[Lowfer] Ultimate LOWFER Transmitter?

[John Davis]

At the risk of being a spoilsport (but at least I'll try not to be a wordy
one)...

For most serious LowFERs, the _first_ requirement of an "ultimate"
transmitter these days is frequency agility, and ideally FSK ability as
well.

Type Acceptance on a unit is not a magic talisman.  It possesses no juju.
It's not going to carry much more weight during a station inspection for a
suspected violation than having a police association bumper sticker on your
car does if you're stopped for doing 90 in a school zone.

Furthermore, the FCC equipment authorization will be invalidated anyway by
many of the suggested features.  Remember, for manufactured equipment, no
antenna substitutions are permitted!  Only one of the exact same type
provided with the unit (the same type TESTED with the unit for
certification, that is) may be attached.  Therefore, discussions of output
coupling options are moot.

As for the multiple amplifier concept, I also call your attention to Section
15.204, External radio frequency power amplifiers and antenna modifications,
paragraph (b):

"A transmission system consisting of an intentional radiator, an external
radio frequency power amplifier, and an antenna, may be authorized, marketed
and used under this part. However, when a transmission system is authorized
as a system, IT MUST ALWAYS BE MARKETED AS A COMPLETE SYSTEM AND MUST ALWAYS
BE USED IN THE CONFIGURATION IN WHICH IT WAS AUTHORIZED.  An external radio
frequency power amplifier shall be marketed ONLY IN THE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
with which the amplifier is authorized and shall not be marketed as a
separate product."  (emphasis mine)

In other words, if he wants to market it various such versions, he will have
to test it in EACH such a configuration, and sell it in exactly the
configurations as tested.  Sell a two-output version, get Type Acceptance
for a two-output version; sell a four-output version, get Type Acceptance on
the four-output version; etc.

Now, don't anybody go writing about getting out your flame-retardant suits!
:-)

There's no putdown here, just a healthy dose of reality.  It simply sounds
like a very costly project to me, given the number of active or potentially
active LowFERs; and, given what would have to be incorporated in such a unit
to be considered "ultimate" by most any current LowFER's standards.

73,
John