Happy New Year everyone, Not so happy for me I was just visited by John from Industry Canada. I did not know we had a IC office in town, I should of done more research. It did not take them long to track me down after I installed my new Transmitter. He was genuinely impressed with my setup, He didn't have a search warrant but I told him what I was running, I will get a registered letter in the mail soon to finalize or meeting.
So now what, I'm thinking about finding someone to take over my system but if no one is interested I will be selling most of it. AAREFF 100 watt TX, AAREFF 5/8wave 4.8dB gain antenna,AAREFF limiter/compressor. The preamp, mixer and other sound equipment I can use elsewhere, So if anyone here is interested in buying let me know. sixer (formerly CYNR)
You could go for an experimental license... heck, CJLJ in Williams Lake has an ERP of 5 watts and the sound quality of a mic to the speaker of an AM radio and they get to stay on the air....
You'll need to wait it out a couple of years unfortunately to get off their radar...and then very quietly and sporadically, go back on at very low power. I would recommend keeping your signal at around 'RSS-210' approved levels.
Yes, I said years and it may seem discouraging. But....there are some fun things you can do in the meantime.
Don't feel like building a kit? Then Patrick at "ontheair3.com" will professionally assemble it for you. ontheair3.com/
The AMT5000 is supposed to get out a lot further than the AMT3000 as it is a much more efficient Part 15 transmitter. Look at the range this guy in Canada got with an AMT3000 properly setup with a matched antenna and ground plane...over 4 kms radius!
Hey, I know what you're thinking...but trust me, it will scratch the 'itch' to get on the air before slowly re-immerging on FM. You may also consider simulcasting on both bands as it can be a lot of fun, but use a legal FM TX!!
Building the SStran kit was super easy (and I am NOT an electronics engineer of any type) and I learned some new things along the way as I was building it. When I finally fired that thing up and heard how clean and crisp my audio sounded, I was truly amazed at how good AM can sound. There are other very good AM systems out there, but this one in my opinion sounds the best and offers the best bang for your buck in terms of Part 15 AM.
Also, you may want to consider giving this guy in Ontario a call: www.chezradio.com/
This is your ‘all-in-one’ solution in a box….antenna system and everything.
Catch? You gotta cough up $700.00CAD for this. However, I have personally used one and it is a great product. Also keep in mind that the Procaster is an Industry Canada approved product as well which is pretty much why it costs so much.
Anyways dude, give it a try man. Although you will not be getting anywhere near the range as a 100 watt FM, you may be surprised at how much fun it can be
Got my letter today pretty, standard stuff I guess ? I thought the fine was $10,000 but $5,000 for a second offence doesn't sound as bad and apparently it 's outright illegal just to own such equipment??? My package also contained 16 pages of application. ( I.C. only no CRTC)
This is invaluable information to have online. Thanks for posting those pictures!
Let this serve as a warning to any prospective unlicensed station operator. Based on my own experiences and the experiences of others, if you decide to go with three digit wattage values, you are almost guaranteed to be visited in a relatively short period of time. Heck, I got busted at 45 Watts ERP (30 at the TX) after only 6 weeks since upgrading to 30 watts. This is why I always tell people to keep the power to an absolute minimum required to cover your desired immediate area while still satisfying the desire to broadcast. I know it’s easy to get hungry for more power and have a bigger signal, but it’s just not worth it in the long run and then you’re left with no real option but to go RSS-210 and/or online. Once you’re flagged, you pretty much have to keep a very low profile for some time.
What I did from the point I was shut down was stream my station online and ordered an AM transmitter to have optimum legal range. The shift to AM required a branding change of the station so I launched an all new service with a different format. I did eventually go back to FM, but I waited it out a while and today, I keep my power to a reasonable minimum. (Reasonable as in still have a half-decent coverage area)
My goal is to have fun with this hobby, while doing my best to stay out of trouble’s way. I’ve been at this a few years guys and I’ve seen and heard a lot of shit. Bottom line is, if you’re in North America; keep the power to a minimum and you will enjoy your hobby for a much longer time.
Bummer. However sixer you should really shoot for that low power FM license. It's a lot easier to obtain a license in Canada than it is in the US.
And sam is absolutely correct. Once tagged and bagged, you will be gagged for quite some time as they will monitor the spectrum in your area for some time. They may even have what the FCC uses down here in the US...remote listening posts which are accessible to the Enforcement Division from anywhere and at any time, which can tune in and detect even micro flea fart signals and triangulate locations all without having any field agent around.
The unlicensed provision for FM in Canada is more relaxed than here in the US too. You guys are allowed 1,000 uV at 30 meters! That is how it used to be here in the US prior to the 1989 rule changes, which led to the current 250uV at 3 meter ridiculous/useless limit!
Check into what that letter is talking about..ie the low power or very low power certificate. Basically what you got there is the equivalent to a NOUO (Notice Of Unauthorized Operation) letter and is the light tap on the wrist/shoulder level of enforcement, and does not affect you in qualifying to obtain a license. However take it to the next level of an actual bust and NAL (Notice of Apparent Liability) and your screwed, blued and tattooed for good.
Peace!
K-ROCKS RadioOne
ZeroPointRadio
AM Stereo 1670
FM Stereo 92.1
Hey RFburns: It can't hurt to try, I have most of the paperwork in hand now so just a matter of filing them. Industry Canada forms are easy compared to the CRTC side of things... A low power license is up to 50 Watts, A Vlpfm is 10 watts which is plenty of power for what I need to do.
Can you convert the 1000uV @ 30 m into something I can grasp. Thanks for the support guys... sixer
Hey RFburns: Can you convert the 1000uV @ 30 m into something I can grasp. Thanks for the support guys... sixer
1,000 uV (microvolts) is 1 mV (millivolt). In terms of TX TPO (Total Power Output), that would be about 2 milliwatts into a properly terminated antenna with absolute minimum VSWR through about 20 feet of RG-6 coax. Given coax losses, the applied power to the antenna would be about 1/3 of that TX TPO, which would produce approximately the 1 mV or 1,000 uV field strength at 30 meters distance from the transmit antenna. All of that is rough guess without crunching numbers and taking into account known variables such as your coax type, length, velocity factors, loss factors, environment conditions, obstructions, HAAT, center of radiation above terrain etc.
Here is a chart showing field strengths for FCC Part 15.239 and the distances expected.
FM receivers will have variations in minimum sensitivity level and signal to noise ratio specifications. However selectivity..ie image and co-channel blanketing problems can happen in very sensitive receivers unless they are of high caliber design (proper bandwidth notch/IF bandwidth notch filtering/detector variant).
HERE is a page describing various FM receivers and their specifications which is helpful.
Peace!
K-ROCKS RadioOne
ZeroPointRadio
AM Stereo 1670
FM Stereo 92.1
Guys I ran a 100+ watt station for some time on and off in the 90s in the Detroit area. Sometimes no more than a watt, other times the full 100+ depending on my mood. At times I would broadcast straight for 12 hours but never longer. Usually weekends only. I was using a J-Pole at 45' but I've since giving that up many years ago and was lucky never having been popped by Uncle Charlie. Several FM pirates in and around Detroit were not so lucky back then. My thought regarding FM operation with any serious equipment is this. It's not a matter of "if", but "when" they catch up with you. Food for thought. I miss it but I'm just not in a mood to make it easy for them.
Guys I ran a 100+ watt station for some time on and off in the 90s in the Detroit area. Sometimes no more than a watt, other times the full 100+ depending on my mood. At times I would broadcast straight for 12 hours but never longer. Usually weekends only. I was using a J-Pole at 45' but I've since giving that up many years ago and was lucky never having been popped by Uncle Charlie. Several FM pirates in and around Detroit were not so lucky back then. My thought regarding FM operation with any serious equipment is this. It's not a matter of "if", but "when" they catch up with you. Food for thought. I miss it but I'm just not in a mood to make it easy for them.
A lot seems to depend on where the station is located also. If you live near a field office or an angry neighbor that listens to radio then you're doomed lol. The good news is that most of the time the FCC just gives you a notice to stop broadcasting or face fines. Unless you live in one of those stupid states like FL where they will outright fine you regardless.
Post by HighMountainRadio on May 19, 2018 8:49:59 GMT -6
Sorry to hear of your misfortune brother !
If it isn't already sold, how much are you looking to get for the AAREF 100 watt transmitter ?
I am interested !
73... Spooky...
"Knowledge Is Always Made More Valuable By Sharing It With Others !" Always Remember To Be Kind ! True Greatness Often Has Very Humble Beginnings ! Help A Kid Out Today ! *** High Mountain Radio *** "Broadcasting From Somewhere High In The Remote Appalachian Mountains"
Post by amateurstation on Apr 24, 2019 4:49:22 GMT -6
I realize this is a very old original post, but from an info perspective, too bad he didn’t provide more info about why he thinks IC was notified. With thier cutbacks, total refusal to respond to harmful interference complaints from licenced services other than emergency services or those affecting safety ( ie airband) , I can only believe someone bitched about his broadcast content.
There is the well known case of a strip club in Toronto that operated for years - with complaints - before they were finally shut down. As a once previous “dc to daylight“, listener with thousands of dollars of equipment , specializing in world wide reception and “weak signal” com circuits , years of experience, government volunteer work related to radio systems etc, I have heard the complete desecration of the RF spectrum. It is from the Allowed ( although illegal) unfiltered switch mode power supplies, Chinese junk, digital hash spewing, unshilded or filtered electronics, Industry Canada has Allowed the sprectrum to become useless for much of it once amazing technical advantage- “infrastructure-less world wide communication”.
This turned my interest to local broadcasting as a solution for no- longer receiving AM stations that should be easily heard, but are now covered by RFI from crappy devices ...and the complete one party political take over of broadcast media on FM..
With the loss of LEGAL means to receive infrastructure independent ( read: free or commercial supported) it is no wonder there is a sharp increase in wanting to have local broadcasters. Note that ; even AM broadcasters are giving up, due to their signal distance being destroyed by RFI that IC and the Canadian government refuses to enforce via tougher standards ( at least get up to the EU level guys) and allowable Sale and use of non- intentional radiating devices and digital crap. Just go to the IC website and they tell you they no longer respond to complaints unless it’s to those services.
I wonder if IC has had any Pirate busts in the past 5 years ..and if so, it’s likely spurs into the air band , over other FM stations or overloading nearby neighbours. Overloading causes your signal to “ swamp” the front end of receivers near by.
Investigating a few fm transmitters has been interesting, but I believe this is a problem created by Government when communication is no longer free, is allowed to be curtailed, and is eventually sold off to private “ pay to use” mega-media giants. The coming Communist Chinese “ social credit score” to the west has already been “ tested” by the control of content by the usual suspects - Facebook google twitter etc...so the importantance of over the air broadcast is magnified.
Do not give up ...I have been impressed by legal means to setup local stations (as above mentioned AMT5000), And using methods found in “Radio Fox Hunts” to avoid being caught, can be researched. ( example : using a rotating beam antenna, changing power levels etc)...but the biggest may be stopping front end overload to your neighbour and changing your content.
That my rant...keep up the fight for infrastructureless communication