hello folks , hope someone can help me

i have built some 433MHz CW transmitters and used them for tracking
model airplanes and stuff so I can find them if they get lost , the
only ones i have built so far are only a couple of mW output , the
company make they low power modules say no license is required for
their use

ok , so now i want to build a higher power one for greater distance ,
thinking of using the linx modules which can either have 10mW or 50mW
output at 433MHz CW

my questions

1) as power increases at some point i will need to get a technician
class license , no problem as i will do that , but my question is at
what power level is this required ? can you point me to where this
is defined ?

2) i know building little transmitters for sale as a product requires
an FCC registration number ... but building only a couple for your own
use does not .. correct ? ( if so hams couldn't ever build their own
transmitters )

thanks for any assistance ... stan

I think there's a lot of technically illegal radio building that's tolerated
because it's not bothering anyone. Building your own 2mW transmitter and
using it for fun is a lot like driving at 90mph on a deserted freeway --
they're both illegal, but if you do it well the law will look the other way.
This is how we all got away with those AM transmitters on our RatShack
100-in-1 project kits when we were kids.

Building your own transmitters that are within the rules for unlicensed use
is technically illegal but practically OK (see above). Amatuer operators
are allowed to use our own equipment because we're presumed to know what
we're doing by virtue of having passed the test for the license, and because
the gov'ment knows that we're self-policed and will try to get violators to
shape up on our own before anyone calls the FCC.

By all means go ahead and get a licence -- then you can not only dink with
building a better beacon, but you can fly on 50MHz and (a) always have a
frequency to yourself and (b) confuse everyone with your single-digit
frequency flag.

If you do this then technically (there's that word again!) you'll have to
rig the beacon up to send your call sign automatically at least every 10
minutes, but aside from the 100W power output this would be a good way of
distinguishing _your_ beacon from everyone else's. You may be able to get
away with putting a placard with your call sign on the aircraft, but I think
that rule only covers the transmitter with which you're flying the plane.

"stan" wrote in message
...
hello folks , hope someone can help me

i have built some 433MHz CW transmitters and used them for tracking
model airplanes and stuff so I can find them if they get lost , the
only ones i have built so far are only a couple of mW output , the
company make they low power modules say no license is required for
their use

ok , so now i want to build a higher power one for greater distance ,
thinking of using the linx modules which can either have 10mW or 50mW
output at 433MHz CW

my questions

1) as power increases at some point i will need to get a technician
class license , no problem as i will do that , but my question is at
what power level is this required ? can you point me to where this
is defined ?

2) i know building little transmitters for sale as a product requires
an FCC registration number ... but building only a couple for your own
use does not .. correct ? ( if so hams couldn't ever build their own
transmitters )

thanks for any assistance ... stan

In article ,
Tim Wescott wrote:

I think there's a lot of technically illegal radio building that's tolerated
because it's not bothering anyone. Building your own 2mW transmitter and
using it for fun is a lot like driving at 90mph on a deserted freeway --
they're both illegal, but if you do it well the law will look the other way.
This is how we all got away with those AM transmitters on our RatShack
100-in-1 project kits when we were kids.

Building your own transmitters that are within the rules for unlicensed use
is technically illegal but practically OK (see above).

Actually, as I read it, if you homebrew a system which stays within
the FCC Part 15 limits, it's perfectly legal. The rules have a
specific "no certification required" exception for systems which are
built for home use, not-from-a-kit, in small quantities.

By all means go ahead and get a licence

Definitely!

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Oh that's good to know. I have part 97 ('cause I'm KG7LI) and part 68
('cause I occasionally work with phone equipment), but not part 15. I'll
have to take a look sometime.

"Dave Platt" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Tim Wescott wrote:

I think there's a lot of technically illegal radio building that's
tolerated
because it's not bothering anyone. Building your own 2mW transmitter and
using it for fun is a lot like driving at 90mph on a deserted freeway --
they're both illegal, but if you do it well the law will look the other
way.
This is how we all got away with those AM transmitters on our RatShack
100-in-1 project kits when we were kids.

Building your own transmitters that are within the rules for unlicensed
use
is technically illegal but practically OK (see above).

Actually, as I read it, if you homebrew a system which stays within
the FCC Part 15 limits, it's perfectly legal. The rules have a
specific "no certification required" exception for systems which are
built for home use, not-from-a-kit, in small quantities.

By all means go ahead and get a licence

Definitely!

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Assuming you're in the U.S., you need a copy of Part 15 of the FCC
rules, which deals with unlicensed transmitters among other things. I
imagine it's on the web these days -- if not, it's available from the
government printing office for a nominal charge.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

stan wrote:
hello folks , hope someone can help me

i have built some 433MHz CW transmitters and used them for tracking
model airplanes and stuff so I can find them if they get lost , the
only ones i have built so far are only a couple of mW output , the
company make they low power modules say no license is required for
their use

ok , so now i want to build a higher power one for greater distance ,
thinking of using the linx modules which can either have 10mW or 50mW
output at 433MHz CW

my questions

1) as power increases at some point i will need to get a technician
class license , no problem as i will do that , but my question is at
what power level is this required ? can you point me to where this
is defined ?

2) i know building little transmitters for sale as a product requires
an FCC registration number ... but building only a couple for your own
use does not .. correct ? ( if so hams couldn't ever build their own
transmitters )

thanks for any assistance ... stan

And the US government will refer to it as "Part 15 of CFR 47" -- CFR 47
being volume 47 of the code of federal regulations. If you get if from the
gov'ment as a book it will come bound with other parts -- my 1992 set of CFR
47 has three volumes.

"Roy Lewallen" wrote in message
...
Assuming you're in the U.S., you need a copy of Part 15 of the FCC
rules, which deals with unlicensed transmitters among other things. I
imagine it's on the web these days -- if not, it's available from the
government printing office for a nominal charge.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

stan wrote:
hello folks , hope someone can help me

i have built some 433MHz CW transmitters and used them for tracking
model airplanes and stuff so I can find them if they get lost , the
only ones i have built so far are only a couple of mW output , the
company make they low power modules say no license is required for
their use

ok , so now i want to build a higher power one for greater distance ,
thinking of using the linx modules which can either have 10mW or 50mW
output at 433MHz CW

my questions

1) as power increases at some point i will need to get a technician
class license , no problem as i will do that , but my question is at
what power level is this required ? can you point me to where this
is defined ?

2) i know building little transmitters for sale as a product requires
an FCC registration number ... but building only a couple for your own
use does not .. correct ? ( if so hams couldn't ever build their own
transmitters )

thanks for any assistance ... stan

In article , "Tim Wescott"
writes:

And the US government will refer to it as "Part 15 of CFR 47" -- CFR 47
being volume 47 of the code of federal regulations. If you get if from the
gov'ment as a book it will come bound with other parts -- my 1992 set of CFR
47 has three volumes.

Suggestion: Go to the FCC website and click the Office of Engineering
and Technology button (to the right). OET page will let you access
Part 15 rules directly instead of going to the Government Printing Office
site and doing small (free) downloads of any portion of Parts of the
Code of Federal Regulations.

My 1995 set of 47 C.F.R. was five volumes and cost $120. GPO has
branch offices in most of the larger cities of the USA. No shipping
charges. Individual volumes are available. Part 15 is still available
free over the Internet.

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

Roy,

It has been a while since I read it, but isn't the bulk of the requirement a
field strength number? I run a validation department and we measure field
strength for our products. If there is a section of part 15 which gets
specific (like I think the old 136 KHz part or the AM band where a power and
antenna IS specified, then he's ok. Otherwise he'll have to measure field
strength.

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

"Roy Lewallen" wrote in message
...
Assuming you're in the U.S., you need a copy of Part 15 of the FCC
rules, which deals with unlicensed transmitters among other things. I
imagine it's on the web these days -- if not, it's available from the
government printing office for a nominal charge.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

stan wrote:
hello folks , hope someone can help me

i have built some 433MHz CW transmitters and used them for tracking
model airplanes and stuff so I can find them if they get lost , the
only ones i have built so far are only a couple of mW output , the
company make they low power modules say no license is required for
their use

ok , so now i want to build a higher power one for greater distance ,
thinking of using the linx modules which can either have 10mW or 50mW
output at 433MHz CW

my questions

1) as power increases at some point i will need to get a technician
class license , no problem as i will do that , but my question is at
what power level is this required ? can you point me to where this
is defined ?

2) i know building little transmitters for sale as a product requires
an FCC registration number ... but building only a couple for your own
use does not .. correct ? ( if so hams couldn't ever build their own
transmitters )

thanks for any assistance ... stan

Steve Nosko wrote:
Roy,

It has been a while since I read it, but isn't the bulk of the requirement a
field strength number? I run a validation department and we measure field
strength for our products. If there is a section of part 15 which gets
specific (like I think the old 136 KHz part or the AM band where a power and
antenna IS specified, then he's ok. Otherwise he'll have to measure field
strength.

Yes, virtually all the part 15 specifications are field strength.
However, if the power is known, the field strength can often be
approximated by modeling or by making some assumptions about antenna
gain and efficiency. Accurate measurement of field strength isn't trivial.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Steve Nosko wrote:
Roy,

It has been a while since I read it, but isn't the bulk of the requirement a
field strength number? I run a validation department and we measure field
strength for our products. If there is a section of part 15 which gets
specific (like I think the old 136 KHz part or the AM band where a power and
antenna IS specified, then he's ok. Otherwise he'll have to measure field
strength.

Yes, virtually all the part 15 specifications are field strength.
However, if the power is known, the field strength can often be
approximated by modeling or by making some assumptions about antenna
gain and efficiency. Accurate measurement of field strength isn't trivial.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL