I feel rapking's frustration with how boring and repetitive commercial radio is, but like him, I am also in the group of listeners that local commercial radio stations could care less about, if we listened or not. As long as the corporate giants continue to make money, that's all they care about. Most of the commercial radio stations I listen to are online and out of market, which play music that the local stations do not. I don't condone illegal radio stations, but at the same time, I am not sure if 87.7 is actually interfering with the signal of any local radio stations. Let's say for example it's not. Would there be a way for this station to broadcast legally? Also, has Jam'n 94.5 made any complaints to the FCC about it? How hard could it be for the FCC to locate the 5,000 watt tower of this station? I even saw an address for the station on Google Maps, keyword Hot 97 Boston. Not sure if it's the real address but interesting to see. When I looked at the street view on Google Maps, I did not see a tower at the address, but when looking from above, I saw what looks like a huge satellite dish on the ground. 87.7 is still going strong. Maybe Jam'n is thinking, "let 87.7 get the urban music listeners, we don't care about them anyway. So what if 87.7 has a nice clear signal in the city? We only care about our nice clear signal in the wealthy suburbs."
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and when I try to find a clear frequency to use my XM radio modulator in Boston, like I was trying to do the other night and was getting interference on every frequency my unit will work on?
When I'm trying to listen to WFNQ and can't because of 106.1?
I'll give you guys pirate radio, when people like me who work for real radio stations don't have to jump through all the regulatory hoops.
When I don't have to worry about a misplaced file costing me my job because the FCC showed up looking for it.
The company I work for has been slapped with about 32 grand in fines in the last year for filing mistakes they found when doing inspections at some of our other stations.
When I'm trying to listen to WFNQ and can't because of 106.1?
I'll give you guys pirate radio, when people like me who work for real radio stations don't have to jump through all the regulatory hoops.
When I don't have to worry about a misplaced file costing me my job because the FCC showed up looking for it.
The company I work for has been slapped with about 32 grand in fines in the last year for filing mistakes they found when doing inspections at some of our other stations.
R
rapking
Guest
I was talking about legal crappy stations in N.H. that's interfering with Fun 107 ( top 40 ) and Hot 106 ( chr/r ).mescutia said:
I think if people are looking for unique radio that serves the community, they have to tune in more to area non-commercial and college radio stations. The problem is, the pirates are interfering with these stations the most. Another problem is that most people are casual radio listeners and will tolerate the repetitive bubble gum crap that is on Jam'n 94.5 and Kiss 108. It's only a handful that are the enthusiasts that are involved/support/are against or even know about the pirates to begin with. The pirate stations don't appeal to the average listener for two big reasons. First, they're playing music that is unfamiliar, and second, on most pirate stations, the audio quality is poor, and turns off those casual listeners.
Support legitimate radio. It doesn't have to be one of the Clear Channel/CBS/Entercom/Greater Media stations, but find a local college or non-commerical station that needs support. WERS (Emerson), WBIM (Bridgewater State), WZBC (Boston College), WBRS (Brandeis) and many others are great choices, you just need to research and find the shows and times that best fit you.
And that's my two cents...
Support legitimate radio. It doesn't have to be one of the Clear Channel/CBS/Entercom/Greater Media stations, but find a local college or non-commerical station that needs support. WERS (Emerson), WBIM (Bridgewater State), WZBC (Boston College), WBRS (Brandeis) and many others are great choices, you just need to research and find the shows and times that best fit you.
And that's my two cents...
LEGAL NH stations, serving their city of License, stations I happen to listen to (at least 106.3) and the reason for FCC technical regulations about spacing, and power limitations, etc. etc. etc.
So I as a NH resident should have to do without a station so some illegal operator can run their Boston operation playing Crap music? I don't think so! When I have a wind storm, ice storm, snow event etc and want local information what do you suggest I listen to, a pirate that is not part of the EAS system?
In the 70's when someone was running a linear amp on their CB radio, we'd triangulate their position and then go sabotage their co-ax.
I wonder when the mythical mega bust will happen. There aren't enough FCC engineers to bust every pirate simultaneously or even in the same day. A cop doesn't know how to turn off a radio station, if he just seizes the antenna first or disconnects the cable without turning off the transmitter, he will get an RF burn. Each transmitter has a different way of turning off, and some pirates may have a battery backup so turning off the power won't turn off the transmitter.
The commercial pirates have already made more than enough to cover the fine and the cost of a new transmitter, I've seen them sell for as low as $1000.
Now here's an idea. A pirate station gets about 10 different people to keep a transmitter in their apartment, and the station rotates the location of the transmitter every month. When the FCC finds the address, by the time they return, the transmitter is somewhere else. The person who hosts the transmitter site gets a lion's share of the ad revenue. If they ever do send the police to visit, they will not find a transmitter. So they will track the station down again, and find a different address. When they send the cops, the address would have changed again. After 10 addresses, it will be hard to bust, since the cops would visit a location that doesn't have a transmitter first, and the location that has the transmitter will go off the air and hide the equipment, and then pass it off. A pirate station will be on indefinitely with this method until the FCC can figure out how to track a signal and bust it in the same visit. There was a pirate station in Newark, NJ that does just this, it broadcasts from several locations, including power poles. A power pole location was busted, but there was no way to figure out the owner.
The commercial pirates have already made more than enough to cover the fine and the cost of a new transmitter, I've seen them sell for as low as $1000.
Now here's an idea. A pirate station gets about 10 different people to keep a transmitter in their apartment, and the station rotates the location of the transmitter every month. When the FCC finds the address, by the time they return, the transmitter is somewhere else. The person who hosts the transmitter site gets a lion's share of the ad revenue. If they ever do send the police to visit, they will not find a transmitter. So they will track the station down again, and find a different address. When they send the cops, the address would have changed again. After 10 addresses, it will be hard to bust, since the cops would visit a location that doesn't have a transmitter first, and the location that has the transmitter will go off the air and hide the equipment, and then pass it off. A pirate station will be on indefinitely with this method until the FCC can figure out how to track a signal and bust it in the same visit. There was a pirate station in Newark, NJ that does just this, it broadcasts from several locations, including power poles. A power pole location was busted, but there was no way to figure out the owner.
Nick said:
A raid would work with Federal Marshall or some sort of police...but would also be accompanied by a FCC field engineer or some qualified tech type.
Just the same way an eviction works....the landlord doesn't show up and use force....he usually gets a constable to do the "messy stuff" and but the landlord comes along to unlock and change the locks.
M
MickeyD
Guest
WLYNgm said:
They shut them down and then as soon as they re-open somewhere else the FCC has to start all over again. It can't be stopped.
R
rapking
Guest
Pirate are forever ! Get use to it .
Nick, I noticed Hot 97 (87.7) has had the same Hyde Park (Boston) address in Google Maps for a while now. I am thinking it's a false address, because why would a pirate station make their address public? Has anyone reading this post driven by the address in Hyde Park? Do they notice if the signal is strongest around that location? I am curious.Nick said:
Check the FCC database for NALs issued in Boston. If they ever got around to sending one to Channel 6 87.7 the address will be there.
I remember Wikipedia also included the transmitter coordinates and said it broadcasted 5000 watts from 10 meters.
The cops would rather write a speeding ticket than shut down a pirate station. Don't be surprised if the cops and/or the FCC engineers are bribed to keep the pirate stations operating.
I remember Wikipedia also included the transmitter coordinates and said it broadcasted 5000 watts from 10 meters.
The cops would rather write a speeding ticket than shut down a pirate station. Don't be surprised if the cops and/or the FCC engineers are bribed to keep the pirate stations operating.
B
beantownradio25
Guest
radiojay1 said:
They are no longer located there. Back when they were on 97.5, that is where they broadcast from. Now they are somewhere in Dorchester. When the FCC and Entercom started breathing down their neck about the interference they were causing to WKAF on 97.5 and began mailing fines, they moved.
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