TV transmitting question.

[henrysin44]

I want to start a local 5 mile radius analog tv station, i have a home made J-Pole antenna, power amp, and soon ill build the transmitter. My question is how legal is it, how likely will i get caught, and what is the penalty(s). I havent been able to find much on the topic and im going off the fact the FCC has abandoned analog TV transmissions and moved to DTV. This is my only source of info on legality, http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Save-Analog-TV/.

[henrysin44]

Re: TV transmitting question.

I want to start a local 5 mile radius analog tv station, i have a home made J-Pole antenna, power amp, and soon ill build the transmitter. My question is how legal is it, how likely will i get caught, and what is the penalty(s). I havent been able to find much on the topic and im going off the fact the FCC has abandoned analog TV transmissions and moved to DTV. This is my only source of info on legality, http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Save-Analog-TV/.

Im on the shoreline of Guilford CT in a medium populated town near the town green.

[henrysin44]

Re: TV transmitting question.

I want to start a local 5 mile radius analog tv station, i have a home made J-Pole antenna, power amp, and soon ill build the transmitter. My question is how legal is it, how likely will i get caught, and what is the penalty(s). I havent been able to find much on the topic and im going off the fact the FCC has abandoned analog TV transmissions and moved to DTV. This is my only source of info on legality, http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Save-Analog-TV/.

found this if useful http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spaces_%28radio%29

[JeffJ]

Re: TV transmitting question.

Broadcasting on a frequency you are not licensed to do so on is illegal as far as i know. illegal radio stations a;so referred to as pirate radio do this as well. The reason they license these things is so it can be regulated to ensure its not interfering with other services, emergency services, and so forth.

Long story short. If you get caught it's not going to be pleasant. and a 5 mile broadcast is bound to get attention.

Just as an example, I know i read some where that a lot of these analogue signals were purposed for internet and emergency services. so if you start causing issues with that the fine will probably be quite hefty. Further more unless your broadcasting "Original: content. you would not posses the licenses to broadcast the media you are wishing to do so. when people don't get paid their dues. they tend to try to prosecute to the full extent of the law if they can find you.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: TV transmitting question.

FCC regulations are still in place and in effect regardless of "the fact the FCC has abandoned analog TV transmissions and moved to DTV."

If you want to be on the up and square then you'll need an amateur radio operators license and know and follow the regs. Good luck and happy reading

[tom66]

Re: TV transmitting question.

How illegal? you would be talking four or five figure fines if you tried that in the UK, I imagine the same would apply in the US.

[JeffJ]

Re: TV transmitting question.

How illegal? you would be talking four or five figure fines if you tried that in the UK, I imagine the same would apply in the US.

I am fairly sure the US fines match Canadian fines. since we mirror each other for regulations. and in Canada its up to $25,000.

Edit: sorry in Canada its $100,000 if caught with an unlicensed transmitter. Up to $5000 or 1 year in jail for facilitation. They take this serious because it could cause the crippling of paid services, corporations or emergency services.

[stj]

Re: TV transmitting question.

you wont need to worry about the fine,
because they will probably bring a swat team when they come.
so they will kill your dog, throw a stun grenade through the window,
and then beat you to death.

unless you put up any defense - then your property will mysteriously burn down with you in it.


atleast that's how things have been going down recently!!!

[stj]

Re: TV transmitting question.

They take this serious because it could cause the crippling of paid services, corporations or emergency services.

no, they take it seriously because ever since crystal radio was invented it has been a powerfull propaganda/counter-propaganda tool.

that's why revolutions usually take over the broadcast-media as a high priority.

[Caleb]

Re: TV transmitting question.

You can FCC licensing pretty easily, go for an amateur license. After you have that under your belt get with the local ham radio guys and they can point you in the right way to lease some of those Unused TV Frequencies

[R_J]

Re: TV transmitting question.

I know in Canada the off are broacasters are still broadcasting on vhf channels 7 -13 although it is now a digital signal. so you could still interfere with their broadcast.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: TV transmitting question.

That is true here as well, I can pick up 5 VHF digital channels.

[Hondaman]

Re: TV transmitting question.

Please "do it right". Study the law, get the licenses, stay legal. Otherwise, your toddler could experience a stun grenade landing in its crib during the execution of a "no-knock" warrant:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art....ere-burns.html

Here's another take on that incident:

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/30/us...aid/index.html

Have you heard the phrase "militarization of the police"? You're going to be hearing it more in the coming years, I guarantee it.

[kc8adu]

Re: TV transmitting question.

you might be able to do lptv in analog.not sure how to go about licensing.
probably more trouble and expense than its worth.
getting your amateur radio licence however is easy.you could do atv but "broadcasting" is prohibited.
i participate with a small group on 439.25 here.
here is where you learn about line of sight and super high gain/narrow beamwidth antennas.
here is a recently acquired toy i may play with on my system.

[stj]

Re: TV transmitting question.

i think the police are going to become "in season" real soon myself - they have no idea how hard they will get hit once people convert fear into anger.


as for FCC license,
it's gonna get expensive real fast.
one regulation is you must record and archive ALL output and store it safely.
this is incase of any legal dispute over libel etc.

[truep]

Re: TV transmitting question.

As I recall, You can broadcast a 100 MW( max plate/ collector current) signal as long as it doesn't interfere with any licensed station.
Otherwise, BIG fines! I doubt a 100MW (.1 watt) would reach a 5 mile radius, but give it a try.

[goontron]

Re: TV transmitting question.

i had a 15kW, yes 15,000watt radio transmitter that would broadcast ~15 miles away on a dummy load. by the time i got home after leaving it on for a test the load was chard.

[stj]

Re: TV transmitting question.

your load was crap then.

i remember years ago making dummy loads.
the best way was to use a huge aray of parallel wired metal oxide resistors sandwiched between tin plates and submersed in an old 5Liter paint can filled with transformer oil.

[goontron]

Re: TV transmitting question.

your load was crap then.

i remember years ago making dummy loads.
the best way was to use a huge aray of parallel wired metal oxide resistors sandwiched between tin plates and submersed in an old 5Liter paint can filled with transformer oil.

"your load was crap then." for burning or broadcasting?
it was air (supposedly) cooled.

[stj]

Re: TV transmitting question.

your load was crap for handling the output power (without getting hot enough to change resistance/impedance or burn up)

air cooling wont work very well on high loads unless it's forced-air cooling with fans & heatsinks.
oil is silent, more compact and stops arcing.
it's just a lot more bulky.