[Lowfer] multiple transmitters allowed?

[Lyle Koehler]

The FCC Part 15 rules don't say anything about *operating* multiple
transmitters, but if you *build* more than 5, supposedly they would have to
go through an expensive certification process:

Section 15.23 Home-built devices.

(a) Equipment authorization is not required for devices that are not
marketed, are not
constructed from a kit, and are built in quantities of five or less for
personal use.

The big problem is finding room in your backyard for five LowFER antennas,
since they interact and can't be located too close to each other.

Some years back, there was a time-shared frequency for LowFER CW beacons in
California. The same kind of thing would not work as well with the
narrowband (and slow speed) modes we use today, because it can take half an
hour or more to send a three-letter identifier. On some nights, it's hard to
copy a single ID because the fade cycle is too short. Yes, everybody could
simply send a couple of minutes of continuous carrier, and the
identification would be defined by the time slot. (That's one way to keep
track of the NCDXF HF beacons if you can't copy the CW, and there is
software to do it for you.) But I'm not sure how much interest could be
found for transmitting OR receiving anything like that. We have already
squeezed 11 LowFER beacons (maybe more, but that's how many were received)
into the 6-Hz window of the Argo screen with "frequency division
multiplexing". It would be possible to add quite a few more; the difficulty
is in finding more people who are interested. If we liked running with the
herd, we probaby wouldn't be LowFERs!

Lyle, K0LR