[BC] Occupied Bandwidth measurements...

[R A Meuser]

Modulation monitors are not common on many parts of this planet, 
spectrum analyzers are. You can very effectively set up a station with 
just a spectrum analyzer, especially if the intent is to assure that it 
fits within the allocation scheme. Modulation monitors are an arbitrary 
way of guesstimating whether or not you are properly occupying the channel.

Ask Lyle about how many mod monitors give misleading information. In 
such cases you need the spectrum analyzer anyway.

I have probably set up as many Fm stations with a spectrum analyzer 
using occupied bandwidth measurements as I have with a mod monitor. I'll 
take the spectrum analyzer any day. The USA is the only place I know on 
the planet where this might cause legal problems (usually not) but then 
modulation rules like many other FCC rules are written assuming 
compliance will be left to the technically challenged.



Burt I. Weiner wrote:
> Occupied Bandwidth Measurements stem from interference issues.  They 
> were never intended to take the place of a modulation monitor.  Anyone 
> who thinks they can doesn't understand the problem.  They are very 
> useful but you have to know where and when to use them; what they do 
> well and what they do not do well.
> 
> Burt
> 
> 
> At 12:09 PM 10/6/2007, R wrote:
> 
>> I do not see where FM occupied bandwidth measurements would be any more
>> controversial than AM NRSC measurements are. Some spectrum analyzers can
>> do them properly others can not. Mod monitors are mostly a  Western
>> Hemisphere phenomena. You find them far less common elsewhere primarily
>> because they are really not that useful.