Your Own Pirate Radio station?

[@Radiodotco]

Arrggg matey! Let's take to the high broadcasting seas 🏴‍☠️

[@PSYCHOPATHiO]

this video made me remember how the world was back in the early 2000s, simple internet and no youtube gamers.

[@brettcooper3893]

I know. I run a pirate station currently and I'll tell ya what: when a natural disaster strikes, people aren't going to be logging onto KZbin for information, they're going to be tuning into radio, which is why I've got my station able to operate off of car batteries so I can work in conjunction with local ham radio operators in times of emergency.

[@JYAF]

@@brettcooper3893 I'm trying to do the same thing. Do you know a substitute for radio locator that doesn't require internet? Anything would be appreciated! Thank you!

[@danholocaust7364]

probably the best way to do it is to build this station inside a bunker somewhere near some forest and let it run on batteries.

[@xtechnolegendx]

Or have a ham radio or something attached to the auxiliary so you can be miles away from the thing lol

[@BitsofSkin]

A HAM radio? For Normal FM TX? STFU you clown of a boy!

[@mehmedkaanyaman6740]

Sealand

[@userNULL]

@@BitsofSkin Hes talking broadcasting the audio on a HAM to another HAM receiver with the output into the input of the transmitter, which still isnt a good idea but

[@tristangrange6564]

i would rather put a solar generator on it so it could run infinitely

[@AudiophileTubes]

I am an avid scanner and shortwave radio enthusiast. There are many 'pirate' radio stations you can hear on weeknights on 6.925 MHz (USB mode), especially on weekends and holidays. Even inexpensive portable receivers with a BFO will do the trick, but you have to have a long piece of wire clipped onto the existing whip antenna, hopefully one that runs outside or near a window. Happy listening!

[@AudiophileTubes]

There is a lot of 'pirate radio' activity on the shortwave bands, specifically on 6.925 MHz AM or 6.955 MHz sideband. This past weekend, I was listening for pirates on those 2 frequencies, and heard about 3 of them broadcasting!

[@boomstick900]

I'm going to make a radio station that plays nothing but dank memes 24/7.

[@bigcheese6795]

boomstick900 am still waiting for ur radio station lmao

[@flamethrower82]

That sounds like a fun idea!!! If I had a car I'd do it just to piss off the libtards in my area!!

[@itsme8575]

still waiting..

[@danschreffler1280]

Broadcast a warning about eating Tide Pods.

[@f0XY1337_]

Xd

[@DustyEggSauce]

Holy shit i havent seen winamp in forever

[@landpirate1968]

Nice video. I'm glad you gave the warning to all wannabe DJs about interference,etc. and made a disclaimer. Pirate radio is a lot of fun, but illegal. Using radio locator is a great idea for finding a clear frequency. In the good ole days it was hit or miss on that one. Generally, if you don't play really offensive content and stay off someone else's frequency, you're ok.

[@MrPillowStudios]

No no no. Part 15 allows you to used FCC approved transmitters on the FM and AM bands that transmit under 61 metres. Thank you!

[@colindale3027]

PERFICK - Forgot to say I was one of the first Radio Pirates in England in 1964 on the Gun-Towers, Thames Estuary, UK.. RADIO SUTCH. Have a look at my site Colin Dale Radio Sutch .. We English used to get it done until Poxy Politicians Fucked it up ! The bastard who stopped Pirate Radio in the UK was a Prime Minister Harold Wilson ( he's dead ) a real dick head, he even fucked up Rhodesia. You all have a nice day. Regards, Colin Dale..

[@crimsonking842]

By the way, thanks for making this video. It's probably one of the more easy to understand tutorials on this subject.

[@SugarbabySunny]

I have a little fm broadcaster for playing music from my phone to the car radio. I put it on the radiator in the 125+ year old apartment we lived in and I walked a block away and still picked up my music on my pocket radio! The radiator worked as an antenna!

[@Muchcertified]

Been some time.... 11 years, crazy

[@scottbailey1560]

The rule for unlicensed Part 15 FM is a limit of 250 uV/m at 3 meters. I understand totally that there is no field strength meter that doesn't cost thousands of dollars to measure field intensity. I would think it would be safe to say as long as you don't go over 1/2 mile, then that would be fine. I have read the only big corporate broadcasters are the ones that complain the FCC about Part 15 Operators, but I think if you keep it down under 1/2 mile, you shouldn't have any problems.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

I've been told that a lot. I have worked on air on real radio stations in the past, and hope to do it again.

[@AntiqueRadios]

When it comes to FM height is everything. Height, height, and more height is what I learned in the broadcast biz. Also you need to consider coaxial cable line loss. It's best to install the transmitter in a waterproof container and mount it directly below your antenna as this will keep line loss to a minimum. Just run your A/C power adaptor line and audio lines outside your window and up to your transmitter and your set.

[@BlackPride1000]

AntiqueRadios With What You Said Will This Give Me More Distance When Transmitting

[@kungpow8062]

+AntiqueRadios so if I had a small(ish) antenna on top of a hill overlooking a valley with a small town underneath, would I be able to cover the majority of the town. (its like 1 or 2 square miles)

[@AudiophileTubes]

I'm a radio listener, and i've never heard an FM pirate. I hear many shortwave pirates though, mainly on 6.925 MHz, AM. They come on during weekend or holiday evenings. Just hook up a wire antenna at least 20 feet or more in length (you can clip it on your shortwave radio's whip antenna) near a window.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

I swear that some times I do get out that far, despite what some say. The FM-25B is fully capable of getting out 1 mile. It all depends on your antenna and it's height. If you don't believe me, come and do a field test.

[@choppergirl]

Using a simple handheld radio transmitter, tune in a station, and then twist it around 360 degrees. You will see at one point, you get full strength, but at 90 degrees to that, you will get null signal. The ferrite coil is very directional. Someone could use this to walk right to you. Their equipment works on same pricipal, but is designed specifically for radio direction finding, and they measure from 2 places, draw the lines on the map, and where the lines meet, boom, there's your station.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

It is my Antennacraft FM-6, which is connected to the Sony radio you see in the video. It is used for receiving FM stations.

[@choppergirl]

They use radio direction finding equipment, which is not hard to do. Any radio with a ferrite bar can be used as direction finder. When the ferrite bar is broadside to the transmitter, the signal will be at full strength. When pointed directly at the radio signal, a "nulling" effect will happen, and you hear no signal. Just follow where the ferrite bar is pointing when the station is "nulled out" and it will lead you right to the station. Try it with a common household portable AM radio.

[@techmanmotherboard9505]

you just need to know what type of transmitter to buy

[@eternalfire1244]

@Ubstudios When I built my radio station (20W with +6dB antenna) in college I made the conscious decision to sandbox the low power pc though to reduce the chances of anything screwing with anything in the beginning. Moved to a wired network connection so the journalism students could remotely upload news. A good firewall is a nice way to reduce the risk of anyone breaking in and causing interruptions.

[@g7mzh]

About 50 yards. The legal power limit for VHF senders in the UK is 50 nanowatts ERP, to allow for things like car radio adaptors.

[@carliraul]

Thanks to both of you for the info. I really want to start my own station but I cant afford trouble with the FCC. Seems everyone has different information on the topic, some say the main thing is to not cause interference while others say broadcasting on the FM dial is just plain crazy. I'm assuming living right next to NYC would not help my cause either.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@yamahonkawazuki Generally the farther away you go away from your transmitter, the less chance you have interfering with any licensed station, especially if you are broadcasting legally. The station in the video faded in and out at about the quarter mile mark, which is par with the FM-25B.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

From Ramsey Electronics: The present edition of Part 15 of the FCC rules does not provide detailed guidance on ALL aspects of using a low-power transmitter such as the FM25B. The main point is that you may not cause any interference whatsoever to licensed broadcast services and that you must be willing to put up with any interference that you may experience.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

Yes you can. As I said in the video, the audio source is really up to you.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@pce81z Thats remaining 100% legal. Depending on where you are, your FM-25B or equivalent may just get out beyond a mile or so. Antenna height is a big factor. I have trouble believing the FCC would care about an FM-25B with 25mW, if you don't egg them on or give them a reason to fine you.

[@warmowed]

check with your local and state laws too! for those in North Carolina regardless of county as of 11-16-2012 so long as you don't interfere with other stations and you stay under a 3 mile transmission range at 12watts your allowed to transimit all you want :D

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@Djcaribbean read the instructions, its under the lid not on the outside. There are three switches that correspond to what frequency you want it on.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@ICOM2957 I'm pretty sure you're ok, just as long as you don't fuzz up a license station. The FCC doesn't really care about Tropo or Sporadic E. I'm sure they get flooded with calls when it happens but they likely just say its the atmosphere.

[@cryptostorm76]

you need at least 100watts or more to get an entire city on all normal radios

[@ubstudiosfilms]

highly illegal.

[@cryptostorm76]

yeh but u cant go jail lol ive ran 4 so far caught and arrested never banged up went to court for pence fines

[@MarkAyt]

+John clarke Here in Dublin, Ireland, there used to be a station broadcasting on only 50 watts from a mountain just to the south of the city and they covered the whole city and further!

[@cryptostorm76]

am in belfast lol used to dx many dudblin pirates from sunset to nsr they both had 300 watts but used wicklow hills ,ive a 25watts tx here at 150m and can reach approx 45 miles Mark Ayt

[@WildRandomVideos-wo3xe]

@@ubstudiosfilms Unless you have a license

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@JZFProductions You gotta make sure none of the components are touching. If you soldered them like the directions say, just clip the wire right near the solder connection (on the bottom) and you'll do fine. Check the directions, I am unfamiliar with the FM10C.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@outatime1955 Yes, this is true. FM operates on a sort of capture basis, where the stronger signal will be what the receiver locks on to. If your station is stronger, almost all FM radios will lock onto yours. I'd like to add that commercial FM stations transmit up to 100kw in power. The chances of fuzzing up a 100kw station, unless you're on fringe coverage, are low.

[@bratina501]

I am starting to run a micro broadcaster but for now using one of the car FM transmitters which I discovered has a range of about 300 feet. I too use Winamp but a plugin called Stereo Tool which does multiplex FM stereo generation and also RDS generation along with full multiband processing. I can have good audio and also RDS data while still staying within 200 KHz of bandwidth and also adding stereo to what would normally be a mono transmitter.

[@Trance88]

Holy crap, man! I'd love to have a pirate radio station that travels around a mile.

[@18436Melissa]

The FCC would not like that.

[@619xnomo]

@@18436Melissa They really don’t care as long as you aren’t interfering with other frequencies.

[@MikePowlas]

​@@18436Melissa Well we have 3 stations that has been running for 8+ years and no FCC at all. So like many have said. "long as you do not interfer with any other stations transmission or the people of the public in any way" You most likely will be able to be on the air for years to come. 📻

[@ReiMomo]

There is a program that is supposed to tune and equalize the audio before is transmitted over FM, it's a plugging for Winamp, it's called Stereo Tool.

[@charlie1452]

From the FCC Website---- PART 15 DEVICES Unlicensed operation on the AM and FM radio broadcast bands is permitted for some extremely low powered devices covered under Part 15 of the FCC's rules. On FM frequencies, these devices are limited to an effective service range of approximately 200 feet (61 meters). See 47 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Section 15.239, and the July 24, 1991 Public Notice.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@bjtaudio I agree about the 100 pirates in one area sentence. In Salt Lake City however, the band was full of licensed stations. There are only three places where a pirate radio station could broadcast in that city. In the larger cities, pirate stations will be less to none at all. Out in the country however, where I am now, there are only 5 stations on the entire FM band. That leaves a huge gap.

[@ubstudios]

Mine runs at a bare minimum. Just enough to cover my house area. Even with this minuscule power, the station gets out really well.

[@SignalsEverywhere]

@Ubstudios I used to own a good 5Watt but there was a near by station I had to worry about

[@ubstudiosfilms]

...and yes, it turns. I either point it north or south as to null out the powerful stations in town.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

Ramsey has a number of models. The FM-10 is the cheapest, but it also comes with a price, drifting frequency. I stuck with the FM-25B because it is a solid unit. Google can help you find cheaper ones.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@TheFoolishFilms Your best judgment and a good radio/car radio for open frequencies. I am not familiar with Canada's laws but I'm guessing they are pretty similar to the FCC. As long as you don't put out too much power and futz up a licensed station's broadcast, you'll be okay.

[@ApartmentKing66]

@sparky42 Signal strength: 250 microvolts per meter at 3 meters. No processing limitations (just don't overmodulate your signal). No antenna height restrictions. If you have the subcarrier gear, I don't think there are restrictions on msgs, as long as they're not lewd or profane.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

Radioshack does not carry Ramseys. They carry antennas but they aren't meant for FM broadcasting. I don't have anything other than audio cable from Radioshack.

[@BonziBuddys]

You have a radio DJ voice

[@bratina501]

I ran FM for a while but kept having problems with my transmitter drifting and took it off the air after just a couple days out of frustration I too used Winamp for my audio source for music playback and processing. Right now my station has moved over to AM but no Ramsey transmitter here. What I am using is known as the Alfredo Lite Special C-QUAM AM stereo transmitter but the version sold as a kit. Either way good advice for beginning microbroadcasters and good emphasis on being legal.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@geezlouies It depends greatly on a number of factors, most notably terrain. The antenna i have is a ground plane 1/4 wave FM broadcast antenna. I didn't modify my FM-25B at any point. It is the factory repaired/tested model. I also use RG-6 cable.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@juangta117 Look for a list of stations in your area and select an open frequency between them. Go out to your car and drive around on that frequency and see if any other stations are using it, if any.

[@brettcooper3893]

The disclaimer at the end is funny because the antenna he's using is in violation of Part 15. Plus the Ramsey kits were never FCC approved. If you want to be totally above-board, you need to use the Rangemaster transmitters. They're Part 15 approved by the FCC, but cost much more than the higher-powered units you can get on Amazon for less than $100 because of the fact that they carry the Part 15 approval.

[@jonfr]

In the EU the power is limited to 50 nanowatts. In the UK you are not allowed to broadcast more than 30 meters around your transmitter. Please see EU law 2006/771/EC for more details.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@lookforitcx I temporarily put it on hold while I was changing jobs. I'm looking to start it up again from a new location here within a month or so, we'll see.

[@JezzMan]

"veronica FM" from near bradford, yorkshire got me a 5watt pll and high gain 1/2wave antenna for about £200. It got out about 10 miles (high location / good quality setup) and could be upped to 30watts for "50 extra. I don't know if they still do them tho, I know you can get Veronica kits for a lot less (£100) but a decent antenna is what makes it work - go for half wave vertical they're the best.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

Yes, the part 15 FCC rules are confusing. You want to operate with very little power, and make sure you're not causing interference to a licensed radio station. Also, as far as the antenna, with that little of power, keep it high. The higher the better. If you just intend to broadcast around your neighborhood, the FM-25B is a good way to go. The biggie though is that you can't cause interference. As long as your not broadcasting like 20 watts, then you should be okay. Good luck.

[@BlGDOG18]

i used to have a 150 watt transmitter but had to downgrade, the signal was so strong, i could not hear any other station on the radio dial close to the transmitter location, but i got out over 15 miles through!

[@samljer]

yeah, but if thats all you wanted you can get a micro transmitter at like. radioshack, they broadcast like 10 feet or so. good for personal use

[@hollykelley2369]

I SEE THEM

[@ubstudiosfilms]

Sweepers usually. Branding or slogan could also be appropriate.

[@rentatrip1videos]

I have been using a Ramsey 30-B with "more power" found for sale on E-Bay - it has 1 watt - not stock 1/4 watt- I have used this unit for 3 years - nice - the 30-B has adjustable frequency - stereo adjustable balance , adjustable volume - I use a Blue Ball snow Ball usb Microphone and run everything through my lap top - via the head phone mini plug jack -"low power source out put-

[@CharlieT98]

what if I only use frequencies which are not used or off air, and I'm spontaneous with my pirate show times and dates, and I'm using a max of 5 watts for an fm transmitter? will I be likely to get caught bearing in mind I live in london??

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@mikedolgon The FM-25B is good, and legal. It all depends on height. The higher your antenna, the farther it will go.

[@swayamgohil]

Are you alive 1

[@DrentseRedneckOfficieel]

Here in The Netherlands there are pirate radio stations you can here in the halfe country sometimes. They are playing music like on my channel :)

[@ApartmentKing66]

I beg to differ with the comment description, unless the uploader's signal is not in compliance with Part 15 of the FCC Rules & Regs. The term "pirate" is NOT synonymous with "micro-broadcaster," which is the FCC term for Part 15 stations. "Pirate" basically denotes transmitter output power that's GREATER than that allowed for Part 15 FMs: 250 microvolts per meter @ 3 meters from the antenna. If your signal is stronger than that, you're in violation.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@kc8pnd I do, via a little light on the front of the FM-25b. It is hard to tell if you are overmodulating, which is why I listen to the station on multiple radios. I find if the light is barely blinking along with the music, I am not overmodulating. If its constantly blinking, chances are, I am.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@40dawilliams I still see the FM-25B on their web page.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

here is where it gets tricky. The part 15 rules are very vague. I figure, as long as you aren't causing interference, then you should be okay. Then again, my FM-25B puts out 1/4 of a watt and barely makes it half a mile. I think I'll be okay with that range. Its up to you in the end.

[@xrqkradio]

@caribootrail I have a Ramsey FM30b mounted 4ft off the ground; to my surprise it covers well with just the telescopic antenna the unit comes with. With a portable radio (Sony ICF-38) It covers few blocks with ease without pulling out the radios antenna. With my cheap aftermarket radio; it covers a town of 3,000. I can hear the signal at K-Mart about 3/4 miles in spots. A 1/4 wave Ground plane outdoors & RG-8 cable would improve coverage a bit. Older wood frame homes populate this area.

[@ApartmentKing66]

Not sure what you're asking. Is 20-30 watts legal? Not w/o an FCC license. How far would 20-30 go? Depends on a number of variables. Antenna height. Surrounding terrain (hilly? mountainous? flat?). Downtown w/tall buildings around or out on the prairie? I'd say about 10-15 miles. But you run a higher risk of attracting unwanted attention w/pwr like that if in a metro area. Bottom line: run a 20-30 watt rig without a note from Daddy, you're looking at a $10K price tag if caught. Good luck!

[@VWtech562]

if the idea of having your own radio station is to become famous.... good luck and get in line :)

[@rentatrip1videos]

I broaddcast within the legal FCC rules as set in Part 15 for low power FM radio - legal without license - However I do have a Class 3 FCC permit which I applied for when I worked as a radio announcer - it cost $10.00 in 1988 -

[@marvelousmattdj]

Veronica transmitters work very well.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@GameTownTV If you have the FM-25B, you should look in the manual and watch my 2nd video. The manual shows the specifics, the video shows where the switches are.

[@THE.FAKENEWS]

That song is bangin'

[@ubstudiosfilms]

Not true... FCC rules are very vague when it comes to antennas for part 15 fcc rules. They say nothing of the "FM-25B." Ramsey would not build them with external antenna outputs if they weren't supposed to have them. Also, whether they broadcast a mile or not depends a lot on terrain. Where I live, it is possible for my station to be heard (albeit very weak) a mile away. At this range, the station is barely there, but audible. As I said, the higher the antenna, the better. Mine is 30 feet AGL.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@raffiapa I would strongly discourage modifying the FM-25B. If the unit ever breaks and you are forced to send it to Ramsey, they will not repair a modified unit. Also, modifying the transmitter to boost the power would be illegal. I get out pretty far on 25mW and am happy with it. The antenna height and type dictate how far you want to go. Keep it legal.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@starlightcincinnati I bet it was just so they could be made compliant, which helps those who buy it. If the FCC approves it (and they have) then its legal to use. I have never heard of a Ramsey kit being busted by the FCC, unless it was modified.

[@ApartmentKing66]

@stewartx5 "Unlicensed" does NOT automatically mean "illegal." If the station complies with Part 15.219 of the FCC Rules & Regs, you're just fine. I suggest you look it over if you haven't already, but your comment implies that you haven't.

[@cristianiman47]

Bro, this is 11 years old video 😱🎉

[@76SRV190]

Normally, you will get 3 cease and desist orders from the FCC via mail if you EVER get a complaint that goes further than the waste basket at the local FCC office. And that is IF the FCC even HEARS about it. Normally, one can operate even an illegal transmitter for years without getting a letter or even if, a visit from the FCC. My best HAM buddy built one when we were about 17, he left it on accidentally for twelve years and finally it got confiscated. Because of another HAM op complaint.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@Possumlivingdotcom Very good point. I was simply stating "pirate" really doesn't mean what it does when referring to radio. We're not pirates in the sense of stealing things, the airwaves should be public. Again, you have a good point.

[@SignalsEverywhere]

5 Watt fm is usually about 1 mile

[@BannedInBostonRadio]

Good primer. Thanks for posting.

[@synth77]

Did you say its actually legal to broadcast a small amount.In ireland here it something like €9000 for a 30 day licence for about a 5 mile radius.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@GTFORDMAN No, you don't absolutely need the internet to broadcast, but I like having the broadcast computer connected so I can add new music to it. Its totally up to you what you want.

[@mixerenter]

The FCC states that unlicensed broadcasting is legal up to 200 feet. Considering that people all around the world brodcast using in car transmitters and walkie talkies.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

@caribootrail When I had the antenna there I was getting about 1/4 mile under good conditions.

[@ApartmentKing66]

My Part 15 FM has 2 transmitters: I'm also currently using a Ramsey 25B which he shows here; my backup is an EDM, built in South Africa. Where I'd disagree with Ubstudios is on which AM transmitter to use: my Ramsey AM 25 was crap. A ton of work w/negligible range. If you're serious about Part 15 AM, go with a Hamilton Range Master. You may hafta save up, but if serious, you'll have urself a 1st class Part 15 AM. They're also FCC-certified so if it's adjusted properly, ur good to go.

[@sonofdamocles]

damn, yahoo. This feels like serious internet archeology.

[@jordanxozman]

@Ubstudios Where you at now?

[@ubstudiosfilms]

As much as some people disagree with the FM-25B, it is legal in my case. I keep the power low enough that nobody but my neighborhood would notice.

[@bjtaudio]

@ClickHereMusic Its a criminal act to operate a radio transmitter without a licence. In most countries, your allowed to transmit on the FM broadcast band with a very small amount of power which so weak it's range just makes it around the house, for you own listening. Radio Broadcasting is a public performance and requires copyright licencing and a broadcast licence, which specifies where transmitter site is to be installed , coverage pattern, spectrum, power, polarization, and program content.

[@thomaslowe942]

Best way to avoid getting caught by the fcc or the gov, is to only broadcast about 3 times out of a week or so.

[@raffiapa]

Hey! First of all, thanks for the awesome videos. I've already ordered the Ramsey FM25 kit, but had a question for you regarding the kit. Did you use any "upgrades" for the kit or just the provided parts? From what I understand (and I could be wrong) the Ramsey is a 25mW transmitter. Is this sufficient to broadcast say over a 5 mile radius? and if not, what hardware can I upgrade while putting the Ramsey kit together? Thanks for any information you can provide.

[@wessie1337]

The allowed power in Europe (UK belongs to it as far i know!) is 50nW wich is basicly about 10meters distance.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

If your power is low enough, I don't see why not. Don't do it excessively, and do it after midnight and you should be okay.

[@ubstudiosfilms]

I wouldn't want to push my station with 40 watts, though if it were legal, that would be sufficient to cover my entire city. I live in too big a metro, and someone would notice right away and complain. The power I am at right now is 1/4 of a watt, the most the Ramsey FM-25B can generate.

[@jdsweet3657]

I went the AM route, but what if we're below the AM band on a regular radio?

[@guyfrommybox]

what is part 15 of the FCC? i have limited knowledge of part 15.

[@jordanxozman]

Nice you live in Salt lake! You live right next to Century 16 theaters yeah???