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A local Fishing Bait and Tackle shop started using an FM transmitter a couple months ago to broadcast fishing info reports and to promote their business. By proxy, I’ve had contact with the owner. I haven’t asked but it seems unlikely that he consulted with City Fathers for permission to broadcast from his store.
He bought the transmitter on Ebay, put his info on a CD and plays it repeat mode 24/7.
My contact with him was due to a local Pirate FM station that heard his broadcast. The Pirate was very worried that a 24/7 broadcast such as this would bring the FCC into town to investigate. So, he put a friendly note on the shop door advising the owner to shut down so as not to cause a problem for the Pirate. Ironic situation.
The shops signal can be heard over a 1/4 to 1/2 mile radius. Perhaps a little over the field strength limit but causing no interference.
Anyway, the owner sent the transmitter to our shop to have it checked out as we service the City two-way radios.
It was purchased on Ebay. One of those No-Name Far-East FM’s that are priced to sale. It does have some technical problems. The Pilot tone is way over deviated (50 kHz). The chassi is very microphonic meaning slight vibrations modulate the carrier (don’t turn the monitor speakers up to loud.) RF feedback occurs if using the whip antenna supplied (he is using a remote ground plane antenna inside the shop.) The program audio is a bit Fuzzy probably due to the over-deviated Pilot tone. Fortunately the transmitter harmonic output appears to be acceptable.
But now I’m rambling… At some point I’ll ask if the shop owner approached the City regarding its use and report back.
