Partner Site Update - Part15.us

Our friends over at Part15.us tell us that server problems have been getting them down but that all should be well shortly. The content was moved to a healthier machine and they are waiting for the DNS to catch up to the new location.

While you're waiting for that site to come back, check out some of the other links below and look at some of our earlier content here, in case you missed it the first time around.

Popular posts include Antennas, getting rid of hum and grounding. The least popular post is here - 1 view, and that was probably me. Oh well...

On the air for less than $10.00?

If you’re interested in trying low power broadcasting without any big commitment, the BH 1417 chip is your friend - a cheap, effective little IC from ROHM. The very good news is that this interesting FM stereo transmitter chip is widely available in a variety of ready-to-use-and-abuse forms from your local discount store or ebay seller.

Sold as a "Car FM Transmitter Modulator for MP3 players" or some similar sounding name, these fully assembled (and often FCC Certified) transmitters can be an easy entry into experimental broadcasting. A sound source, a windowsill and perhaps a tiny bit of hacking and you're on the air.

On the downside, the range will be measured in hundres of yards, not in miles and how long these little set ups will last is anybody's guess. But, we're talking about cheap fun for beginners here, so let's have fun! Most of these low cost, low power transmitters use some form of this schematic, a suggested starting point from the manufacturer. What's exciting about these is first of all the low price. As Mad Magazine used to say, "CHEAP!"

Click here to see a sort of user review, some very minor hacks that increase range and random thoughts on powering this little guy with solar power

A Little Light Spring Reading - Updated with Tubes

Spring is here, and the mind of the low power broadcaster turns to low power broadcasting! There aren’t any low power broadcasting courses at the local college and if you are one of our international visitors, there might not be any recognition of low power broadcasting in your home country at all.

Your low power radio blog is here to help!

Below you will find two publications written in the 1990s by dedicated souls who tried to fill the gap between what we know, and what we'd like to know, about low power radio.

Some will be a bit out of date, but all is free and you just might discover a few "ah-hah!" moments lurking in these learned tomes:

Low Power Broadcasting - Mission Edition The "extended version" of a book we brought you last year.

Handbook for Tube Based Part 15 and Low Power Transmitters   If you think toobs are cool, this is the book for yoo, schematics, layouts, trouble shooting, antenna issues, grounding and all that good stuff. Sheesh! I finally fixed the link :-)

Be sure to check last year's spring reading post here for more reading fun.

Enjoy!

My Baloney Has a First Name

A recent perusal of some of the radio blogs (some of which are linked on my blog) shows a disturbing trend. Lately I've noticed an increase of blatantly false information being disseminated by people who have chosen to oppose experimental broadcasting.

Crotchety hams, trolls and other digital malingerers have taken it upon themselves to declare that "the FCC is 'reviewing' part 15 (the regulations that govern low power radio) and other assorted nonsense.

Apparently deeply perturbed by the new opportunities inexpensive electronic technology provides to today's broadcast experimenter, these troglodytes are out to stop us from having fun. Don’t let this mental masturbation deter you from enjoying our hobby!

So what's an experimental broadcaster to do?

Read more at My Baloney has a First Name… Part 2

Still More Stolen Moments, Other's Radio Writings

Before commercial radio turned into a cesspool of sociopaths, populated by uptight, back-stabbing, scum buckets, people used to get into the industry because they loved the technology. Please to be enjoying this delightful look back:

The Story of Bootleg Radio 1610
by Robert R. Kegerreis, 12.30.2008
"...With a mail order kit from Allied Radio that had been designed for electronic experiments, I began building a low-power radio transmitter. Technically the experiment was titled "how to build a phone oscillator." The kit contained one vacuum tube, a small electrical transformer, several resistors and capacitors, and a tuning coil. My job was to follow the schematic, place the components in the right place and solder them together. Then according to the instructions, by attaching a ground wire, antenna and microphone, I would be 'on the air'..."

Read Robert's entire article at Radio World