Looking for some advice, how much would it be for a good transmiter and a satelite reciever. Anyone have any suggestions of networks or satelite feeds I could/should plug into?
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Thinking of starting a Part 15 FM
- Thread starter travisl5678
- Start date
Have you really digested what Part 15 will let you do on the FM band?
How many feet will your signal travel after it leaves your transmitter/antenna system? How many listeners do you think you can attract if the TOTAL POPULATION of your coverage area is maybe 80 or 90 people?
Why would you broadcast something picked up off satellite? Conventional wisdom is that a small station with small local coverage only makes sense if you are going to create and and broadcast local material.
How many feet will your signal travel after it leaves your transmitter/antenna system? How many listeners do you think you can attract if the TOTAL POPULATION of your coverage area is maybe 80 or 90 people?
Why would you broadcast something picked up off satellite? Conventional wisdom is that a small station with small local coverage only makes sense if you are going to create and and broadcast local material.
Part 15 AM will give you a much greater coverage area than you can get with legal Part 15 FM. If you plan to have the station in a small apartment house you may be able to do something with Part 15 FM but otherwise you'll be disappointed.
I too am also perplexed on why you'd want to be satellite or network programming instead of rolling your own. Many of those who are interested in Part 15 are those looking for alternatives to what's already on the dial. GRC was spot on with his post - it's local material and programming that will make your station!
You should consider checking sites that focus on the subject such as HobbyBroadcaster.net and the Rangemaster YahooGroup message board. This may help you on your journey.
I too am also perplexed on why you'd want to be satellite or network programming instead of rolling your own. Many of those who are interested in Part 15 are those looking for alternatives to what's already on the dial. GRC was spot on with his post - it's local material and programming that will make your station!
You should consider checking sites that focus on the subject such as HobbyBroadcaster.net and the Rangemaster YahooGroup message board. This may help you on your journey.
It is great to see the interest you have in starting a Part 15 FM, Travis.
FYI, a legal, unlicensed AM system operating under FCC Section 15.209 will have a coverage area similar to that of an unlicensed FM system operating legally under FCC Section 15.239. The useful coverage radius permitted for both of these Sections of Part 15 to a typical indoor radio receiver is not much more than 200 feet from the transmit antenna, whether using the AM or FM broadcast bands.
AM systems that are functionally compliant with FCC Section 15.219 may be used as an alternate to Section 15.209, and can provide more coverage area (although that was not the intent of 15.219) -- but still will fall quite a bit short of the area that many hope/claim/promote as possible for unlicensed and functionally legal AM systems.
For this improved coverage radius the AM systems operating under Section 15.219 typically use a base-loaded monopole and a low-resistance r-f ground connection -- both of which can take a fair amount of time to research, install and optimize.
Below are links to graphics showing the expected coverage radii for various configurations of unlicensed AM and FM setups.
AM:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/rfry-100/150_microvolt_per_meterRadius_Part_.gif
FM:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/rfry-100/6417f684.gif
None of this is meant to discourage you, Travis, but quickly to bring you up to speed on these topics.
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FYI, a legal, unlicensed AM system operating under FCC Section 15.209 will have a coverage area similar to that of an unlicensed FM system operating legally under FCC Section 15.239. The useful coverage radius permitted for both of these Sections of Part 15 to a typical indoor radio receiver is not much more than 200 feet from the transmit antenna, whether using the AM or FM broadcast bands.
AM systems that are functionally compliant with FCC Section 15.219 may be used as an alternate to Section 15.209, and can provide more coverage area (although that was not the intent of 15.219) -- but still will fall quite a bit short of the area that many hope/claim/promote as possible for unlicensed and functionally legal AM systems.
For this improved coverage radius the AM systems operating under Section 15.219 typically use a base-loaded monopole and a low-resistance r-f ground connection -- both of which can take a fair amount of time to research, install and optimize.
Below are links to graphics showing the expected coverage radii for various configurations of unlicensed AM and FM setups.
AM:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/rfry-100/150_microvolt_per_meterRadius_Part_.gif
FM:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/rfry-100/6417f684.gif
None of this is meant to discourage you, Travis, but quickly to bring you up to speed on these topics.
//
I don't know....I have been running one for two-and-a-half years now with satellite programs. We started a network that has all original content available to stations that wish to carry them. Our listenership is pretty good and it is an alternative to the pablum that resides on most MSM media outlets. Travis, check it out and if you have any questions contact me.
http://micro1650am.com
http://micro1650am.com
My part 15 AM on 1650 is mostly fed by TalkRadioX for a vast majority of the day.
However, my part 15 FM on 99.9 is my baby, it sports an Oldies Format that's programmed by me, along with several Oldies Programs from syndication.
But I make darn sure only to pick up shows that do it for the love of radio.
Those are the shows that I think do the best job.
All that being said, I'll answer your question.
Depending on who you pick, the sat equipment might cost you nothing.
I know that Fox News Radio will supply you with free programming, and free equipment so long as you air their ads. I'd imagine the same to be true for
Fox Sports Radio.
However, my part 15 FM on 99.9 is my baby, it sports an Oldies Format that's programmed by me, along with several Oldies Programs from syndication.
But I make darn sure only to pick up shows that do it for the love of radio.
Those are the shows that I think do the best job.
All that being said, I'll answer your question.
Depending on who you pick, the sat equipment might cost you nothing.
I know that Fox News Radio will supply you with free programming, and free equipment so long as you air their ads. I'd imagine the same to be true for
Fox Sports Radio.
They'll do that for Part 15's?
The satellite equipment and Programming are free if you air what they call their inventory. That is a certain amount of their programming along with a certain amount of ads.Richard J Powers said:
This usually means you air their entire lineup (only about 12 hours) and their ads.
If I'm not mistaken the sat equipment comes from Premier.
But it does of course require you sign a contract.
Keep in mind this could've changed. And That you will need a large dish to receive any satellite programming.
Where could we find more info about this partnership with Fox Sports?
Fox Sports:
http://www.premiereradio.com/shows/view/Fox_Sports.html
Fox News Radio:
http://affiliates.foxnewsradio.com/
Remember Fox Sports 1650 in Flagstaff is a part 15 station
http://www.premiereradio.com/shows/view/Fox_Sports.html
Fox News Radio:
http://affiliates.foxnewsradio.com/
Remember Fox Sports 1650 in Flagstaff is a part 15 station
I'm a little sceptical of Fox Sports having part 15 affilates, but...OK. My question is WHY would you put up a part 15 and run Fox Sports? I would think you would want to run programming that is not available everywhere else. The closest I get to mainstream is to run IRN / USA news at the top of the hour.
And BTW: When you say a "large" dish you mean a 3 meter (10 foot) dish.
And BTW: When you say a "large" dish you mean a 3 meter (10 foot) dish.
W
WCWalker
Guest
jim 8230 said:
Yes, Flagstaff's AM 1650 is a Part 15 station utilizing Rangemaster transmitters and it is a Fox Sports affiliate.
It is up to the owner of his or her station to decide how best to serve the listening audience in a given area. If they think there is a niche market for syndicated programming then it makes sense to air that kind of program.
One of these days I plan to return my Part 15 AM to the air and when I do, it will have a mix of local programs as well as a couple of syndicated shows and short features.
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