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Pirate Station in Lynchburg

K

kg4qwr

Folks in Lynchburg,
Have a listen sometime to 98.7. You will find a pirate station allegedly coming from College Hill Apartments billing itself as "College Hill Community Radio." (source: http://www.djmadlad.com/Cool_links.php) The FCC has been notified of this illegal transmission, however, it is still on the air. To the south, the pirate is interfering with WSMW 98.7 out of Greensboro, NC and in town interferes with adjacent channel WACL 98.5 from Elkton and possible second channel interference near the transmitter with WSLQ 99.1 in Roanoke. Range is approximately 8.5 miles from the transmitter site in each direction. If the person operating this is who I believe it to be, this is not his first time doing something like this, and he should know better. Have a nice day!

Jay
 
kg4qwr said:
Folks in Lynchburg,
Have a listen sometime to 98.7. You will find a pirate station allegedly coming from College Hill Apartments billing itself as "College Hill Community Radio." (source: http://www.djmadlad.com/Cool_links.php) The FCC has been notified of this illegal transmission, however, it is still on the air. ......ETC.......................................Jay
Click to expand...



ARRRRRRRRGH!

GOOD LUCK, Mr.Pirate Radio!
 
Aharrrr me hearties. As a former pirate I must enjoin ye to be circumspect of other signals.

Do NOT step on existing users or ye shall garner the wrong attention and far sooner than ye expect.
There ARE resources on line which can help you find find a "'more open" spot.
Or you could spend some time with a really good FM receiver in a car, over a 20 mile radius, to find what is truly clear for you.
If you don't want to even TRY to respect existing signals, you should get reported.

Go and sin no more.
 
I wonder if he knows the Techno-Dance pirate on 101.7 Z-102 in the Hillsville-Galax area.....I actually enjoyed that station,,, the legal SW VA stations are horrible..
 
BTW I dont know about 98.5 ive never heard that station, but no way could he interfere with Q-99 with their 150,000 watts unless you have a really cheap radio, and the 98.7 in Greensboro is way too far away. ::)
 
Mid West Clubber said:
no way could he interfere with Q-99
Click to expand...

WSLQ's transmitter is about 55 miles away from the pirate, and their field intensity in Lynchburg is on the order of 65 dBu.
 
vaboi-83 said:
98.5 WACL does not even come in Cville, how will it be heard in Lynchburg with or without a pirate???
Click to expand...

It doesn't, but that's not the point. Any legal radio operator hearing of a pirate station operating even somewhat close to their TX will have a hissy-fit. WMKL in Key Largo, FL puts a marginal signal (at best) into Miami, yet they actively help out the FCC and law enforcement (felony in FL) find and capture pirates 60-70 miles away on an adjacent frequency. There are probably few to any listeners in this part of town but any interference is interference in a radio operator's eyes. Plus, these legal folks spent at least six digits to legally broadcast, so why put up with some punk who buys $500 in radio equipment and just signs on whenever he/she feels like it?

Even though H'burg's 98.5 is hemmed in by the mountains on the east and is nearly 80 miles away from Lynchburg does not mean one can get away with it. And quite often these legal stations nab these illegal stations by claiming interference. Are they putting any harmonics on the airport band? If you go in the mountains up in Amherst County, can you pick this station up or WACL?

I'm certainly pro-pirate, but if you can't take the heat or spend the money to put out a clean signal, why risk it? The fines are pretty big, you lose your rig, and at least in this part of the country, the chances of picking up commercials or even a good listener base are slim before you get caught.

And if this guy is putting a decent 8.5 mile radius in most directions, he is certainly not using a 5w transmitter and an antenna poking out of his bathroom window. I would imagine at best a 40' HAAT (being in an apartment complex) and at least 100w transmitter. I know some legal stations with a higher tower + a few more watts that barely make it that far.

Our lesson today? Go mobile! In Lynchburg, I can think of two or three places nearby that would give you at least a 10 mile view (which means your signal basically goes that far), plus you can better avoid the heat of our friends at the freakin' FCC!

Radio-X
 
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