| How to build your own FM radio station? Can somebody give me an idea how to build my own simple fm radio station. Coverage will be just a small campus. I tried asking Google but doesn't really get a clear answers that I wanted. |
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 SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL | First things first..
It's NOT legal, depending on where you are you can either be fined by the feds, or thrown in jail for a felony by the locals. |
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| reply to bbchris2nd
First you need a Lower Power FM license to do this legally.
»transition.fcc.gov/lpfm/
Then google "Low Power FM Transmitter" to find sites with kits. |
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 n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to bbchris2nd
If you are talking about a small campus, an option might be to use multiple part 15 compliant FM transmitters (which are legal), strategically placed, and feed them via VOIP from a campus internet connection. It would avoid the issue of having to get a license but it would probably cost more to implement.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. |
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 DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1 | reply to bbchris2nd
If you want to build your own Part 15 FM stereo transmitter, the best one I've seen that won't break the bank is the Ramsey FM-25B. If a stock FM-25B won't do the job, multiple units might. The kit is about $150. |
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SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL Reviews:
 ·Clearwire Wireless
| reply to n2jtx
said by n2jtx:If you are talking about a small campus, an option might be to use multiple part 15 compliant FM transmitters (which are legal), strategically placed, and feed them via VOIP from a campus internet connection.
That's the trouble, if it's actually part 15 compliant, it will have range of about 15' max. IOW part 15 isn't going to cover more than a room. |
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DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1
1 edit | Part 15 compliant transmitters have a range of several hundred feet to 1/4 mile if you're just at the limit of part 15 compliance. |
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SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL Reviews:
·Clearwire Wireless
| said by DrStrange:Part 15 compliant transmitters have a range of several hunred feet to 1/4 mile if you're just at the limit of part 15 compliance.
You might want to read part 15.1 again.. The allowable unlicensed limit is 250 uV/m at 3 meters. That's the one they catch you on.
The only legal way to cover a campus area would be with distributed system such as leaky coax.
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 neonhomerKK4BFNPremium
join:2004-01-27
Edgewater, FL | Okay... so let's play the book...
What would it take to cover, say, a medium sized college campus. Licenses, equipment, etc etc.... |
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DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1 | reply to bbchris2nd
You should get a few hundred feet with that level of signal, provided you're not using a $5 radio for a receiver. The reason most Part 15 FM transmitters only carry 15 feet or so is that their signal level is more like 5 microvolts/meter at 3 meters [which is about the threshold of usable signal on a cheap radio]. |
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 Channel OnePremium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:2
 ·Connexion Techno..
| reply to neonhomer
said by neonhomer:Okay... so let's play the book...What would it take to cover, say, a medium sized college campus. Licenses, equipment, etc etc.... License fees are waived for NCE’s Non-Commercial Educational, they must be non-profit and of course educational, the FCC will from time to time inspect, monitor and audit NCE’s to assure compliance, if any part of the operation smells like it’s becoming a commercial for profit broadcast operation the license could be in jeopardy and the infamous Notice of Implied Liability (fine) issued.
One can get a decent 50-100 watt FM transmitter which with a properly placed antenna will cover the adverage campus new for around $2500, used are always on the market and if one has a bit of technical skills in RF, a classified ad in the back of Radio World could provide enough repairable equipment to get on-the-air as a you-pickup donation.
On the low end a couple of MP3 players, a desk mic or two and mixer is a studio, on the high end, if you have friends in broadcasting, who knows what could be found in the corners looking for a new home.
The only part remaining is an antenna and no kidding an straight CB ¼ wave can be cut to a FM frequency real easy and the same applies to commercial Land Mobile low band dipoles and under 500 watts good old RG-8 works just fine.
Wayne
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"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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| reply to bbchris2nd
What is your intended content? You can get a transmitter like drive-ins had but if you don't have a required permit and/or play commercial music without paying for the right to play it, you will get shut down fast. |
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neonhomerKK4BFNPremium
join:2004-01-27
Edgewater, FL | reply to Channel One
I just thought I would throw that out there, so maybe the OP could get an idea on how to do it legally and probably be a lot happier with the outcome... |
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Channel OnePremium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Connexion Techno..
| said by neonhomer:and probably be a lot happier with the outcome... That’s for sure, doing it legally with the proper equipment, even antiquated equipment will not only sound better, the station will have a more solid coverage pattern.
And being legal makes for happier operators by not having to constantly look over their shoulder watching out for the men from the not-so Friendly Communications Commission.
Wayne
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"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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| reply to bbchris2nd
Thanks guys I learned a lot. |
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SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL Reviews:
·Clearwire Wireless
| reply to SmokChsr
said by SmokChsr:You might want to read part 15.1 again.. The allowable unlicensed limit is 250 uV/m at 3 meters. That's the one they catch you on.
One correction to this.. It's actually part 15.239 that gives the restriction, not 15.1. Silly me, I took the information from a FCC citation thinking they would have quoted the correct rule.
Best guess, without actually doing the math, is that's about a 2.3uW ERP..
»ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/te···&idno=47 |
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Channel OnePremium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Connexion Techno..
| said by SmokChsr:One correction to this.. It's actually part 15.239 that gives the restriction, not 15.1. Silly me, I took the information from a FCC citation thinking they would have quoted the correct rule. Best guess, without actually doing the math, is that's about a 2.3uW ERP. It is worth noting regardless of the power output, if that transmitter causes interference with a licensed station within their protected pattern it becomes illegal.
Wayne
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"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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| reply to bbchris2nd
There is a video on YouTube for LP FM. Hopefully I can setup mine on a remote place. |
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SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL | In Australia It may be completely different regulations. As for here in Florida USA, it's a Sate Felony, and a Federal Fine. |
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Channel OnePremium
join:2010-04-16
Fort Lauderdale, FL
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Connexion Techno..
| reply to bbchris2nd
FWIW, on March 27, 2012 the FCC will auction off 120 construction permits for FM stations (mostly rural area) and the FCC has made it clear they would not be allowing successful bidders to do a license swap which in theory should keep the price of the CP's within a small business budget.
Wayne
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"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard |
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