Board index › Topical Discussion › Computers, Math, Science, and Technology

Pirate radio!

Page 2 of 3 [ 43 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next

Previous topic | Next topic

Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 57,203
Location: Stendec

01 Nov 2021, 9:57 am

Link to USA FCC Rules:  Low Power Radio - General Information 



Rossall
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 20 Oct 2021
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,175
Location: Manchester, UK

01 Nov 2021, 10:24 am

Fnord wrote:
GadgetGuru wrote:
Anyone else here interested in "pirate radio" (meaning unlicensed transmission of radio signals)? ...
Yes, and as a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and a licensed Radiotelephone operator, I have participated in monitoring and locating illegal transmitters here in the U.S.
I am also a licensed radio amateur. My callsign is M0GXL. I did have a 2 metre handheld about 10 years ago but I'm off air at the moment.

Have just ordered a Yaesu FT-4XE 5W VHF/UHF FM Portable Transceiver so hopefully I will be back on the air soon. :D


_________________
Diagnosed with ADHD - Inattentive type and undiagnosed aspergers.

Interests: music (especially 80s), computers, electronics, amateur radio, soccer (Liverpool).


Eurythmic
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 1 Jan 2013
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 491
Location: Australia

03 Nov 2021, 12:20 am

Since you're looking at the FM broadcast band (88-108MHz) I'm guessing you're looking to broadcast material either voice or entertainment like music. Have you looked at who your market is going to be? What sort of material you're going to be broadcasting? How you're going to recruit listeners? What sets your station apart from other ones in your area?

Very few people (except radio nerds like me) scan the airwaves looking for new services.
There is a very good chance you could spend a lot of time setting up and operating a transmitter and not have anyone listening to it. If you're okay with that fair enough.



Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 57,203
Location: Stendec

03 Nov 2021, 8:05 am

Eurythmic wrote:
... Very few people (except radio nerds like me) scan the airwaves looking for new services...
It is more fun (for me) to DX the HF bands looking for new stations.



Redpaws
Toucan
Toucan

User avatar

Joined: 12 Aug 2019
Gender: Male
Posts: 274

03 Nov 2021, 8:24 am

It's an idea that has intrigued me since I saw a movie about 2 teens doing just that. At the time it inspired me to write a story about some teenagers who started a pirate radio and transmitted from a closed down oil rig. It felt really rebellious lol
I've never done any pirate radio stuff myself though.


_________________
"Hver eneste gang vi snakker eller uttrykker oss nedsettende om andre mennesker for egenskaper eller attributter de ikke kan råde over, om det er hudfarge, etnisitet, en funksjonsnedsettelse, eller hva som helst – blir vi bitte litt mindre. Det er jo dette det hele handler om, å tåle det som er annerledes fra oss selv og som ikke er selvvalgt."
- Fredrik Solvang


Eurythmic
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 1 Jan 2013
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 491
Location: Australia

03 Nov 2021, 11:43 pm

Fnord wrote:
Eurythmic wrote:
... Very few people (except radio nerds like me) scan the airwaves looking for new services...
It is more fun (for me) to DX the HF bands looking for new stations.


I haven't been in a position to mount outdoor HF antennas for some time. This year I bought and moved into a house so I'm looking forward to setting up a long wire and perhaps a beam and get back into HF again.



Archmage Arcane
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 13 Jun 2019
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Posts: 438
Location: Connecticut, USA

30 Nov 2021, 10:53 am

Rossall wrote:
Fnord wrote:
GadgetGuru wrote:
Anyone else here interested in "pirate radio" (meaning unlicensed transmission of radio signals)? ...
Yes, and as a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and a licensed Radiotelephone operator, I have participated in monitoring and locating illegal transmitters here in the U.S.
I am also a licensed radio amateur. My callsign is M0GXL. I did have a 2 metre handheld about 10 years ago but I'm off air at the moment.

Have just ordered a Yaesu FT-4XE 5W VHF/UHF FM Portable Transceiver so hopefully I will be back on the air soon. :D


Best of luck with your re-entry to the hobby. 73. :)



Archmage Arcane
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 13 Jun 2019
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Posts: 438
Location: Connecticut, USA

30 Nov 2021, 10:57 am

Eurythmic wrote:
Fnord wrote:
Eurythmic wrote:
... Very few people (except radio nerds like me) scan the airwaves looking for new services...
It is more fun (for me) to DX the HF bands looking for new stations.


I haven't been in a position to mount outdoor HF antennas for some time. This year I bought and moved into a house so I'm looking forward to setting up a long wire and perhaps a beam and get back into HF again.


Had wire set up for HF where I used to live. Moved a year and a half ago and haven't had the energy to hang wires in trees here. Getting stir-crazy enough from missing HF that it will happen soon.

One nice thing about moving is I was in a valley and now I'm halfway up a big hill with a bit of a view. Nice VHF/UHF in certain directions. :)



Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 57,203
Location: Stendec

30 Nov 2021, 12:36 pm

Has anyone here looked into  Carrier-Current Transmission ?



Archmage Arcane
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 13 Jun 2019
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Posts: 438
Location: Connecticut, USA

20 Dec 2021, 5:55 pm

*leaving trail of breadcrumbs*



Rossall
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 20 Oct 2021
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,175
Location: Manchester, UK

15 Apr 2022, 3:56 pm

Have one of these little beauties on the way:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274022711819

It's just gone through customs in China. :D


_________________
Diagnosed with ADHD - Inattentive type and undiagnosed aspergers.

Interests: music (especially 80s), computers, electronics, amateur radio, soccer (Liverpool).


Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 57,203
Location: Stendec

15 Apr 2022, 4:32 pm

This is mine.

Image

 LINK 



Archmage Arcane
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 13 Jun 2019
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Posts: 438
Location: Connecticut, USA

15 Apr 2022, 4:52 pm

That's a deal!

Paid a lot more than that for the FM25B back when Ramsey was still around. I'm assuming that it's tunable (not PLL synthesized) at that price? Looks like a fun little project.

EDIT- Wait, there are DIP switches... Tell me it's not synthesized at that price.

Fnord wrote:
This is mine.

Image

 LINK 



Fenn
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 1 Sep 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,048
Location: Pennsylvania

19 May 2022, 12:59 pm

There is a thing now called a software defined radio. Apparently you can make them yourself with salvaged parts-if you know what you are doing. Some are online so you can access them over the internet with no equipment costs.
Once heard a story of someone who hacked a toy “Mr. Microphone” which used FM, and amped up the signal to broadcast.
A car “3.5mm audio jack to FM” could work too - cheep on newegg . You can switch frequencies easily too. Amping the signal is up to you. Look out for Fnord and the Rough Riders kicking down your door. Don’t do this by the way. It is illegal - don’t tell people i told you to do it. I told you not to.


_________________
ADHD-I(diagnosed) ASD-HF(undiagnosed - maybe)
RDOS scores - Aspie score 131/200 - neurotypical score 69/200 - very likely Aspie


Jakki
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Sep 2019
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,769
Location: Outter Quadrant

19 May 2022, 1:36 pm

Fenn wrote:
There is a thing now called a software defined radio. Apparently you can make them yourself with salvaged parts-if you know what you are doing. Some are online so you can access them over the internet with no equipment costs.
Once heard a story of someone who hacked a toy “Mr. Microphone” which used FM, and amped up the signal to broadcast.
A car “3.5mm audio jack to FM” could work too - cheep on newegg . You can switch frequencies easily too. Amping the signal is up to you. Look out for Fnord and the Rough Riders kicking down your door. Don’t do this by the way. It is illegal - don’t tell people i told you to do it. I told you not to.


Lolololzzz .. a underground ham network ???. SSShhh… ! It seems a lot of hams use salvaged parts too.
( as always it is better to be “”legal “” with a FCC license). Fun to learn with appropriate classes as well .


_________________
Diagnosed hfa
Loves velcro,
Quote:
where ever you go ,there you are


Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 57,203
Location: Stendec

19 May 2022, 3:08 pm

Archmage Arcane wrote:
. . . Wait, there are DIP switches... Tell me it's not synthesized at that price.
Features:

Kit model: RF-03PLL
Kit use: private radio, car audio transmitter, cable audio to wireless
Operating voltage: DC4-6V
Operating current: 20mA-40mA
Launch distance: 20-80 meters barrier (affected by production level)
Transmit frequency: 87-108MHz, 14 frequency, through the DIP switch to change the frequency
Power indication: Yes, less than 4V Auto light off
Antenna: 300mm soft wire, you can also modify to launch farther distance
Oscillation mode: PLL phase-locked loop
Frequency stability: zero drift
Sound quality: excellent, stereo two-channel transmission, automatic gain control
Microphone: Yes, PCB onboard
Microphone distance: 1 meter normal speech
Microphone and audio input conversion mode: pull out the audio line microphone automatically work
PCB size: 74mm * 52mm

The carrier frequencies are "synthesized".

 Check out the schematic