KC0GPV Spanked

[W3WN]

Yeah, I felt the same way. I see no correlation between pain medication, his absence, and the operation of an illegal transmitter on 88.3 mc. Bad excuses.

One question I do have. If a person builds a very low power wireless transmitter that obviously hasn't been FCC certified, yet operates withing the proper parameters and criteria for a legally unlicensed very low power transmitter, would that be legal. These days commercial ham gear is certified yet you can legally build and operate your own equipment that is not officially certified. I wonder, does the same thing apply to unlicensed homebrew FM gear ?

As I understand FCC R&R, no.

The Amateur Service has a lot more flexibility than do other radio services, and this is one of those areas where it shows up.

[N2CHX]

It's stupid anyway. Low power unlicensed radio is like pot IMO. As long as you're not interfering with a licensed station within its city grade contour, why should anyone even care? This is just another way the government sucks money out of people.

[N8YX]

It's stupid anyway. Low power unlicensed radio is like pot IMO. As long as you're not interfering with a licensed station within its city grade contour, why should anyone even care? This is just another way the governmentRIAA sucks money out of people.

Adjusted your station dial slightly for more reality, as the government wouldn't give two shits about this if Hollywood wasn't lobbying the "piracy" issue to death.

[W2NAP]

Adjusted your station dial slightly for more reality, as the government wouldn't give two shits about this if Hollywood wasn't lobbying the "piracy" issue to death.

problem is, you could play news/talk 24/7 on the pirate station they will still nail you.. if you didnt give major cash to the feds you be going down.

[AC8KF WALT]

It's stupid anyway. Low power unlicensed radio is like pot IMO. As long as you're not interfering with a licensed station within its city grade contour, why should anyone even care? This is just another way the government sucks money out of people.

well said.

[kb2vxa]

Sort of, but the "sucks money" comment is said from opinion and isn't said from reality, the other part is spot on. Having eyes and ears for pirate radio since the '60s I have made countless observations and they all have one thing in common, profile. Low profile pirates fly below the radar since the FCC hasn't had the facilities nor the manpower to tune around listening for violations since the network of monitoring stations was dismantled many years ago. High profile pirates, that is those that either make a splash like Al Wiener and his pirate ships or transmit on somebody's frequency within their coverage area thus drawing complaints the FCC must address simply are magnets for attention. Paint a target on yourself, jump up and down yelling HEAR I AM (spelling intentional) and you're going to get just what you're asking for.

Someone I know very well (;->) flew below the radar with pretty high power for the average pirate for 6 years. Then a technical fault and a klutz who didn't do as he was told drew a complaint from the CE of a local radio station and it was all over. This BTW was 20+ years before the RIAA started making a fuss and as far as I can see music piracy and radio piracy are completely unrelated.

[N8YX]

This BTW was 20+ years before the RIAA started making a fuss and as far as I can see music piracy and radio piracy are completely unrelated.

They are completely related insofar that a pirate station playing Association-produced content without permission and/or royalty payments will have the hounds set upon them faster than an indie-oriented or talk-only pirate. This assumes, of course, said pirate isn't interfering with a licensee of the frequency upon which they've decided to set up shop.

Talk and/or indie-music pirates on, say, 6925USB are rarely (if ever) bothered. This ought to tell one something.

[n2ize]

Sort of, but the "sucks money" comment is said from opinion and isn't said from reality, the other part is spot on. Having eyes and ears for pirate radio since the '60s I have made countless observations and they all have one thing in common, profile. Low profile pirates fly below the radar since the FCC hasn't had the facilities nor the manpower to tune around listening for violations since the network of monitoring stations was dismantled many years ago. High profile pirates, that is those that either make a splash like Al Wiener and his pirate ships or transmit on somebody's frequency within their coverage area thus drawing complaints the FCC must address simply are magnets for attention. Paint a target on yourself, jump up and down yelling HEAR I AM (spelling intentional) and you're going to get just what you're asking for.

Someone I know very well (;->) flew below the radar with pretty high power for the average pirate for 6 years. Then a technical fault and a klutz who didn't do as he was told drew a complaint from the CE of a local radio station and it was all over. This BTW was 20+ years before the RIAA started making a fuss and as far as I can see music piracy and radio piracy are completely unrelated.

Or you could do like Baxter does and broadcast anywhere you want for as long as you want and if the FCC fines you you just ignore the fine, claim that what you are doing is perfectly legal, file a felony affidavit against the FCC and any complainers, and just keep on broadcasting.

[W3WN]

Or you could do like Baxter does and broadcast anywhere you want for as long as you want and if the FCC fines you you just ignore the fine, claim that what you are doing is perfectly legal, file a felony affidavit against the FCC and any complainers, and just keep on broadcasting.

His day is coming. The wheels of justice grind oh so slowly, but they do grind.

[WX7P]

I'd sure like to know what the guy was using.

You can get 7 watt FM transmitters from China for less than $50. I know, I have one.

They are being marketed as stereo extenders for house coverage and to real estate types who want to have a tape loop description of the house running all the time.

Seems pretty stupid to be running a bootleg station at 88.3 in a college town. That section of the band is probably pretty crowded and he was no doubt causing interference to someone.