[BC] Part 15 FM Power

[Mark Humphrey]

Anyone who is interested in "neighborhood broadcasting" should keep an eye
on the rapidly developing "WiFi" radio scene.

The Torian "InFusion" is a Walkman-style receiver, due to be introduced in a
few months, that will allow portable wireless listening to web radio streams
anywhere within the coverage of a WiFi network.  The developer plans on
selling it here for about $170.

www.designawards.com.au/ADA/05-06/Consumer/028/028.htm

www.torian.com.au/

The UK firm Acoustic Energy recently introduced a tabletop WiFi radio, which
is similar to the Boston Acoustics "HD Receptor", except that it can receive
10,000 "stations", many already providing better quality than IBOC can
offer.  To any listener who already has a wireless router in their home or
office, the operation of this set wil be just as "transparent" (probably
more so) than the table HD radio.   I'm saving my spare change for one of
these (in case I don't win one of the four sets Virgin Radio in London are
giving away)

www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/E-Shop/index.asp?EnhanceA=PRODUCT%20DETAILS&RecordID=1

I expect we will also see the Apple WiFi iPod hit the market soon.  Once
people starting using these things, a would-be microbroadcaster should be
able to connect a WiFi node (or network of nodes) to a streaming audio
server and offer much better coverage than Part 15 permits in the FM band,
especially if an external outside antenna is installed.

Will we see a situation where an Internet broadcaster who wants mobile
coverage subsidizes the cost of installing a municipal WiFi network, instead
of purchasing an FM license?  Philadelphia's city-wide wireless internet
system has been estimated to cost $10 million, whereas the last FM station
that changed hands here was sold for $35 million (and it was only a Class A)
, so this may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

Mark


On 2/5/06, Harold Hallikainen <harold at hallikainen.com> wrote:
>
> The radiated field strength for an intentional radiator in the FM band is
> only a dB or two above that allowed for an unintentional radiator. So,
> yes, it's low!
>
> See http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2006/15/109/ and
> http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2006/15/239/ .
>
>