I wonder how the FCC manages the homebrewer's "concoctions", other
than reacting to complaint(s) ? I suspect this is what happened
to the kit builder whom got fined sometime ago ?

They basically respond to complaints, as I recall. It's a common-sense sort
of rule. You can transmit at a power level that covers your house, or your
yard at best. You can't go above that level without possibly interfering
with your neighbors' reception. Duh. I'm not interested in building a pirate
radio station, so I can't imagine why I'd want a transmitter that could
broadcast beyond our house.

I dimly recall discussions about that kit builder, but it seems he was
selling manufactured units as "kits," or possibly selling non-compliant
manufactured units without going through the certification process.

If you're simply piddling around in the basement and trying to build a
house-level transmitter, there is no certification process. Just don't
interfere with reception in your neighbors' houses, lest they complain.

Common sense rules :-)

Phil Nelson