FM and UHF/VHF local area broadcasting

[Jeff Sturges]

Anyone done it before or know anything about it? 

1. I'd like to set up a neighborhood scale FM radio station (though perhaps with multiple repeaters) with some friends.  So far, the info that I've gotten s that we need to do it legally is
- a 100mw transmitter
- 1w line amp (if the line to the antenna is long)
- a dipole antenna
Ramsey electronics sells kits, and there are some pre-built kits from Hong Kong on ebay.  Anyone have experience with either?

2.  I'm helping some friends with an analog TV broadcast project to celebrate the digital era of video.  I know nothing about VHF or UHF broadcasting in terms of power needed or FCC regs.  Any help would be appreciated.

Tks!!

-js

[Matt Joyce]

It's fairly simple there's plenty of gear that's easy to use.  There's also a Berkeley pirate radio group you might want to talk to.

http://www.freeradio.org/

These guys do open source kits and workshops on fm transmitter design.

-Matt

[Jon Goldberg]

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Hi Jeff,

There's an activist organization known as the Prometheus Radio Project
that helps community groups set up low-power FM stations as a means of
countering media consolidation. They have a technical support page[1]
that covers how-tos, FCC regs, audio processing, etc.

They were just in town for the Grassroots Media Conference last weekend,
where they set up a station with soldering irons and were teaching folks
how to solder sound boards. Picture here (scroll down): [2] Maybe next
time they come to town they could do a talk at the Resistor space?

Since I live with a bunch of alt-media folks, I've gotten to chat to
these folks at parties. They're really nice, I imagine that if you had
specific questions they'd be happy to help you out in the interest of
promoting LPFM.

Jon

[1] http://prometheusradio.org/tech_support/
[2] http://jenna.openflows.com/reportbacks/gmc2009

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[Justin Kelly]

My experience with several different Ramsey Electronics FM Stereo transmitter kits is their lack of audio quality, the received audio level is very low, and muddy sounding.

-Justin

[Jeff Sturges]

Thanks for the help folks...will check in to all.

-js

On Jun 5, 1:06 am, Justin Kelly <freef...@gmail.com> wrote:
> My experience with several different Ramsey Electronics FM Stereo
> transmitter kits is their lack of audio quality, the received audio level is
> very low, and muddy sounding.
>
> -Justin
>

[Jonathan]

As it happens - I'm an attorney - and have been looking at related
issues having to do with community broadcasting. Depending on your
purpose - if it includes, for instance, the ability to have resilient
communications in an emergency - all FCC fees are waived, and you can
be in the Business/Industrial frequency pool. Without a ham license,
or a test.

Plus more generous wattage limits (signal strength); and - there may
in fact be money in the Administration's stimulus bill(s) to subsidize
some of what you're doing. Also surplus DOD equipment which by law has
to be used for certain purposes.

Let me know if you want to discuss it.

Jon

[Christopher J. Pilkington]

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Jonathan wrote:
> As it happens - I'm an attorney - and have been looking at related
> issues having to do with community broadcasting. Depending on your
> purpose - if it includes, for instance, the ability to have resilient
> communications in an emergency - all FCC fees are waived, and you can
> be in the Business/Industrial frequency pool. Without a ham license,
> or a test.

I'm curious... what part of the FCC regulations are you referring to?
I'd like to do some reading of my own.

- From what I understand of the regs, broadcasting is covered by an
entirely different bureau (Media) than communications (Wireless
Telecommunications).
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[Carlos Chiossone]

I am interested in hearing about it!

[Bradley Laboe]

I am also interested as well ...
\Brad 

[wsyl...@gmail.com]

I'm in.

[Jeff Sturges]

Wow...very interesting.  Care to share your resources on this?  I'd like to dig deeper as well...esp w.regards DOD equipment and subsidy

[Jeff Sturges]

Hey Jonathan...seems like we lost you. Are you still interested in
sharing resources or dicsussing legalities as they apply to community
broadcasting? I hope so!! Sounds like we have lots of interested
folks. I'll try and set up a discussion/hackfest session at NYCR if
so.

On Jun 12, 1:24 am, Jeff Sturges <jeff.stur...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Wow...very interesting.  Care to share your resources on this?  I'd like to
> dig deeper as well...esp w.regards DOD equipment and subsidy
>