|
Connect Your Coax
&
Walk the Plank!
By
Tom
Editor, Watts Up?!
Disclaimer #1:
This article is intended for educational purposes only. The author, his mother, the printers, their mothers, the distributors, their mothers and all the family pets are in no way responsible for the information given. Non-licensed low power radio broadcasting above what the FCC allows in Part 15 of the Rules & Regulations is illegal. Use your own judgment.
Disclaimer #2:
This article cannot tell you everything you need to know to get on the air (it is too short). Radio broadcasting is not an easy thing and being an illegal micro power station doesn't make it any easier. If, after reading this article, you want to actually start a station some more reading and research will be in order (I'll list some place to start at the end to help you out).
Where to begin?...
Now, if your still reading you must still be interested, so now I'll tell you that FM radio broadcasting is not rocket science. I just don't want anyone getting the wrong idea and thinking that after they read this they can start a radio station.
Ok, the first thing you need is all of your equipment. This includes CD players, tape players, turntables, cart players (basically just 8-track tape players that stations use to do IDŐs with), a mixer, a transmitter (more on that in a sec.), possibly an RF (Radio Frequency) Amp (more on that in a sec), an antenna (ditto), and cables to connect it all. Their are some other things like filters, compressors, dummy loads, SWR meters, VOM meters, soldering irons, etc. you will also need, but I'll get to that when your ready for it.
You may already have the "audio" stuff laying around the house. If not you can buy portable CD players now for about $60. They work just fine. You can modify 8 track tape players to be your cart machines (actual cart players cost around $200 for a used one), pick up turntables for two bucks at a thrift store. You get the idea. Several places make good mixers, but you may not want to spend a whole bunch of money on your equipment -- because if you're busted the FCC can take it all away.
The heart of your station in the transmitter. If you have Internet access and go to the alt.radio.pirate Newsgroup at all, you'll find that just about every transmitter sucks and that none are worth buying. At least that's what they think. Just about every transmitter kit (legally you can only sell FM transmitters as a kit unless your buying party has an FCC granted Construction Permit) on the market these days will work. But, yes, some are better than others. I'd say if your at all serious you'll want to buy a PLL (Phase Lock Loop) transmitter. They keep on their frequency (do to a whole bunch of radio jargon) much better than the others. And this is important because if you interfere with any other licensed radio service you can pretty much expect to be busted.
Next, you may have the need for a RF amp. This works just like a "normal" amp only instead of just boosting the audio level it boosts the radio frequency. How big of an amp you will need gets into how much area you want to cover, what your height above average terrain (HAAT) is, and how much gain your antenna has. A very rough chart, however, goes as follows:
1/2 watt = 1-4 nautical miles
6 watts = 4-8 nautical miles
15 watts = 6-12 nautical miles
30-40 watts = 8-20 nautical miles
Now, your antenna can also give you some more power depending on it's gain (or how much it amplifies your signal). To fully understand antennas you would need to do some reading up on them (yeah, they're not just pieces of metal thrown together). The most common antennas are the Dipole, J-Pole, and the Slim Jim. That's all I'm going to say about them.
At this point you have all your equipment together and could (almost) start a station.
Then what?...
You need to locate a clear frequency. This is one not being used by other radio stations and won't allow you to interfere with anyone. This can be kind of a tricky process (especially if you're not on-line). Just flipping through the dial looking for static won't work. You need to know the distance from the station, it's effective radiated power (ERP), it HAAT, etc. That is, if you don't want to be busted. Going in to the whole frequency search would take up too much space here, but don't worry -- there's hope (see the "Read On" section below).
Once you've found your clear channel (or frequency) you are then ready to starting testing your equipment and doing your show. I'd say by this time you have spent around $400 dollars (depending on different factors) and about 40-60 hours putting it all together (not including the time you spent in the bathtub fully clothed with the water running because you couldn't make the, "damn thing stop humming," -- and you thought this would help).
Read on...
Watts Up?!
Watts Up?! (shameless self plug) has more in depth articles on everything you just read about. Soon will be offering frequency search for those that aren't on-line. It's bimonthly and is only a dollar an issue.
Watts Up?!
Po Box 8123
Santa Maria, CA 93454
email: wattsupmpr@aol.com
web: http://members.aol.com/wattsupmpr
Free Radio Berkeley
Free Radio Berkeley (FRB) is a micro power station. They are in a legal battle with the FCC and are winning (kinda). They also sell equipment at reasonable prices. Send a donation to:
Free Radio Berkeley
1442 A Walnut St. #406
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 464-3041
email: frbspd@crl.com
web: http://www.freeradio.org
Association of Micro Power Broadcasters
This is a great resource for connecting with others and getting some cool tunes. Held together by one of FRB's own -- Captain Fred. Send a SASE to:
AMPB
1635 Francisco St. #D
Berkeley, CA 94703
email: Paul_W._Griffin@bmug.org
Free Radio Network
The Free Radio Network is a virtual haven for free radio "stuff." John Cruzan has put together a great web site. Stop by:
web: http://www.frn.net
Tom runs the zine, Watts Up?!. It is a great resource for anyone interested in pirate radio. Contact info can be found elsewhere in this document.
wattsupmpr@aol.com
| 
