.


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On Aug 27, 9:13*am, Syl wrote:

have the customer install a few parts by themselves and send the kit in for repair
'cause it doesn't work...

Yep.You are on the right track - the kit is built all-but-plugging the
chips into the sockets. That is left to the customer and apparently
enough to satisfy the regulations.

Ah, well. I built mine and I enjoy it nearly every day. I also keep an
FM-stereo transmitter so I can feed AM signal to the vintage audio and
FM signal to the vintage radios...

Hey, does Little Vinny have any currency from the middle east? I could
gather a few coins together if you wish?

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA