undefined | Better HN

0 pointsSpare_account9y ago0 comments

OK, so if by the time the signal exits my property it has dropped below mandated limits, there is no harm done right?

If I aim my antenna such that I contain the illegal power region within my property, will there be an unintended consequence?

To be clear, I'm referring to a house not an apartment so I don't have any concerns about upstairs or downstairs neighbours.

0 comments

hydrogen189y ago

No, that is incorrect.

The domain of the FCC extends to all property of the United States of America, be it public or private.

colanderman9y ago

The reason this is important is that it prevents private corporations from interfering with public air space (as discussed previously on HN [1]), and prevents landlords from interfering with the rights of tenants to legally place outdoor antennas (such as satellite dishes).

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8406022

colanderman9y ago

RF energy doesn't quite work like this. If your transmitter has a high EIRP (either due to antenna directionality or high TX power), then its signal is going to travel a long way, even after the signal level has dropped to that of a lower-EIRP transmitter. That is simply the inverse square law at work.

You could place sufficiently absorptive materials that this isn't so (e.g. enclose your house in a Faraday cage). But as hydrogen18 points out you're still limited by the FCC.

ocdtrekkie9y ago

I think FCC laws technically apply within your property as well. Hypothetically, what happens if your non-compliant device blocks a visitor on your property from calling 911?

sjwright9y ago

I think this falls under the pragmatic category of "you're only breaking the law if you get caught."

ocdtrekkie9y ago

Oh of course, and there's actually a surprising number of FCC rules you'll never get caught breaking. GMRS license violation is another.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

hydrogen189y ago

No, that is incorrect.

The domain of the FCC extends to all property of the United States of America, be it public or private.

colanderman9y ago

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8406022

colanderman9y ago

You could place sufficiently absorptive materials that this isn't so (e.g. enclose your house in a Faraday cage). But as hydrogen18 points out you're still limited by the FCC.

ocdtrekkie9y ago

I think FCC laws technically apply within your property as well. Hypothetically, what happens if your non-compliant device blocks a visitor on your property from calling 911?

sjwright9y ago

I think this falls under the pragmatic category of "you're only breaking the law if you get caught."

ocdtrekkie9y ago

Oh of course, and there's actually a surprising number of FCC rules you'll never get caught breaking. GMRS license violation is another.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse