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An FM Broadcast Transmitter For Your Home

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the on-the-air dept.

Bruce Perens writes "I wanted to be able to listen to net audio and my ham station around the house and yard. Those iPod FM transmitters don't have enough range. So, I bought a digital controlled, 100 miliwatt transmitter that covered my whole block the first time I plugged it into what was, until then, a recieving antenna."

6 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. Slashvertisement by ingsocsoc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    All the images on the linked page are exactly the same as the site selling them.

  2. My local electronics store... by Atrax · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... has similar stuff - like this. And that's not the only one. they do various versions for, say, in-car use.

    interesting way of sharing music - your own mini radio station

    --
    Screw you all! I'm off to the pub
  3. this sounds nice, but what happens by Interfacer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    if lots of people in the same block start using this?

    Is there some sort of auto free-carrier slot detection? because if there isn't, it will be nigh-on impossible to listen to the radio without interference.

    The fm-band is pretty full already .at least in europe it is almost completely filled up in the range that all commercial receivers use.

    I'd be pretty miffed if i could not receive my favorite radio stations anymore because some people near me like to listen to deutche schlager zangers or techno.

  4. Harmonics and aviation bands by Zachary+Kessin · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Be careful
    Here in Israel there are a number of pirate radio stations. This is not itself a problem but they are using poor equipment and blasting harmonics onto aviation frequencies. That is bad. It has gotten to the point where the ATC folks have threatened to strike if something is not done about it because it can threaten aircraft communications.

    --
    Erlang Developer and podcaster
  5. Re:FCC finding out? by anagama · · Score: 4, Interesting

    • How would they go about finding out if this guy was broadcasting within a 100 foot radius of himself anyways? Do they have people going around hunting down signals or what?

    I was currious too so I did a rough google search, but not interested enough to refine it.

    I did however, run across an entertaining article by a pirate radio guy. As a bit of CYA, I whole-heartedly do not recommend breaking the law nor would I suggest taking the article as "truth". It's just fun to read - on to the excerpts:
    • ... As a music aficionado, I felt obligated to get involved. We moved The Van to the driveway in front of my house. We ran an extension cord out of the van and into my second-story window to power the equipment (it was all pretty much in plain sight). We painted the antennae and put it up in our tree with another cable that ran from it to the van. ...


    • ... Having been visited twice before by the FCC, veteran broadcaster Monk briefed us on what the risks were and how we should handle a visit (see below). We were prepared.

      Nonetheless, the FCC visit I experienced was bizarre. I woke up to find two strange men in suits and a uniformed cop in my front yard. ...

      ...As I was turning around to go back inside the G Men and the cop came running up to me asking to talk. It was just like the cartoons. There was a fat guy and a skinny guy and they were shouting and sweating profusely. It was hard to keep a straight face....

      ...They asked to come inside. I asked if they had a warrant, and they literally flinched and took a step back. Their bulging eyes started twitching and they were dripping sweat on my porch. I had rendered them powerless. ...

      ...Four years after it started, we're now running 40 DJs strong and have become a major part of the community. Listen online and find out more at http://www.kbfr.org. ...
    --
    What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
  6. Great for parties! by duffster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We've had a similar transmitter in our house for a few years now, and I do recommend it for parties. Basically, the setup is:

    1. Switch on machine with mp3 store
    2. Create vast randomised playlist
    3. Switch on the transmitter
    4. Switch on every radio in the house
    5. Open case of beer / chosen drink
    6. Party party party!

    And voila, synchronised music in every room that wants it.

    One issue though is that we have to drop the output power of the transmitter to avoid interfering with anyone else's radio - here in the UK they don't take too kindly to that.