Anyone "WiCasting"?

[desert_er]

Because part 15 broadcasting is so limited, I got to thinking last night of other "community broadcasting" alternatives. With a potential of 4-watts erp (legally higher with directional antennas), why not set up a Wi-Fi Intranet with a stream (and also an informative web page) to cover a local area? It seems that in the near future, there are going to be numerous WiFi enabled audio devices, along with the already-prevalent wireless laptops and PDAs. In a tourist-heavy area, quite a few might "stumble" onto your radio network while powering on their laptop in the hotel room. Multiple transmitters could be handled very easily, using the internet as a backbone, without any worries of multipath, rf syncing, or audio delay to service a wider area.

Another benefit, it'd be pretty easy to see your listenership stats at a glance.

 

[Robert]

It's a great idea. Can you elaborate some more on this. What equipments will be needed, and how to set up,etc.

I will like to experiment with this for my community.

 

[kc8gpd]

I am working on this very thing. I'm going to have multiple Co-located AP's Running 802.11b 11Mbps Mode. I have a BreezeNet 250mW AP with 3ft Andrew Heliax and a 12dbi Omni Directional Verticle to start off with. I'd like to get more complex down the road. possibly 6 Co-Lo AP's using 3 different non-overlapping channels channels and direction sector antenna's. Remember, microwave is LOS and behaves just like a satellite signal. this means you can get creative using colo equipment and directional antenna's to keep each ap from interfering with the other. also point to point can have 200W EiRP, point to multipoint is limited to 4W EiRP and there are other rules which apply to wifi under part 15. see the following FCC rules cfr47 part 15.247. also see this site for more info. http://www.part-15.org/

 

[SUPERCASTER]

All you need is a streaming internet radio station, and your listeners can pick your station up on these (links below) WI-FI radios, anywhere in the world where there is a WI-FI signal. Soon WI-MAX will be available with a 30+ mile range!
Bonus=your station will be available on virtually all internet connected computers also.
www.torianwireless.com
http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/product_range/wifi_radio/WiFi.asp
http://www.ccrane.com/radios/internet-radios/acoustic-energy-wi-fi-internet-radio.aspx

 

[kc8gpd]

one problem with either option is your always limited by available Bandwidth. Each listener assuming a 56Kbps Stereo Stream uses 128kbps of bandwidth plus a little overhead per listener. figure about 150kbps per listener. 802.11b is 11mbps / 0.150 = about 73 listeners. and we all should know by now that bandwidth is Expensive.

then if you stream over the internet there are BMI/ASCAP/SESAC Fee's

 

[audio4tv]

one problem with either option is your always limited by available Bandwidth. Each listener assuming a 56Kbps Stereo Stream uses 128kbps of bandwidth plus a little overhead per listener. figure about 150kbps per listener. 802.11b is 11mbps / 0.150 = about 73 listeners. and we all should know by now that bandwidth is Expensive.
then if you stream over the internet there are BMI/ASCAP/SESAC Fee's

Also, don't forget the RIAA fees, as well, for digital content over IP/Internet. The "over the air" stuff should not be an issue, as it is point to multipoint, thus in theory, one 128K stream will be enough for unlimited listeners. However, the LOS issue should and could be a concern, as well as the penetration issue through buildings and any metal structures, including cars. It will be interesting to follow this trend, and see where this goes in the future.

 

[kc8gpd]

actually bandwidth is bandwidth. whether via WiFi or DSL. Each listener will consume an amount of the available bandwidth.

the only way is if we come up with a propreitary streaming codec that does not rely on TCP/IP. something similar to IBOC or DRM, but to qualify for the part 15 rules for 4W EiRP the modulation must use spread spectrum.

 

[kc8gpd]

found this on the subject of Media Communications via IEE 802.11

http://www.wlan.org.uk/st-well2.html

 

[audio4tv]

actually bandwidth is bandwidth. whether via WiFi or DSL. Each listener will consume an amount of the available bandwidth.

the only way is if we come up with a propreitary streaming codec that does not rely on TCP/IP. something similar to IBOC or DRM, but to qualify for the part 15 rules for 4W EiRP the modulation must use spread spectrum.

Point to multipoint is not TCP/IP but more like UDP. Thus, bandwidth is fixed. Similar to the way broadcasting works.

 

[jcolletta275]

Or, to circumvent the whole bandwidth issue, use a P2P streaming system. Each listener acts as a small server themselves. The more listeners you have, the more listeners you can have down the line. Bandwidth problem soved!

 

[clouseau]

It seems to me that the big problem here is NOT getting a wifi signal to a listener a mile or two away. It's getting their device to be able to reach YOU a mile or two away to connect.

You would think there could be a software patch that would allow one way transmission (like UDP maybe?) to be received on a network card "WITHOUT THE CARD HAVING TO HAVE THE RANGE TO RESPOND TO THE TRANSMITTER."

This would allow for "Reception" without the need for a cheesy WIFI card to get out 2 miles.

I know there are a few WIFI routers that I can hear but can't get back to at my house. Is there a software hack here that might work?

Clouseau

Of course the word "HACK" cooks up visions of illegal activity, but I don't see WHY this wouldn't be allowed.