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From: mbutts@mntgfx.mentor.com (Mike Butts)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: TV RF transmitter wanted
Message-ID: <1989Jun2.110334.1505@mntgfx.mentor.com>
Date: 2 Jun 89 18:03:32 GMT
References: <190700040@trsvax>
Organization: Mentor Graphics Corporation, Beaverton Oregon
Lines: 34

From article <190700040@trsvax>, by bb@trsvax.UUCP:
> 
> 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?
> 
> Has anybody out there (such as robotics types) tackled the same problem?
> 

1) With a technician-class ham license, you can transmit standard color video
over a distance of dozens of miles.  See, for example, any recent edition of 
the ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook, which you can find in most libraries and 
tech book stores.  Ham TV equipment is available commercially.  For example, 
there are several small TV transceivers available with a few watts of power 
which are said to work for a mile or so.  Hams use them at amateur sporting 
events, disaster relief, festivals, etc.  They cost around $300, plus camera.  
See ads in QST, 73, or Ham Radio magazines.  In some cities there are ham TV 
repeaters.

The only restrictions are that ham TV must be strictly non-commercial 
(re-transmitting commercial TV is out) and hams aren't allowed to transmit 
music, for similar reasons.  A tech license is not that hard to get - 
multiple choice technical exam, very easy code test.  I got my tech when I 
was 13.

2) You can get an experimental license from FCC if you qualify.  I believe
John Nagle at Stanford, who is often on the net, (jbn@glacier.UUCP) has one
for his robotics work.
-- 
Michael Butts, Research Engineer       KC7IT           503-626-1302
Mentor Graphics Corp., 8500 SW Creekside Place, Beaverton, OR 97005
...!{sequent,tessi,apollo}!mntgfx!mbutts  OR  mbutts@pdx.MENTOR.COM
Opinions are my own, not necessarily those of Mentor Graphics Corp.