Strong 104.7 pirate in central NJ

[nd2023]

I just discovered a pirate on 104.7 with a strong signal in New Brunswick that just popped up this week. It has an ethnic format.

There goes 104.7 as a good DX frequency.

 

[satech]

The 104.7 signal is strong and listenable all around the I-287 corridor. The format is Spanish music, probably aimed at the Mexican community because I hear lots of Norteña-style chittering accordions. Aside from a lack of audio processing, the presentation is quite professional, with liners, many commercials, and a live DJ taking phone calls on the air.

 

[GSP163]

There are several pirates on 104.7......There is one in Paterson while another is right across the river in the Bronx.......WSPK is pretty weak NE New Jersey but lately 104.7 has been nothing but a mess of multiple pirates.

 

[ansky212]

There are several pirates on 104.7......There is one in Paterson while another is right across the river in the Bronx.......WSPK is pretty weak NE New Jersey but lately 104.7 has been nothing but a mess of multiple pirates.

Oddly enough, where I live in the Newark area, 104.7 is basically the only vacant frequency that doesn't have a pirate. The strongest pirates near me are 96.7, 97.5, 99.9, 102.3, 103.9 and 106.5. There used to be a pirate on 107.9 but they disappeared (or moved) a while back. Which is good because occasionally I like to listen to WEBE 108 from CT. I'm curious to see if the 103.9 pirate gets kicked off once WFAS moves their tower to the Bronx which should put a fairly strong signal into the Newark area.

 

[Radiofan101]

Oddly enough, where I live in the Newark area, 104.7 is basically the only vacant frequency that doesn't have a pirate. The strongest pirates near me are 96.7, 97.5, 99.9, 102.3, 103.9 and 106.5.

How do we know all these unlicensed broadcasts are pirates and not Part-15 broadcasters, which is a legal form of broadcasting if done correctly?

 

[ansky212]

How do we know all these unlicensed broadcasts are pirates and not Part-15 broadcasters, which is a legal form of broadcasting if done correctly?

Isn't there a very strict, low limit on broadcast power and range for part 15 stations? The ones I mentioned above are very powerful, with a stereo signal at least 5 miles in any direction. Also the fact that all those frequencies have licensed stations within listening range (albeit weak) of this area (WCTZ 96.7, WALK 97.5, WEZN 99.9, WFAS 103.9) make it even less likely that a part 15 would be allowed to broadcast on those frequencies.

 

[satech]

Isn't there a very strict, low limit on broadcast power and range for part 15 stations? The ones I mentioned above are very powerful, with a stereo signal at least 5 miles in any direction.

The Part 15 rules have an extremely low limit on transmitter power in the FM band. In fact, many "iPod modulators" exceed it quite a bit. A truly "legal" Part 15 FM signal should have a range of no greater than about 200 feet.

 

[ansky212]

Isn't there a very strict, low limit on broadcast power and range for part 15 stations? The ones I mentioned above are very powerful, with a stereo signal at least 5 miles in any direction.

The Part 15 rules have an extremely low limit on transmitter power in the FM band. In fact, many "iPod modulators" exceed it quite a bit. A truly "legal" Part 15 FM signal should have a range of no greater than about 200 feet.

That's what I thought. With the stations I'm hearing booming out at least 5-10 miles I think it's pretty safe to say these are pirates.