From: mrapple@quack.sac.ca.us (Nick Sayer)
Subject: Re: How to Prepare For the Startup of an AM Radio Tower Nearby
Originator: wdp@gagme
Organization: The Duck Pond public unix: +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'.
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 08:24:48 GMT

> jrg@bertha.att.com writes:
> 
> > Can anyone suggest any measurements, recordings, or other things that
> > should be done now, before broadcasting starts, that will help if we
> > need to later complain to the FCC about interference, bad phone noise,
> > etc.?  If there are any firms that specialize in this type of
> > measurment, their names or numbers would be appreciated.
> 
> This pushes one of my hot buttons.
> 
> In the vast majority of cases the interference is the fault of the
> home electronics equipment designers who failed to adequately shield
> the equipment from high density RF fields. In all but the tiniest
> minority of cases the transmitter in question is operating entirely
> normally, legally, and totally within the norms of modern engineering
> practice. In many cases it is simply the sight of an antenna that gets
> the xenophobes working. It is common practice for a new Amateur Radio
> operator in the neighborhood to put up an antenna without connecting
> it to a transmitter for a month or two. Invariably a couple RFI
> complaints come in from the xenophobic community.
> 
> The solution is to make consumer electronics less susceptable to RFI.
> The FCC has jurisdiction over susceptability regulation of all home
> electronics. They have chosen to abrogate that responsibility in favor
> of letting the manufacturers have their own way.
> 
> If you suspect that the transmitter is emitting harmonics or other
> out-of-band emissions, then you can indeed sick the FCC on them.  It
> is incredibly unlikely that a commercial station would put out illegal
> amounts of spur simply because spurs cost money A) in fines from the
> FCC and grief from the guy at double the frequency and B) it's wasted
> energy and therefore wasted money (a 7 kW FM transmitter with a -13 dB
> spur is putting out 350 watts on that spur. That's 10% waste. Techies:
> Yes, a -13 dB spur is pretty outrageous, and the math is simplified,
> but it sort of illustrates the idea).
> 
> There is one exception: CB stations with (illegal) amplifiers almost
> always throw out spurs because the operators of those stations don't
> know how to tune the amp properly. This is NOT the case with Amateur
> radio stations (yes, Virginia, there is a bloody huge difference) --
> for one thing the amps in the Amateur service aren't illegal (Hams can
> use up to 1500 watts PEP, CBers can use about 5 [I forget the actual
> number, but it's very tiny]).
> 
> So what to do?
> 
> 1. Don't be a xenophobe. If it's not bothering your home electronics,
> don't throw a tantrum!
> 
> 2. If it IS causing you trouble, it is PROBABLY because your device is
> susceptable NOT because the transmitter is doing something wrong. Call
> the transmitting agency with this attitude and you'll be a lot more
> likely to get help than if you call 'em up and insist that everything
> was fine before they came along. Being the cause of RFI and being "at
> fault" are two entirely different things.
> 
> 3. Tell the FCC that the consumer electronics industry is entirely
> incapable of regulating susceptability in consumer electronics, as
> they have proven quite conclusively.
> 
> 
> Nick Sayer <mrapple@quack.sac.ca.us>  N6QQQ @ N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM    
> +1 408 249 9630, log in as 'guest'    PGP 2.1 public key on request       
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> End of TELECOM Digest V13 #3
> ****************************
> 


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