Shocking News from the FCC (Good News)

Range Boosting Trick

Here at HRL (Horsepower Research Lab) we are always looking for ways to extend the range of part 15 low power radio.

We have discovered that station announcements made from a higher than normal chair tend to be heard farther away than those made from a normal chair.

ALSO

Horsepower Power Company is now generating power without coal or nuclear... we have three methods...

Generators have been attached to exercise bikes at fitness centers, we have prisoners spending their day turning a large turbine generator, and an even larger turbine generator out west being turned by wild horses.

It's Watt We Do

Well, I wish not to take this topic too far off the course.

In my opinion, yes, I think digital television is an improvement over analog as far as picture and audio quality goes, where analog was snowy or grainy picture quality.

In the old days, UHF television broadcast stations required more ERP than VHF stations to cover their market areas.

When VHF stations were forced into the UHF broadcast band, as digital stations, the requirement was to reduce ERP in a UHF that we already knew required more ERP to cover the same market area as a VHF station.

I lost two VHF stations that are within 40 miles of me, that is Connecticut's ABC station WTNH 8 which moved to VHF channel 10 oddly enough, but their ERP was greatly reduced and now many antenna users can no longer get WTNH. The other is WFSB which is Connecticut's CBS station, which was moved to UHF channel 33 and reduced ERP now makes the station unviewable in most parts of Connecticut now.

Now, ION television is a good station to bring up, since I know most of you have an ION station in your area, they use a total of 6 sub-channels on their carrier, ION, ION LIfe, Quebo, Shop At Home, QVC and yet another shopping channel on sub channel 6. I get two ION stations here 24/7 WHPX 26 New London CT and WPXQ 69/17 Hope Valley Rhode Island. I can say the main channel is fine, Quebo on sub channel 2 is fine, but then the other sub channels are very poor quality and are not 480P by any means. I am sure most of you will agree with me on this if you get ION over the air in your area.

Now, the plans of the FCC, is to repack all your local stations onto the SAME carrier as sub-channels, thus requiring less usage of the remaining television broadcast spectrum after the auction and repack.

Another thing that will happen, is your ability to receive out-of-market television stations through an out-door antenna will no longer be possible, because all your local stations and distant stations will be occupying the same channels. This monopoly is being forced on us, just like regulation stopped cable and satellite providers from importing out-of-market duplicate television stations, that carry CBS, NBC, ABC Etc. Years ago cable television was a community antenna system, that made it possible for subscribers to view television stations from as far as the receiving tower could get decent signals from distant broadcast stations.

As time progressed, your local stations cried foul and the FCC changed the laws, requiring cable companies to block duplicate programming, or remove the station entirely, if it was a duplicate network station, such as FOX, ABC, NBC Etc.

Also the number of import stations which was unlimited at one point in history, was reduced, to allowing cable systems to import only 5 out of market broadcast stations.

Now, with over the air tv, the FCC could not mandate a block on duplicate programming, or out of market stations, but by placing all your locals on the same channels as other market's locals, you will no longer have two like networks, like two ABC stations or two NBC stations available on your out-door television antenna. Your locals will transmit right over the other market's stations preventing you from watching out of market television stations just like cable television.

Give this some thought, because it makes sense and this is what the FCC proposes to do is control what you watch, and in the long run, broadcast television over the air waves for free, may soon be extinct just like the dinosaurs.

It would be cheaper for television stations to feed the cable and satellite head ends directly and turn off their over the air blow torches for good.

Bruce.

As I stated in the other thread that you started, I would get independent confirmation of that before panicking too much (based on my personal experience). It would be worthwhile to call up another FCC office (or two) and ask the same question to other agents. I've found that many Industry Canada agents are not all that familiar with BETS-1, and I'm sure that's the case with FCC agents and Part 15.

Carl, now that makes sense.

You need to check out page 31 of OET 63. Plus when this member asked the question AS IS look at the answer. So the reason we done this is before you can change the rules you have to KNOW WHAT THE LAWS ARE!!

<--- Works with the FCC quite often, I call BS. Part 15 isn't just on AM and FM. Part 15 is every wireless device, wi-fi router, sprinkler data senders, tire pressure senders, garage door openers, keyless entry, key fob, remote control, traffic control signaling, walkie talkies, ect. Your member is clearly mistaken and has caused some very outlandish things to be claimed as fact. You might be able to read and recite a rule but do you really understand what it says?

I don't want to sound harsh but this is sensationalism at its absolute best, or misinterpretation at its worst.