NPR Sick Of Howard Stern Butting In; Wants FCC To Recall FM Modulators
from the interference-problems dept
A few years back, the UK decided to ban certain FM modulators such as the "iTrip" device that would let you broadcast your iPod a short distance at a low frequency on your radio, claiming that it was breaking the law that banned "pirate" radio stations -- even if it could only broadcast a few feet. Earlier this year however, a bunch of radio stations in the US started complaining that these FM modulators from both things like the iTrip and that were popular with satellite radio systems were causing problems on the road. Basically, as someone drove by with one of those modulators, the broadcast would break into other passing cars' radios. In order to make it clear what a problem this was, they talked of things like Howard Stern and gangsta rap breaking into Christian radio stations. This seemed a little silly, but at the same time, the FCC began an investigation into reports that the modulators from XM and Sirius went beyond specifications. Apparently, NPR isn't happy with the FCC's efforts so far. They conducted their own study, which found that 40% of the devices exceed FCC limits and are demanding that the FCC recall the devices. A separate study by the National Association of Broadcasters also found that more than 75% of the device exceed their power limits. It may be true that these devices exceed the set limits, but it still seems to take things a bit far to claim that "these modulators pose a significant threat" to public radio. There's nothing wrong with recalling the devices if they do exceed the set specs, but it's hardly such a threat. In fact, as the article notes, when the modulators are set to the proper levels, it's possible that the reverse happens: and NPR signals will break into people listening to Howard Stern on their satellite radio. Will that pose just as significant a threat?
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transmitter
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Re: transmitter
they have a whole line... pick your power output.
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=FM25B
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Re: transmitter
It works great for me, through walls too.
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Re: transmitter
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Re: transmitter
Does a good job, broadcasts the MP3s on my DVD players over my property (~2 acres) with no problem.
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Re: transmitter
I have one of these and I can get our content half way down the block.
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Re: transmitter
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Re: transmitter
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/hk/default.asp?page=amfm
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Re: transmitter
I've built a few over the years for under $100. Mind you, these were used to broadcast over a larger area - few miles under good conditions. Good for impromptu gatherings.
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Re: transmitter
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Re: transmitter
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C'mon...
Seriously, what are the odds on my iTrip, overpowered or not, really impacting their choice of music? At least two conditions (there are probably more, but screw it; I don't want to think any more than is absolutely necessary.)
1) They're within the zone-o-control emitted by my iTrip, whatever that radius happens to be.
2) They happen to be listening to the same frequency that my iTrip is tuned to.
Granted, either condition is POSSIBLE, and for that matter, it's POSSIBLE for both to happen. Of course, it's POSSIBLE that Brittany Spears will become a responsible parent and a decent human being, or that George Bush will pull his head out of his fourth point of contact. Just because it's POSSIBLE, doesn't mean it's LIKELY.
NPR, in more ways than one, needs to grow the hell up.
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Re: C'mon...
Yes, the nuisance is real. Yes, I wish they would recall the devices. No, I don't think it will happen, especially since the consumer base this would effect is populated pretty heavily with people with a high sense of entitlement. I think if you told a lot of these people that their devices exceeded FCC regulatory levels for radio transmissions, they would be slightly pleased at the higher performance they're getting for their dollar.
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Re: Re: C'mon...
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Re: Re: Re: C'mon...
Additionally, Sirius has TWO channels of NPR material a swell as CSPAN and BBC channels. If you are a "darker shade of pink" there is FoxNews also.
If you want to find frequencies that may help find a clearer frequency for your Sirius/XM/ipod transmitter, go here http://www.fmfind.info/ and put in your zip code
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Re: C'mon...
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Frequency
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Re: Frequency
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Re: Frequency
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For instance
iTrip - preconfigured at 87.9 MHz
Griffin RocketFM 88.1kHz
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Re:
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If it interferes with the guy in the car next to me, I don't care. I set the broadcasting station to one where there is no other signal - he can do the same.
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Second of all, I have experienced this quite often. I listen to 88.5, and there is a spot that I drive by on my way to work that every day has the sirius comedy station broadcasting on one of these transmitters from a building nearby. Point is this situation occurs, and while I'm not offended (annoyed a bit maybe) I can see how if the wrong thing was on sirius at the time the wrong person drove by it could be a problem.
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Re:
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fm modulators
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A problem.
A recall will halt the flow of more devices outside the limits and attrition will reduce their numbers. I have used these devices for more than 10 years and do just fine setting them on empty stations. Set it near your radio and you don't have to worry about interference from anyone else.
You know, it would not surprise me at all to find that Howard Stern listeners are trying to jam the signals of Christian stations just to annoy people they won't tolerate.
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Easy to make your own, even a child can.
You need two transistors like a BC108, a couple of capacitors, five or six resistors and a small coil.
You can find the circuit onine anywhere, or in an old electronics book.
Banned?! By religious freaks! Stupid twunts.
You lot, you Americans that went to the Moon and all that... you amazingly technologically advanced heros of acience and creativity...what happened?
Come on, educate yourselves, empower yourselves, stop taking it up the ass from a bunch of frightened little schoolgirls.
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Re: Easy to make your own, even a child can.
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Yeah, right ....
Then again, if the broadcasters would put on something that people actually wanted to listen to, they wouldn't have to worry about "competition" from people getting control over what they listen to.
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Bogus Claim
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Stern Step Over
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If you think they should be banned
Rather then a sense of entitlement, as DoGooderJohnnyD stated above, it is my right as a US citizen to use my airwaves.
If your broadcast station is being drowned out by a personal transmission, then THAT person needs to change the frequency they are broadcasting on. Easy solution. I have no problem with that. But don't start writing new laws to appease a handful of people who want to control what I get to listen to.
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horse-toothed jackass
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The FCC is lame and needs Power Organs
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If you need your news release noticed, mention Howard Stern.
It's perfectly acceptable to me that anyone listening to religious radio stations should have their programming interrupted by Howard. It can only do them some good.
They might stop messing up our country.
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Re:
Very good point. If this were a serious concern, it wouldn't matter what is being overrun by who. This isn't a noble cause to protect the sanctity of the airways, this is a whine-fest by one or two groups to have thier broadcast protected. Hense the reason they played the entertainment industry's equivalent of the Race Card. Good ol' Howwie.
Now... I know it's been mentioned here that these Mod's usually broadcast on dead channels. I have one and if there's even the slightest strength of outside signal, my music goes to crap. So... if you're listening to your radio, which is picking up a nice and clear signal, how would anyone around you be overriding that signal with a little pocket transmitter? Why would anyone even be transmitting on those channels?
Since I'm lazy and I hate the institution of having to create an account to view a news story, I didn't read the linked article. Did this thing even address the question of why people would be degrading their own music reception by transmitting in competition to a 1.21 Gigawatt tower?
Seriously though, it seems to me that if this is an issue, instead of trying to ban the use of these things (is it "for the kids" yet?), why don't we just set aside a small range of frequencies for these things? One or two channels on the low end and one or two on the high ought to do it. Heck, the first one of these things I ever owned had only 4 channels to choose from.
Oh wait... we're not doing that because this isn't really a serious concern... just a whine-fest.
::hands NPR a tissue and a glass of Get the F**K Over Yourself::
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Re: Re:
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Give the Christians a break
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No way will I give that thing up. Its powerful enough to cut through all but the strongest of FM signals which is important while driving through cities. The AAA powered transmitter for my MP3 player becomes worthless anytime I get within 15 miles of a city.
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Set aside some open channels
I'm right there with you on this one. I live in the NYC area, and the markets are so close together here that these devices are near unusable. There are literally now open spaces on the dial, and any trip of more than a few miles requires retuning every 15 minutes or so.
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The fact is that the NAB is doing whatever they can to attack satellite radio, and Howard is the most prominent radio personality to ever exist. The NAB "members" stand to lose bilions in advertising revenue as terrestrial radio market share shrinks, and people move to satellite because they are fed up with the BS and commercials on broadcast radio. Satellite radio will take over as the dominant way of listening, much as cable TV has taken over from over-the-air TV broadcasts. One day there will be nothing but college stations and religious broadcasts (i.e. Shortwave radio) on FM, and everyone will be listening to Satellite. Some will say "I'll never pay to listen to radio", but that is what people said about watching TV.
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Re: Death of terrestrial radio
Satellite radio is cool, and the fact you can drive across the country listening to the same radio station is amazing... of course you can also do it while driving on the same road, eating at the same restaurants, and stying at the same motels...
Radio, particularly AM radio, can't be beat for providing local information and giving travelers a bit of the flavor of an area. It will also keep going when other communications are down. A few years ago a major hurricane came through here and about all most of us had was radio... and it was a Godsend.
Jeff DeWitt
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As If NPR Actually Gives News
I would praise the Lord if Howard Stern was interjected into my radio by any means, be it a miracle or a Tech Dirt nerd with an experimental high power transmitter built in his garage.
Religion are for the individuals who can not be individual due to lack of mental stability. They must be told by others that they are "loved by God", "will live after death", and my personal favorite joke, "have a purpose in life to spread the word and your seed (sperm/eggs)".
Without the support of others like themselves, they would be hopeless and devoid of all meaning. Life would seem empty to them because they don't have common sense, let alone intelligence. Selectively they choose what someone else said is right and wrong for there own opinion, which is how they are able to quickly form a mass protest against others who are enjoying themselves.
I propose a law seperating church from state so that the government does not carry out such ridiculously false, unprovable claims the churches constantly spew upon others. I know there is a seperation law, but it has been set up to allow free reign for churches and it's members to exploit the hard earned dollars of tax paying citizens who are afraid of dying because of guilt from past sins. In the Bible it clearly states that no man is free from sin, since Eve ate the forbidden fruit every ones blood is tainted of sin. So why fear death because of sin? Paying another sinner will not remove sin, so why pay these lazy bastards who don't want to work next to you? Taxes charged on ministries is also significantly lower than other businesses (that is why they are so abundant).
Remove "beliefs" in fairy tales from the world and watch the people get smarter. You can believe Muhammed, Jesus, Buddha, or even Katie Couric will save your ass and give you a peaceful eternity after death, but in the meantime you are wasting your only REAL life while crossing your fingers with wishful thinking. How pleasing to your make believe friends it must be when you tell everyone around you to accept your friend that they can't see or hear (and neither can you, but since you can't get real pretend they exist)?
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Re: As If NPR Actually Gives News
I think it's asinine to say that this sort of pre-empting is "good" just because the stations in the examples are stations you don't happen to like. This could just as easily be happening on whatever it is you like. You say you like stern, so this could have been his show getting interrupted if he were still on an FM network.
You are entitled to your gadget, but only as long as it's not interfering with other people's radio experience, regardless of what it is they're actually trying to listen to.
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howard stern fm modulators
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Re: howard stern fm modulators
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If you don't like it, change the channel ...
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Re: If you don't like it, change the channel ...
The immediate question, though has to do with the broadcast amplitude of a certain type of device that broadcasts FM over a broadcast frequency. My suspicion is that many of these devices are manufactured over spec, causing the interference. Knowing use of such a device is the equivalent of playing your music at ear-splitting volume in a crowded apartment building.
However, this would not be an issue, and there would be no market for XM and Sirius, had we not turned the radio waves over to Clear Channel, et al.
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re:
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Smart Radios
Smart radios are just about the only solution here, since most of the dial in some areas is blank.
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But seriously, does anyone know why we can't just run an audio cable from the heaphone jack of an ipod, XM/Sirius receiver, laptop, discman, or any audio device directly into a car stereo? There would be no need for a FM modulator at all. All we would have to do is drop $2 on a cable instead of damn near $50 on a chincy FM modulator that produces poor sound quality (usually not stereo) and picks up other interference causing the frequency to need frequent resetting.
Someone has to have an answer for me out there...
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Re:
My dad had a... dunno, 96? 97?... Mitsubishi Galant that had an input jack that would take a headphone connector. I thought that was the coolest thing in the car. Then I never saw anything like it again. However, I know that the new Yaris and Honda's equvilant do have the connector for that now. Maybe before long the Modulators will be a thing of the past like the old cassette adaptors.
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Re: Re:
Personally, I am not a big fan of the FM modulators, but not because the overpowered ones interrupt my listening enjoyment. I just think they give poor audio quality in general when compared to a direct connection.
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Re:
Some do. In fact, my AIWA stereo has one.
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2
I am an NPR listener and can attest to the fact that these deceives interfere. Not only did I have trouble in the dorm, nothing like hearing Prairie Home Companion interrupted by rap music. I live in a small city and can't listen to NPR on my way to work, by the time I sit through the light with all the high school kids with these devices I've given up trying to get the station.
On a funny note some person in the office building I work in listens to learn to speak Spanish tapes at lunch time every day. I decided to save some money and learn along with her.
Security wise I always new when my dorm neighbor was around I could pick up his station I also new when he was gone.
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Re: 2
Nice Freudian slip there. Do all NPR listeners spell as poorly as you do are are you just the special one? Maybe you should go back to astroturfing elsewhere, eh?
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Or how about we respect the freedom we have and not abuse it?
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Re:
Are you kidding? NPR PAYS stations to air their stuff? That's news to me... Having worked for various NPR member stations, I can most assuredly say that that is NOT the case. Member stations pay insane amounts to air NPR programming.
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Actually...
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This ain't about NPR
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This is awful!
I say this because I can get Howard on my home FM radio thanks to one of my neighbors who has a home sat radio. They also have a totally wide-open 802.11g access point and cable broadband that I'm using to hit the internet. [Thank you and God bless you, Dylan and Megan!!]
If NPR is so distraught at the forces of free-market capitalism trampling their ultra-liberal viewpoint, then they ought to stop accepting grants and donations from Big Business. For example, they go on and on and on and on endlessly about The Evils Of Agri-Business and then take money from ConAgra and ADM [Archer/Daniels/Midland] who are the Devil Incarnate as far as monoculture genetically engineered crops. F***ing hypocrits, but what else can you expect from a creature of the State.
As far as the Christian stations are concerned, I'd weep bigger tears for them if churches paid property taxes on their sometimes rather fabulous real estate.
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Amazing
I didn't know Christians were listening to NPR now? Since when did people who don't believe in evolution or for that matter even electricity (see: Amish) decide that NPR, purveyors of both evolution and electricity, are okay for listening?
Perhaps now they believe that those FM Radio Waves are the product of Intelligent Transmission instead of an electricity-powered radio tower? Perhaps they've developed a filter that replaces the word "evolution" with "creation" every time it's broadcast too?
Maybe that's what this is really about. Maybe the Christians who listen to NPR are just pissed because their word filter can't be recoded to bleep out Stern's F-bombs? Or, knowing that they don't exactly support high-tech stuff, perhaps I should say reweaved instead of recoded?
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On the other foot
I guess I'm just trying to say that if the NPR podcasts on an iPod or a future NPR satelite radio channel were the ones being transmitted over these FM Modulators, would that change the NPR's position?
And to get really complicated, if a person is listening to Christian music on their iPod and it over-transmis an NPR station, does that piss off both the Christians and NPR still or just NPR?
Just curious how that would work.
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Site problems?
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now, i must say, in my area, NPR is run by the religious right. not the liberal left. but that's where i'm from.
humm.....when are we gonna nuke the world, and destroy this planet?
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Re: Duke Nuke Us
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Also...
In fact the only related stance I have is that I'm indeed a proud liberal democrat and an XM (not Sirius) subscriber. I don't like howard stern simply because he ives most liberal arguments and positions a really bad reputation. Things like laws for or against abortion aren't the kind of thing you throw around on a talk show, or at least they shouldn't be. We're talking about weather a person has control over themselves or weather it's out of their hands (and in the hands of the government/God). That's not something to spend 3 5-word sentances on - half of which are the F word. Just the same, I don't like bias in the entire issue, and I believe both NPR and most Christian stations (news or musical) are too far biased either way. To me it's a simple question of law: does a woman have the right to this or not? A law should be passed one way or another by the congress, and we can argue it from there. I listen to NPR just because it's funny. It's no different than watching John Stewart on the Daily Show is to me - weather the news he reports is true or not I take it with a grain of salt and laugh, because if it was meant to be serious, it would be on NBC. Lewis Black is right - if everyone laughs at everything, we may all die 10 years old from exhaustion, but there would indeed be world peace. Wars are started and lost because someone somewhere down the line lost their sense of humor.
To me this is a simple question of law and I want to make clear my opinions are irrelevant. The transmitters shouldn't be allowed to broadcast that far, end of argument. All I'm saying is that the argument itself wouldn't have started under any other circumstances. If it was NPR being broadcast on these transmitters or whatnot, the entire argument more than likely wouldn't have happened,and in the worst case wouldn't have happened the same way it has. It's only when a steadfast Christian is driving home in his pickup truck with 6 dead baby deer in the back and his son hears the F word comming through the radio - instead of his own dad's mouth an hour earlier when he missed a few shots - that this becomes an issue at all.
Can we now all go eat veggie pizza's and laugh about "how f**king bad they taste" in the middle of baghdad with a few Iraqi's and Sadam out of prison or do we really have to worry about these transmitters so much in a world where that is actually impossible? My opinions on bush or NPR or God are irrelevant if for no other reason than due to the fact that this post about FM transmitters should be irrelevant. Show me an instance where a broadcast went out over FM radio of an incomming airstrike headed towards Falluja and a tank full of 5 marines died because the signal from their iTrip overpowered their radio and I'll change my mind, but until then, this isn't exactly the issue that should be getting 50 comments.
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wireless on FM
www.panaxis.com
Had the FCC not filled the FM band to over-full in the first place or had the foresight to add a channel or two for these part-15 devices, we wouldnt be having this discussion in the first place. If you want to lay blame, lay it squarely on the FCC.
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Something I like
I like Highway 16 (a country music station on XM) and dislike...hmm...the president's weekly radio address. If your FM transmitter is driving by me in this 1983 MCI Bus (modified to be a motorhome) and I dislike the address, chances are I'll make a really ugly comment about whatever the next sentance that George says, and then proceed to do one of the following:
1. Run you off the road
2. Pass you
3. Overpower yours with a hotwired CB Radio set to go to your frequency just long enough until the red light changes.
Though probably not in that order. In any of those instances, since your transmitter was overpowering mine I simply reversed the situation in one way or another. The fact is - I agree - the transmitter shouldn't be that strong in the first place, but like most conservatives and liberals alike, I believe in the general theory of "an eye for an eye" and if you're too much of an entitleist or whatever it is you keep saying, I'll just beat you at your own game. Eventually, either you'll exchange the FM Modulator for one at lower power, or else you'll wind up in a ditch somewhere halfway between 40-mile-apart exits on the interstate.
That's not the answer you want, but I do agree the FM Modulators should be recalled, and yes since I have no such modulator I have nothing to lose from this. I still would like to see the recording of the 5 marines dying in the heat of battle due to FM Transmitters being a real problem, though, because again, my positions on Bush, NPR, or anything else, aswell as the Modulator itself, are all irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
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Re:
It is threaded. At the top you can click on threaded or not. Or you can set it in the preferences.
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HS FAN - OVERPOWERED
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Over powering your signal
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as for recalling my transmitter? I say we form the NTA the national transmitter association. and we can have some sinle actor as our leader, who holds up a transmitter and says "from my cold dead hands"!!!! how great woudl that be?
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Re: Re: Duke Nuke Us
wow... that was random... well, first north korea needs to make missiles that can get past japan... knowing them, they're not gonna be able to do it by 2015
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Re: Re: Re: Duke Nuke Us
"wow... that was random... well, first north korea needs to make missiles that can get past japan... knowing them, they're not gonna be able to do it by 2015"
There are ways to deliver a nuclear attack without a long range missile, PhysicsGuy. Planes, boats, hot air balloons, etc.
In case you were feeling safe at home with over confidence in your governments "protection".
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Sirius
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I think this whole thing is bull (like most of you
WHO LISTENS TO HOWARD STERN!?! What a bunch of crap.
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It happened to me
I was riding down the highway with no one around for miles. When suddenly, breaking over MY FM-modulator was Howard Stern, interrupting my TWiT pod cast to spew some of his disgusting crap. I looked around and couldn't see anyone except headlights around 1/4 mile away. As this truck approached (at a speed well over the limit) the signal became stronger. Then s/he blew by and as s/he disappeared over the horizon, the signal faded and went away.
That is ridiculous!
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Get cassette adapter
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FM Modulators
FM Modulators are not the best solution because they do not produce the best sound. When I have either my Sirius or my XM radios turned on, I have to turn the volume up. And if I forget to turn it back down after I switch back to terrestrial radio or a CD, then I get blasted.
FM Modulators are a nice quick way to hook the satellite radios up to your existing equipment. But the best way is to hook them up by a wired connection. (RCA connectors, which come with most of the radios in the box.) A better alternate to those would be an A2DP Bluetooth connection.
The problem with either of those solutions is that for the car stereo there are far fewer units that accommodate that solution. Who here has a stereo unit in their car that has either BT capability, or a left/right RCA jack? I thought so!
XM and Sirius do bear some of the blame, as they have deals with many major electronics manufacturers as well as the automobile companies. But car stereo equipment has always lagged behind home equipment. And people don't tend to buy a new car every two years. So the end result is where we are--filling a connection gap in our car stereos with a workable and inexpensive solution.
That solution is interfering with others' legitimate right to listen to their terrestrial radio stations. So we need a different but still workable and inexpensive solution.
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With the portable modulators, the excess power creates a larger region of intereference. Since the modulator owner can easily change his broadcast frequency and the radio station cannot, it is reasonable to inconvenience the modulator owner rather than the station operator.
Everything works together better on the practical, technical level if everyone follows the regulations, which are actually quite reasonable in this case.
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RE:
The REALLY funny part is it's the so-called self-entitled potty mouths that are the ones being offended. I'm glad I don't listen to radio, anymore...ought to be fun to watch or listen to, though.
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FM Modulators
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Low Power Radio stations
The power limits for these devices are laid out to keep interferance to a minimum.
The best solution is for car stereos and such to have auxilary inputs, and many do. You don't pick up interfereance or cause it.
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NPR and low power
Heres and Idea. Lets make 88.5 an empty channel in every city so that users that want to have a FM transmit device can use that channel exclusivly. Then only other personal FM transmitters will over power each other.
I find it to be more of an annoyance when the Rap music or obnoxious talk radio or whatever you listen too is turned-up so loud that I can hear it over my XM radio in the first place. I would put the same importance on that pollution as I would on the FM transmitter pollution.
My 2 cents.
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Why!?!?!
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Re: Why!?!?!
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Personally, I love it ...
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Abuse of federal funds for 'culture war'
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Anywho - what seems stupid about this whole thing to me is is being overlooked.
Why the hell do you need to have an FM transmitter to listen to satellite radio? I'm not complaining about those people who do have satellite radio, they have no choice in the matter.
I'm not against people having their own FM transmitters, in fact. I'm all for nabbing the spectrum away from the corporations.
I'm just saying that interfacing your satellite receiver with your car audio system via an FM transmitter seems like a horribly inefficient way of doing things. Potential problems for the users, potential problems for non-users.
There has to be a better, smarter way.
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I love to watch the Birkenstock Brigade NPR listen
PS - I'll stop when they take their f**king Kerry Edwards stickers of their back windows.
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I am offended!!!
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Wires? Where we're going we don't need wires.
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Necessity the mother of invention
I use a commercial device, and let me tell you what the regular broadcast stations interfere with my device, not the other way around.
Sorry NPR but your claim is bogus here. This is far from being a "significant threat" to public radio. When I am buzzing up the Florida Turnpike and can't get a radio station to save my butt, I won't be interfering with anything.
K.
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FM transmitters
The sense of entitlement here is amazing. You're aware that none of you have a right to broadcast anything on the air without a license, right? Pirate radio broadcasters routinely get fined tens of thousands of dollars and go to jail, in addition to having their equipment seized. Is broadcasting stern to drown out NPR really worth the risk?
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Re: FM transmitters
i will guess the latter is the false one, while the former is the more likely situation. what's more likely. a company designing 2 specifications, with 2 sets of drawings (none of which get leaked out) to have a more powerful sales product, and a less powerful test version. imagine the papertrai left behind...
or that the fcc didn't test the product due to all the stuff it gets? complaints, specification reviews, product testing.... what seems likely?
sure the company might do it to "increase" profits, however the risk of fines and whatnot due to being caught would far outweight the small gains they make.
so, as i said, if they are illegal, who let the cat out of the bag? that should be brought up first. did the companys sell illegal products, or is the fcc lacking in their testing? if the latter is true, keep the devices, and have the fcc say we f'd up. actually have them say we fucked up. wouldn't that be ironic?
it's not that we have the "right to braodcast" it is the fact that a device REGULATED BY THE FCC said we have the right to use FM frequency to transmit information for a short distance. if we didn't have the right to broadcast, these transmitters would never have appeared.
the FCC screwed up, let them take the blame, not the manufacturers. if i say you can make something, and then come back and say i was wrong, i made a mistake, who's at fault? the guy following directions from a superior/authority figure, or the person who didn't have the correct information in the first place?
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Re: Re: FM transmitters
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Re: Re: Re: FM transmitters
but then again, fcc is a gov't agency, so they have no real time to do any real work.
oh, and on a side note, the reason there aren't input jacks on car stereos, is because there is so much money to be made in the after market. why have a simple input jack that costs pennies, when you can have an interface device/cables that cost 100 bucks? and people would/do buy them. so, it makes no sense for the electonics companies to say, nah...i'll take 5 cents over 100 bucks.
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Re: Re: FM transmitters
"if they are illegal, why did the FCC allow them to be produced. either the FCC didn't test the devices thoroughly enouogh, or the company changed the product after testing, or send a "legal" product to the FCC and shipped the "illegal" version."
:::The FCC doesn't do the testing. They are tested by independent labs and the reports are sent to the FCC. Maybe the lab slipped up (on purpose or by accident) or the actual production of these devices made them with increased power. Or more likely, users are either illegally modifying their transmitters to increase power or the transmitters aren't FCC certified in the first places. Many of the transmitters making their way into the US from places like China aren't FCC certified. Kits from Ramsey etc. don't require FCC certification because they're just kits of parts, not actual transmitters.
"sure the company might do it to "increase" profits, however the risk of fines and whatnot due to being caught would far outweight the small gains they make."
:::Yeah, but companies are stupid like that. Many times they will do something boneheaded and think they can get away with it, and just leave the lawyers to do the fighting.
"it's not that we have the "right to braodcast" it is the fact that a device REGULATED BY THE FCC said we have the right to use FM frequency to transmit information for a short distance. if we didn't have the right to broadcast, these transmitters would never have appeared."
::: The FCC rules are pretty clear. The rules state that a device operating under part 15 must not cause any interference, and must accept all interference received. Users are ignoring the rules and breaking the law by setting up their transmitters on a frequency occupied by a licensed radio station. This may be out of laziness or their inability to find a clear channel, or the inability of the device to change frequency to a clear channel. Either way, the user has the responsibility to shut the device off if it is causing interference. In most cases they are not, because many people believe that they are above the law and that they will get away with it.
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Re: FM transmitters
If these modulators are all so illegal the FCC would have nixed them from the market awhile ago. If they choose not to enforce, then well, not my problem.
Get off the soapbox there bud.
K.
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Re:
K.
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remember, this whole electricity thing isn't perfect....on both ends.
but rob, that's a good point, i think every radio/device that uses fm transmissions state the device must accecpt interference.
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fm modulator
and am very happy after finding a hack to adjust it.
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Now on the radio station bit, they should stop complaining. really. up where I live the christian radio station bleeds over into an ajacent frequency, which happens to be a distant station I like! I ended up putting a big directional antenna on the roof to try and keep it from bleeding over, it works ok, when they're talking. But when the station plays some loud organ music it obliterates the station I was listining too.
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Re:
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Re: Arrogant
Don't confuse arrogance for understanding the facts as they are. RF signals interfere with one another all the time, and this is far from malicious intent. The fact of the matter is that I AM on the opposite side of this all the time. Those pesky commercial (and non-commercial) stations who have tons more power than my DLO device and easily overpower it.
Nevermind actually trying to find a clear station to use here in South Florida. The fact is that to be honest these devices don't work all that well in many metro areas.
I happen to think NPR's complaint here is vastly overblown.
K.
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Re: Re: Arrogant
NPR stations on the other hand have a license and they have every right to complain. They also are primary users on the band, which means YOU as a part 15 user have to yield to their transmissions.
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Re: Re: Re: Arrogant
I don't believe I ever said I had a license.
And yes I understand the part 15 rules compliance. My point is that if the things are such an issue, than our beloved FCC (who are very simply by their structure a reactionary body) would make sure they are taken off the market.
However, my second point is that I believe the commercial devices we are talking about here are not nearly as much of an issue as NPR wants to make this out to be.
If they cause interference than yes that falls outside the rules of part 15, fine & good. As others have said the user would have responsibility to shut down the device. However, I would challenge anyone to tell me how the average person would know their device is causing interference to begin with.
If the product is a licensed unit under part 15, and on a consumer store shelf and I do not modify it in any way, then I challenge the notion that the user should be villified here. Go after the manufacturer.
You need to show intent, and a malicious intent at that. Otherwise, the unit is performing as advertised and licensed under part 15. If I do not know it is an issue and am not informed by another party then tell me how any kind of fine is either warranted or enforceable.
K.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Arrogant
Additionally I suppose this was what got your ire:
" Those pesky commercial (and non-commercial) stations who have tons more power than my DLO device and easily overpower it."
LOL come on now, read that with the tounge in cheek it was intended in. The point was my little device doesn't have the power to overrun anything.
K.
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FM Modulator
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Isn't it funny
Here is an idea. Pretend it was Microsoft that manufacturing devices that don't conform to federal regulations. Or Verizon. Your panties would get bunched up so tight they would turn into diamonds.
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FM Xmitters
A 'tape' adaptor will probably cost you less than half the price of an FM unit, and gives vastly superior sound.
I haven't seen a car 'stereo' made in the past 5 years that hasn't included some form of audio 'line in' connection - many have a jack on the front of the radio.
Many have a CD changer port that will accept an input from your Ipod via a small control box - I have a Pioneer version of one of these - it gives me full control of my Ipod via the steering control, and the car radio head displays track names/genres/playlists etc - the radio has bluetooth built it, so also acts as a handfree for my mobile - can even use the steering control to dial the phone!
I don't understand the whiners here wanting their 'rights' to illegally bleed over the rights of other people.
- It isn't about being religious or a Howard Stern fan - it's about common courtesy to your fellow citizens.
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new fm transmitters aivalaable on www.broadcasteletec.com
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so whcih is the worst one ?
so i can buy it.
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XM bleed through
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