The video on YouTube is actually the 2:35 clip and the reference to 20 watts is at 1:13.
Correct link:
I didn't mean to cause any turmoil here, but hopefully you all can see the confusion--part15.us seems to advocate legal operation and yet 'atrain' clearly is a pirate operator, even his site uses a 'pirate' logo. If that's what he chooses to do, that's fine, no problem...but fellow contributors to this site shouldn't advocate compliance with the Part 15 rules and at the same time condone known pirates.
I dig the heck outta that studio. Thats what I call some serious underground radio!
I stand by my belief, he doesn't promote illegal broadcasting here so he is A-OK in my book. What he does in his own time is his own buisiness. I'd be lying if I said I haven't run my AM Stereo station at 500mW a few times. I'd also be lying if I said I never ran 7 and 15 watts on FM for years with no trouble at all, I'd also be lying if I said the FCC never knew about me either (they did and let me slide for YEARS).
My point is we are all here because we like broadcasting and RF experimentation, I don't come here and try to say pirate radio is ok and neither does Atrain. To me that stays well within the site's guidelines.
Keep in mind you had to go digging to find this, its not like he personally bragged about it here.
What Mighty 1650 just said is the same as what I would say in this situation.
Do I have the capacity to exceed part 15 levels? Frankly, I forget.
Have I ever done it? I seriously doubt it, but I can't remember for sure.
Do I wonder why anyone would raise a flap about it? Well, ya... what do you want us to do, confess? Turn ourselves in to the sherrif?
15.239. That's all I know.
"Do I wonder why anyone would raise a flap about it? Well, ya... what do you want us to do, confess? Turn ourselves in to the sherrif?"
Carl I couldn't have asked a better question myself.
Mighty 1650 said: "Keep in mind you had to go digging to find this, its not like he personally bragged about it here." I was curious about the station, so simply looked it up. Atrain can run 100,000 watts if he wants to...that's his business. His station is very out in the open with the easy access YouTubes.
Everyone else on this site so far is defending 'atrain', and I'm being critisized for asking about it. I obviously misunderstood what this site is about. I realize he is not promoting his station on this site, but I really see a conflict here. Many of you have stated that you have presently, or in the past, run pirate stations. That's fine, it's your business. The conflict I see is the advocating legal broadcasting and yet condoning illegal broadcasting. Why is my opinion any different than anyone else's? Am I not allowed to present it? I was told in a private e-mail that if I make 'trouble' I could get kicked off the site. OK...so be it. I don't see how I can be causing 'trouble'--I didn't post videos showing a pirate station and promoting it. If there is trouble, it will be from the pirates, not from me.
The initiative to try to change the rules is noble, but it won't happen. You don't change the rules by flagrantly violating them. If you wanted to have a speed limit in your neighborhood changed from 25 to 35 MPH, you don't drive to the hearing past the cops at 100 MPH. It will be very difficult for a bunch of pirates to approach the FCC with any credibility. Besides, why do you want to change the rules anyway? If you get what you want, it won't change anything--because, if you get a bit more power, it still won't be enough for you. Those 20 watt stations will continute to operate.
If I'm alone in my opinion on this, that's OK too, but where are all the legal advocates? Would love to hear from some of them on this thread. I just don't see why I am being chastised, especially on a site that appeared to me to be promoting FCC compliance.
i was wondering why some decided to go and instigate on here. All I said was I got a new talking house transmitter (completely part 15)
hopefully archie stops causing problems.
thank you Carl and everyone else for helping me out. I just noticed this all going down.
It has very much sounded like we took a stand against Archie and are defending whatever it is that Atrain may or may not be doing.
This is only me speaking, I cannot speak for this website nor any of its members...
I totally accept and defend Archie opening this for discussion. In an ideal world we should be able to freely and openly discuss all matters regarding our radio hobby.
Please don't be annoyed or offended, Archie, by the sometimes rugged nature of speaking bluntly.
Maybe it's a family thing... Atrain has become part of our "family" here at part15(dot)us and families sometimes close ranks when their members are seen misbehaving out in public.
If you're a member in good standing of the military or white house bunch you can rack up the felonies and either get overlooked or a dainty slap on the risk. Anyone else has their life ruined forever.
Therefore it's a political thing. This website maintains an image of lawful adherence to the part 15 rules as they are, with some allowance for arguing for and against.
When I reported testing a transmitter at some amount over power one of the dogmatists here blew the whistle and turned on the local tornado sirens, so I had to do my experimenting in Canada to avoid causing an incident.
The bottom line is this. Archie, you are totally welcome here (speaking only for myself) and I defend being able to speak openly and frankly about these radio subjects.
Am I a secure member of this website? I don't think so. I think some things I post get me discussed for possible termination by the grand webmasters in their chambers.
No one has lifetime security on part15(dot)us.
atrain said: "hopefully archie stops causing problems". Let me make this as clear as possible. I am NOT causing trouble. Asking about your station is not the cause of the trouble, the trouble is operating a blatantly illegal station. I didn't post videos bragging about a 20 watt station and saying 'it's hush hush'. If there is trouble, it will be from your (atrain) website and Facebook page, not from me. I am least of your worries.
I just don't understand the double-standard--"let's make part 15 better, let's petition the FCC and work for change", but let's keep broadcasting illegally in the meantime.
I see atrain is a member of the ALPB. I also see their mission statement:
MISSION STATEMENT--The ALPB mission is to promote quality radio broadcasting consistent with applicable regulations.
How are you consistent with "applicable regulations" while operating a pirate station?
It's also been said that atrain is not promoting his illegal station on this site. I beg to differ....his post has his Facebook page posted (facebook.com/929whar) I was accused of 'digging' for information--yet it's right there on this site.
Agree or disagree...but don't try to make me the guy causing trouble. Fair enough?
Archie, what I do has nothing to do with you. I do not promote pirate radio, and I do not condone it.
I only want to help part 15 and that is what I will continue to do- no matter how much you can't stand it. If me running a pirate station makes you hate me- that's a real shame man.
I have no problem with you Archie at all, in fact I'm glad you asked the question from the get go. Please don't feel as though we are attacking you, that wasn't my intention.
Admittedly it is strange for a stranger to come in and make statements as you have, it seems to have caused a bit of a kneejerk reaction on my part and I do apologize.
It seemed to me as though you were saying we shouldn't allow atrain to contribute to the forums just because he may do some pirate activity, I disagree quite heavily with that stance.
Personally I no longer pirate, however I neither condone nor disapprove of illegal broadcasting. I believe if the operator is responsible with their power there should be no problem. I find part 15 to be more of a challange than pirate broadcasting so I stick with part 15. In the interest of part15.us and other part 15 sites I'd never recommend anything less than legal.
In the context of digging, I was saying that information was not present on these forums or this thread.
FWIW I'm not saying atrains FM activity is okay either, I prefer everyone followed the rules within reason.
"The initiative to try to change the rules is noble, but it won't happen. You don't change the rules by flagrantly violating them. If you wanted to have a speed limit in your neighborhood changed from 25 to 35 MPH, you don't drive to the hearing past the cops at 100 MPH. It will be very difficult for a bunch of pirates to approach the FCC with any credibility."
This is a very true statement and I do agree.
On a fun note, this is EXACTLY how CB radio came to be license free however. Likely the only example where so many broke the rules it was easier to drop them.
As far as that email goes, I think that was uncalled for.
Atrain said: "I do not promote pirate radio, and I do not condone it. I only want to help part 15 and that is what I will continue to do- no matter how much you can't stand it. If me running a pirate station makes you hate me- that's a real shame man."
Here's a question...NOT a judgement--you admit running a pirate station, yet say "I do not condone it." How is that possible?
You say that what you do has nothing to do with me. Really?--pirates like you make it difficult for those who try to comply with the rules. You give the legit operators a bad name, we are all thrown together under the blanket phrase "pirates". If you really want to help part 15, do it within the law--comply with the laws and advocate for change.
Thank you and Carl for your comments. I understand the 'family' analogy--and here I am a newcomer to the site...I don't mean to cause trouble, I just thought I had a legitimate point. I'm sure the FCC could care less about this site, they have bigger fish to fry. No one is going to get in trouble because of this site and it's topics.
"Here's a question...NOT a judgement--you admit running a pirate station, yet say "I do not condone it." How is that possible? "
He does have you there.
"You give the legit operators a bad name, we are all thrown together under the blanket phrase "pirates". If you really want to help part 15, do it within the law--comply with the laws and advocate for change."
This is also a good point, another reason why I stopped pirate broadcasting. (Well aside from my experiments on Channel 6, thats too darned fun but far outside the scope of this site though some FCC documents appear to allow for brief irregular transmissions on many bands)
That all being said, we still have NO idea how Atrain uses this transmitter or if it is still even in operation. For all we know the antenna is indoors and goes the same distnace as a legal part 15 FM. Simply having it doesn't mean he uses it illegally.
I'm going to step out of this thread as its messing with my head.
In my Post#22 "Defending Archie" and in Mighty 1650's Post#25 "I Have No Problem With You" we took the diplomatic approach which is a face-saving way of dealing with an issue.
In this post I'm going to switch positions and use the hardball legal standpoint.
Part15(dot)us is not an enforcement bureau and does not seek snitching for alleged pirate radio activity.
The claim that a member of this website is a pirate is only hear-say, and the Youtube "evidence" does not include field-strength measurements to "prove" the alleged pirate activity.
Even with documentable proof this website is not here to collect reports on radio pirate snitchings.
If you are not a licensed station being interfered with by supposed pirate signals or a home-listener having his favorite station blocked by a pirate signal you have no standing to complain about a pirate, even if one exists.
Nazi Germany was a Nation of Snitches. This country is not.
It is time to change the subject.