Non-licensed College Radio

[triton_1]

My college radio station is currently on AM carrier frequency (non-licensed). We mean to broadcast via LPFM in a few months (on campus). And we want to be able to broadcast farther at a later time. So we're looking at purchasing the PX-1 and the FMA-200 in consideration of our low-budget but long term plans.
How can we use these without breaking any non-licensed broadcaster laws but still be able to broadcast throughout our campus (1.5 mile radius)?
:cool:

[RFFreak]

I am not up to date on your local regulations, so I will just assume that you are broadcasting under FCC rules. :confused:

First, you should have a Chief Engineer and a Chief Operator...ask them...

Second, if you are planning on keeping your AM, get it licensed. If you aren't going to license it, let me know where you are at, so I can get a station licensed in your area, so you can see why. ;) I'll walk all over your signal, and your on-air monitor in your studio will be playing my station. :eek: You never know when someone will start a licensed station in your area on *your* frequency, and all of your listeners for years will be hearing a new station. How bad for you...

Thirdly, your LPFM...Get the most that you can, if the FCC will allow you to run a 100w LPFM, do it. It won't take much to cover a 1.5 mile radius, but, did you think of the people that attend your school that do not want to live on campus, but enjoy the music and talk shows that you entertain them with while they are on campus?

Fourth, don't underestimate the power of a broadcasting lawyer and your engineer. They can make a station's life easier, legal, and they help all problems go away as quick as possible :cool:

[triton_1]

RFfreak;

As stated previously, we are a college radio station. I don't know what its like where you're at, but where I'm at, anything coming from the university is, without consideration, unreasonably and even irrationally rendered as an illegitimate venture. We could hardly afford to pay for the transmitter and other stuff -not to mention having an engineer on staff and YIKES!! a lawyer? We're all volunteers here. We're funded with bake sales and car washes. :(

Is there any hope for college radio ? For truth, justice, and the American way? Probably only the apearance of it via media giants' influenced "dumbing" of society. I'm not buying the irresponsible use of Ayn Rand's work.

Or maybe, we ought to commercialise it (all college radio) and beat the bastards at thier own game? Naw, I don't have time for that.

I must apoligise for placing this question in the wrong area (pro-broadcasters). There is an identical one in the other area. All future posts should be there instead.

Thanks. I'm sure that others will find all this just as valuable as I have.

[radio eater]

I'm a broadcast chief engineer. 20 years plus in broadcasting. I'm all for what you're doing. Remember, when spectrum is taken, it's gone forever. As LPFM, translators, gobbel up frequenies, you're ablity to be heard in the radio jungle becomes less, and less and less. I believe LPFM CANNOT radiate no interferrence to FULL power FM's. IF there is, there is a big problem. Be happy with 1.5 kilometers. When you get it on the air, kick it for ALL it's worth with PROMOTION!. Fundraise the heck out of it! Please have fun. This isn't like or death. Have a lot of student interaction! Then consider WEBCASTING to get beyond your world!

[jammin_jay]

Hi, well If you want to broadcast on a fm frequency as a LPFM or even higher as an educational station I would get a license that would enable you to have a protected contour so no interference would be able to affect your area within the contour. An engineer would draw up the signal radiation pattern as well as the protected contour (which is a signal strength that is immanent with in to the outer boundary for example 50 dbu) for the primary contour and so-on for the sec..). This just protects you from having another station set-up shop and interfere with your freuqency. This includes 2nd adjacent channels. If someone else wants to set up a station of an lpfm on your frequency they couldn't because you are already there with a PROTECTED contour. I would read the FCC database with respect to lpfm stations and protected contours. Perhaps even larger than an lpfm. Usually universities/colleges are classified as an educational fm station with certain legits.
The key thing here is protected contour. Read carefully which liscence class offers which or as the reader above me indicated, he could go to your area set up shop and apply for a license and walk all over u

[womb929]

The federal communications commission will not allow you to broadcast more than about 1/4 mile without a license of some sort. If you applied for a LPFM construction permit in the respective filing windows from 1999-2001 then kudos to you. However, if you didn't... well I hate to break it to you but your next shot may not be until 2008 !! Unless that is you can deal with a 10 watt station. The FCC will announce filing windows for LP-10 after another lottery is conducted, and with only TWO people in the LPFM department that may not happen until 2005, especially at the rate that the FCC works. The main thing is to remember that the fcc doesn't want to make you wait, just to get you all worked up and frustrated. They make you wait because they do everything by the book, the right way. This way they cover their A%$ and you don't find an enforcement officer hounding any of your school's staff thirty days after you signed on! Finally, the best bet is to research your area. GO TO AREA RADIO STATIONS that are second and third ajcnt. channels and speak with the chief engineer's there, unless they are Clear Channel stations.. then your S-O-L ! Invest in items like the PX-1 after you are licensed, believe me you will thank me if your application is dismissed. For now items like the FM-100 (without the 1 watt export version) are a great tool for you to use. You can increase your station's persona by also offering A sister AM and TV station. Ramsey sells " the best" TV transmitters I have ever seen. In fact my LPFM station is running off of a FM-10A purchased in 1997, Our AM station operates off of a AM-1 purchased in 1994 and our TV station will be signing on using one of Ramsey's very cool and very reliable STEREO TV TRANSMITTERS. When our LPFM C.P. arrives we will be using the PX-1, but only after we get our CP. Just remember, unlike other forms of business and information. Broadcast Stations, Large or Small live forever.

Christian M. J. McLaughlin
Station Manager
Operations Manager
County Line Broadcast Group
(LPFM APPLICANT, A-F-F )
(717) 442-5731 null