Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Limited options exist for persons wishing to have their own low-power FM radio station compliant with the F.C.C.'s Part 15 regulations. Of the many FM transmitters available for purchase, only a handful are legally operable within the United States. Those transmitters claiming to offer "long range" listening almost always transmit in excess of Part 15's limits while also interfering with licensed stations in the form of spurious emissions.
Whole House transmitters are both in compliance of and certified for Part 15 use, unlike the majority of dubious FM transmitters currently populating online marketplaces.
The Whole House 3.0 has had several modifications made to it, changing its appearance and functionality from its predecessor, the Whole House 2.0. Most of the changes are merely cosmetic in nature, though some changes have been made to alter its functionality. The ineffective auto gain controller found on the previous model that did little other than generate confusion and questions of whether it even did anything has since been removed, and an undisclosed and undocumented high-power mode was also added.
The ability to switch the transmitter from stereo to mono audio is an appreciated deviation from the standard fare of low-cost and low-quality transmitters, as is the ability to modify its preemphasis setting to that used in the U.S. or Europe.
In conclusion, it is a transmitter that makes the most of the paltry Part 15 allowances and restrictions. It isn't fair to blame the deficiencies of Part 15 FM broadcasting on it or any other complaint and/or certified transmitter. The Whole House Transmitter's limited range will be adequate for most uses, but you can dismiss plans of encompassing your town with it. Such shortcomings are precisely the motivation behind many people's AM broadcasting pursuits, which is under more liberal (as regards effective broadcast range) governance than FM.
Oddly, somebody with a field strength meter similar to that in use by the F.C.C. recorded measurements of the Whole House transmitter's field strength, only to learn it eclipsed the maximum of 250 microvolts per meter measured at three meters away from the antenna. Take from that what you will.
part15.us/forum/part15-forums/transmitter-talk/whole-house-30-fm-transmitter-field-tests
Postscript: I'd like to apologize for the minimal sound test of the transmitter; issues of copyright and content ID caused all but a single brief sample to be removed. A test of its sound quality using processed and unprocessed audio sources in the form of a separate video will be forthcoming.
Limited options exist for persons wishing to have their own low-power FM radio station compliant with the F.C.C.'s Part 15 regulations. Of the many FM transmitters available for purchase, only a handful are legally operable within the United States. Those transmitters claiming to offer "long range" listening almost always transmit in excess of Part 15's limits while also interfering with licensed stations in the form of spurious emissions.
Whole House transmitters are both in compliance of and certified for Part 15 use, unlike the majority of dubious FM transmitters currently populating online marketplaces.
The Whole House 3.0 has had several modifications made to it, changing its appearance and functionality from its predecessor, the Whole House 2.0. Most of the changes are merely cosmetic in nature, though some changes have been made to alter its functionality. The ineffective auto gain controller found on the previous model that did little other than generate confusion and questions of whether it even did anything has since been removed, and an undisclosed and undocumented high-power mode was also added.
The ability to switch the transmitter from stereo to mono audio is an appreciated deviation from the standard fare of low-cost and low-quality transmitters, as is the ability to modify its preemphasis setting to that used in the U.S. or Europe.
In conclusion, it is a transmitter that makes the most of the paltry Part 15 allowances and restrictions. It isn't fair to blame the deficiencies of Part 15 FM broadcasting on it or any other complaint and/or certified transmitter. The Whole House Transmitter's limited range will be adequate for most uses, but you can dismiss plans of encompassing your town with it. Such shortcomings are precisely the motivation behind many people's AM broadcasting pursuits, which is under more liberal (as regards effective broadcast range) governance than FM.
Oddly, somebody with a field strength meter similar to that in use by the F.C.C. recorded measurements of the Whole House transmitter's field strength, only to learn it eclipsed the maximum of 250 microvolts per meter measured at three meters away from the antenna. Take from that what you will.
part15.us/forum/part15-forums/transmitter-talk/whole-house-30-fm-transmitter-field-tests
Postscript: I'd like to apologize for the minimal sound test of the transmitter; issues of copyright and content ID caused all but a single brief sample to be removed. A test of its sound quality using processed and unprocessed audio sources in the form of a separate video will be forthcoming.
