What Is Your Take on Pirate Radio Free Radio

[DJboutit3]

What do you think of pirate radio free radio & how many supporters do we have here. I love pirate radio wish the FCC would leave us pirate ops alone radio. Radio is for everyone free pirate radio is the way to do this, pirate free radio never hurt anybody elese so leave us alone.

 

[jammerdave]

I am not entirely opposed to pirates, but many have come on the air, causing interference to legitimate stations. That's usually how we first find out about it. (listener complaints)
Most pirate operations leave a lot to be desired, technically speaking. They usually don't have the knowledge to operate them correctly. One pirate here in Sacramento years ago, was two adjacent channels away from one of my stations, but they were wider than a barn door, waaay over modulated, and splattering all over that segment of the band. Listener complaints led me to find them, and you bet I turned them in. There have been pirate ops who seem to get away with it for awhile, but eventually just dry up and blow away in the breeze. Trying to be a pirate in a metro area that is already congested with signals can and does get you in trouble. Out in the sticks, in a small more remote community? Go for it.

 

[Neil E.]

The fines for building and selling

Sorry, posted in the wrong thread by mistake.

 

[Bongwater]

I propose a special class of license 5 watts or less for AM and FM, with a distinct call letter differences, such as K6WQ (the last two being of the applicant's choosing), provided there are strict HAAT limits for FM signals and .6 MHz spacing between locally licensed FM stations and translators. And they cannot operate on FM in large cities. There are still large areas in the US with nearly zero local radio service and this is where they are best suited.

Licenses are good for one year and must be renewed annually and the general rules of broadcasting should apply. If a station is sold, that must be reported. They can be commercial or non-com (in the appropriate portions of the FM band.) and all stations have to disclose their income sources and have all transactions on file. Stations that technically or otherwise violate standards (blatant obscenity, deliberate hate speech, shady/fraudulant transactions, etc.) can be removed from the air and repeat violators can be subject to sanctions up to and including loss of license and permanent banishment from this level of service. No CSN/AFR translators or any currently licensed broadcaster can apply for this service. Strictly one license per station owner. A minimum of 50% locally originating programming is required.

This is actually pretty fair. Because radio is a public trust and the public should have access to it, but with the same level of responsibility as licensed broadcasters.

Some people might cringe at that, but if you don't like it then maybe it's better to stay Part 15. This is for serious people who are interested in creating a valuable local radio service, not casual hobbyists because of the hoops I put in this plan....

 

[DJboutit3]

Bongwater I like this idea 5 to 7 watt for AM & 20 to 40 watt for FM with strong restrictions on antenna height. Part 15 FM is a joke your range is about 50 to 100 ftm, If FM stations loose listeners to pirate stations this means licensed station are not doing something right & should change the way to run there station. Just leave pirates alone we can all get along.

 

[DJboutit3]

Opening 82.1 to 87.7 for FM pirate/part 15 could work this part of the fm band is not being use. If that is being used in your area for channel 6 then 76.1 to 81.9 could be used. FCC needs to listen pirate stations are not going away they just need to fit them in somewhere & somehow where everyone is happy.

 

[DJboutit3]

For 82.1 to 87.7 250w 150ft high antenna should be max that would rule. If the FCC opened up this band 20w 70ft antenna that is what they would set as max that would be ok alot better than part 15 fm now.

 

[Dr_Johnnie_Fever]

For FM there should be something similar to AM. 1 Watt EiRP , 60 Ft antenna height from ground or 20ft above the building on which it is mounted. Use of commercial type accepted gear only. limit of 2 transmitters within 25km running the same programming. Limited to old TV-6 Spectrum only. 200kHz bandwidth.

For AM. Open up 1710, 2 Watt Unmodulated DC input to final, 30m Antenna height, Allow C-QuAM.

only one transmitter running the same programming within 25km of each other.

Harmonic suppression should exceed commercial broadcast spec's

Require the installer/station owner to have a amateur radio License

 

[Timewarp]

Gee guys! There are procedings before the FCC to do these things. How about LPFM LP10?
How about the LPAM petition for rulemaking? How about the Miller petition?
The glamorous image of pirate radio has been damaged by sloppy operations and bad engineering
in recent years.
Unlike 30 years ago, when it took a electronics genius to do it, anyone can do it if they have
a motive. The FCC today might use a swat team on you for being a pirate.

 

[Bongwater]

Bongwater I like this idea 5 to 7 watt for AM & 20 to 40 watt for FM with strong restrictions on antenna height. Part 15 FM is a joke your range is about 50 to 100 ftm, If FM stations loose listeners to pirate stations this means licensed station are not doing something right & should change the way to run there station. Just leave pirates alone we can all get along.

Good idea. But the FCC is far too sqeamish to go to 40 watts for FM. It's a compromise. Yes, the range is still a joke, but the FCC needs to offer an alternative for microbroadcasters because they are here to stay and they are not going away. They can't keep chasing pirates forever, they don't have the resources and they KNOW it. So why not give the would-be pirates some small measure of legitimacy? Otherwise, they'll be overrun. The pirate complaint form on the FCC's web site is a joke that will inevitably turn into a huge waste of taxpayer funding because it's so filled with holes. And they are grossly underfunded as it is and they can't possibly react to EVERY complaint.

I think we can find a solution. Nobody should own the broadcast radio spectrum. The FM band should be expanded to 128 MHz and no further consildation should be allowed. I think a portion of that new spectrum should be reserved for these new licensed microbroadcasters I've proposed and that should solve a LOT of problems.

 

[Timewarp]

Look forward to seeing this new Petition For Rulemaking.

 

[dave388]

I think we can find a solution. Nobody should own the broadcast radio spectrum. The FM band should be expanded to 128 MHz and no further consildation should be allowed. I think a portion of that new spectrum should be reserved for these new licensed microbroadcasters I've proposed and that should solve a LOT of problems.

well it shure couldnt go above 108MHz ( air band is up there) i could see a drop of TV CH 6 and allowing say 85.1 - 87.9 FM but have them with strict rules.
-MAX antenna hight 150FT or ( 15FT above the building if building more then 150ft)
-Max Power 50Watts ERP (that would cover a good sized city)
-All equipment has to be F.C.C approved gear. (no home made stuff)
-they have standard calls. W--- / K--- say a $100 file fee Licence good for 3 years
-channel spaceing resonable. ( if started at 85.1 take NYC for example 85.1 , 85.5 , 85.9 , 86.3 , 86.7, 87.1, 87.5, (87.9*as long as no station is on 88.1) thats 7 channels in NYC
-They have to follow same rules as the big boys do (x-mitter has to be in spec. no overmodulation, no cursing, ect ect)
im shure i could think of more for FM..
as far as AM-
-open 1710 - 1790
-Max Power 100Watts
-Professional Antenna design & Grounding.
-as with the fm stations are issued regular calls with a 100$/3year licence.
-in example in NYC you could have a 1710, 1740, 1770 *30khz spacing in major citys depending on mileage from the other station.
-AM/FM stations can be commercial ( to a point they can make the cash to pay the bills and the help and let them have a resonable income but have it limited on how much these stations can make - over XXXX amount of profitable income has to be donated to a GOOD and WORTHY cause that dose serve the community they
broadcast to.
i could think of more if i had more time..

but reading these post yes pirate will not go away, the more corp radio slamms the door , the more pirates will show.

i will say i have heard some really good pirate stations that have a good/professional sound and are good to there communitys and then i have heard some that have no buisness looking at a transmitter ( and them are the ones id like to see the fcc nab , and leave the ones that ARE doing something good for there community alone)

 

[radiocph]

There ought to be *some* outlet for serious, local, community-focused radio. But I can't see a lot of the casual pirates out there wanting to follow any sort of limitations that might be needed to make such a service valuable for the community (as opposed to, just being loads of fun for a wannabe dj out there).

 

[dbdigital]

There ought to be *some* outlet for serious, local, community-focused radio. But I can't see a lot of the casual pirates out there wanting to follow any sort of limitations that might be needed to make such a service valuable for the community (as opposed to, just being loads of fun for a wannabe dj out there).

This is true. Pirates have a far different mind-set than Part-15'ers. Obviously adherence to the law is one big difference. But more than that those who run Part-15 stations have a sense of responsibility to the community, to licensed broadcasters (many are licensed ham operators anyway) and a desire to help others who are developing Part-15 stations.

I have never seen any of that with pirates.

In fact, Part-15 operators do very well with self-regulation. For the most part they don't seem to need much supervision from the FCC. They would be perfect candidates for a small watt, community-based radio service.

db

 

[radiocph]

This is true. Pirates have a far different mind-set than Part-15'ers. Obviously adherence to the law is one big difference. But more than that those who run Part-15 stations have a sense of responsibility to the community, to licensed broadcasters (many are licensed ham operators anyway) and a desire to help others who are developing Part-15 stations.

I have never seen any of that with pirates.

In fact, Part-15 operators do very well with self-regulation. For the most part they don't seem to need much supervision from the FCC. They would be perfect candidates for a small watt, community-based radio service.

db

I say, give them 1-watt on AM. There'd be a test, similar to the ham radio exam, perhaps a VE-type organization could administer it.

 

[4dude]

Re: The fines for building and selling

Sorry, posted in the wrong thread by mistake.

Thats quite alright

 

[dave388]

id like to see at least 100 watt am. 1 watt am to me would be nothing more then a joke. i say 100watts so you can at least cover a mid sized city.

but i do like the idea of a test.

also do make it where the transmitters has to be broadcast quality.

 

[dbdigital]

This is true. Pirates have a far different mind-set than Part-15'ers. Obviously adherence to the law is one big difference. But more than that those who run Part-15 stations have a sense of responsibility to the community, to licensed broadcasters (many are licensed ham operators anyway) and a desire to help others who are developing Part-15 stations.

I have never seen any of that with pirates.

In fact, Part-15 operators do very well with self-regulation. For the most part they don't seem to need much supervision from the FCC. They would be perfect candidates for a small watt, community-based radio service.

db

I say, give them 1-watt on AM. There'd be a test, similar to the ham radio exam, perhaps a VE-type organization could administer it.

I would say something more like 25-50 watts on AM with a 15 meter tower. That would be plenty to create a community-based radio station and would be similar to the British model for LPAM.

http://www.radica.com/RSL/am.asp

db

 

[Neil E.]

My response to this is going to be mostly from the technical point of view. Anytime anyone puts a transmitter on the air there is the possibility of harmful interference to other users of the radio spectrum. Part15, among other things, limits the field strength of unlicensed transmitters with the intent of minimizing this interference due to the puny powers involved. Even a dirty transmitter overmodulated won't cause much harm. Now, if we allow unlicensed stations with uncertified "appliance operator" equipment at watts of power operated by those who have little technical background what do you think will happen? We don't allow people to pilot aircraft without the proper competence and airframes, why should we allow "pirates" to operate on the airwaves?

Another consideration is suppose I operate an unlicensed station on 1600 kHz. and someone down the street decides to do likewise. "I was here first" is for kindergarden so I wonder how these types of disputes will be resolved.

Like it or not, what is done on the RF spectrum excludes some and affects others simply because it is a limited resource.

Neil

 

[dbdigital]

My response to this is going to be mostly from the technical point of view. Anytime anyone puts a transmitter on the air there is the possibility of harmful interference to other users of the radio spectrum. Part15, among other things, limits the field strength of unlicensed transmitters with the intent of minimizing this interference due to the puny powers involved. Even a dirty transmitter overmodulated won't cause much harm. Now, if we allow unlicensed stations with uncertified "appliance operator" equipment at watts of power operated by those who have little technical background what do you think will happen? We don't allow people to pilot aircraft without the proper competence and airframes, why should we allow "pirates" to operate on the airwaves?

Another consideration is suppose I operate an unlicensed station on 1600 kHz. and someone down the street decides to do likewise. "I was here first" is for kindergarden so I wonder how these types of disputes will be resolved.

Like it or not, what is done on the RF spectrum excludes some and affects others simply because it is a limited resource.

Neil

I was referring to a licensed LPAM service similar to the U.K.

For unlicensed, I don't see a problem with 250mw or 500mw for AM. As for the "I was here first" problem, I believe that could be worked out between the two parties. It does no one good to interfere with each other's signal. Perhaps a time share or a move to another part of the community could be agreed on.

Here again, what little experience I've had with Part-15 operators, they are cooperative and open to a solution and are careful with their station. I've never seen that with pirates.

db