I was checking the neat NOV site posted earlier, and I noticed that a local station was issued an NOV on September 15th. That's just a couple of weeks ago. I had heard that a "Rant and Rave" station had been shut down, but didn't know anything else about it. I guess this was it. It was operating on 89.7, which is apparently a no-no even under part 15. I don't know how the FCC works, (perhaps some of you do), but it occurs to me that they just might scan all of the frequencies if they're in the area anyway. If they have then it's possible I've popped up on their radar. I've been running 15 watts and have a pretty good coverage. However, I ALSO have a Ramsey FM25B legal Part 15 transmitter. I'm going to turn it on and lay low for a few weeks. If they come nosing around I'll claim there must have been some freak propagation that day, and freely show them my setup. Once they've checked me out and cleared me, I'll resume broadcasting at 15. That's how you stay a step ahead of the game, by being smart and being alert. I hope! I'll keep you posted- and oh yeah, wish me luck.
Did you mean 87.7MHz? 89.7 is completely legal for part 15. The reason 87.7 is risky is because it's shared with the audio carrier of TV channel 6. That is why it's a no-no to broadcast there if a TV station (even digital) is near by on that channel.
However if the channel is completely free it sure is fun broadcasting down there. The range seems to get out much further as it's mostly clear of TV stations in most areas. The problem is that because it's so wide open and most radios begin their digital tuning dial right there it makes it an instant hot spot. Most people trying to find an interesting station will start at the beginning of a dial and work their way up to 107.9. So obviously 87.7 would be the first place they would stop on Also part 15 doesn't extend down to 87.7MHz. I believe 87.9 is the lowest channel allowable by even part 15?
Fun fact: There is one licensed station using 87.7, it was originally a TV station in Chicago but since their TV signal went to digital they decided to use the aural carrier to run a radio jazz station on 87.75 which is close enough to 87.70 that most radios can tune it in okay. They actually are allowed to by the FCC on an experimental bases and occasionally I can listen in when tropo skip takes place and outside of town in the car. When in the house I just get interference from our CATV system on that channel.
Post by Ozone Express Radio on Oct 2, 2010 10:27:57 GMT -6
I always tend to err on the side of caution if the FCC "may" be in an area and usually act as if they are anytime I go on air. I figure if you are on the air for any length of time and regularly that just ups the odds of them ferreting you out and shutting you down. The legal transmitter sounds like a great idea, and hopefully that can provide a cover.
With the digital switch are there anymore TV stations at all using that part of the band? I'd think it'd be pretty vacant now, but in that same vein, it's be an easier target for the feds if there aren't any others broadcasting there.
First of all, yeah-it WAS 87.9, not 89.7. I've received some interesting comments from other friends. Most are of the opinion that since I'm in the middle of the band and sound exactly like a real radio station, the odds of receiving any direct scrutiny are very small. However I'll probably still spend a few days just using the Ramsey. It's not like I'm going to disappoint a huge audience. I mostly provide background music for my friends. Still, they can get pretty upset if I sign off early or spend a day off the air.
This weekend there's a big Art Fair here and I'm doing some special programing, like Pink Floyd's "The Wall" live at the Berlin wall, "Tommy" and the dream cast recording of the 10th anniversary of Les Miserable.
After that, 'down and under' as they say in Radio.
I'm operating at low power today. I'm using the time to preview some music DVD's and CD's a friend sent. They appear to be copies of a "Music Service" that some radio station had bought. One file has 377 songs on it. That's enough music to last for days since my broadcast day is only about 6 or 7 hours long. I just play music, mostly oldies. I tried broadcasting at night, but had a weird feeling about it. I also tried OTR but it didn't work out like I had hoped. Unless you're as old as I am, they're pretty boring.
I found another station broadcasting on the same frequency. I've been afraid I might get a complaint from them, since they fade in where I fade out; but I think THEY are a pirate station too. They appear to be a religious station in Seymour Ind. I've searched EVERY data base I can find and there is NO low power, or commercial, license on this frequency in the area except for one in Williamsburg, Ky. It's a LPFM about 250 miles from here and NOT a religious station. So instead of a problem, this MIGHT be a great distraction. I get out about 5-8 miles on a good day, with a fringe around 10 at the most. They must be running about 100 watts to get this far, (around 65 miles). I sound like a professional station while they sound like a couple of amatuers. I think they are a husband and wife. They use call letters, WNLR, (New Life Radio), and play commercials, both BIG red flags and NO no's. They mostly play hard core evangelical music interspersed with their personal religious philosophy. Compared to them I sound like a legitimate oldies station. So I'm not quite as paranoid as I was. I've GOT to stop reading those NOV notices, they just upset me.
Post by Ozone Express Radio on Oct 4, 2010 19:02:35 GMT -6
If the other station isn't legit, I wouldn't be too worried about them complaining, especially if they are on the same frequency you are on. That would be pretty foolish of them to call in the feds like that unless they plan on switching frequencies for good.
Why the worry about broadcasting in the PM? That's when I've done all of my low-power transmitting. Right now I am planning on upping the power a bit to reach out a little (lot) further.
Yeah, there are New Life Ministries all over the place. I'm between 93 and 97mhz, (no sense showing my hand), so the AM wouldn't be the station. They might just be using a call sign that another church is using. That whole"...God's law above the law of man..." thing comes to mind. I couldn't get out today, but sometime this week I'm going to stay off the air and drive to where I can get a better signal. Once I hear them for a while I'll be able to tell how legit they are. A religious pirate radio station sounds kind of hypocritical, but you'd be amazed how many NOV and forfeitures involve Christian radio stations.
Ok, I've FINALLY figured out what's going on. Radio station WJLR, (it turns out), is a licensed NON-commercial station in Seymour In. It operates at 30,000 watts on 91.5, (not my frequency) They also have 6 repeater transmitters. Just my luck, the one across the river is at my frequency. However, it's only 10 watts. So- what I'm dealing with is a 10 watt repeater. It also seems to be VERY directional. While I was in Indiana it came across loud and clear. As soon as I crossed the river it became spotty. When I got to my neighborhood it was fading in and out. I feel a lot better now. I still think that I've picked a decent spot. I have an entire channel on either side, which is the widest spot in the Metro area. Amazingly, the station one channel higher sometimes modulates into my space. That means that station is using two whole channels in addition to it's assigned channel. And the FCC lets this happen ALL the time. Clear Channel must have some incredible lobbyists.
A religious pirate radio station sounds kind of hypocritical, but you'd be amazed how many NOV and forfeitures involve Christian radio stations.
I wouldn't be surprised actually. Seems to be a theme that I've found too by looking at the NOUO site myself.
And on that same note, there is a legitimate local Christian Rock station broadcasting at 89.9 and 90.5. I can routinely hear them on 90.1 and 90.7. Fairly strongly on three different vehicle radios I use too. Seems that no one really notices, which makes me wonder two things: Is it that no one is watching, or that they are able to slide by because they've made some friends?
This has been going on now for around 3 years or so.
Yeah, that's called over-modulation, and just about every commercial station is getting away with it too. Gee, the FCC must be too busy busting some kid that wants his music to reach his girlfriend's house to bother? And are these the same fat-cat politicians who don't have the cahones to crack down on truckers who use more power with their CB than the local college radio station. How come a LPFM station is limited to 100 watts while Joe Peterbuilt has a thousand? So they can keep their feet warm? And why WAS the ten watt neighborhood license stopped? Too much truth? Golly, it couldn't be that only 12 corporations own EVERY radio station in the country, AND the FCC, could it?
Okay, sorry- I just needed to get all of that off my chest. I'll behave now, I promise. (Could somebody untie my hands?)
Post by Ozone Express Radio on Oct 6, 2010 7:49:22 GMT -6
I hear you there, brother! ;D
Being not too far from a major interstate, I can turn on the CB and get stuff incoming that will peg the power meter. Pretty much wipes out anything else and it goes on regularly.
Just for grins last night I was flipping through the dial on a digital FM tuner I have and ran across the 89.9 station I mentioned above. I could actually hear it all the way up to 90.7! All of the freqencies in between were even fairly listenable too. I'd wager a bet that its selective enforcement there as there isn't any other staions in this area that have the same problem, and there are ton of more powerful ones at that.
Oh, and we'll have one of the mods untie you shortly, M'kay? ;D
In another life I was a radio personality. One night the engineer came by just to visit and caught the program director and station manager under the console tweaking the EQ and Optimod. Needless to say the next day we had some new employees. I not only live close to a freeway, but a truck terminus. Some of the trucks get to the freeway by driving down my street. Overloading my subs is bad enough, but it's interrupting the phone calls that's most disturbing. I've actually been repairing a stereo and watched the output transistor bias change by a trucker going by. Now THAT is a lot of power.
I've actually been repairing a stereo and watched the output transistor bias change by a trucker going by. Now THAT is a lot of power.
I'll say! Nothing quite that hot here, but definitely enough to render a regular CB useless when they key the mike.
I also recall as a kid back in the 70's a neighbor who was a trucker coming home every so often and interfering with our big 'ol piece of furniture Admiral TV. Sometimes you could hear him pretty clearly.