Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!oliveb!sun!crank!flloyd
From: flloyd%crank@Sun.COM (Fred Lloyd)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: TV RF transmission
Message-ID: <107913@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 2 Jun 89 23:54:23 GMT
References: <5109@pt.cs.cmu.edu>
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Reply-To: flloyd@sun.UUCP (Fred Lloyd)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mountain View
Lines: 56

In article <5109@pt.cs.cmu.edu> nivek@rover.ri.cmu.edu (Kevin Dowling) writes:
>>I am interested in transmitting a TV RF signal over a distance of at least
>>2000 feet.  I realize I will probably need some kind of FCC license.  Does
>>the FCC grant licenses to send a TV signal of that strength?  What is the
>>size, cost, weight, and wattage that I am looking at to send 2000 feet?
>

>The FCC has Experimental Radio Station Licenses.
>We (Robotics Insitute, CMU) have a license for our mobile robot
>work that cover 2 2Watt UHF channels, a 1 Watt 2GHz microwave channel and
>2 duplex 30Watt radio channels. This kind of power is more than sufficient for
>a half mile or more. Pittsburgh's terrain is rougher than most so with
>less hilly areas you should get pretty good distances.
>
>You might call your local FCC field office to get the info you need 
>to get such a license. 
>

I neglected to mention in my tongue-in-cheek posting yesterday about
using a VCR that a far better strategy would be to go ahead and obtain
an Amateur radio operator's licence.  The posting about using a VCR was
meant jokingly and my apologies to anyone who might have thought of
actually trying it.  The FCC would likely take legal action against
anyone who would attempt such a manouver.

Amateur TV (ATV) is a rapidly growing area which is open to all holders
of Amateur licences.  These days, a novice licence is particularly easy
to obtain and it carries with it a number of benefits (voice and data
privlidges) which could be of particular use to someone engaging in
robotics and other forms of remote control and data telemetry.  These
uses, however, must be strictly for non-commercial purposes.  In
addition, with higher licence classes, you could even boost the output
power enough to be seen (and heard) for many miles.  Overall, an
amateur licence is far more flexible than an Experimential Radio
Station Licence in that you have a much broader range of frequencies,
power outputs and transmission modes from which to choose, and, the
licence is not limited to a specific operating site.  You could, for
example, take your experiment across the country and legally set up and
operate without having to request for a waiver from the FCC.

Just ask around and you'll probably be surprised at the number of
people who would be willing to help you get your licence.  All it takes
is a simple 30 question test on elementary electrical principles and
the ability to recognize a short, 5 word-per-minute Morse code
message.  Licences are good for 10 years and are indefinitly
renewable.  Check it out!  It's easy, fun and rewarding. 

-fred   KJ6RK

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| Fred Lloyd  KJ6RK  PP-SEL                         flloyd@sun.com |
| Sun Microsystems, Inc.                             ...sun!flloyd |
| Mountian View, CA                                                |
| (415) 336-6322                                                   |
| Disclaimer: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!                     |
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