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General Radio Discussion / Re: Last FCC Bust of a SW Pirate?
« on: April 08, 2024, 1957 UTC »It seems like every week in the FCC Daily Digest I read about one or several FM pirates in the US getting busted. Anyone know the last time a shortwave pirate got busted in the US? Interestingly, the PIRATE act, which was passed in 2020 and the FCC has been using to levy exorbitant (and arguably unrealistic) fines against operators and landlords defines pirate operation within only the AM and FM broadcast bands, and not shortwave.
I think that you missed the point of the Enforcement Action.
Broadcasters pays to be on 88 - 107 MHz and you don't!
When a broadcaster complains about harmful interference - it is because the broadcaster doesn't want other people competing with his legal licensed station.
On the HF bands - it would be hit or miss, because first, it requires a lot more power than 100 watts SSB - on the ham bands for people to hear you because on the HF AM you must use brute force to get your signal to be heard more than just a couple of miles away with Amplitude Modulation.
Tests were conducted using a horizontal dipole antenna at a low level in the 1930's and they just didn't work well.
So anything you do on HF that involves construction of a Vertical Radiator - tower antenna hot stick, would be visual as well as audio - aural.
The way they get you is when you have a obnoxious electric bill.
The Electric company turns you in to the FEDS and they come looking to see what kind of grow house you are running.