Too many pirates around New York City

[nd2023]

I drove through the city on I-95 to go to Connecticut, and I noticed a lot of pirate stations. 96.1 in Newark was playing Spanish music, and it was right next to the WQXR blowtorch. 106.3 near the George Washington Bridge was also playing Spanish music, and its signal went about 5 miles. There were weak pirate on 103.1 and 104.7. In Newark, there was a pirate on 96.7 playing dance music. There were 2 huge pirate stations on 87.7 and 87.9, and both of their signals went about 25 miles. 87.7 had a stereo pilot and was overmodulated, and didn't sound like the audio of a Channel 6. 87.9 had religious programming in another language that sounded like it was a low quality dialup audio stream. Why are there so many pirate stations in and around New York City, and why haven't they been busted?<P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471</P>

 

[westlife]

> There were 2 huge
> pirate stations on 87.7 and 87.9, and both of their signals
> went about 25 miles. 87.7 had a stereo pilot and was
> overmodulated, and didn't sound like the audio of a Channel 6.

Although it sounds like a pirate, the station on 87.7 (actually 87.75 MHz, but close enough) is WNYZ-LP, a legally licensed low-power TV station in NYC. They use their audio signal as if it was an FM radio station, with mostly Russian-language programming.

> 87.9 had religious programming in another language that
> sounded like it was a low quality dialup audio stream.

That Spanish religious pirate on 87.9 is on the air every weekend with a HUGE signal in northern and central NJ. That's probably the best way not to be caught -- only broadcast during nights and weekends, when the local FCC office is closed.
<P ID="signature">______________

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>

 

[MoldaMania182]

> There were weak pirate on 103.1 and 104.7.

Silly 104.7 pirate...ruining my WSPK signal in parts of the city.

 

[neo11]

> > There were 2 huge
> > pirate stations on 87.7 and 87.9, and both of their
> signals
> > went about 25 miles. 87.7 had a stereo pilot and was
> > overmodulated, and didn't sound like the audio of a
> Channel 6.
>
> Although it sounds like a pirate, the station on 87.7
> (actually 87.75 MHz, but close enough) is WNYZ-LP, a legally
> licensed low-power TV station in NYC. They use their audio
> signal as if it was an FM radio station, with mostly
> Russian-language programming.
>
> > 87.9 had religious programming in another language that
> > sounded like it was a low quality dialup audio stream.
>
> That Spanish religious pirate on 87.9 is on the air every
> weekend with a HUGE signal in northern and central NJ.
> That's probably the best way not to be caught -- only
> broadcast during nights and weekends, when the local FCC
> office is closed.
>
Pirate stations I can get in Queens:

87.9 (Haitian)
88.1 (Have only caught it with dead air but no programming)
89.3 (Hispanic)
89.7 ?
90.1 (Hispanic religious)
91.9 (Intermittent - dance music or hiphop)
94.3 Caribbean Power (Reggae)
95.1 (Reggae)
95.9 (Reggae)
96.7 ?
97.5 (Reggae)
99.9 (Spanish?)
103.1 (Reggae)
104.7 (Reggae)
105.5 ?
106.3 Royal Radio (Reggae)
107.9 ?

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

>That's probably the best way not to be caught -- only broadcast during nights and weekends, when the local FCC office is closed.<

Doesn't work. FCC monitoring stations operate 24/7/365.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

>Why are there so many pirate stations in and around New York City, and why haven't they been busted?<

Very simple: Lots of pirates, not enough FCC enforcement personnel. Or, to put it another way, the pirates know that they'll get away with it for a substantial period of time.

The only ways to get quick action in getting a pirate shut down are:

1) If a licensed broadcaster complains, especially of interference from the pirate, or

2) If the pirate is interfering with safety, distress or air-traffic frequencies, where lives are at immediate risk.

 

[artynj]

> > > There were 2 huge
> > > pirate stations on 87.7 and 87.9, and both of their
> > signals
> > > went about 25 miles. 87.7 had a stereo pilot and was
> > > overmodulated, and didn't sound like the audio of a
> > Channel 6.
> >
> > Although it sounds like a pirate, the station on 87.7
> > (actually 87.75 MHz, but close enough) is WNYZ-LP, a
> legally
> > licensed low-power TV station in NYC. They use their
> audio
> > signal as if it was an FM radio station, with mostly
> > Russian-language programming.
> >
> > > 87.9 had religious programming in another language that
> > > sounded like it was a low quality dialup audio stream.
> >
> > That Spanish religious pirate on 87.9 is on the air every
> > weekend with a HUGE signal in northern and central NJ.
> > That's probably the best way not to be caught -- only
> > broadcast during nights and weekends, when the local FCC
> > office is closed.
> >
> Pirate stations I can get in Queens:
>
> 87.9 (Haitian)
> 88.1 (Have only caught it with dead air but no programming)
> 89.3 (Hispanic)
> 89.7 ?
> 90.1 (Hispanic religious)
> 91.9 (Intermittent - dance music or hiphop)
> 94.3 Caribbean Power (Reggae)
> 95.1 (Reggae)
> 95.9 (Reggae)
> 96.7 ?
> 97.5 (Reggae)
> 99.9 (Spanish?)
> 103.1 (Reggae)
> 104.7 (Reggae)
> 105.5 ?
> 106.3 Royal Radio (Reggae)
> 107.9 ?
>


96.1,99.9 and 87.9 are in East orange,NJ off central ave on the newark side of the parkway GSP145 south.broadcasting 24/7.Fcc dont care.

 

[DJKraze]

> 96.1,99.9 and 87.9 are in East orange,NJ off central ave on
> the newark side of the parkway GSP145 south.broadcasting
> 24/7.Fcc dont care.
>

Oh, they care, they just don't have time/manpower or actual complaints to get them all.

On a side note, in London England, there are as many pirates as there are legal stations, if not more, and the enforcement officers are out there constantly trying to shut them down, so it could be worse (do a search on "London Pirate" and see what you get, lots of interesting reading and listening to be found).

 

[peppertree]

There is no channel six in the city. Phila. has a six.


> I drove through the city on I-95 to go to Connecticut, and I
> noticed a lot of pirate stations. 96.1 in Newark was
> playing Spanish music, and it was right next to the WQXR
> blowtorch. 106.3 near the George Washington Bridge was also
> playing Spanish music, and its signal went about 5 miles.
> There were weak pirate on 103.1 and 104.7. In Newark, there
> was a pirate on 96.7 playing dance music. There were 2 huge
> pirate stations on 87.7 and 87.9, and both of their signals
> went about 25 miles. 87.7 had a stereo pilot and was
> overmodulated, and didn't sound like the audio of a Channel
> 6. 87.9 had religious programming in another language that
> sounded like it was a low quality dialup audio stream. Why
> are there so many pirate stations in and around New York
> City, and why haven't they been busted?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>