Messages

16

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: Introducing Parking Lot Radio!

« on: September 29, 2022, 1530 UTC »

Saw in the Carl Blare blog that Parking Lot radio transmitter is not going to happen, a few hours later the HB forum reported the same thing. Here's  a copy of their announcement:

"After careful consideration of the general market, supply chain and logistics issues,
as well as FCC licensing costs, it has been deemed that we will be unable to proceed
with the production of Parking Lot Radio.
For those of you generous followers that committed funding in advance,
please contact Jim Hendershot at jim@radiodesign.com
for details on how to receive a refund.
We appreciate your support and offer our apologies for the inconvenience.
We sincerely thank you for your interest in Radio Design Group and our products.
We hope you’ll find our continuing communications helpful and informative.
Follow our social media pages for more!"

Is getting transmitter tested for certification really that much of an expense?

17

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: What has become of NOUOs?

« on: September 26, 2022, 1652 UTC »

An interesting tidbit concerning NOUOs: From 2002 till about 2009, every AM notice specified the following or a variation thefeof:

"...Radio stations must be licensed by the FCC pursuant to 47 U.S.C. S 301.
   The only exception to this licensing requirement is for certain
   transmitters using or operating at a power level or mode of operation that
   complies with the standards established in Part 15 of the Commission's
   rules, 47 C.F.R. SS 15.1 et seq. The field strength of the signal on
   frequency 1620 kHz was measured at 23,600 microvolts per meter (uV/m) at
   75 meters, which exceeded the maximum permitted level of 250 uV/m at 3
   meters for non-licensed devices. Thus, this station is operating in
   violation of 47 U.S.C. S 301."

In no citation from 2002 to 2009 did any of the NOUOs investigate, or even mention the alternate opion of operating under 15.219,  but in 2009 that changed, now every NOUO since includes investigation and report checking the compliance of both 15.209 or 15.219.

What prompted this change? It was the two and a half year battle of KENC AM 1650 with an inspecting FCC agent beginning back in 2009. Now all NOUOs address both options instead of just field strength.

18

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Music licensing concerns

« on: September 26, 2022, 1555 UTC »

I realize probably 95% of part 15 hobbyist don't bother with paying music royalties, and in certain cases it's not even a requirement. But for those utilizing part 15 as a mean of public performance and are concerned about being 100% legal, then a reliable source of information on the subject can be reviewed in the publication "Use of Copyrighted Music on College and University Campuses" (Campus Stations are part 15 operations too)
https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Music-Use-of-Copyright.pdf

19

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: What has become of NOUOs?

« on: September 26, 2022, 1428 UTC »

Wow.. Thanks, didn't know that.

20

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / What has become of NOUOs?

« on: September 26, 2022, 1403 UTC »

About 2 years ago I noticed there had been only 1 AM NOUO since November 2016, which was odd when you consider there had been an average of 6 to 12 NOUO citations per year since 2002. (There's a list of them at http://part15lab.blogspot.com/2014/04/nouo-notices-of-unlicensed-operation.html

 I hadn't looked in awhile, so today decided to comb through the FCC database http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/ and discovered two curiosities; It used to be that you could search back 10 years, but now you can search back as far as the year 2000.. But only up to the year 2019 - There's nothing after 2019! Not for AM or FM!

Did I miss something? Has the FCC quit making this information public knowledge    since the pirate war began or something?

21

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: New $69 laptop good for Ham (or solar Part15

« on: September 01, 2022, 1606 UTC »

I don't know no tricks Greg, I just opened the box and turned it on. During the Win10 setup I did have to go thru setting up a Microsoft email, but I don't think I ever even entered the Microsoft store.. The very next thing I did was download and install Zara Radio, next I downloaded and installed Chrome both via a Google search, same as I would on any computer.

I just looked in my settings and it shows "Windows 10 Pro Education" version 2004 as the OP

As for XP, years ago I created a stripped down streamlined version of XP using "nlite", which I still have a copy of and am considering putting it on this because it would run smoother and faster.

22

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: New $69 laptop good for Ham (or solar Part15

« on: August 31, 2022, 0323 UTC »

It is an Windows 10 Educational install, however Ive experienced no limitations as compared to a standard install as of yet. Your incorrect that your limited to programs from the Microsoft store, the first thing I did was to install Zara Radio which I downloaded from the Zara site.

I'm still considering putting XP on it as a dedicated Zara automation machine, but it seems to run fine as is, so maybe I wont.

23

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: 1978 "PEEWEE" STATION | The MICRO-BROADCASTERS COMMUNITY Forum?

« on: August 31, 2022, 0312 UTC »

Not the one I was looking for but here's another part 15 AM peewee station that made the news in the 1940s, compliments of a phono-ocilator..
The_Herald_Press_Sat__Feb_5__1949_

24

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: 1978 "PEEWEE" STATION | The MICRO-BROADCASTERS COMMUNITY Forum?

« on: August 30, 2022, 2038 UTC »

Dude, that is just too freakin´ cool! BTW, you did this station at about the right time. Back in 1978...  ...Ever made any off-air recordings of that? Anyway, THANKS for sharing that!

I'm a little confused Dood; Did I make recordings of what? Are you thinking I was the one with the 1978 station? - Not at all, it's just an old article I pulled up!

What I said was I was the one who posted it at  the mbcf site.

25

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: 1978 "PEEWEE" STATION | The MICRO-BROADCASTERS COMMUNITY Forum?

« on: August 29, 2022, 2013 UTC »

That's from my post. That article had been published in several Indiana papers in the first week of August 1978. In some the story was truncated but otherwise identical. However found one small bit of additional info in one of the shorter versions of the story ( his "radio tower" was in his back yard.. which I suspect had to be a whip and mast Audio-Sine p15 transmitter) along with a picture of 16 year old Jamie in his basement studio in the Tipton County Tribune, Aug 2, 1978, Page 6 (shown below). I tried to find out whatever became of the issue but found no further mentions of WGRU at all.



Download for better resolution of the above article:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao8bgXgwfeXVaYxlJZhdiWh8xPk
For a longer version click the link in the Doods post above

26

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: New $69 laptop good for Ham (or solar Part15

« on: July 26, 2022, 2329 UTC »

Amazon has it for only $85 and 6.99 shipping  I just ordered one. There's now only 12 more left from that seller but other sellers asking more.. I would offer a direct link but it's in my app and don't see how to copy it

27

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: New $69 laptop good for Ham (or solar Part15

« on: July 26, 2022, 2251 UTC »

I'm sure it's arm based to run that low on the consumption end, so don't expect a speed demon.
+-RH

Not arm based, it comes pre-installed with a full uncrippled Windows 10

Evolve III Maestro E-Book 11.6" Laptop (64GB, 4GB RAM, Wi-Fi+ 4G LTE) Intel Celeron N3450 1.1GHz Processor; 4GB LPDDR4-2133 RAM; 64GB ROM Data Storage; Intel HD Graphics 500
Intel Celeron N3450 1.1GHz Processor
4GB LPDDR4-2133 RAM
64GB ROM Data Storage
Intel HD Graphics 500
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Education
microSD Card Reader
Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
LTE Capable
11.6" HD Display

The cheapest I found now is at Walmart for $108 with free shipping
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Evolve-III-Maestro-E-Book-11-6-Laptop-64GB-4GB-RAM-Wi-Fi-4G-LTE-Intel-Celeron-N3450-1-1GHz-Processor-LPDDR4-2133-RAM-64GB-ROM-Data-Storage-HD-Graphic/7946868

28

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: New $69 laptop good for Ham (or solar Part15

« on: July 26, 2022, 1851 UTC »

I havent ordered one just yet but I may before the day is out. The major factor to me is that it is not a speed demon! Right now I'm using a Dell studio laptop and it's not uncommon to see it pulling like 50 to 80watts! Way too much for 24/7 use.

Seems to me this 12v laptop would be ideal to run automation 24 hours a day powered by my Yeti 1250 and a couple 100watt panels, and I'd still have ample juice for my TV, lights and fans.

The biggest fans of this cheap laptop looks to be the Rasberry Pi users, I see several people saying they bought three or four of these. Evidently their cheaper than the Rasberrys, but it's not clear to me why these are a good alternative T I've for that.

29

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / New $69 laptop good for Ham (or solar Part15

« on: July 25, 2022, 1708 UTC »

In this video this guy explains why this cheap laptop is good for Ham radio and a good alternative to a rasgberry pi....

Cheap $60 laptop Actually Good for Ham Radio
https://youtu.be/7TM0VSra-b8

There's a couple other videos praising this as good for hams to. I'm not really familiar with all that but I'll tell you what interest me about this budget laptop.. I'm moving my transmitter to my sailboat again. This laptop runs and will charge with a direct 12v connection, it comes with Windows 10 Educational Pro installed but you can install Windows 7 (better for using Zara) or Linux if you want. it's not fast but it's very efficient on power draw, which is important when running solar power. One commenter said it was drawing only 5watts, but I doubt that's right,, From it's internal battery it can run up to 9 hours on a charge (again I doubt that claim, nevertheless the claim is draws a fraction of the energy a more powerful PC would.. And of course it's very cheap. But you apparently can't get it for $60 anymore, now it's closer to $100 (free shipping Amazon, Walmart, Ebay) Still a bargain.

30

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: Introducing Parking Lot Radio!

« on: July 24, 2022, 1419 UTC »

No updates on the transmitter since October 2021. Wonder if it will ever hit the market.