Many readers know Dennis Wallace from his extensive field test work with ATSC and MSTV. He's now featured in a new MSTV video, Your Neighbor's Static where he torments a woman (“Barbara”) by wiping out her TV reception with a device that generates a signal compliant with proposed technical rules for unlicensed devices operating on TV channel frequencies.
The video demonstrates how allowable emissions from unlicensed devices will disrupt DTV reception on multiple channels when indoor antennas are used, even if the receiving antenna is within 10 miles of the TV transmitter and the unlicensed device is next door. Analog TV reception was not destroyed, but the noise level increased enough to impair viewing.
The video highlights the problems that will arise if the FCC does not modify its proposed rules for unlicensed devices on TV channels. For additional information on this topic, go to the MSTV page MSTV: FCC Fillings - By Year and look for the filings MSTV made in November 2004 and its reply comments in January 2005. These include a description of the technical studies and the results that formed the basis for the MSTV video.
Not everyone believes these unlicensed devices will pose a problem. To see all the comments in the FCC proceeding, visit the FCC Search for Filed Comments Web page and enter "04-186" in the "Proceeding" field - item 1 in the upper left.
