Posted: 12/26/2004 2:35:48 PM EDT
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On radios, CD players, etc. there is always a declaration that the product is in compliance with part 15 of FCC rules and "subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation." Anyone know the reason for condition (2)? Why can't manufacturers shield their products from undesired interference? |
| This is to prevent stray radio frequency radiation from interefering with radio/TV receptions. When my daughter has her desktop computer on, I get a slight amount of video snow on my TV. The FCC don't want computers to interfer with their reception. In the past, older computers were shielded like today's computers, and if the FCC finds out the manufacturing company can be fined pretty heavily, so almost all of them try to comply with the FCC regs. |
Well, actually they can shield their products from interference if they want to, but if they don't, they can't sue the manufacturer of another product that causes interference with their product. That's basically what part 2 of that rule says. |
Yup. Whats its saying is that if some other device causes interferance, you have no legal recourse via the FCC..its up to you to resovle it. For example I am a ham radio operator. If I run my station according to regulations and meet the requiremnts for spectral purity im my transmissions and it still cause my neighbors TV to look crazy, its up to them to buy a better TV or shield thiers better. |
Good summary. This is exactly what it's for. non-licensed vs licensed operation. -luke |
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Got into a pissing match with the FCC a few years ago when we had some "powered up" CB'ers in the area, who kept bleeding over into out public safety band (150 Mhz). The ditz @ FCC asked me "how do you know they're CB radios, sir? And what makes you think they're amplified?" I replied "Well, when I turn on my CB to Ch 4, I can interfere with their transmissions. And, having had a CB license since 1978, and a Restricted Radio Telephone Permit since 1981, and, not being so blind as to ignore the 35' Yagi antenna on my neighbors house, and the 15 Db triple insulated gain antenna on several vehicles in the area, I suppose I'd just call it a lucky guess, based on experience, huh?" "Oh, that, and the interference on my stereo, computer speakers, car radio, dispatch console... just a hunch that they're a little bit over the 4 1/2 watt max ouput power". It was all I could do to keep from calling her "sweetheart", "babe", or "lil' Darlin'". And not in the endearing way. 
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To get them to act the quickest way is to get a friend who is a pilot to complain of interferance on aircraft bands in the area to the FAA.... they will shove a boot up the FCC's ass. The second fastest way is to get the local ham operators on it..they will do the direction finding needed to show where teh signals are eminating, make records, take field strength readings nearby, and send it in.,... and the FCC usually acts much faster when someone has done most of the legwork for them. The FCC has cracked down lately, both on operators but more on manufacturers and sekkers of illegal CB equipment. Some are being hit with some very hefty fines. |