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{
    "url": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/MAM2OV4HTXPSCQBHWIKKKOYOSKJW34J4/?format=api",
    "mailinglist": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/?format=api",
    "message_id": "00f301cf43af$967d0ff0$c3772fd0$@org",
    "message_id_hash": "MAM2OV4HTXPSCQBHWIKKKOYOSKJW34J4",
    "thread": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/thread/VF4B73TD5ND7FCMNE3OW26YZZXD64E3X/?format=api",
    "sender": {
        "address": "kevin (a) eaglecreekobservatory.org",
        "mailman_id": null,
        "emails": null
    },
    "sender_name": "Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE",
    "subject": "[amsat-bb] Re: External Amplifier Legality Questions",
    "date": "2014-03-19T20:12:42Z",
    "parent": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/VF4B73TD5ND7FCMNE3OW26YZZXD64E3X/?format=api",
    "children": [],
    "votes": {
        "likes": 0,
        "dislikes": 0,
        "status": "neutral"
    },
    "content": "Amateur radio equipment does not have to be FCC type accepted but it must\nmeet the requirements of Part 97.  So you may repurpose your commercial amp\nfor ham radio use as long as it meets the requirements of a \"clean signal\"\nand does not violate the power limitations of your license or the band.\n\n\nKevin Muenzler, WB5RUE\nGrid-EL09uf\nEagle Creek Observatory\nhttp://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org\nI'd be unstoppable if it weren't for law enforcement and physics\n\n\n\n-----Original Message-----\nFrom: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On\nBehalf Of Zach Leffke\nSent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 1:19 PM\nTo: [email protected]\nSubject: [amsat-bb] External Amplifier Legality Questions\n\nHello everyone,\n     I have a question about FCC Rules regarding external amplifiers.  I am\nconsidering re-purposing a wideband commercial amplifier for amateur use as\na final stage for my ground station. The amplifier is capable of producing\nabout 100W of power between 20 MHz and 500 MHz.  I want to use this amp in\nconjunction with coax relays to switch between the 2m band and the 70cm band\ndepending upon which spacecraft I'm operating.\n\nMy questions are as follows:\nIs it legal to use an amplifier designed for commercial applications in the\nAmateur Bands?  This amplifier does not meet spurious signal suppression\nrequirements, so I plan to use band specific filters after the amp to make\nsure I knock any spurs down below the required limits.  \nDoes the amplifier have to be type certified for use in the amateur bands?\n\nAs far as I can tell reading Part 97.315(subsection 3), The amplifier itself\ndoes not need to be type certified if:\n\"(3)The amplifier is sold to an amateur radio operator or to a dealer, the\namplifier is purchased in used condition by a dealer, /or the amplifier is\nsold to an amateur radio operator for use at that operator's station/.\n[emphasis added]\"\n\nI'm planning to use it in my amateur station so I don't think it has to be\ntype certified.  Am I missing something?\n\nAlso, The amplifier's 2nd Harmonic is about -30dBc down at 145 MHz. \nAccording to 97.307e:\n\"The mean power of any spurious emission from a station transmitter or\nexternal RF power amplifier transmitting on a frequency between 30--225 MHz\nmust be at least 60 dB below the mean power of the fundamental.\"\n\nI'm planning to use a filter with about 40 dB of suppression at 290 MHz (2nd\nharmonic), so I get about -70 dB of suppression at the second harmonic,\nmeeting the emission requirements of 97.307e.\n\nI see no specific spurious signal suppression requirement for the 70cm band.\nThe amplifier has similar 2nd Harmonic characteristics and I'm planning to\nuse a similar filter for the 70cm band so the spurs should be down by about\n70 dB of the fundamental mean power as well.  The only wording I see that\nmight apply is 97.307c:\n\"All spurious emissions from a station transmitter must be reduced to the\ngreatest extent practicable. If any spurious emission, including chassis or\npower line radiation, causes harmful interference to the reception of\nanother radio station, the licensee of the interfering amateur station is\nrequired to take steps to eliminate the interference, in accordance with\ngood engineering practice. \"\n\nI'm taking steps to eliminate interference by suppressing the 2nd Harmonic\ndown about 70dB from the fundamental \"in good engineering practice\" so I\nthink I meet all the requirements.  Again, what am I missing?\n\nI've heard of lots of hams re-purposing amplifiers for amateur use without\nlegal concern, and I think this might be the case for my \nsituation.   I'd like some advice from those that may have gone down \nthis road in the past.  Any and all feedback from the group on this would be\ngreatly appreciated.  If I'm way off, please let me know.\n\nThanks in advance.\n\nSincerely,\nZach, KJ4QLP\n\n_______________________________________________\nSent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.\nNot an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!\nSubscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb\n\n",
    "attachments": []
}