Your Own Pirate Radio station?

Pirate is an archaic term. I prefer micro-broadcaster.

Note, the information in this video is just that, information. I am not responsible for your actions or if you get fined by the FCC. Ramsey Electronics kits are NOT designed to break the law, so I suggest no modifications be made. If you're just looking for something for your neighborhood, stick with Ramsey. Again, I am not responsible for your actions.

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com
I suggest the FM-25B Kit, as seen in this video. If you're into AM, then I'd recommend the AM-25. I also own one of these and have been pleased with it. You must build it correctly for it to work.
You can also do a search on ebay for pre-built factory tested Ramsey kits.

To check for open frequencies in your area, use common sense, and the following link:
http://www.radio-locator.com
They have a tool that shows you unused frequencies usually someone with an in car mp3 transmitter will use. As long as your power is low, you can have a small radio station.

The radio station in this video (MiloFM) does NOT make it to 1 mile under normal conditions. It barely gets out of the antenna before fading out. I have done this intentionally to keep the station within legal limits.

The higher the antenna, the better the range for FM, pure and simple. In a flat area, like Nebraska, your station will travel farther. For AM, this does not matter. The more power you put out on AM, the farther it will go. Remember, there are limits to power. Do the research.

In summary, the main things you need to broadcast a radio station are:
A transmitter
An antenna designed for whichever band you choose
Audio source
Common sense.

Also... licensed radio stations have the rights, you do not. If you broadcast on their frequencies, they can, and will come and get you and chop your balls off (not kidding :D)

If you still want more information, I found an excellent article here:
http://www.littleradio.com/entry/how_to_start_your_own_pirate_radio_station/

Here is the antenna I use:
http://www.fmdxantenna.com/proddetail.php?prod=14tun

Music is Creative Commons Licensed under attribution. It is the song Lightin by Antony Raijekov. I have the license to use this song, if anyone requests to see it. The artist does not endorse any product in this video.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• pirate
• radio
• station
• how
• to
• micro
• broadcast
• FM
• secret
• transmission
• your
• own
• mp3
• FCC
• Ramsey
• electronics
• FM-25B
• milofm
• ubstudios
• 99.9
• salt
• lake
• city
• AM

[bigdaddymatty17]

Btw what's the sound quality of these fm transmitters? I would assume it deteriorates after a certain distance.

[Ubstudios]

@bigdaddymatty17 The signal degrades over a distance, but the audio quality stays relatively the same, just quieter.

[theadog523]

Can you do this on a laptop ?

[Ubstudios]

@theadog523 Not sure what you're asking.

[bigdaddymatty17]

This looks like an interesting hobby. BTW how exactly would the FCC or law enforcement catch a pirate radio station? The only way I could see this happening is if one of your neighbors is a cop or works for the government and sees a suspicious looking antenna or of course if your radio frequency interferes with another.

[Ubstudios]

@bigdaddymatty17 If you interfere with a licensed station and someone complains, then you should assume the FCC will hear about it. I doubt a cop seeing an antenna is going to know or care. The FCC will come and triangulate your position and take further action from there.

[Ubstudios]

@AbuAvital Believe it or not, some people listen to the radio.

[pce81z]

so what's the range, a mile?

[Ubstudios]

@bigdaddymatty17 20 watts would get you 5 miles easy, probably 10. You'd definitely be illegally operating in the US at that high of power. I wouldn't chance it.

[bigdaddymatty17]

I wonder what the range of a 20 watt fm transmitter would be with a good antenna. Or how about 30 watts?

[pspheaven]

5 Watt fm is usually about 1 mile

[AudiophileTubes]

I am an avid scanner and shortwave radio enthusiast. There are many 'pirate' radio stations you can hear on weeknights on 6.925 MHz (USB mode), especially on weekends and holidays. Even inexpensive portable receivers with a BFO will do the trick, but you have to have a long piece of wire clipped onto the existing whip antenna, hopefully one that runs outside or near a window. Happy listening!