Messages

1

FM Free Radio / Re: FM Pirates in Seattle, WA

« on: October 19, 2017, 0040 UTC »

Why they don't make 87.7 Mhz legal for Hobby Radio broadcasting (In Rural Areas) with a power between 1-15 Watts is beyond my understanding.  It would solve a few problems. 

I second that! In fact, not just 87.7, but the ENTIRE 76-88 MHz band (76.1 thru 87.9 MHz), since few, if any, television stations broadcast on this band anymore. Most have moved to UHF or VHF-HI nowadays.

2

FM Free Radio / Legality of broadcating on 87.9 MHz

« on: October 18, 2017, 2248 UTC »

I've been reading some FCC notices of violations, fines, etc. that they've issued to people. I noticed that some had been busted for using 87.9 MHz, and that they exceeded the limit of 100mV/meter as measured 3 meters from the antenna.  On the standard FM band (88-108 MHz), they have a limit of 250 microvolts per meter measured 3m from antenna.  For comparision, 100mV per meter is a lot more than 250 microvolts, which equates to 100,000 microvolts.  Does anyone know what power wattage this would equate to?

In laymen's terms, it sounds like we're allowed to use a lot more power on 87.9 than we are the rest of the FM band.  Could someone elaborate on this?

3

Equipment / SW Pirate Radio Antennas

« on: April 28, 2016, 1302 UTC »

For a shortwave pirate on 6930 kHz, would a G5RV antenna work well?  Does it matter what direction the antenna is in?  If so, how should I position my antenna if my target audience is south of my location (average bearing of 170 degrees)?

4

Equipment / AM Audio Quality on Shortwave

« on: April 09, 2016, 1441 UTC »

If I were to broadcast some bluegrass music on shortwave radio in AM mode, using 50 watts of power, would the audio be comparable to a standard-broadcast AM station, even if listening from afar?

Would the audio sound better if I used 6930 kHz or 13,920 kHz to broadcast?  Or about the same?

5

General Radio Discussion / Re: 13.560 MHz

« on: July 18, 2015, 0147 UTC »

OK, so I guess I should just stick with the 6900 kHz band. 

Another question: Would a Yaesu amateur HF rig be the best transmitter to use for this?  Or is there something better?  I would only be operating in AM, not SSB, since I would be broadcasting music.

In theory, the amateur HF transceivers are suitable for "continuous" service... but... the problem is to define that we call "continuous service." Sincerely, in my opinion, build an HF-AM Tx is relatively simple and cheaper than use a high electronic technology transceiver to make these kind of transmissions...

OK, cool!  Do you have any plans or schematics that I can look at?  What about suggested part numbers for the components (resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc.)?

6

General Radio Discussion / Re: 13.560 MHz

« on: July 17, 2015, 2142 UTC »

OK, so I guess I should just stick with the 6900 kHz band. 

Another question: Would a Yaesu amateur HF rig be the best transmitter to use for this?  Or is there something better?  I would only be operating in AM, not SSB, since I would be broadcasting music.

7

General Radio Discussion / 13.560 MHz

« on: July 17, 2015, 0006 UTC »

There are SW transmitters being sold on eBay that operate in the ISM band, or 13.560 MHz.  Would these be feasible to use as pirate shortwave AM transmitters?  They would need to be modified for higher power output, of course, as they come with only 100mW power output.

But is 13.560 MHz a common pirate frequency in general?

8

General Radio Discussion / Near-Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS)

« on: July 10, 2015, 1015 UTC »

How exactly does NVIS work in comparison to conventional skywave propagation?  Which frequencies are best suited for NVIS?

Suppose I wanted to target an audience in the Galax, VA with a bluegrass music show on shortwave.  Would I have a better chance of reaching them if I was broadcasting from the Knoxville or Detroit areas?  Would 6930 kHz AM with 25 watts do the trick?

9

General Radio Discussion / Re: Four hundred pirate radio setups shut down in London in just two years

« on: July 07, 2015, 2343 UTC »

"From the enquiries we've carried out, this problem doesn't exist in New York or Rome or Paris - it's a London phenomenon."

Full article: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/four-hundred-pirate-radio-stations-shut-down-in-london-in-just-two-years-10362974.html

I thought New York was the most active area in the US for pirate radio, according to the FCC.

10

General Radio Discussion / Bluegrass radio pirates

« on: July 06, 2015, 1954 UTC »

Why don't more radio pirates just play bluegrass music on the air?  In the last 10 years, there has been an explosion of new bluegrass bands that are totally amazing and talented!  Many of them with young members, both male and female.  In my opinion, there has never been a better time in history to be a bluegrass music fan.  Just go to one day of the SPBGMA bluegrass convention in Nashville in February and you'll see what I'm talking about!

11

General Radio Discussion / Re: Pirate Radio Station Prompts Residents to Call the Feds...

« on: July 06, 2015, 1948 UTC »

Would this have even been an issue if they were playing bluegrass music instead of obscene rap?

12

General Radio Discussion / FCC Enforcement

« on: June 17, 2015, 0211 UTC »

Suppose I was to broadcast a one-hour bluegrass music show on an unused frequency.  Would I have a better chance of being caught/warned/fined if:

1) I used an FM transmitter with a power output of 1 watt, or
2) I used a Yaesu HF rig on 6930 kHz AM with 25 watts

There is no set pattern for broadcasting.  After the show is over, it may be several weeks before I go on the air again.

13

FM Free Radio / What are the chances of getting caught on FM with one watt?

« on: June 08, 2015, 0149 UTC »

Suppose I broadcast an hour-long bluegrass music show using a blank frequency in the Knoxville area.  My transmitter puts out only one watt.  I would not be causing any interference to any other station or service.  I would simply be playing music from some of the current bluegrass bands (Flatt Lonesome, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Trinity River, Mountain Faith, Sierra Hull, Balsam Range, etc.).  What would be the chances I would get caught by the FCC?

14

FM Free Radio / Low-power broadcasting at bluegrass festivals

« on: June 08, 2015, 0124 UTC »

I attend a lot of bluegrass music festivals, and I often see small FM transmitters being used to broadcast the audio of the festival on a blank frequency.  Do the sound operators have a license to do this?  Or is this technically a violation of FCC rules?  I know that the transmitters put out more power than Part 15 permits.  I was able to hear the audio up to a mile away from the festival ground on my car radio after leaving.

15

General Radio Discussion / Pirates on 13900 kHz range?

« on: February 17, 2015, 1959 UTC »

Since pirate broadcasters use the 6900-kHz band, right below the 40m ham radio band, are there any that commonly use the 13900-kHz band that is just below the 20m ham band?  That might work better than 6900 during the day.  Or is 6900 good at any time of day?