Post by Boomer on Jun 24, 2020 11:35:55 GMT
Begging to Differ on Part 15
Regulations
Bill DeFelice has some questions for Larry Wilkins
By Bill DeFelice ⋅
Published: May 30, 2020
......
I read the recent comments from Alabama Broadcaster Association’s Larry Wilkins concerning LP/Part 15 transmission regulations with trepidation (“Low-Power Transmitter Guidance From Larry Wilkins”). I’m skeptical in regards to the validity of the information he used as reference.
It would appear that the author had taken much of their obtained knowledge from a July 1991 FCC public noticed titled “Permitted Forms of Low Power Broadcast Operation.” This notice cites a maximum coverage area of 200 feet for both FM and AM unlicensed broadcasting.
Wilkins correctly cites the applicable field intensity for Part 15 compliant FM operation as defined in Part 15.239, 250µV/meter at 3 meters. This is an absolute and, as such, the maximum service area would certainly be around the 200 foot mark, depending on the sensitivity of the receiver being used.
However, I believe Wilkins is in error in his statement of “The same is true on the AM broadcast band, where devices are limited to an effective service range of approximately 200 feet (61 meters).” While this appears to coincide with the FCC public notice this is inaccurate.
......
Regulations
Bill DeFelice has some questions for Larry Wilkins
By Bill DeFelice ⋅
Published: May 30, 2020
......
I read the recent comments from Alabama Broadcaster Association’s Larry Wilkins concerning LP/Part 15 transmission regulations with trepidation (“Low-Power Transmitter Guidance From Larry Wilkins”). I’m skeptical in regards to the validity of the information he used as reference.
It would appear that the author had taken much of their obtained knowledge from a July 1991 FCC public noticed titled “Permitted Forms of Low Power Broadcast Operation.” This notice cites a maximum coverage area of 200 feet for both FM and AM unlicensed broadcasting.
Wilkins correctly cites the applicable field intensity for Part 15 compliant FM operation as defined in Part 15.239, 250µV/meter at 3 meters. This is an absolute and, as such, the maximum service area would certainly be around the 200 foot mark, depending on the sensitivity of the receiver being used.
However, I believe Wilkins is in error in his statement of “The same is true on the AM broadcast band, where devices are limited to an effective service range of approximately 200 feet (61 meters).” While this appears to coincide with the FCC public notice this is inaccurate.
......
More: radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/begging-to-differ-on-part-15-regulations
Larry Wilkins' commentary could be serving his own station, in that if church 'parking lot radio' is discouraged then he feels he could get more churches to buy time and broadcast through his facilities instead.
Larry also could be looking at a 200 foot coverage in terms of commercial radio station coverage at high signal levels and miles of local coverage.
Radio-Locator defines a local signal as the distance where the signal is at 2 millivolts, and I could easily see 2 mv at 200 feet from a Part-15 station's antenna.
It happens with my station, there's a point where hiss comes up a little, and at night distant stations start to be heard in the background. I didn't measure it, but it seems like a few hundred feet, yet usable signal is many times farther under good conditions, day time with clear skies, with a good receiver.
Boomer