How can we make money With Part 15?
No...I don't have a WAY to make money...was wondering if anyone IS making money & how...or...ways that we have all daydreamed about making money with our hobby?
I have come up with this plan to cover a major market city. Use part 15 certified gear (I've seen it advertised) for rebroadcasting under bridges and the like. You could cover the whole city for about $50,000-75,000. That is a LOT cheaper than putting up a new legal station or buying an existing one. These things run on solar power With back-up batteries for nitetime use. COOL. Thats my idea. Anyone else thought of ways to make money?
I think Radio Sausalito (www.radiosausalito.org) hit onto something when they put numerous FM Part 15 x-mitters around town, hooked up a computer/internet to each and simulcast their internet station over the air,effectively covering most of the town over the air. There are other ways to align the x-mitters to simulcast as well.
The 2nd thing they did, as I do, is offer an Alternative format (they do Jazz) that isn't heard for the most part in that area, creating a nice nich.
The 3rd thing is community involvement, offer weekend specialty shows on cooking, hobbies, town history,local sports, whatever and be seen in the local community, doing remote broadcasts, give-aways,fliers,sponsor a local ball team etc.
Lastly, don't just sell air time. Build a website that offers ALOT to the community, not just about your station, but community events,photos,weather,news, Student of the Month, Wedding announcments etc and sell Web Site/Air-time Combo Sponsorships.
If you do all this with multiple x-mitters and hard work, then I think making a little money, even running in the black is possible. I guess the question is after spending dough on all the equipment,studios,remote equipment etc plus all your sweat equity, how long will it take you to break even and start being profitable?