[Boatanchors] Technical help - What are the requirements?

[Glen Zook]

I have been licensed since 1959 (took my Novice Class
on 13 February 1959 but didn't get the actual license
until the end of May and it was dated 15 May 1959). 
At that time the FCC could, and would, "drop in" on
amateur radio operators at any time.  They often did
this while in a particular area when doing routine
checks on broadcast stations.

If the amateur radio operator did not have a crystal
calibrator to use with their receiver they WOULD issue
a citation and tell the operator to get a crystal
calibrator as soon as possible.  Even Novice Class
operators who were, at the time, restricted to crystal
control were cited if they did not have a crystal
calibrator.

I agree that the vast majority of amateur radio
operators today do NOT calibrate their reference
oscillators, crystal calibrators, etc., often enough. 
In fact, there are very few (relatively) amateur radio
operators who even know how to calibrate their
reference oscillators.  They "assume" that the
oscillator is "on frequency" even though drifting is
certainly possible and in most cases entirely
probable.  I "laugh" everytime I hear stations telling
each other what "the" frequency "is".  The vast
majority of time none of the stations are within 10 Hz
of the correct frequency and many are closer to 1 KHz
error if not more.

I have several service monitors that I keep calibrated
to WWV as well as my crystal calibrators and digital
readout units.  As such, I know pretty darn well (at
least to the nearest 10 Hz on the units that I use
most often) on what frequency I am operating.  The
other units may be as much as 50 Hz away.  However, so
long as I am within my privileges (including the
sidebands of my transmitted signal) I am legal.

Unfortunately, too many operators read their frequency
from the dial or "readout" and forget completely about
the actual width of their signal.  The result is that
many SSB signals are actually illegal because of
operating too high a frequency when using USB and too
low a frequency when operating using LSB.  On HF and
VHF stations get into trouble because the sidebands of
FM are much greater in width than those of an SSB
signal.

Of course the FCC does not have any restrictions on
the accuracy of your receiver (except for the cellular
telephone frequencies which you are restricted from
receiving and therefore have to know if you are). 
However, they can require accuracy when the receiver
is the means to determine the frequency of the
transmitted signal.  With those who are operating the
majority of "boat anchor" equipment with the separate
transmitter / receiver combination then the accuracy
of the receiver can generally be required unless some
other means of assuring the accuracy of the
transmitted signal (i.e. frequency counter, service
monitor, etc.) can be verified.

It is the responsibility of every amateur radio
operator to insure that his/her transmissions are
confined within the frequency range of their
individual privileges.  Depending on the situation the
accuracy of the receiver can definitely play a role. 
Knowing the accuracy of your equipment is a
requirement in the fact that it is your responsibility
to remain within the frequency confines of your
license.

Glen, K9STH


--- rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net> wrote:

Whom amongst us has a crystal calibrator, frequency
counter, and/or signal generator *currently* traceable
back to NIST for accuracy?  Since when does - OR - did
it be/was an FCC Requirement to know where our
receiver *REALLY* receive a signal?
 
What if YOU adjusted the trimmer on your calibrator
with a metal device, NOT one insulated to keep stray
capacitance out?
 
Does *ANY* of this mean any of *US* does not meet our
requirements for our FCC license?
 
Not the last I ever looked and/or checked.  It states
that I have to "operate" within my band limits for the
class license I hold, and the regulations governing
Amateur Radio.
 
It would be amazing to actually test/check even the
digital readouts of the newer equipment and see how
far off the VFOs and calibrators are off.
 
It doesn't matter!  It is NOT a requirement.









Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


       
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