FCC approved frequencies?

[SBrienz]

Yes I know enforcement is low, but if I build a dedicated and easily accessible node for me and my cohorts, it will be pretty easy to find my node if someone complains. Is there something in the ISM frequency bands that permit a >1w transmission? The 2.4Ghz ISM band appears promising but not a lot of Chinese radios work in that end of the spectrum, so sourcing affordable hardware is a barrier. I'd rather not donate my hardware or money to the FCC. Interestingly FRS and GMRS allow Morse code, but it's character set is not conducive to encrypted packets. The thought crossed my mind to just use an FRS radio and modify the protocol to use CW.

[outlaw-poet]

There are some lower ISM bands that might work for you: the 433 Mhz ISM
band might be easier for you to get to, if you don't want to go with 2.4
Ghz equipment. You can get cheap transceivers to code the 433, and use
something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/131329127770?lpid=82&chn=ps to step it up to 2
watts or more.

Be aware you are still subject to Part 18 and Part 15 FCC rules in the ISM
bands, so assuming you're building this device not for sale, and it's a
perfect radiator that does not interfere with any non ISM band radios, you
can go up to 500 watts, in theory, although they have field strength
regulations that are a little arcane to figure out, so a strong directional
antenna may be illegal well under that.

That said, if you annoy somebody by destroying their ISM reception, the FCC
can still require a bunch of technical reporting on your device, and shut
you down if you get anything wrong, which is how people get rid of Wi-Fi
interfering sources.

On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 1:11 PM, SponjWorthy notifications@github.com
wrote:

Yes I know enforcement is low, but if I build a dedicated and easily
accessible node for me and my cohorts, it will be pretty easy to find my
node if someone complains. Is there something in the ISM frequency bands
that permit a >1w transmission? The 2.4Ghz ISM band appears promising but
not a lot of Chinese radios work in that end of the spectrum, so sourcing
affordable hardware is a barrier. I'd rather not donate my hardware or
money to the FCC. Interestingly FRS and GMRS allow Morse code, but it's
character set is not conducive to encrypted packets. The thought crossed my
mind to just use an FRS radio and modify the protocol to use CW.

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#11.

Justin Corwin
outlawpoet@gmail.com
http://programmaticconquest.tumblr.com
http://outlawpoet.tumblr.com

[SBrienz]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'd be giddy about the 433mhz ISM Band! But I reside in ITU Region 2. Which puts that frequency in the amateur radio 70cm band, (Auxiliary/repeater links according to the ARRL band plan) Which would certainly arouse plenty of hams wrath if I started broadcasting. I debated squatting on a silent land/mobile frequency adjoining the ham frequencies but that's a short term solution. Time to start looking at 2.4 or 5.8 GHZ handheld radios and some yagi antennas...