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The Slashdot Broadcasting Network?
OrigamiSlayer asks: "Mr. Fantasy and I were talking about the article a while back on low power radio station licenses. We were wondering what would need to be done logisticly to get a bunch of these licenses across a wide geographic area and then syndicate a broadcast to them via the internet. That would give someone half a chance to compete with corporate radio and might almost be possible. Any ideas?" Aside from security, what other things would one need to worry about?
The fcc hasnt ruled on LPFM yet, so either this may be illegal, or it hasn't even been thought of by the fcc. The main problem with networking it is going to be the phyical layer , you couldnt use hamm radio because there is a no broad castiing clause, the obvious and simple solution would be to setup a shoutcast (or preferably icecast) server. And just take the dedicated audio out to a transmitter. As I said LPFW hasnt been ruled on, but it is a very interesting idea. incite@geocities.com
Well you could always use a Low Power Mediumwave solutions. AM broadcasting isn't as restricted, and unless I remember incorrectly is legal without a license. Not to mention AM goes a little bit further on a little less power. I myself have been interested in something like this. As a matter of fact I have a small FM transmitter I built sitting next to me. Along with my work in progress of, AM Transmitter. I'm not at my computer, but if you would like to get any more pointers or such feel free to email me: slake@geocities.com *Fight the FCC, You'll feel better in the morning*
In Boston we used to have something called Tunnel Radio (it's passed hands many times in the past few years). What happens is inside tunnels such as the Dewey Square Tunnel (I-93) a blanket AM broadcast is transmitted. Originally because of Boston's notorious traffic this was used to beam traffic information and subliminal anti-suicide messages to keep everyone calm in the exhaust filled hellhole. Now I think some radio station has the rights and broadcasts classified advertisements.
Recently, with the Big Dig there's yet another low power radio station. I forget if it's AM or FM, but it has a range of approximitly the area of construction (the financial district and southie) Both of these are or were government run, and are totally legit. They're a good example of the usefullness of low powered stations, which the FCC should allow anyone to get a liscense for.
It would also be neat if while sitting in traffic I could tune to Slashdot FM and use my cell phone to dial in with a "FIRST POST".
I forget the numbers, but the Low Power FM that the FCC was/is considering regulating is (afaik) an area that is *not* permitted for use at this time. There is a power (I don't know offhand) below which anyone can transmit FM, however, the LPFM they are talking about is higher than this.
(Radio stations must have the capability of broadcasting at very high powers in order to obtain a license. They don't have to use 10,000 wats, but they have to have the facilities to do it.) Medium power FM it shoudl be called.
I've been thinking about starting an Open Source Radio website as a place where non-commercial, non internet only stations can obtain free shows to broadcast. I have a new 500w stereo exciter sitting in the closet (very easy to add a 1kW+ amp. I am about to try and obtain a 1kW license for a station in the Bryan-College Station area or possibly Houston. It would be non-commercial. The only problem is finding content (hence my idea for Open Source Radio). I'm not sure if there would be enough interest.
The idea we had in mind is that you'd use something like Shoutcast as the distribution medium, hook your computer up to the Net and the audio out to your low power FM equipment, and rebroadcast someone else's programming.
There's lots of questions here:
1) If I went through all the trouble to buy, install, run, and maintain low power equipment, would I want to use it just to rebroadcast someone else's material? I probably wouldn't just keep it tuned to one shoutcast channel, I might pick and choose what I transmit from the mix, or become a "shoutcast syndicator" where I play other people's programming at other times.
2) I could see this becoming a great way to do an internet call-in show, or some talk show, where people could call in, or submit questions over the Net, and people could listen on their computers or on their radios if they knew where to do so.
3) There are legality issues--I think that most of the people running shoutcast servers (unless they're already bona-fide radio stations) aren't paying ASCAP/BMI royalties, and although I haven't heard that either of them are looking for it, they probably would think they have a right to royalties if this got big enough (they did try to get bars and restaurants to pay, after all,) or, ASCAP and BMI may not care about Shoutcast, but would care if those signals were broadcasted over low power FM. If you're doing all unsigned indie bands, or talk programming, you can avoid royalty fees. And ASCAP/BMI royalties would apply for the low-power broadcaster playing their own CD collections, as well.
I guess we were mainly ruminating on the prospects of using current Internet audio distribution technology as a way to network low power FM stations, or as a programming source, and what the legal, and technical, ramifications would be.
--Mike
-- Of course I'm paranoid. I'm a sysadmin.
I live in canada so our laws may be slightly different, but most likely quite similar. I worked for my last university's radio station as a dj. We were able to have a radio station because we broadcasted at the low power of 1 watt. That really doesn't take you very far, as in about a mile or so... if your lucky and don't have other interferance/concrete buildings in the way.
It is still logisticlly possible to do this until you take into account that there is only a set number of frequenies available for use. It is fairly detrimental to have two simmilar frequencies near each other, as much static and disreuption ensues. There is also the side of buying all the transmitters needed to make your radio waves. they are not exceedingly cheap when you get all the hardware you need. (converter boxes, antennas, co-axil cable, plus whatever your going to use to get your broadcats and retransmit it)
However we have something that could/can comepete with corporate radio stations and that is internet radio stations. The only problem with them is the quality is generally very low, plus you have to factor in net congestion.
metalgeek
metalgeek
windows, just another pane in the glass
You DEFINITELY want to look at time-modulated ultra-wideband (TM-UWB). Because the signal is well below the noise floor, spread across 2 gigahertz worth of bandwidth, this is the technology to use. Of course, it's also patented to hell and back, but the processes in use to create the required hardware should yield fairly affordable hardware. Check out www.time-domain.com for details. Of particular interest to you may be the "StealthLink" prototype, as it provides a LPD/I capability in a handheld unit-- a very good detection rig was unable to detect the unit transmitting until it was within 10 feet of it.