Somewhere nearby the Middletown Nardelli's was a couple of signals I never heard of before, a Spanish Reggaetón signal on 87.9 and something called "Hacker Airwaves" with a very low power signal (might even be part 15 compliant) with low audio levels as well. I looked that one up and they have a website and audio stream. I'm surprised anyone still does this in this day and age when just doing internet radio is so much easier and has a global reach instead of a block or two. I lost the signals of both fairly quickly as I continued down rt 66 and then turned north on 217. At some point another Spanish Reggaetón signal was heard nearing Cromwell on 87.7, but I got tired of listening to static and tuned to other things.
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Pirate stations in Middletown
- Thread starter DJKraze
- Start date
Well, word of mouth still has it's merits, there's also print advertising, billboards, and such.
My comment is basically in the word of mouth category.
This is a site where this topic is mentioned frequently, and since I just found these last night and I haven't posted in some time, I figured it was time to add something.
I just hope the one with the website realizes how easily a website can be traced and how easily I found the transmitter antenna with just a drive by. I did that this morning after a dental visit. It took about 5 minutes after I started getting the signal. Also recently the fines for pirate radio were upped to $100,000. If I were doing this type of activity these days, just knowing that would put me off of it really quickly.
My comment is basically in the word of mouth category.
This is a site where this topic is mentioned frequently, and since I just found these last night and I haven't posted in some time, I figured it was time to add something.
I just hope the one with the website realizes how easily a website can be traced and how easily I found the transmitter antenna with just a drive by. I did that this morning after a dental visit. It took about 5 minutes after I started getting the signal. Also recently the fines for pirate radio were upped to $100,000. If I were doing this type of activity these days, just knowing that would put me off of it really quickly.
I sell radio advertising and I'm amazed how many people think if they build a website, they will come. The fact is you have to pay someone to become widely known, be that Google, TV, Radio or some other media that reaches the masses with the message you need to get out there.
Indeed, the fines are enormous and it usually takes a long time before the FCC acts. As it was told by me, the legal department gets their ducks in a row and assembles lots of evidence hat doesn't just nail them to the wall with a nail but many nails before the FCC pounces on you. Now if you can't pay a fine, what happens? Wage garnishment, prison? Who knows.
Indeed, the fines are enormous and it usually takes a long time before the FCC acts. As it was told by me, the legal department gets their ducks in a row and assembles lots of evidence hat doesn't just nail them to the wall with a nail but many nails before the FCC pounces on you. Now if you can't pay a fine, what happens? Wage garnishment, prison? Who knows.
Hello to all, and thank you for listening to our station.
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 operates as a low power broadcast auxiliary station licensed under Part 74.
Since we are engaged in the production of television and radio programs, we understood the steps required to operate our station within the constraints of the law. We have had great success broadcasting music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, local high school sports, and other noncommercial programming.
We take interference complaints seriously, and have performed our due diligence to prevent encroaching on other licensed broadcasters. Since going on the air, unfortunately, we have also noticed other transmissions, including some you mentioned here coming about on the same frequencies.
We appreciate all of your feedback and concerns about our radio station, and will gladly answer more technical inquiries in a private message.
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 operates as a low power broadcast auxiliary station licensed under Part 74.
Since we are engaged in the production of television and radio programs, we understood the steps required to operate our station within the constraints of the law. We have had great success broadcasting music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, local high school sports, and other noncommercial programming.
We take interference complaints seriously, and have performed our due diligence to prevent encroaching on other licensed broadcasters. Since going on the air, unfortunately, we have also noticed other transmissions, including some you mentioned here coming about on the same frequencies.
We appreciate all of your feedback and concerns about our radio station, and will gladly answer more technical inquiries in a private message.
Enjoy your next month or so on the air. July 13 isn't that far off.
What are you guys running for video, ident cards? Silent films?
What are you guys running for video, ident cards? Silent films?
Ok, I've read about part 74. As I worked as an engineer in FM Broadcasting and we never needed to use the old broken RPU unit, I never had to know about part 74. So I am somewhat unfamiliar with it, however, the FCC site goes on about studio to studio and remote to studio/studio to remote links in radio/tv/cable and various forms of production and includes 76 MHz to 88 MHz as part of the various allocations. I also note that the majority of use is regarding wireless microphones and events/venues. I'm still not sure about this being totally legit and not some kind of definition stretching, especially since WESU 88.1 is only 400 kHz apart and normally this would be considered "short spacing" if it were within the FM allocations.
I also know that there are various LPTV stations that are using 88.75 MHz and seeing the post before this about video, I'm guessing that's what's happening here and in NTSC mode as ATSC would not be audible on radio.
I believe the range of the signal might still be a compliance issue as I read the typical 250mv at 3 meters limit (same as part 15) and that would not reach more than a few hundred feet at the best condition.
How is this station defined, is this an LPTV station?
BTW: I did a rescan with my TV which has an antenna aimed pretty much directly at the station antenna already and I'm not getting an NTSC signal on ch 6. (It's a position I've gotten most of Springfield TV since I moved here).
Let me also state that I have nothing against pirate radio or alternate program sources to the over analyzed crap that much of radio dumps out at us like a line server at a school cafeteria plopping some unknown food substance. I just don't want to see things go sour. My main worry is proximity on the dial to WESU. I hold a certain loose loyalty to them from long ago.
I also know that there are various LPTV stations that are using 88.75 MHz and seeing the post before this about video, I'm guessing that's what's happening here and in NTSC mode as ATSC would not be audible on radio.
I believe the range of the signal might still be a compliance issue as I read the typical 250mv at 3 meters limit (same as part 15) and that would not reach more than a few hundred feet at the best condition.
How is this station defined, is this an LPTV station?
BTW: I did a rescan with my TV which has an antenna aimed pretty much directly at the station antenna already and I'm not getting an NTSC signal on ch 6. (It's a position I've gotten most of Springfield TV since I moved here).
Let me also state that I have nothing against pirate radio or alternate program sources to the over analyzed crap that much of radio dumps out at us like a line server at a school cafeteria plopping some unknown food substance. I just don't want to see things go sour. My main worry is proximity on the dial to WESU. I hold a certain loose loyalty to them from long ago.
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Thank you all for responding and explaining all of your concerns.
It is true many low power analog Channel 6 TV stations take advantage of their dial positions, run as radio stations also able to be heard on FM 87.7. However, Hacker Airwaves is an audio-only station licensed under different rules and will continue to broadcast past their shutdowns.
Low power broadcast auxiliary stations like ours exist in both unlicensed (Part 15) and licensed (Part 74) flavors.
In its current revision, Section 15.236(a)(1) defines wireless microphone as an intentional radiator that converts sound into electrical audio signals that are transmitted using radio signals to a receiver which converts the radio signals back into audio signals that are sent through a sound recording or amplifying system... and outlines the frequency bands in which operation is permitted and the maximum power allowed for each band, namely channels allocated and assigned for the broadcast television service; 76 to 88 MHz inclusive per 15.209(a) and 15.236.
Part 74 Subpart H outlines regulation for licensed users of the same and more bands pursuant to other factors depending on the band. For the 76 to 88 MHz band, unlicensed and licensed operation share the same rules.
For both unlicensed and licensed scenarios, permitted operation has to be far away from other licensed or preferred users of the desired frequencies depending on which contour applies. WNYZ LP and WRGB, both Channel 6 TV stations in New York which are preferred users of FM 87.7's frequency space, are far enough away.
WESU FM 88.1, on the other hand, does some great alternative work - I listen to their station a lot too and I understand your regards. Since the power level of our station is so low (which will stay that way until we receive special authority) and a fruitful effort has been made to filter out unwanted transmissions which could affect their signal.
In terms of power level and range, you did bring up the limits of Section 15.239(b), 250 microvolts/meter at 3 meters, which only applies to intentional radiators (of any kind) operating in the 88 to 108 MHz band. For the 76 to 88 MHz band, the limit is a maximum EIRP of 50 mW. Although no longer accurate in some ways due to its age, OET Bulletin 63 (Understanding the FCC Regulations for Low-Power, Non-Licensed Transmitters) among other valid documents offers a still-accurate conversion between power and field strength. This brings 50 mW EIRP equal to 408248.9 microvolts/meter at 3 meters.
In starting a radio station, we did the research for the most effective situation for a real good-sized broadcast and better yet became licensed. We do really want to offer something new and not homogenous like you said - but more importantly we wanted to be on the good side of the FCC while doing it.
It is true many low power analog Channel 6 TV stations take advantage of their dial positions, run as radio stations also able to be heard on FM 87.7. However, Hacker Airwaves is an audio-only station licensed under different rules and will continue to broadcast past their shutdowns.
Low power broadcast auxiliary stations like ours exist in both unlicensed (Part 15) and licensed (Part 74) flavors.
In its current revision, Section 15.236(a)(1) defines wireless microphone as an intentional radiator that converts sound into electrical audio signals that are transmitted using radio signals to a receiver which converts the radio signals back into audio signals that are sent through a sound recording or amplifying system... and outlines the frequency bands in which operation is permitted and the maximum power allowed for each band, namely channels allocated and assigned for the broadcast television service; 76 to 88 MHz inclusive per 15.209(a) and 15.236.
Part 74 Subpart H outlines regulation for licensed users of the same and more bands pursuant to other factors depending on the band. For the 76 to 88 MHz band, unlicensed and licensed operation share the same rules.
For both unlicensed and licensed scenarios, permitted operation has to be far away from other licensed or preferred users of the desired frequencies depending on which contour applies. WNYZ LP and WRGB, both Channel 6 TV stations in New York which are preferred users of FM 87.7's frequency space, are far enough away.
WESU FM 88.1, on the other hand, does some great alternative work - I listen to their station a lot too and I understand your regards. Since the power level of our station is so low (which will stay that way until we receive special authority) and a fruitful effort has been made to filter out unwanted transmissions which could affect their signal.
In terms of power level and range, you did bring up the limits of Section 15.239(b), 250 microvolts/meter at 3 meters, which only applies to intentional radiators (of any kind) operating in the 88 to 108 MHz band. For the 76 to 88 MHz band, the limit is a maximum EIRP of 50 mW. Although no longer accurate in some ways due to its age, OET Bulletin 63 (Understanding the FCC Regulations for Low-Power, Non-Licensed Transmitters) among other valid documents offers a still-accurate conversion between power and field strength. This brings 50 mW EIRP equal to 408248.9 microvolts/meter at 3 meters.
In starting a radio station, we did the research for the most effective situation for a real good-sized broadcast and better yet became licensed. We do really want to offer something new and not homogenous like you said - but more importantly we wanted to be on the good side of the FCC while doing it.
Your station is not a licensed operation. You may not promote it on this website.
A broadcast auxiliary service (BAS) is any radio frequency system used by a radio station or TV station, which is not part of its direct broadcast to listeners or viewers. These are essentially internal-use backhaul channels not intended for actual reception by the public, but part of the airchain required to get those signals to such a transmitter.
A broadcast auxiliary service (BAS) is any radio frequency system used by a radio station or TV station, which is not part of its direct broadcast to listeners or viewers. These are essentially internal-use backhaul channels not intended for actual reception by the public, but part of the airchain required to get those signals to such a transmitter.
Hello Mr. Berry and all at Radio Discussions,
I wanted to send this message to clear up some recent comments made.
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 is licensed by the FCC to operate low power broadcast auxiliary stations. Our callsign is WRKN347 and an online reference copy of our license can be accessed on the FCC'S Universal Licensing System at ULS License - Broadcast Auxiliary Low Power License - WRKN347 - Boots, Patrick
I understand that conventional wisdom states that low power auxiliary stations like ours are not intended for reception by the public, as you copied from the IT Law Wiki originally referencing Wikipedia. However, this isn't usually the case much anymore.
In its current revision, Section 74.801 defines low power auxiliary station as an auxiliary station authorized and operated pursuant to the provisions set forth in this subpart. Devices authorized as low power auxiliary stations are intended...for uses such as wireless microphones, cue and control communications, and synchronization of TV camera signals.
For the 76 to 88 MHz band, unlicensed and licensed operation share the same rules, so we referenced Section 15.236(a)(1) which defines wireless microphone more usefully as an intentional radiator that converts sound into electrical audio signals that are transmitted using radio signals to a receiver which converts the radio signals back into audio signals that are sent through a sound recording or amplifying system. Wireless microphones may be used for cue and control communications and synchronization of TV camera signals as defined in Section 74.801 of this chapter...
Although both definitions offer suggestions for potential use cases, these should not be considered legally-binding categories. The definition of wireless microphone per 15.236(a)(1) describes almost every broadcast radio station's transmitter as well.
In posting on Radio Discussions, we meant no trouble. We have been ongoing readers of the forums for a couple of years now, so seeing our station being discussed was a treat in itself - the intention of the replies was mainly to advocate ourselves as being of full legal operation, not a pirate.
We request you reopen the thread originally discussing nearby pirate stations, or at least amend your closing response to include that Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 is in fact licensed.
In any case, thank you for your time and all you have done for the webpage. Like I mentioned, we have been avid readers for a while, especially in your Connecticut board, and we will gladly do anything to promote visiting and posting on Radio Discussions.
Best,
Patrick Boots
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7
I wanted to send this message to clear up some recent comments made.
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 is licensed by the FCC to operate low power broadcast auxiliary stations. Our callsign is WRKN347 and an online reference copy of our license can be accessed on the FCC'S Universal Licensing System at ULS License - Broadcast Auxiliary Low Power License - WRKN347 - Boots, Patrick
I understand that conventional wisdom states that low power auxiliary stations like ours are not intended for reception by the public, as you copied from the IT Law Wiki originally referencing Wikipedia. However, this isn't usually the case much anymore.
In its current revision, Section 74.801 defines low power auxiliary station as an auxiliary station authorized and operated pursuant to the provisions set forth in this subpart. Devices authorized as low power auxiliary stations are intended...for uses such as wireless microphones, cue and control communications, and synchronization of TV camera signals.
For the 76 to 88 MHz band, unlicensed and licensed operation share the same rules, so we referenced Section 15.236(a)(1) which defines wireless microphone more usefully as an intentional radiator that converts sound into electrical audio signals that are transmitted using radio signals to a receiver which converts the radio signals back into audio signals that are sent through a sound recording or amplifying system. Wireless microphones may be used for cue and control communications and synchronization of TV camera signals as defined in Section 74.801 of this chapter...
Although both definitions offer suggestions for potential use cases, these should not be considered legally-binding categories. The definition of wireless microphone per 15.236(a)(1) describes almost every broadcast radio station's transmitter as well.
In posting on Radio Discussions, we meant no trouble. We have been ongoing readers of the forums for a couple of years now, so seeing our station being discussed was a treat in itself - the intention of the replies was mainly to advocate ourselves as being of full legal operation, not a pirate.
We request you reopen the thread originally discussing nearby pirate stations, or at least amend your closing response to include that Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 is in fact licensed.
In any case, thank you for your time and all you have done for the webpage. Like I mentioned, we have been avid readers for a while, especially in your Connecticut board, and we will gladly do anything to promote visiting and posting on Radio Discussions.
Best,
Patrick Boots
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7
All I have to say is, wow. How many hours went into finding this? It somehow seems like a loophole and it could mean others could get allocations in the 76-88 MHz range (I have a radio that has the Japanese FM band scheme on it, I'd love to have a use for it). I have always thought that with TV nearly abandoning the low VHF band that those frequencies should have (in whole or in part) gone to FM broadcasting. Of course there's few out there who would even care about it and other who would like to see other services grab that spectrum.
I must admit, that I still thought something was off about this until I looked at the FCC license. Now I don't question it and feel a bit bad that I pursued it so much. There a few of us on these boards that like to watch the pirate scene a bit (it's just like watching licensed stations in a way but a bit more fun) and I'm sure you've seen the posts from time to time. I've been off the boards a lot recently as my normal schedule is a bit prohibitive towards free time, and just randomly found a few unrecognized signals and figured to myself on jumping back on for a least a little while before I get too busy again.
I must admit, that I still thought something was off about this until I looked at the FCC license. Now I don't question it and feel a bit bad that I pursued it so much. There a few of us on these boards that like to watch the pirate scene a bit (it's just like watching licensed stations in a way but a bit more fun) and I'm sure you've seen the posts from time to time. I've been off the boards a lot recently as my normal schedule is a bit prohibitive towards free time, and just randomly found a few unrecognized signals and figured to myself on jumping back on for a least a little while before I get too busy again.
This operation is not licensed for public reception.
I completely understand where you were coming from, and it is completely normal to have been. We appreciate all of your feedback and concerns thus far.
In starting Hacker Airwaves, we really wanted to do it the right way - which led us first to Section 15.236 and later to Part 74. FCC fines can be big, as many have said - so getting licensed was one of the best things to happen.
The regulations which allow low power auxiliary stations like ours to use frequencies originally allocated for TV are novel, due in part to the FCC's own transition away from analog TV and promotion of UHF spectrum as well as Part 74 licensees lobbying for as much spectrum as they can get. It may not last forever, unfortunately - I hope it does though!
I, too, flip through the dial and when I hear a new station, especially one that appears to be unlicensed, it piques my interest. I have also heard the Spanish language station(s) in town before, but it's a mystery as to who by and how it's run. That's part of the charm in some ways, but it may be fun to learn how somebody else is going about it.
A thank you to Mr. Berry for reopening discussion with the message I had sent him.
In starting Hacker Airwaves, we really wanted to do it the right way - which led us first to Section 15.236 and later to Part 74. FCC fines can be big, as many have said - so getting licensed was one of the best things to happen.
The regulations which allow low power auxiliary stations like ours to use frequencies originally allocated for TV are novel, due in part to the FCC's own transition away from analog TV and promotion of UHF spectrum as well as Part 74 licensees lobbying for as much spectrum as they can get. It may not last forever, unfortunately - I hope it does though!
I, too, flip through the dial and when I hear a new station, especially one that appears to be unlicensed, it piques my interest. I have also heard the Spanish language station(s) in town before, but it's a mystery as to who by and how it's run. That's part of the charm in some ways, but it may be fun to learn how somebody else is going about it.
A thank you to Mr. Berry for reopening discussion with the message I had sent him.
K
kenglish
Guest
The license is still just the same as most stations have for their wireless microphones. Everybody filed for all those frequencies years ago, to try and block out TV White Space devices.
There was speculation here and on other radio sites about 10 years ago that that would happen, but no, it never did. Scan the back threads of the Ibiquity forum here around 2008-2010 or so. I think the DXing board might also have some.
I certainly wrote one of my bandscan forms with expansion in mind.
So..... the lucky 13th has come and gone; what happened to the station? Still on the air?
Hacker Airwaves FM 87.7 is proudly still on the air!
We operate as a low power audio station, not as a television station, and do not use the affected frequency bands. Therefore, the July 13th shutoff date did not concern us - however, our sympathies go out to the operators and listeners of the many low power analog Channel 6 TV stations run as radio stations.
In regards to any potential expansion of the FM band, I would be excited to see an approach where the new portion is allocated for AM translators. The trick would be to juxtapose the existing AM frequencies on top of the new FM frequencies, just as digital TV has done with virtual channel numbers.
We operate as a low power audio station, not as a television station, and do not use the affected frequency bands. Therefore, the July 13th shutoff date did not concern us - however, our sympathies go out to the operators and listeners of the many low power analog Channel 6 TV stations run as radio stations.
In regards to any potential expansion of the FM band, I would be excited to see an approach where the new portion is allocated for AM translators. The trick would be to juxtapose the existing AM frequencies on top of the new FM frequencies, just as digital TV has done with virtual channel numbers.
Won't happen, at least not within our lifetimes or with the current Federal Cellphone Commission. They're more interested in auctioning blocks of spectrum to the highest bidders in the mobile telecoms industry.
As for "juxtaposing the existing MW frequencies on top of the new FM frequencies", that's probably already doable on FM with RDS. All it would need is a radio capable of it. In Europe they have national and quasi-national low-power radio networks with RDS that makes receivers capable of it, auto-tune to the next strongest receivable frequency in the network. The BBC have been doing it for years. Such a thing could, in theory, be used to autotune a MW receiver to its FM translator somehow. Whether or not it would require a multiplexing data stream on the MW transmission (it probably would, and the tech would undoubtedly be patent-encumbered until the end of time) is yet to be determined.
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