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A Radio Experiment - North Side SA

A

Anonymouse

Guest
My low power 100 mw FM signal in North San Antonio, it's actually just a laptop computer hooked up to one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/0-5-Fail-Safe-Long-Range-Transmitter/dp/B003FO4UHW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I did my best to adjust the equalizer to a good setting, and I must say it isn't bad. Don't yet have a stream set up, but if you want a summary of what it plays, I'll just say "everything". Really, it's just a mixture of rock, country, hip-hop, top 40, etc. Just an experiment started for the heck of it.

Really hope this is part 15 compliant. If not, it can't be much over the limit on 0.1 watt mode, so I'm probably fine. Best not to go to 0.5 Watt mode at all, and this thing won't be up 24 hours a day as a precaution. I did make sure to not transmit too close to licensed broadcasters, as I know that's *not* a good idea. Over all, I believe I won't get in too much trouble, if this is breaking the law that's too bad. I'd appreciate being notified if so so I can decrease the power or shut this thing off.

If any of you happen to be near the 281 North / Brook Hollow area (that's a bit north of the 281 / Bitters area), and you've got good car stereos, see if you can pick it up. Again, 107.9 FM.

Thanks all.
 
Interesting. I will check it out tomorrow, I am less than 8 miles away from that area.

You should consider creating an online station. There is no bound in range and no possibility of breaking any laws.
 
an online station. There is no bound in range and no possibility of breaking any laws.
Click to expand...
Just the confiscatory music licensing fees...
 
grantchester said:
an online station. There is no bound in range and no possibility of breaking any laws.
Click to expand...
Just the confiscatory music licensing fees...
Click to expand...

You just got to subscribe to BMP, and ASCAP like Sirrus does. As long as the labels authorize you to use said material.

Unless you do your own music, and your own songs, a whole lot cheaper.

And talk is cheap too. You could do your own news channel.
 
grantchester said:
an online station. There is no bound in range and no possibility of breaking any laws.
Click to expand...
Just the confiscatory music licensing fees...
Click to expand...

Thought that was a given. I go with ASCAP for my radio station.
 
What times will you have it on? I will see if I can get a chance to pick it up. More then likely not, but you never know. I am near Austin, I was picking up KQQK last night.

I wouldn't worry much if it's not FCC approved, heck they can't even take 90.1 off the air in Austin.
 
jras20 said:
What times will you have it on? I will see if I can get a chance to pick it up. More then likely not, but you never know. I am near Austin, I was picking up KQQK last night.

I wouldn't worry much if it's not FCC approved, heck they can't even take 90.1 off the air in Austin.
Click to expand...

I'll see if I can keep it up for the rest of the week. After that, not sure.
I did set up a stream at http://myradiostream.com/kevangc, but that's not online all the time. For example, it's offline at night. Plus I don't think this is a very reliable streaming service. But you can try it. :)

LOL, and 90.1 has way more power than mine. Not to mention it covers a heck of a lot more space.
 
Nope can't get it sorry. KIXS and KQQK.
 
jras20 said:
Nope can't get it sorry. KIXS and KQQK.
Click to expand...

It's okay. I'm actually not surprised. Some of these free streaming services just, blow. :p As for 107.9, I can increase the power to 0.5 watts, but I really doubt that'll help you all the way in Austin or where ever you are, so I won't.
 
I remember doing this in my hometown using the small RadioShack model and trying to go 1/4 mile and only the high's popped in and out. I also remember hearing a flag-waver getting a Field Issued citation (NUOU) from the FCC for having a "talk" show with sponsors on the high end of the dial. What are you testing or what is the goal of the "experiment"?
 
BigJuan78 said:
What are you testing or what is the goal of the "experiment"?
Click to expand...

As I said in the first post, just 'cause. Seeing if I can pick up any listeners around the neighborhood. Not playing any explicit content or running spots, just music with some liners in between songs.

Curious, how powerful was your Radio Shack model or do you remember?
 
It was an optimus or insignia brand transmitter sold at Radio Shack in 1992-ish... It had a black casing, no bigger than the ipod nano and I had to stick a flathead screwdriver to manually tune it on the 88-107 MHZ band. Im positive it was 'part 15' compliant but my house was on a hill... 1/4 mile at times. It had no input jack so i literally had to position it on a speaker to broadcast.

Oh if i could find a pic or article...
 
Speaking of Radio transmitters, they sell Part 15 AM transmitters on Ebay for under $2,000, which can broadcast in AM Stereo, or AM Mono. I found it out when searching for AM Stereo, because one of these days I would like to buy a AM Stereo for my home, along with a quadraphonic 8 track recorder, quadraphonic reel to reel recorder, and quadraphonic turntable with a shibata stylus for my 2 Quadradisc records, one of them I bought at the Goodwill on Metric and 183. Decent condition almost like new and under $4, not bad for a Quadradisc LP which sell for $$$ on Ebay.
 
**An update unrelated to 107.9**

I've set up an Internet stream at http://173.173.98.245:9030.
The link to the thing will always be the above, however the streaming link may change on occasion.

How it's run:
Configuration 1:
I've successfully set up a SHOUTcast 2.0 DNAS server on my PC. I've got Foobar 2000 connected to it using the Edcast plugin for Foobar 2K - that's a media player for those of you who don't know. Of course, I've also added a crossfader / an equalizer / a normalizer / a compresser to Foobar's DSP options to try to make it sound as good as possible. I think I've got it sounding pretty good ATM, though.
A link to the SHOUTcast 2 DNAS server is at http://www.shoutcast.com/broadcast-tools.

Configuration 2:
This was actually a lot easier to set up than 1. It relys on Pandora, and is basically a program to stream Pandora through any media player that supports it (Winamp, Foobar 2000, anything). The program acts as both a Pandora client and a SHOUTcast server. No equalizer / processing configurations in it though, but most media players have that stuff anyway. Over all I'd say it's pretty neat! Find it at http://ridetheclown.com/wp/zzj-utilities/pandoracaster/ if you'd like.



As for the stream, I most likely won't have the thing up all the time - I attend college and take my laptop to me when I go to class. I'm sticking with the Foobar 2000 setup until at least Thursday morning though, and I'm currently running a mix of pop, hip-hop, dance, and some pop rock - but I wouldn't mind changing what's played if you'd like something different! As for stuff you might wanna hear played, get that to me on Twitter @KevanGC or email thecoolstation(at)gmail.com. Of course you can also PM me on here but I don't check my RadioDiscussions messages that often.

Lastly, I apreciate any listeners / feedback I get. This is something I'm doing basically just because I can, but you're more than welcome to contact me with questions or anything you wanna say, at the info above.

Have a nice day - or in this case, good night! LOL.
 
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