--------------------------- whatisit.txt --------------------------- Just what is all this stuff about LowFERs and MedFERs and Part 15? Well, LowFER stands for Low Frequency Experimental Radio, and MedFER stands for Medium Frequency Experimental Radio. And they both relate to Part 15. The Federal Communications Commission, which we usually associate with regulating radio and TV broadcasting, licensing amateur operators, regulating telephone companies and such, makes provision for some types of radio frequen- cy devices that just don't fall under any of its other rules. This body of regulations is known as Part 15. It covers both unintentional radiators (devices such as computers and TV receivers, all of which may generate radio signals as part of their operation, but aren't intended to transmit them); and intentional radiators (such as garage door openers, cordless telephones, wireless microphones, etc., which depend on deliberate radio signals to perform their jobs). Among the various sections and subsections within Part 15 are two interesting provisions. One permits the use of up to 1 watt of power and a 15 meter long antenna between 160 - 190 kilohertz, in the longwave bands, with no license requirement. Another permits similar operation from 510 - 1705 kHz, in the mediumwave band, with 1/10 of a watt and a 3-meter antenna. Experimenters operating under these sections of the rules have taken to calling themselves LowFERs, MedFERs, or both, depending which band(s) they utilize. Now, antennas of these lengths are very, very short (electrically) at their respective frequencies. Efficiency is a TINY fraction of a percent. Under average conditions, with a so-so receiver, it was not expected such signals would reach more than a few tenths of a mile. However, if one is very resourceful at reducing loss in the antenna system and maximizing efficiency in the transmitter, respectable signals can be detected over longer ranges. Use narrowband transmission modes, such as Morse code or more advanced methods, and that range can be multiplied further. Take considerable pains to couple a good antenna to a sensitive, selective receiver in a quiet location (away from manmade static and stray radio signals), and you multiply that range again. Listen in winter, when static is at a minimum and propagation is fairly stable, and you can achieve real DX! Even with the power limits we're talking about, LF and MF experimenters sometimes span 100, 300, and--rarely--800 miles or more. From time to time, full 2-way QSOs take place over these distances. While hams often work the world at very low power levels, to be able to work a few hundred miles at these low frequencies, with virtually no transmitting antenna, takes patience, skill, and love of a challenge. (Think how static levels increase as you go down the spectrum. By the time you get to 500 kHz, most receivers are deliberately far less sensitive than they are in the shortwave bands. The assumption is, at LF, you won't be able to hear anything but the strongest signals over the noise anyway.) LowFERing and MedFERing is not for the faint-hearted, but it can be a lot of fun. And, as long as you keep emissions within the assigned band, you can try all sorts of non-standard modulation methods. While many of these experimenters are also licensed hams, many others are not. Yet we can all hone our technical and operating skills in ways that would otherwise only be possible in the ham bands. To learn more about the FCC rules, you can download applicable sections of Part 15 on the Longwave/Part 15 Bulletin Board System. To get a feel for both LF and MF experimenting, read The LOWDOWN (see "lwcainfo.txt" for the address and subscription rate). Give a listen. With a bit of care, there's no telling what you may dig up from under the static! ------------------------ {{This document Copyright 1994, John H. Davis. It may be distributed non-commercially, but may NOT appear in any commercial publication (including digital media), without the author's written consent.}}