Actually I think the missing 96.3 has emerged on 99.9, lot more power and sounds alot better. Someone must've got on ebay!
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Shivvver me Timmmmmbers another pirate!
- Thread starter hdradioeng
- Start date
Where do you hear it?
SRQ near the airport? Still reggae or Haitian Kreyol?
Pinellas has been sadly dry of pirates or even anything Pt. 15 compliant that I can (can't) find for a long time. I have a nice digital freq counter if anyone ever needs to see how accurate and stable their channel is.
BTW, the annual Orlando piggiefest is next Fr/Sa/Su at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. A good venue for transmitters, wire, connectors, cell phone batteries, parts, fat old pigs wearing Yankee ball caps with portable oxygen tanks strapped on while rudely bumping into you on their scooters, etc.
Pinellas has been sadly dry of pirates or even anything Pt. 15 compliant that I can (can't) find for a long time. I have a nice digital freq counter if anyone ever needs to see how accurate and stable their channel is.
BTW, the annual Orlando piggiefest is next Fr/Sa/Su at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. A good venue for transmitters, wire, connectors, cell phone batteries, parts, fat old pigs wearing Yankee ball caps with portable oxygen tanks strapped on while rudely bumping into you on their scooters, etc.
North of SRQ and near the Whitfield Estate area, I have not DF'd it, been too busy but it makes it almost to Cortez Rd.
TerryKay said:
I am thinking about openuing a Ham Hygiene booth right next the the MFJ area where you first come in. I will be selling samples of soap, mouthwash, and deodorant just to name a few items.
S
SarasotaJim
Guest
If the fellow on 99.9 is the same one as who was on 96.3, he's done more than just buy a new transmitter if he's sounding better. His audio was terrible on 96.3. Same poorly mounted ground plane antenna, though, only now it's on the roof instead of on the north side of the house.hdradioeng said:
S
SarasotaJim
Guest
Yep. Just confirmed it's the same fellow. His audio is much better and, except under his umbrella, doesn't seem to be inteferring into two channels on either side anymore.
He has obviously added some audio processing of some kind, probably just some EQ. His highs are better now (he could use a de-esser) and the lows aren't so muddy and booming. But there has been no improvement in overall level control.
He's found a nice little hole at 99.9. If he keeps his nose clean he won't bother anyone and his odds of causing complaints, unlike at 96.3, will be substantially mitigated.
Their is a sizable Haitian population in the area and I suspect he might actually be performing a valuable service if he can upgrade his audio a bit more and manage to keep clean technically. I hear him actually conducting phone interviews, broadcasting religious services, etc.
He has obviously added some audio processing of some kind, probably just some EQ. His highs are better now (he could use a de-esser) and the lows aren't so muddy and booming. But there has been no improvement in overall level control.
He's found a nice little hole at 99.9. If he keeps his nose clean he won't bother anyone and his odds of causing complaints, unlike at 96.3, will be substantially mitigated.
Their is a sizable Haitian population in the area and I suspect he might actually be performing a valuable service if he can upgrade his audio a bit more and manage to keep clean technically. I hear him actually conducting phone interviews, broadcasting religious services, etc.
SarasotaJim said:
Are you suggesting selective enforcement?
I THINK that Jim was just suggesting that IF the same person, and it does appear to be so, who had the same format etc on 96.3 in the same neighborhood that their signal on 96.3 was so overboard part 15 with mod, power, bleed over and the like, it was begging for someone to jump in... It appears now to be much more of an improved signal with less interference around it and thus less likely to be of any real issue or concern to anyone. I guess you had to actually hear it though...
BY THE WAY...... Has anyone found ANYTHING regarding the supposed new on the air station on Anna Maria Island on 1700 AM... They ARE soliciting advertisements on their website, and have advertised and have had news articles done on them in I believe both Island newspapers. Yet they appear to be more of an overblown part 15 AM... Still could not find any licensee info, unless I'm looking in the wrong place... Using so called call letters of WAMi (small letter i ) ... (Note WAMI AM & FM calls already being used in legit venture in Alabama per Radio Locator) They also are claiming to have applications for increased power (up to 1000 watts on AM and for an FM application, none of which I could locate). IF in fact they are a pirate, or even part 15, it's pretty ballsy with advertising who they are , selling time, having a website soliciting ads and the like...
BY THE WAY...... Has anyone found ANYTHING regarding the supposed new on the air station on Anna Maria Island on 1700 AM... They ARE soliciting advertisements on their website, and have advertised and have had news articles done on them in I believe both Island newspapers. Yet they appear to be more of an overblown part 15 AM... Still could not find any licensee info, unless I'm looking in the wrong place... Using so called call letters of WAMi (small letter i ) ... (Note WAMI AM & FM calls already being used in legit venture in Alabama per Radio Locator) They also are claiming to have applications for increased power (up to 1000 watts on AM and for an FM application, none of which I could locate). IF in fact they are a pirate, or even part 15, it's pretty ballsy with advertising who they are , selling time, having a website soliciting ads and the like...
S
SarasotaJim
Guest
flwfg said:
I don't think he's even an "overblown" Part 15. Judging from his signal, he's a Part 15...period. He's made all kinds of wild claims. One of which is he's running ten watts. If that's ten watts, it's the worst ten-watt signal ever on the planet. If he's a Part 15, he can sell ads without anyone even looking sideways at him.
There is an application pending for an LPFM on 96.3 in Holmes Beach. That's on Anna Maria Island even though it isn't the city of Anna Maria.
I haven't been to Manatee/Anna Maria or Ft. DeSoto in awhile, but from central Pinellas using big radios, loops and dipoles, I hear no trace. It's a somewhat poor frequency choice -- Pt. 15 or not -- as WJCC, Miami Springs (mostly Haitian Kreyol programming) dominates the channel, even daytime along the immediate coast. I'd use 1650 or even renegade 1710 instead.
I think I heard someone say that it was real close to the Bradenton Beach / Holmes Beach city limit border but wasn't getting much at all... City of Anna Maria would probably be too far north for coverage on south end of island...Best local would probably be in the area of the Manatee County Beach area by SR 64..or in that general area. Pretty much "mid island" Guess I'm going to have to actually drive out to the Island to hear for myself, although they are also on line. I thought Part 15 was supposed to be commercial free, oh well, Guess I was wrong on that one. Owner sure flaunts it like it's a big time player... Using only local music might be a way to avoid any BMI or ASCAP payments also...
The FCC cares not about commercials on Part 15 stations. Nothing in the rules prohibits.
rfrus said:
I run a certified Rangemaster at 100 mW. On a car radio it gets out about 1/2 of a mile reliably. Naturally, I use audio processing and it can be pushed to 125% on positive peaks. The antenna is a CB whip.
We run a certified ChezRadio Procaster..about the same as Druidhills does..however we get almost 2 miles radius (1 mile or so on either side of the transmitter) of listenable audio. You can "hear" the signal all up and down 441 in the city of Franklin, NC. ..nearly 4 miles..but it gets pretty hashy. Now up here there are very few signals in the expanded band and at 1610 we are an easy tune-in for the antiques mall and the dealers inside who sell old stuff. It's a 24 hour a day hawker station for the mall. Some public domain music is also on between the lengthy commercials..and local tourist information. A well built and legally installed part 15 system can do quite well. Does the Anna Maria station give any details on his equipment?
S
SarasotaJim
Guest
Jeff Laurence said:
In several of his interviews with the local weeklies, he has claimed to have spent $50,000 so far. I guess it's possible. I haven't seen the setup.
I am not sure what he has spent 50K on. Assuming a Chez or Rangemaster, there is 700 bucks I can account for. ;D
And Druidhills' signal is really good..good audio too. We scan for it every time we are in the general vicinity of St. Leos.
As for Anna Maria Radio I don't see how you would spend that much unless you spent it on office space, and Brazilian Rosewood cabinetry with granite trim.
We got the Chez unit for about 350 on eBay from a fellow who didn't know about tuning the thing...and a third hand Dell computer with music and source audio on an 8GB USB thumb drive. Cost? 40 bucks. Electricity..50 bucks a month. Futon from Big Lots 189.00. Coffee maker 80 clams. Station desk..roll around chair..old SHURE mixer and valley 400 mic processor..all laying around the studio..free. I traded out some jingles and Sonovox tracks from Ben Friedman..and we are good. And I gotta say it sounds right nice! It's fun, and it serves the general purposes of the antiques mall..it also provides me with a unique office/studio. No losers there.
The Anna Maria fellow might have spent that much on speculation..to maybe get a license. Frankly I have done the same..and still didn't come close to 50K..maybe 15K and we got a CP for an FM but even that was to find out that the ONLY place we could put the antenna was at the end of a regional airports runway! NOT! It's like going to a doctor when you are perfectly healthy, and plopping 15 thou' on the. Desk and sayin: "Here ya go doc..now give me the worst stomach ache you can come up with". Owning a radio station? A major pain in the a$$... Really want to run one? Broker time, or LMA one..there are owners everywhere who will bend over backwards to let you have a go at it. Instead of part 15, he should have sold himself to 1490 on the pier, or BRD, or one of those..that way he would have a viable signal (sort of) and something more to sell than 5 blocks on either side of the transmitter.
I would be curious to know what kind of system he is running..any clue?
As for Anna Maria Radio I don't see how you would spend that much unless you spent it on office space, and Brazilian Rosewood cabinetry with granite trim.
We got the Chez unit for about 350 on eBay from a fellow who didn't know about tuning the thing...and a third hand Dell computer with music and source audio on an 8GB USB thumb drive. Cost? 40 bucks. Electricity..50 bucks a month. Futon from Big Lots 189.00. Coffee maker 80 clams. Station desk..roll around chair..old SHURE mixer and valley 400 mic processor..all laying around the studio..free. I traded out some jingles and Sonovox tracks from Ben Friedman..and we are good. And I gotta say it sounds right nice! It's fun, and it serves the general purposes of the antiques mall..it also provides me with a unique office/studio. No losers there.
The Anna Maria fellow might have spent that much on speculation..to maybe get a license. Frankly I have done the same..and still didn't come close to 50K..maybe 15K and we got a CP for an FM but even that was to find out that the ONLY place we could put the antenna was at the end of a regional airports runway! NOT! It's like going to a doctor when you are perfectly healthy, and plopping 15 thou' on the. Desk and sayin: "Here ya go doc..now give me the worst stomach ache you can come up with". Owning a radio station? A major pain in the a$$... Really want to run one? Broker time, or LMA one..there are owners everywhere who will bend over backwards to let you have a go at it. Instead of part 15, he should have sold himself to 1490 on the pier, or BRD, or one of those..that way he would have a viable signal (sort of) and something more to sell than 5 blocks on either side of the transmitter.
I would be curious to know what kind of system he is running..any clue?
- Status