Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Low-Power FM Transmitters in Canada

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Topic: Low-Power FM Transmitters in Canada

Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 08-15-2002 10:01 PM

Any Canucks know if low-power FM (drive-in) require a CRTC license to operate? Seems to me that under a certain wattage not, but I don't know for sure. Thought I saw the rules online once, but can't seem to find it tonight...Thanks.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-15-2002 10:14 PM

Hope these links help:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/statutes.htm
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/LEGAL/Radioreg.htm

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-16-2002 10:13 AM

If contained within the driveins field no license is required
The best FM units come from Decade in Montreal

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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 08-16-2002 04:56 PM

Thanks fellows. Zoning board wants to know what the law is, I think probably the Decade folks can help...

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-17-2002 05:46 PM

Gordon,

Do you know if there is any restriction for the signal radiating upwards? In other words, obviously it can't radiate beyond the parameter of the theatre, but what about skyward -- could you theoretically build an antenna to contain the signal tightly on the ground but then throw it, just as an example, a mile up? No practical reason, just curious.

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-19-2002 12:31 AM

Don't forget that you'll need a jingle package & a van with dopey artwork on it. You can do remotes via cellphone until you get a Marti that none of the staff can operate.

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 08-19-2002 12:09 PM

Somewhere I read that pirate operation in Canada is legal. can anyone verify that?

Josh

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-19-2002 05:25 PM

Pirate Radio is very illega and the CRTC (federal) and the Dept of Communications are vey tough on transmitters that radiate outside of the approved area

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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 08-20-2002 07:59 AM

Have found that so long as proper installation procedures are followed and output measured at certain distances are under spec, then no licence required in Canada. As Gordon points out though, we're talking about VERY LOW power here, cover your drive-in and perhaps a couple hundred feet down the road. Of course, you can't use a local frequency. The municipality really only wants to ensure that I don't interfere with a couple local neighbours listening to their radios, which we can easily accomodate...

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-21-2002 04:06 AM

Also check out Ramsey Electronics FM-100 transmitters. There are alot of them in use in Drive Ins around the U.S. www.ramseyelectronics.com/
Mark

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Sam Hunter
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 779
From: West Monroe, LA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 08-21-2002 03:01 PM

Frank Said,
Do you know if there is any restriction for the signal radiating upwards? In other words, obviously it can't radiate beyond the parameter of the theatre, but what about skyward -- could you theoretically build an antenna to contain the signal tightly on the ground but then throw it, just as an example, a mile up? No practical reason, just curious.

Most FM antennas designed for Base Station type use are designed to radiate Horizontaly and will have very little radiation Verticaly.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-22-2002 05:09 PM

Thanks Sam.

I was just wondering if there were an legal restrictions about vertical radiation, if theoretically my transmitter could radiate vertically. Obviously if a government inspector comes to a sight, he can't measure signal strenght, say, ten stories above the DI, at least not easily. But would it be on the books as a legal restriction...."no more that 100 feet from the perimeter of the property and no more than three stories above the highest structure." Something like that. Just a curious thought.

Frank

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Sam Hunter
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 779
From: West Monroe, LA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 08-22-2002 10:56 PM

Yeah, If the inspector was to check your station he would or should know the charecteristics of the transmitting antenna and know what type pattern it has and its gain and using the power output, line loss, antenna gain, height, figure the ERP.
I dont know what the erp limits are for that situation but if you have the info I can calculate it for you using Commshop.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-23-2002 09:53 AM

I assume significant vertical radiation would quickly get attention from the authorities if there was any accidental "splatter" of the signal into the aircraft band, interfering with air traffic control.

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Sam Hunter
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 779
From: West Monroe, LA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 08-23-2002 03:58 PM

Splatter would be something that no antenna will hide, if you have FCC Registered equipment with no "Mods" and you are not overdriving the input and assuming no electrical problems splatter shouldn't be an issue.As far as vertical radiation is concerned depending on the type antenna the vertical radiation pattern is somewhere around 60-80Db down from the horizantal pattern. Unless you just happen to install a dual polarity antenna.
I inserted a typical vertical pattern from Decibel.
Remember, if you could see rf this is what the pattern would look like if you were looking at the antenna from the side.

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Samuel Hunter Sr.

1 Million brain cells left, What to do?

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