Experimental Broadcasts

In the near future, BBR will be seeking out an expirmental broadcast license from the Federal Communications Commission. Our mission?
To conduct legal experimental transmissions in the AM broadcast band with 1 to 10 watts of output power into a 15 meter (50 foot) antenna system with no restriction on the ground system or transmission line, collect information such as power used, effective distance or area of coverage and to dispell any myths that if such as system was employed under Part 15 rules would NOT cause interference to licensed radio services while offering hobby broadcasters an opportunity to have some kind of usuable signal not offered by the current rules under Part 15.219.

Currently the Part 15.219 rule states the following:

§ 15.219 Operation in the band 510–1705 kHz.

(a) The total input power to the final radio frequency stage (exclusive of filament or heater power) shall not exceed 100 milliwatts.

(b) The total length of the transmission line, antenna and ground lead (if used) shall not exceed 3 meters.

(c) All emissions below 510 kHz or above 1705 kHz shall be attenuated at least 20 dB below the level of the unmodulated carrier. Determination of compliance with the 20 dB attenuation specification may be based on measurements at the intentional radiator’s antenna output terminal unless the intentional radiator uses a permanently attached antenna, in which case compliance shall be demonstrated by measuring the radiated emissions.

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Un-Realistic Restrictions

What does all that mean?

The final stage is restricted to 100 mW into a filament or heater power and cannot exceed this input, the 3 meter antenna or feed line restriction also limits how efficiently the whole trasnmission system works in terms of coverage.

By the time you have managed to match your transmitter to a rather short antenna system, the output power could be reduced to as much as 50 milliwatts since most of the power is wasted as heat due to the electrically short antenna system and matching network. Sometimes the output power is much less, occaisonally a transmission system operating under Part 15.219 restrictions will hit that sweet spot and cover a small town or a couple of miles.

The trouble with a system like this is not necessarily the power coming from the antenna but rather the noise floor present in most urban enviroments.
New devices produced in the past few years have not been properly filtered and some how have slipped past testing in a lab to pass FCC Part 15 certification which states, this device may not cause interference but must accept interference that may cause undesirable operation.

What a load of crap!
So many people have turned to FM or Internet radio as their source of entertainment because the AM Broadcast band (530 to 1700 khz) has so much noise and static that even a 10 Kilowatt AM station isn't worth tuning into.

With the recent move to offer AM station owners the chance to bring listeners back to AM or in this case FM copies of AM stations called translators, the FM band (88.1 to 107.9 mhz) is becoming crowded with high powered commercial stations, 250 watt fm translators and low power fm (lpfm) stations leaving practically no room for part 15 fm stations, not to mention that 250 microvolts at 3 meters roughly translates to a few microwatts of power, just enough to cover at the most 1000 feet before fading into ether. I am reminded of a micro broadcaster whose station moniker is :
"Drive By Radio. Don't drive too fast through our neighborhood, you might not hear our broadcast." or something to that effect.

I really do feel the Part 15.219 rule needs to be upated to reflect the changing radio landscape, AM radio is the final frontier. With that said, i hope to be granted with an experimental broadcast license to conduct necessary tests and present my findings to the FCC for review and a possible rule change for the following.
1 to 10 watts of power, a 15 meter antenna rule with no restrictions on ground or feedline and offered with the option to be commercial or non-commercial.
Basically a clone of the 1750 meter band or 160 to 170 khz with a 15 meter antenna and 1 watt of power to the output stage.

I would like to see the same thing happen to the shortwave bands as well, 10 watts and no antenna/feedline restrictions could net Part 15 operators a nice station on HF with listeners from around the world. Especially in the 22 meter ism band.

Until then, my research and search continues.
Got questions or comments? Send your inquiries to [email protected]