If you were able to obtain an FM station license, such as an LPFM which is a newer class license, there are minimum power requirements. 100 mW is not considered adequate for a licensed station.
The FCC wants effective use of the spectrum. They want specific signal strength at a specific range. An LPFM is the lowest power LICENSED FM. The FCC 60 dbu coveage area is about 1.5 km. Depending on the height of the antenna you may only need a few watts to satisfy that requirement. 100 watts is the maximum effective radiated power allowed. Our station will be 18 watts with the antenna at 142 feet above ground level to satisfy the requirements for signal strength and no interference.
The FCC also does not want signals interferring with each other. For that reason they can't put a station on every channel in the same listening area because the signals would interfer with each other.
100 mW will not satisfy the FCC requirements but could easily interfer with local stations. For that reason they restrict the Part 15 FM signal strength to a level they feel will not interfer with other licensed stations. The Part 15 FM service was not intended to cover 1/4 mile, only about 200 feet.
More unlicensed stations are "busted" by the FCC on the FM band so YES you can broadcast 1/4 mile BUT if you are caught there could be severe penalties.
AM my boy, AM.
Luis, everyone here has given you the best and most correct advice about the limitation of Part 15 FM broadcasting here in The Homeland. It is a very small amount of permission.
WDCX speaks from his own experience when he suggests that you do AM Part 15 and not FM, because AM CAN be made to legally cover the distance that you want.
I will add to that that when you do AM, you should use NRSC Preemphasis, an audio curve that makes AM sound like FM. I set my transmitters for NRSC and the sound quality is truly wonderful!
By the way, the transmitter that have NRSC as a built-in option is the AMT5000 from SSTran.com
When MRAM 1500 said "The FCC wants effective use of the spectrum," that is true, but it is true only in a TECHNICAL sense, and has nothing to do with CONTENT (programming). It is like having a law saying that books can be only 100-pages long. Many part 15ers probably think of radio in regard to program content, but the FCC is thinking strictly about the technical part.
From near Ferguson, Missouri.
WE have tolerated being wedged into a tiny "legal" category.
MEANWHILE an entire range of power levels above the Part 15 level but below the licensed level CANNOT NOT BE USED.
THEREFORE, it is my suggestion that ALL POWER LEVELS THAT CANNOT BE LICENSED belong in the public domain and should be legal to use without a license.
Not endorsed by the ALPB.
It' quite simple.
Part 15 Am will get you about 1 mile range to a car radio. FM about 600 feet or so. Both will get you much less to an ordinary home radio. No matter what the antenna or power level, if you're getting significantly more range than this, you are probably not legal.
Tell me more about what you are trying to accomplish. Is this a hobby station for your personal pleasure? is it for a church or school? Are you trying to cover a neighborhood? Bridgeport is a pretty good size place. Are you broadcasting music or talk? Sounds crazy but this will help me understand better what you are trying to do and then we can go from here.
well the reason i want to build a part 15 fm station is cause we have a church where we have cuple of people who cant go to church cause they have health problems and by haveing a good signal we could reach to them,,we will broadcast music,and preaching
and here on the am band its pack!
Luis, your project is the perfect thing for Part 15 radio, and while we are waiting for John WDCX to come back with his suggestion, I have an idea...
You could put a Part 15 FM transmitter IN EACH AND EVERY HOME YOU WANT TO REACH with the church message. The transmitter would get its audio from the internet where the church could stream the signal to anyone who needs it.
A family member or health care worker at each home could be taught to keep the stream connected to the transmitter, and the home-bound person could hold a radio near them and listen.
Tell me what you think.
sounds great idea,,hey has u heard of wkid 96.7 fm i heard they cover 2 miles and a fcc agent turn down there antena power to 9mw
who did it was a fcc agent from florida wwkid has been on air about 9 years
luisrosado1 do you know a website for WKID?
I will do a web search.
Please tell us everything you do to build your radio service.
It is the way Part 15 can serve people.
well wkid967.com they are kids who run a fm radio station a fcc agent turn down there antena power to 9mw
well setting up a radio studio and have a commercial building
Thanks Luis.
That's a good thing for kids to have a radio station that was helped by the FCC to keep it in operation.
If only the FCC also gave help to adults who try to operate FM stations.
Unfortunately adults are often treated with disrespect, compared to the nicey nicey treatment given to children.
In my way of viewing the world, ALL PEOPLE OF ALL AGES have equal status and should be treated with great respect.
Excuse me for going off.
iknoo right to be honest the fcc will never give us a change to be on fm
and to tell you more those kids on wkid now has 18,19,20 year olds
there dad is the owner