O/T Spark Gap Transmitters was: Interest in UUCP?

From: Craig Smith <ip500_at_home.com>
Date: Wed Jun 20 17:22:14 2001

        Actually, we got a special permit to activate a spark transmitter
[1000 watts, quenched gap Navy WW I unit] several years ago at the AWA
[Antique Wireless Association] annual meeting in Rochester, NY. We were
allowed a 60 sec transmission once an hour for a 12 hour period for
purposes of "historical demonstration".
        I'm sure the harmonics [multiple and MANY] played hell with the local
TV and radio reception. Across the parking lot it could be received
anywhere from 400KC [where it was "supposed to be tuned"] .. on up to
about 50MC or so.
        Sorry about the O/T post but it's a special interest area for me.
There a 500 watt, 500 cycle War I Navy transmitter sitting behind me in
my office!
        Craig

Jim Strickland wrote:
>
> It's my impression the FCC takes a pretty dim view of spark-gap
> transmitters. But then I've never been a ham or anything like that.
> I don't *do* analog (yet).
>
> > No packet hardware... I guess that my old Utica transciever would be
> > useless for this. Since we're talking about sending/receiving data in
> > a classic manner, wouldn't it be neat to use sparc-gap transmitters,
> > and then never worrying about having to do any form of D/A or A/D
> > conversion?
>
> --
> Jim Strickland
> jim_at_DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
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Received on Wed Jun 20 2001 - 17:22:14 BST