We are in a delicate place, Artisan, where being legal may not save us from being lumped with actual pirates, and where confessing possible pirate tinkering casts a less than trustworthy shadow on the hobby...
My place is even more balanced on the middle of the fence, promoting a neutral view in which this website and me as an individual are not keeping score on who is or who isn't taking risks.
The main standard to uphold (only my outlook) is to not promote or assist in pirate activity. I am often misunderstood on this fine point because I show curiosity and amusement when pirate activity is reported, because it's something other than the terrible NAB programming on the licensed stations.
Because we have no money nothing we say think or do is of any interest to the power players, except that they don't want us to have any advantage whatsoever. Greed gets cruel in the snap of a finger.
Many enjoy the LPFM because of what Prometheus did and I think what needs to happen there should be another prometheus to pick up where the old Prometheus left off. no matter how you look at it rather everyone was to follow the rules or not there is someone who is going to cry about how the radio hobbyist who is broadcasting on AM or FM is killing their business by taking a few listeners. Wow isn't that hard to figure out? So they lump everyone into one bucket and it will always happen whether or not you follow the rules or you were to get everyone who has a transmitter to follow the rules it still won't change a thing. That is the truth of the whole matter and I've seen this happen. Look at internet radio for example look at the tens of thousands of stations that were shut down by a few greedy mongrels and a lot of them did follow the rules so you tell me. I hear the preaching all the time but the truth of the matter is that they want to shut hobby radio broadcasters down they will figure out any way shape and form to do it even if it means turning one against the other they will do it. So no I don't believe what Anthony is doing is going to harm us at all if anything it will help the cause. I'm one who can see things without looking through rose colored glasses unfortunately some have an idealistic belief system but that belief system is certainly not the truth. You can fool all of the people some of the time but not some of the people all of the time we are some of those people who you won't fool. Many folks would find it hard to believe it makes any sense to spend gobs of money to travel 150 feet. just like cocaine is a addiction and known as the big lie so too is this belief system when you try and tell it to the rest of the world they know that it's the big lie but many people have to tell it to themselves enough times to get themselves to believe it so that they can tell the big lie to the rest of the world. that in the possible litigation makes them continue to tell the lie. That is why we are lumped and will continue to be lumped until a change comes. And living on your own island won't change what happens in the subject of universe making it the Ultimate Universe. We learn this in metaphysics. it is easy to be brainwashed by what the masses are saying because they're like the borg to they are brainwashed into thinking the same thing. But the leaders who are not brainwashed know differently thus making the change for those that have already been infected by that same belief system which is not true. believing that the FCC hasn't already jumped us all into one big lump sum pirate or not well that's just another big lie. So good luck with that.
I can agree with Carl's early post, and I try to stay out of politics on the site, especially since I'm newer and this stuff has been going on a lot longer than I've been here, so I don't feel it's my place to step in, most of the time. I'd rather discuss tech topics, it's more neutral and useful.
I think Carl put it perfectly. I see some of these threads and they make me squirm, thinking a topic could be a couple of words away from being locked or postings removed, the hammer coming down. If it was a thriller movie, that might be a nice feeling, but... Those could be my two words, so I keep my opinions on my own sites for the most part.
Usually I don't get involved, but I do want to stand up for Atrain, he's really doing some great things for radio, he takes action, where many on the boards seem to be full of speculators, I liken them to guys at a bar, sitting around talking about opening their motorcycle emporium or whatever their passion is, but you know they'll be there next year, or the year after that, saying the same thing but not doing anything about it.
I like seeing action and through it getting inspired to do my own radio projects, so I believe Atrain is on the right track and I support him.
As for getting an AM transmitter, I know you were looking for one, and have been talking about it for a long time, so congratulations!
mram1500 said: "So, you admit that you are a "Pirate" operator?"
My recollection was that it was one-tenth of a watt and had a short piece of wire for an antenna--it just kind of dangled on the floor. Keep in mind too, that back then, there was no where's near as much noise on the AM band as there is now, and since AM was all there was, the radios were much more sensitive. That transmitter today probably wouldn't even get out of the driveway. That little unit was something else--bare metal with no case. I can't tell you how many times 120 volts shot through my young teenage body. I had no clue what 'grounding' meant. Had a lot of fun with that thing, though. I would tape songs off the Top 40 stations and play them to the neigborhood kids. Broadcasting was in my blood, very similar to what 'atrain' said--it was an early passion. A couple of years later I went to work in radio--stayed there over 50 years. Good times, great memories.
I remember around 1982 I saw an ad in the classified section of popular Electronics for an FM transmitter that came with an F connector on it and a little antenna. I had one of those FM stereo antennas outside on the roof and hey what do you know same type of connector. I thought let's connect this to the outside antenna and see what we get. I pointed the antenna towards the high school that was 3 miles away. many students lived near that school and when I found out the signal went that far I told them about it. At first they were at disbelief but when a few students picked up my radio station they were excited as I play the album Rock Tracks that they really loved and with no commercials. It was fun taking requests and running those shows. I did them Friday nights till 3 AM Sat went to sleep and Saturday when I woke up and ate I ran till 3AM Sunday. On Sunday I ran till 9PM. it was such a rush being heard and I quickly was the BMC in the school. I think everyone who really loves the hobby should really be able to have that experience as it can only be achieved by obtaining an audience. To abtain an audience you need range.
I think I'm finally getting a better picture of what TheLegacy is about with his last post, and the line about getting an audience. I can see that once you do that, it's what you hunger for. That mode of expression that comes so easily on the net, where we can set up a blog or Fatbook and people will read it, because it's broadcast worldwide.
Without listeners, we're left out of that part of socializing by radio: the feedback, and knowing you're doing something good for someone else, even if it's only entertaining them for a while.
I admit, I'm more on the radical side, if something isn't daring and rocking the system, it's just not that exciting. I feel burned by a radio system that with vastly unappealing programming and that doesn't take any big chances and try new and exciting things. I feel ripped off.
I believe I can do much better than commercial oldies on automation, if given a chance, and I have friends who would be in on it with me, for the chance at playing before an actual audience. It can all be done on a shoestring budget that the rules don't allow. Just hearing Atrain's list of shows he intends to run is exciting!
I guess putting on a Part 15 station is radical to begin with in a way, most people never think about doing that, but I think it's natural when you know you have something, to want to do more with it. Should you? I think that's up to you how far you want to take it.
The thing is, you're going to have thinking people with opinions, when someone gets into low power broadcasting.
Carl: I once knew a guy that was a camera operator for the now defunct PTL (Pass the Loot) Club. He said that Tammy Faye's tears were scripted and was told to zoom in when she began to cry.
It's harder to get realistic tears on the radio.
So what you're saying is that Tammy Faye may not have been the big mess she looked like on TV?
I am afraid that Tammy might have been a fraud. Now Jim on the other hand...
In my professional career as a Consultant I have dealt with many bureaucrats and individuals with power in some of the largest organizations in the world. You're not only selling your ideas, but you're selling yourself (and those around you).
To get them to move off their immediate reaction of NO, you have to make something a win-win proposition. They have to get something out of what you're proposing as well. Appealing to common sense, or what is right, or logical or even emotions just doesn't cut it. The problem with many call-to-action groups is that they just don't understand that single basic principle, and so they rarely get the action they want.
It is also why the pirate issue is so important to the FM initiative. Personal opinions aside, why would the FCC (and others) listen to what they perceive is mostly a bunch of pirates (from their perspective)? Whether it's true or not - again, perception is reality.
And that's also why anything that is proposed has to be couched in terms that address their objectives, issues and concerns, and not those of the proposers. That means you have to do your research and really understand where they are coming from, before you do anything. I just don't see that happening to date. To put it bluntly, it appears to be 'all about us', as opposed to anything else.
It's one of the reasons I backed away from all this, even though at the start I was quite enthusiastic. The upcoming plethora of FM translators has changed the landscape even further. I still believe a scaled down version might be possible, perhaps on the AM band, but attitudes have to shift to make even that work.
Anyway, just my personal opinions. I believe what this thread has morphed into has run its course.
I am sure We at the Initiative have taken all of this in consideration. Our new information we want to share with the participants is a major milestone. However if your really want to know what we are all about I really encourage you to tell us what is the best time for a meeting. I'm looking at maybe Friday-Sunday. This meeting is based on some very helpful information that was obtained that may have helped the 1972 rejected petition. As far as the translators, separate service, thinking of other bands in case FM can't work all because of crowding, All has been taken into consideration in our program. There is too much to try and text and also that paperwork is in the works. So we have come a long way in the program itself and I personally want to thank those who took the time to do the super hard homework it took to make this milestone possible. Thanks to all our hard working participants.
Dj Troy
Programmer/Owner of
The Legacy
@Artisian Got to be the most intelligent comment I've read concerning this whole fiasco (for lack of a better word)
ArtisanRadio Said:
To put it bluntly, it appears to be 'all about us', as opposed to anything else.
It's one of the reasons I backed away from all this, even though at the start I was quite enthusiastic.
Sadly MrBruce Said:
Yeah, been trying to get my point across that the inititive is loosing steam because too much is being asked for and those who supported it are dropping like flies and having the other part 15 sites saying no, nada, is helping to further loose more steam.
Two or three people are not going to convince the FCC consider a change in any broadcast band and the more the attempts that is made to present another case and point, the more people say, okay I am dropping out also.
I guess I am going to remain neutral, you guys hash this out, because the more I try to say don't ask for so much in the inititive, or say don't ask for that, it continues to be part of the plan as well as something new. Asking means it is what we want, but yes there are others in the industry who also have a say in all of this and if your ideas do not include them, you are asking for all of this for yourselves and not considering those your new service will effect the most, the licensed broadcasters. But, a word of caution, the more you put on the plate, the better the chance for failure. Can't say it enough.
Bruce.
The initiative needs proper planning with engineering and lawyers. A dude in his basement spinning scratchy records isn't going to convince anybody anything. Thats my biggest problem with the whole thing and why I can't back it nor see it going anywhere. I'd be all for it when it gets serious.
Its as serious as it gets. While working on the FM part of the Initiative a document constructor, homework doer stumbled upon a scheme to kill part 15 by the same group in question who is crying about LPFM. In this finding of information called for an alarm and thus we need to talk about this information to everyone at the same time. As far as I am concerned I would like to concentrate on FM, maybe AM at the same time However I have always been all about the Pro FM.. But all of that is irrelevant at the moment. If anyone needs to have proof at least a witness to our construction of a document you can ask Carl Blare, Station8, Mram, A-Train if such a document for more power exists (actually in construction). However due to our most recent find we need to deal with this disturbing information before we can ask for AM, FM, SW, LW, or anything dealing with more power for Hobby Radio Broadcasting. Even leaving it alone as it is may not be a suitable option meaning this find left unturned and ignored will be detrimental and lethal poison to the hobby you all claim to love and want to protect. This is not a game. This is a Warning which you all need to heed. If this hobby dies and you've done nothing its your own fault. That is all I will say until the meeting. The enemy probably nas enough infor now to act faster to kill you broadcasters off faster now already.