[TenTec] RF Speech Processor "TX IMD"

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

There are many of these regulations that are really open to interpretation 
by the reader.  What exactly is good amateur practice?   I know how I was 
taught and as a broadcast engineer again the term "good engineering 
practice" is rather vague and quite broad.  Yet in that regard, my thoughts, 
my actions and my direction was frequently questioned and challenged by 
those more of my senior.   While I often disgust at specifics, certain 
things do need to be defined.  For us pilots there is a clear and stated 
minimum vision standard.  The idea of "generally good vision" is quite 
frightening.

We had a radio provided at Field Day last year that proved to be a problem. 
When it was keyed, every radio a the site got noisy regardless of the band, 
mode or frequency it was on.  Yes, my spectrum analyzer confirmed that the 
radio of question transmitted broadband noise in the order of -73 dBm 
covering the range of 0.5 MHz to 30 MHz.  Yet the radio met the 
"certification" to be sold in the USA.  This is basic pollution and add 
enough of them on the air and we have lots of pollution.  In other words, if 
one auto is polluting the air in Los Angles at rush hour that is not an 
issue.  Yet if 300,000 are driving at rush hour and all of them are 
polluting, that is a serious issue.

As to the operator issues, with radios being mis-adjusted and mis-used, this 
is an education issue and not an enforcement issue.  That simply says that 
we have not done a good job of bringing new members into the ranks.  And we 
have not done a good job of guiding these new members to higher standards. 
There is simply too much of the attitude of "it is my radio, I paid good 
money for it, it's mine and I'll use it any way I wish".   I view this is 
much the way society thinks and acts today.

We as older, senior, experienced persons have not done a good job with our 
students.  If the teacher teaches then the students learn.  If the students 
don't learn then the teacher has not taught.

73
Bob, K4TAX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Al Gulseth" <wb5jnc at centurytel.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Cc: "Richards" <jrichards at k8jhr.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RF Speech Processor "TX IMD"


> Actually, there is already a government mandated "clean transmitter 
> standard."
> It's called "Sec.  97.307" (as in FCC Part 97) and is titled "Emission
> standards." Might an update of this section of Part 97 to address the 
> issues
> raised in this discussion perhaps be in order?
>
> Although, the "spirit" of 97.307 already addresses several of the items 
> you
> mention: concerning "a limit on bandwidth," note, for example, that it 
> says
>
>   (a) No amateur station transmission shall occupy more bandwidth than
>   necessary for the information rate and emission type being transmitted, 
> in
>   accordance with good amateur practice.
>
> My reading of this section would seem to indicate a mandate for "clean, 
> narrow
> banded signals with minimal splatter" is there already. While needless to 
> say
> improper equipment design is responsible for some of the "garbage" on the
> bands, many more of the poor on-air signals we hear are due to 
> misadjustment
> by the operator and/or simple failure to follow "good amateur practice."
>
> 73, Al
>
> On Sun June 16 2013 1:02:39 pm Richards wrote:
>> OK.  You need a page about this on your web site, with one of your world
>> famous spread sheets  (ala your tuner spec report) and that will be a
>> start.  I forget how many Arlo Guthrie says makes a "movement" ...  ;-)
>>
>> In retrospect,... maybe Bob has a better idea than we first thought.
>>
>> Although I favor laissez faire economics, and less gov-mt intrusion
>> overall, perhaps it would not exactly hurt if the FCC promulgated a
>> clean transmitter standard, something like the amplifier purity
>> standards ... you know... like the German (Reinheitsgebot) beer purity
>> law... that mandates transceivers must meet a minimum, but sufficiently
>> strict, standard for spectral purity and accuracy - like they do with
>> linear amplifiers - and maybe provide a limit on bandwidth  (yep, that
>> should start a fist fight...)  and mandate clean, narrow banded signals
>> with minimal splatter.    (I am speaking generally here - I am not an
>> expert on this... sure got kicked on the processor issue...)     :-)
>>
>> So, perhaps, a new regulation on the matter might be helpful - it would
>> elicit a more prompt response from manufacturers than our market
>> pressure plan.
>>
>> Again, while I don't favor gov-mt action, perhaps it couldn't hurt in
>> this case.  Let me know when you get your new clean transmitter page on
>> the web site.
>>
>> --------------------  K8JHR  ------------------
>>
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