We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

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Topics - jordan

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1
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?

2
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)?

3
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?

4
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?

5
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?

6
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!

7
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.

8
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?

9
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.

10
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?

11
General Radio Discussion / Using HF rig as AM radio receiver
« on: November 01, 2014, 2021 UTC »
Is it true that an amateur HF rig could be the best AM radio receiver you could have?  If you put up an HF antenna, it would almost certainly be able to receive signals at MF frequencies, and the receiver is well-designed to receive weak signals.  If I move to around Knoxville, I know that there are many stations in east Tennessee that play bluegrass and Southern Gospel music, but most are on AM.  I figured an HF rig would be able to pull these in better than anything else.

12
General Radio Discussion / Christmas Eve pirate radio
« on: October 21, 2014, 0231 UTC »
I would really love to do an hour-long Christmas bluegrass music show on pirate radio on Christmas Eve this year.  What are the chances of me getting into trouble with this?  I would use a blank FM frequency in my area with about 1 watt of power.

Also, how would I know whether anyone is listening or not?

13
General Radio Discussion / Prepaid cell phones for pirate DJ's
« on: October 10, 2014, 2320 UTC »
To avoid FCC confrontation via a traceable (i.e. contract) cell phone number, do pirate radio DJ's ever use prepaid cell phones to give the number out over the air for song requests?

14
FM Free Radio / 87.7 MHz FM, Monday 09/29, Livonia, Michigan
« on: October 01, 2014, 0143 UTC »
Yesterday morning when I started my car to leave for work, I heard a rap/hip-hop broadcast on 87.7 MHz.  I know it's a pirate because I didn't hear anything today.

Now, if I had time, I would love to report this to the FCC and see them get busted.  But if they were playing bluegrass music, I would have sat in my driveway and listened to it!  In fact, this may have even inspired me to get some DF equipment and find the origin of the station, then knock on the door and give them some song requests!

15
General Radio Discussion / Is 87.7 MHz a good FM pirate frequency?
« on: September 24, 2014, 2344 UTC »
Would that be a good choice for a pirate bluegrass music station?  No one uses that frequency, so there shouldn't be any complaints, right?

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