5-10 mile FM transmitters

ganonbanned · Post by **ganonbanned** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:02 pm

Hey,
How can I make one (for LEGAL purposes)? If I cant, does anyone know where I can find one? (ebay is NOT an answer) thanks.

Post by **gannon** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:03 pm

For something with that large of range you'll need an FCC permit AFAIK

ganonbanned · Post by **ganonbanned** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:05 pm

really? even if I move to canada and dont plan on playing music?

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:27 pm

You need an FCC permit to broadcast <i>anything</i> in the FM band farther than about 10 feet. If you want to go longer ranges think about HAM or CB.

Besides to broadcast 5 miles in FM you would need an 800 watt trasmitter, give or take.

See part 15 of the FCC rules.

ganonbanned · Post by **ganonbanned** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:31 pm

aww man!!! what about AM stations?

dman762000 · Post by **dman762000** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:17 pm

the same rules apply, the fcc rules on transmitting in usa are that you can transmit up to 2 miles total (1 mile radius) without a licsens, any more than that and nice federal agents will come to your door and ask your mom where you are and tell you to never to do it again or you can go to jail and then they make it really hard for you to get a liscens after that even years after the fact when you are a adult and trying to get a ham permit,,,,,,,,oh, sorry, venting, eesh, um take it from me you don't wanna mess with the fcc, now you can get some of those family radios and they can broadcast that far and you might be able to mod them to send out what you want, what are you planning

cowsgoquack101 · Post by **cowsgoquack101** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:58 am

Yeah, I guess this question's off topic, but is there any way to build a transmitter or buy one (preferably) that's HAM, CB, or AM/FM? I want to make a talk station with a few friends of mine.

Cows

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:11 am

ganonbanned wrote:aww man!!! what about AM stations?

You can only have a 100 milliwatt transmitter, and there are tight restrictions on what kind of antenna you're allowed to have (and how big that antenna can be.)

It's all laid out in part 15 of the FCC regulations.

The abridged, mostly-accurate version:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part_15_(FCC_rules)

The full, straight-from-the-horse's-mouth edition (PDF)
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/rules/part1 ... -16-06.pdf

A site that may interest you:
http://part15.us/

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:36 am

cowsgoquack101 wrote:Yeah, I guess this question's off topic, but is there any way to build a transmitter or buy one (preferably) that's HAM, CB, or AM/FM? I want to make a talk station with a few friends of mine.

Cows

HAMs and CBs are usually a transceiver (transmitter and receiver), so you could just get one (you need a license for HAM). My dad's handheld HAM radio can receive FM (maybe AM) so its pretty cool, I should get my HAM license so a guy I know will stop bugging me about it.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:58 pm

bicostp wrote:Besides to broadcast 5 miles in FM you would need an 800 watt trasmitter, give or take.

800W for 5 miles? are you sure?

dman762000 · Post by **dman762000** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:52 am

yeah thats about right for fm transmission, the radio stations that you listen to are usually around 20000 watts and they cover hundreds of miles (in diamater) but when you look at the radius of the coverage area its not that much, fm takes a lot of power, whereas am dosen't take as much because am has a ground wave and an air wave