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1

Free Radio Forum / Re: Men with guns stop pirate radio in Lakeland, FL area. (Story)

« on: January 25, 2011, 05:07:46 AM »

Hurf durf, people have been saying it's gonna "kick into action" for decades because they can't stand the fact that America is falling.

Well its just a way for average people to gradually accept the changes over a period of time. Its like subtle massages gradually relaxing muscles being more effective than shock treatments...which would do just the opposite.


RFB

2

Free Radio Forum / Re: Pirate shortwave.

« on: January 25, 2011, 05:02:24 AM »

Having stopped at almost every truck stop in the Southwest, I would have to say that truckers are watching DVDs and listening to XM and Sirrius, not scanning the 11 meter band.
Skip on the CB is really unpredictable, anyway.
Might be more effective to leave FTL CDs at truck stops?

Well with today's "i-Mobile" devices and most long haul truckers are set up with wireless net connectivity, and with a majority of the major truck stops and large rest areas being set up with Wi-Fi connectivity, they can tune in to net stations easily.

Though IMO its a good idea, not many these days tote around a collection of physical discs with the advent of the i-pod.

Maybe set up a little stand where they can plug in their i-pod and download FTL episodes and maybe have some physical discs on hand for those still enjoying the good ol days.


RFB

3

Free Radio Forum / Re: A New Opertunity - High Profile Micro Radio

« on: January 25, 2011, 04:51:50 AM »

It is a good idea. However the current Wi-Fi systems are operating under the infamous Part 15 dark cloud umbrella. The reason why a 1 watt power level is allowed is because of the frequencies used and would not be useful at all at lower levels.

Then of course there is the issues of cordless phones and other devices that utilize the same piece of spectrum as the Wi-Fi routers do. Even with the implementation of the higher frequencies those too are filling up fast.

I think that although its a good idea, it will end up being shut down because someone's cordless phone or alarm system or baby monitor or wireless router will be interfered with.

And we all know that the good ol Federal Communications Controllers will not allocate a piece of the massive and ever expanding upward spectrum to dedicated Wi-Fi setups such as this. However if there was a way to tax and fee every connect and charge a utilization rate in the same fashion as a gas pump runs the price meter with amount fueled, they might actually do it.


RFB

4

Free Radio Forum / Re: Spiffy Pirate Radio Documentary

« on: January 25, 2011, 04:37:08 AM »

The other aspect I really liked was the straight scoop on the farce put forth by the FCC known as LPFM.  Now once again they are leading folks on for some pipe-dream of licensed LPAM (not Part 15).  The FCC seems to drag this on hoping people will just hold on a little longer and stay within the system.  If they do ever accept a new LPAM proposal it will probably look more like the LPFM crap that they put forth while they practically pulled their arms out of socket patting themselves on the back for a service that did little to nothing for micro broadcasters or to diversify the voices on the FM band.

Basically when the AM band was expanded to 1705...(1705..odd ball freq to end with on a 10Khz channel spacing scheme)...the FCC pretty much began the farce there and gave the added spectrum to the already existing licensed stations, even making it easy for them to make the channel change. Those stations took advantage of that right away because of the crowded 530-1600 section. Now the extended band is just as crammed up as the other.

I remember when that extended band was being proposed there was even sections in the proposal that this would be great for a new LPAM service. Of course the old sacred cows of the National Asinine Brotherhood swooped in and did their usual butt patting lobbying with the old excuses and cried like newborn calf's that the extended channels are best utilized for existing "grandfather" stations.

Its all about control of what they keep calling "public airwaves". There is no such thing as "public airwaves" after 1934.

And that is the key problem...using 1934 prospective and regulations of a by-gone era, when even the best of best in technology of that time was highly un-reliable and un-predictable, to be a factor in today's far more advanced technological world. It is no longer a matter of maintaining spectral purity and quality along side of programming that the public wants. Obviously today's sophisticated systems far exceed even the minimums to meet spectral purity and transmission quality. Its all about catering to the elite so they have control. Forcing this control over society through incredibly ridiculous fees way out of the reach of said public, red tape and stupid processes which obviously are designed to cause loss of interest, stipulations and limitations that are way beyond the scope of the various radio services.

It is effectively set up like a members-only if you can pay and wait and pay some more scam, and like an insider club of, and for, the elite.

Terrestrial radio is dead and has been so ever since the first buy up of single ownership radio stations across the country by big corporate conglomerates to control every channel and every bit of the entire spectrum.

I recall back in the 60's when there was talk about how by the year 2000 we would have flying cars, and that was even talked about much earlier before the 60's. The lame ass excuse as to why is that the skies are "crowded". Really? Crowded with what.....too much open airspace?!!

Well the same is with the entire EM spectrum. It is said that the spectrum is "crowded". Well golly geez, when you cram everything into a tiny portion of the EM spectrum and have massive gaps of nothing in the rest of the spectrum well.....DUH!!!

Look at how the current allotment of spectrum is crammed together and is any wonder why there is discussion about IBOC co-channel interference and push to squeeze it all together even tighter with narrower channel spacing and allotment....again....DUH!!! Yet above, below and everywhere else...my spectrum analyzer sees a plethora of "empty air-space". Oh wait...forgot....the elite want to cram their coffers even more with spectrum auctions and special interest funding.....DUH!!!

And they continue to call it "public airwaves"......DOH!!!



RFB

5

Free Radio Forum / Re: Where to find "real" transmitters (and antennas) for FM and AM.

« on: January 25, 2011, 03:54:49 AM »

Wow, useful tip!   

The later models of the 15 and 20 watt units can also be set for low and high power. These two units are really great for driving large power amplifiers.

I used one as a temporary exciter to drive a Harris FM-25 transmitter. The Harris FM-25 is a 25Kw power amp cabinet that only needs about 15 watts to make full power on the lower third of the band.

The station is KMLD 94.5 in Casper Wy.

6

Free Radio Forum / Re: Being a good radio neighbor!

« on: January 25, 2011, 03:47:19 AM »

Don't forget to bitch and moan like a little pussy to the free stream provider / podcasters when they use adult language.

If listeners of licensed radio tuned in more often to net radio, they would become acclimated and there be less little wussy moaning and groaning.

7

Free Radio Forum / Re: Step-by-step for the clueless (Part 15)

« on: October 21, 2010, 01:19:41 PM »

like someone else mentioned part15 fm is good for about 200 feet max.

Yep...but even a fully certified FM unit can send a signal beyond 200 feet with good conditions such as hight of the unit so its antenna is above obstructions and in line of sight.

..and part 15am if i recall is about 200mv at 200 feet going on memory here.
and toss in the ant length and high above ground.

Actually its 15mV/30m (45.715/f for metric , 157000/f for feet). It amazes me how many mix up the differences between the FM field strength limits and the AM field strength limits. They are not the same 200 foot range limit syndrome.

you might as well bootleg a few watts on fm.

The biggest mistake most make by bootlegging a few watts on the FM band is that they do not take the time to ensure their signal is clean and not filling the spectrum with spurious. Also most forget that the IF frequency of FM receivers is 10Mhz. So if your pumping a signal on 90.1 Mhz, and someone down the street is trying to tune in a station on 100.1 Mhz, guess what happens....your signal will ride along with the other station's signal via the IF and the listener of the 100.1 Mhz station hears two stations! Next day a letter or email is sent off to the FCC in the form of a complaint. Shortly thereafter...the interfering bootlegger receives a NOUO..or worse a NAL.

I would be outright lying if I said I never threw up an FM with a few hundred watts. I have...all home built equipment pumping out a stereo signal on 107.7 at 400W into a 2 bay dipole antenna system constructed of 1/2 inch copper tubing and PVC fittings mounted at 40 feet on a tv receiving mast. Yep it was fun, for a 3 full years....till a "friend" who I thought was a good guy decided to contact the FCC and a few weeks later, both the FCC and the Sheriff's department showed up to partake in the party..cept their plans were not to enjoy a beer and pizza.

At least the FCC guy let me announce the station was going off the air. He even commented on how clean the signal was compared to licensed stations in the area. I told the field agent.."that is due to well designed home built equipment using good engineering practices and building the thing to conform to the spirit of the rules for spectral purity". The agent actually looked surprised after saying that to him. I think I even caught a grin from the agent's expressions.

The key words in the rules is "harmful interference". It is the harmful interference that lands an operation in trouble....though not the only thing that can land an operation into problems. Things like indecent programing and foul mouthed fools will no doubt bring unwanted visits. It is this kind of operations that even I would hunt down and turn in myself. These types of operations ruins it for the rest of us who take the time to properly set up a station in the spirit of the technical parameters that licensed stations adhere to.

Just slapping up a signal and ohh ahh'ing over "Im on the air!" is not good enough...be it Part 15 or Part Bootleg. If your going to risk throwing out some watts, then do it RIGHT and at least impress the field agents when they come to bust your butt. The least that will happen is they smile while they take your beautiful home made transmitter! (UGGGHHHH!!!) Just dont tell them what I said as they walked out the door with my home made transmitter and antenna system..."You can take that equipment but you cant take whats in my head"...meaning the schematics to the unit they were taking as well as many other ideas were not on paper, but in my mind! Ha Ha! 



RFB

8

Free Radio Forum / Re: Step-by-step for the clueless (Part 15)

« on: October 21, 2010, 12:47:33 PM »

If you have a good signal past 200 feet, you probably aren't Part 15 compliant.

For FM this is most of the time true, however if conditions are right, a Part 15 FCC certified FM transmitter can send its signal well beyond 200 feet.

For AM, well this is a hit and miss best guess because of the variables such as ground conductivity, the grounding system utilized and the coupling/tuning efficiency to the 3 meter antenna. Ive seen 70mW in a very well designed Part 15 2.19 system send a signal out to 3/4 mile no problem. Daytime of course. Night..well at that point 200 feet or so is about as much to expect for a clear signal, after that...it ends up buried in the skywave noise.

The only way to be sure is to get your hands on a field strength meter that reads that low.

According to the rules, a quasi-detector with no AGC is the industry standard for measuring AM transmission field strengths. These are easy to build and can be made just as sensitive and accurate as the infamous Potmac FS unit the FCC engineers use. I know...I built one and use it monthly to verify my CC station's emission limits. I calibrate it to a fellow engineer's Potmac FS and every time, it indicates the same readings as the expensive Potmac.

A good communications service monitor can also serve as a fairly accurate FS meter for close to nth decimal point measurements, at least within the ball park.

After playing around with the "carrot on a stick" method for a number of years and always being let down by the poor range even at 3/4 mile on a good day with moist ground, carrier current is the way to go with AM. Though many state the lower band is best for carrier current, I found it to be opposite and that the upper portion works best for my installation. My TCU-30 couples to the neutral and grid ground lead in's right off the drop. Fortunately that ground drop is isolated and with the addition of 4 ground rods at 15 foot intervals, 5 watts was all that was needed to get my signal down the line and into listener's homes and without all that nasty hum.

If your really wanting to reach more listeners and expand the range of your station LEGALLY, then carrier current is the way to go.

Although LPB is not manufacturing new CC units, Radio Systems does, however their unit is limited to 10 watts carrier power while one can find an LPB unit on ebay that can pump out 3 to 5 times that power level.

And its great to see a 1982 design work so well with a 2000 era C-QUAM exciter. Chris never expected to see one of his transmitters mounted into an LPB TX as an exciter. I bought 3 more of his units as spares plus one that was un-assembled to have individual parts on hand if needed.

And if you cannot find an LPB or cannot afford a Radio Systems unit, there are plenty of schematics and plans out here on the web for building a transmitter and coupling circuit.

2 watts coupled through a 10mH inductor and a .1mf 3kv ceramic cap onto the neutral line will work with fantastic results! However to maximize the RF induction, use an antenna tuner such as an MFJ 900 and add 6 more turns to the upper portion of the inductor coil and add two 500 pf caps across each of the variable caps and with the above 10mH inductor and .1mf cap, you got yourself a very effective coupler that works just as well as the infamous LPB TCU-30 and TC-8 couplers.

Happy building and broadcasting!  



RFB

9

Free Radio Forum / Re: Excellent Part 15 transmitter and discussion group

« on: October 21, 2010, 12:20:21 PM »

I also run a yahoo discussion group that goes into detail about LPAM and our group supports the petition that would have the FCC create an LPAM license class that is similar to LPFM.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPAM/

Thats good to hear about petitioning for LPAM. However I do not think we need another license class that is similar to LPFM and here is why.

LPFM is NOT for individuals. LPFM is NOT commerical. LPFM, though a great concept, ended up being a total sham and disappointment. And just as what happend in the LPFM application and licensing processes, a lot of special interest groups horded in and hogged up most of the available channels and licenses, mostly by church groups.

I do not want to see the AM side of the coin get the same treatment. LPFM did NOT bring the public airwaves any closer to the public whatsoever. If anything, it drove it further away. LPAM SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS SAME ROUTE!

LPAM should be setup so that it follows the SAME requirements and technical specifications for the TIS service. 10 watts into a 49 foot antenna. Frequencies should be specified for the upper portion of the AM band, at least from 1500 to 1700 for maximum efficiency on the short 49 foot antenna.

LPAM should also have the options of operating commercially or non-commercial, and there should not be preference for approval based on intended operating mode or if it is a group or individual applying for the license.

The FCC needs to stop being stubborn and open up a filing window....and for longer than a mere 2 weeks! In these troubled economic times, its senseless to block new station construction and service. There is a lot of great talent out there in all fields of broadcast radio. Imagine the number of jobs that can be created with a new LPAM service!

And due to the economic situations, application fees as well as engineering studies should not equal the price of a 2 story mansion! This is not 1934, and the FCC needs to step into the 21st century.

Im all for a push to open up a new LPAM service...though right now my AM carrier current station is covering my entire town with a clean hum free signal and in stereo using CCUFF's C-QUAM board mounted in a LPB TX 2-20 transmitter operating at 5 watts through a TCU-30 coupler, I think that changing over to a 49 foot antenna via a tuner unit would actually decrease my signal's clarity at the outer range point. And chances are a new LPAM service wont include power levels any higher than 10 watts anyway when a carrier current station can pump up to 50 watts onto the power grid as long as the signal is 15mv/30m (47.715/f [1.670Mhz] = 93 feet), more than enough to have coverage in the streets so car radios can pick it up. This range increases at the lower end of the band up to 230 feet.

Plus there is the skywave effect at night. There may have to be limits in hours of operation depending on frequency of operation to protect those grandfathered stations that migrated into the upper 1610-1700 range. And those stations are protected so the engineering study may show that your frequency choice may not pass muster at all, or the station may end up being able to operate only in the daytime.

Yes LPFM was a hope for many, and turned out to be a sour lemon thanks to lobbying by NAB and special interest. Its time to STOP this special interest crap take over of what the FCC keeps calling "public airwaves".

It would not hurt also to expand the AM band another 50 Khz out to 1750 and move those navigation beacons to a better part of the spectrum. Same with the FM band and expand that below 88Mhz using the now unused 2-6 television spectrum and create a revised LPFM service that is NOT just for church groups or special interest either!

There is plenty of spectrum. One only needs to look at the spectrum chart and see just how much spectrum is hogged up by our lovely government. HUGE blocks of it.

What are they afraid of.....that were going to play Lady Gagah to aliens or something? Sheesh!


RFB

10

Free Radio Forum / Re: Rangemaster - Part 15

« on: October 21, 2010, 11:39:15 AM »

You could run a 20kw FM transmitter and not be in violation, just as long as you do not exceed the field strength limit. You could be your towns most powerful FM station with the smallest coverage     

Well...yes you could....if you had a proper dummy load to handle that power as well as a 3 phase 220vac utility drop. Not exactly common in the A-typical residential home. Oh dear lets not forget about the ventilation/heat exchange requirements too for such a transmitter!

A dummy load could be constructed from the suggestions found in any ARRL handbook. However I would also add a closed system of forced pumped coolant for the dummy load resistors. At 20Kw, even 1kw, will make those dummy loads heat up like a fireplace in no time.

Yep...one might want to put such a setup in a small storage building away from living space and studio as the transmitter ventilation system and dummy load coolant system will produce quite a bit of noise.

They dont seem so loud when out there at those remote tower sites but put one inside a residential setting and they are incredibly loud! Got good earplugs? 


RFB

11

Free Radio Forum / Re: Where to find "real" transmitters (and antennas) for FM and AM.

« on: October 21, 2010, 11:22:35 AM »

Our new station in Ohio is using a TX from http://fmuser.com/

As you can see on the FMuser site, there is a CZH unit (black case) pictured with the silver units.

These units can be set to operate in two power modes. 1.5w and 5w (typical 7w). These can also be set so that if the power goes out and returns, you dont have to re-set your operating frequency. Simply program the unit's upper and lower frequency range to your operating freq.

1. Hold power button on while plugging the power source into the power jack.

2. Display will show either an "L" or an "H". L for low power, H for high power. Use the + or - keys to set, push the power button to go to the next setup sequence...frequency range.

3. The unit will start at its upper frequency setting from the factory. *NOTE: These units CAN transmit well above 108 Mhz and well below 88 Mhz so be careful!! Set the unit's upper frequency limit, then push the power button to go to the low frequency limit.

4. Set the low frequency limit and push the power button. The unit will store the settings and power off.

During these setup stages, the unit will not be transmitting, however it is always safe to attach a dummy load to the output when going into the setup/power modes.

They are great little units with excellent performance for the price.


RFB

12

Free Radio Forum / Re: Anybody heard of the pcimax fm transmitter card?

« on: September 28, 2010, 05:21:15 AM »

I have seen these and they are decent. Might want to have good filtering on the output.

RFB

13

Free Radio Forum / Re: Rangemaster - Part 15

« on: September 28, 2010, 05:09:39 AM »

Well I do have to admit that the Rangemaster has it hands down when combining the units for extending range. The thing that bothers me about these units is the non-regulating power output.

With a properly built and matched antenna system conforming to the Part 15 219 rules, there should not be any reason for adjustment of power.

But the things are certified so thats a good thing.

I have devoted a lot of time to Part 15 219 intentional radiator "tinkering", sometimes getting results far exceeding the design specs, and other times results that were less than favorable. This is why I have shifted my operations on my AM side over to Carrier Current.

But I still have the good ol 3 meter setup (home made) out there on the 3 foot pole and fire that up once in a while. Using a CCUFF C-QUAM board w/o the added final (aprox 45mw max) the whole thing covers about 3/4 mile on dry days, and about 1.7 miles when it rains.

Still that does not come close to my CC setup....neutral loading, with 5 watts my station covers the entire city. Just added a recently ebay purchase of an LPB TX-25 25th anniversary special with its companion TCU-30 coupler. Whats cool is the thing is simply plugged into a wall socket close to the power panel in my home feeding the neutral line and is covering the entire city with a clean signal.

Here is a neat little CC transmitter constructed around tubes. I have built one of these and it has a very warm and smooth sound. Parts are easily to obtain and it has its own coupler system and designed to couple to the neutral line, bypassing those pesky road blocking transformers.

http://k6prk.org/CARRIER%20CURRENT%20AM%20TRANSMITTER.HTM

RFB

14

Free Radio Forum / Re: Pirate shortwave.

« on: September 23, 2010, 10:50:21 AM »

Just because the FCC issues licenses to radio enthusiasts known as "hams" does NOT make them God or arbitrators or "final say" in ANYTHING even in their tiny spec of spectrum allocations!

Quite frankly...I believe you hams are being dupped and taken for a back ride. Your bands are barely big enough to stick your pocket pencil in much less your "big beam stick" on the 40ft tower in your back yards. I have seen so many licensed hams splatter the bands with spit and sputter spectrum noise all over the place. They fire up, tune for a peak and a majority dont even monitor their signals while conversing about what kind of antenna they are on today or what kind of reading they are getting on the plate current meter...all the while they are splattering a band 50 megs up and down from their intended frequency of operation. Then sign off thinking they are king kacca of the radio spectrum not even knowing or attempting to find out if their chitter chatter caused any spitter spatter...just because of that piece of paper with the infamous FCC symbol they have thinking everything is ok with my stuff but your stuff isnt ok.

PFFT! The only "ham" I find with a purpose is the type served on a plate at a BBQ on a Sunday afternoon with a cooler full of brewskey and a fine bikini wearing gal fanning me while I relax in the lawn chair.

It is my humble opinion that if radio was only meant for dull and boring 2-way communication, we would not have broadcast radio or television on the airwaves at all. Time for you "hams" to realize that the spectrum is NOT just for your little QSL love letter exchanges.

Besides....2-way communication can be had for a tiny fraction of the cost and no one has to obtain any license or bash their sleeping brain cells with study material that has less than 3 percent of what is put onto the tests.

Cell phones, the internet, handy-talkies and such can be obtained by visiting your nearest Wally World or Rat Shack. And yes there is of course..the tried and tested noisy CB band, which in a pinch makes a very effective method of getting "help me I have a flat come rescue me" message out.

Before you hams start bashing me...I was once a licensed ham...Extra class. That was 25 years ago. When I saw where the communications industry was heading, and the considerably less expensive ways that were on the horizon for communicating, I let that expire and sold off all the wonderful "real" ham gear. Now I can chit chat in voice or video or text across the world in an instant and not have to dig out what is being said through buzz and static and clicks and pops....and at a significantly less expense.

I think watching golf is more exciting. (zzzzzzzz)

Eggs and Ham anyone?.....Green perhaps?  

Ahh shortwave....the wonderful part of that spectrum that contains plenty of noise and skip effect your tuned station comes and goes like female friends at a college dorm. Useful for a shortwave time...pointless after the fun is over. (see you tomorrow..same time...same noisy channel?)

If I wanted to listen to voice or music in a "fade-clear-fade-clear-POP-clear-fade" fashion I can turn the volume up and down on my own without the help of the atmosphere.

Today's communications are far advanced from those old days of tin can on a string. But I wont stand in the way or think otherwise of anyone who wants to keep trying new ways to tie that string to that old can. Maybe use paper cups....might get a better frequency response. 



RFB

15

Free Radio Forum / Re: Being a good radio neighbor!

« on: September 23, 2010, 10:25:47 AM »

I have not run across any at that low price yet, but ebay is an excellent source for spectrum analyzers. I managed to obtain an HP 8590A and a Motorola 2050D (number hard to see on back label) communications analyzer that has so many bells and whistles, but its best feature is the modulation monitor and measuring functions.

Some may consider having a spec an may be overkill for most operators since many of the pre-built transmitters and transmitter kits have pretty good filtering. However all it takes is a spot of rust on antenna elements or bad connectors to muck up that stock filtering...and before you know it....KNOCK KNOCK..someone's at the door!

And of course...how is one to know their equipment is spitting out a harmonic making the entire neighborhood's DTV's freeze up and pixel in the upper VHF band..or worse...jam up crucial aircraft navigation/beacon systems.

Using simple scanners can help and is an alternative..one only need to know the harmonics from the fundamental and simply tune to the harmonics and note signal strengths if the scanner has a signal strength indicator.

However to ensure a proper reading using either a spec-an or a scanner is to tap the signal output at the transmitter output point. A simple T fitting and attenuators, an effective coupler can be built and used to constantly monitor the signal output. If there is an external filter being used, simply put the coupler at the output of the filter.

Believe it or not....having such a monitoring system online and ready to show "proof of performance" earns points with a visiting FCC inspector to a Part 15 installation. It shows them that you are taking real steps to make sure your not causing interference. And it is exactly how high powered licensed stations check their signals before those signals hit the antenna system.

For AM installations where the TX is outside and some distance from the studio, a simple pick-up coil connected to some spare feed line and isolated from any physical connection to the TX or its power/audio cabling, makes a very effective "tap" to monitor your Part 15 AM signal. Or one could get creative and use some of that empty space inside those Part 15 transmitters and place the tap coil inside next to or loosely wound around the short antenna connecting wire. Do not couple too closely or make a direct connection because this will dampen that tiny 100mw signal and make peak tuning a nightmare!

And for those who like to push the power past the Part 15 mph speed limit, incorporating such a monitoring system can add a measure of relief to worry about jamming up other bands and help eliminate the potentials for interference complaints.

Plus...regardless if the setup is a compliant Part 15 or a pirate flame thrower, it is just good and proper engineering practice to know exactly what your signal is doing, both inside intended band and outside of intended band.

A few "good" sense practices can go a long way to saving your butt and your station.


RFB