Pirate radio stations are have become something of a fad during the past 30 years as the technology has become more available and especially in the last 10 years as digital media has become THE way to listen to music. Starting a radio station may be easier than most people realize, especially with some of the tools that are readily available now.
Most radio stations use a Trylon tower or some other variety of radio tower. Additionally, radio pirates have been known to modify WISP towers to broadcast a signal. The FCC has very strict regulations on the use of WISP towers, Trylon towers and all other broadcast devices and you should research their guidelines and follow all laws and regulations implicitly. However, if you keep broadcast frequencies within the limits, there’s a lot of fun to be had.
iPods and other MP3 players hold large amounts of media, and can be used to start small, low frequency pirate radio stations without the use of a large radio tower. There are a wide selection of FM frequency transmitters available for MP3 players that can help you create a low-frequency channel.
To modify an FM modulator, you will need to access the internal antenna. By exposing the antenna from the plastic cover you can significantly increase the range of the FM transmitter. Be forewarned however that this will, in all likelihood, void the warranty. There are some creative ways to boost the signal beyond this, by using small antennas, but you run the risk of damaging your device if you are not careful.
After exposing the antenna, you will need to make sure you have access to all of the available FM frequencies that your MP3 players. Some transmitters come pre-programmed, but others may require you to install software. Once the FM transmitter is ready, you can begin to broadcast a mobile pirate radio station.
If you have ever used a device that uses FM modulation you might have been sitting at a red light and noticed that you can hear music from another care nearby. This is the basic principle in mobile-pirate radio. If you can create an FM frequency that is strong enough to disturb others, and you can broadcast that frequency across multiple bands, you can create a pirate radio station without the aid of expensive radio towers.
This activity can be fun and enjoyable especially when you run across people who insist upon rolling their windows down and blasting the radio at its highest volume. Using your newly created MP3 player pirate radio station, you can take matters into your own hands and have a little fun at the same time. Imagine replacing Hip Hop with Classical Standards… That’s entertainment.
Art Gib writes for Champion Radio (http://www.championradio.com), an online merchant providing Trylon towers, WISP towers and a variety of radio tower products.
