COURAGE, TRUTH & BOOTY:

If you use Reddit, you know this little fellow well.

Did you know there is a Pirate Radio sub reddit?  Yep.

http://www.reddit.com/r/pirateradio/

I'm one of the mods.  It's been sorta dead, so, let's spice it up shall we?  Check it out, add some piratey stuff to it, make it your own.

Here's a post I put up on Reddit recently;  it's in answer to the question of 'what do you do that makes you stand out in a crowd of 200 random people.. prize is $1 MILLION dollars.  Theoretical, of course,  Anyway.. here's the Reddit post they wanted:



All-righty then.  It's really simple, but it took a few years to figure out.

First, I'll go over the list of gear I use for easy setup and tear down.  Obviously, get a transmitter.  I use the Broadcast Warehouse TX 150.  150 watts.  Plenty of power for a small town.  Here's the full list of ones they make:

http://www.broadcastwarehouse.com/fm-transmitters/60/cat

I use the 6th one down from the top- 150W power.  They go up to 1000 watts and down to 1watt.  UK based company, excellent products.

Next you need an antenna.  I prefer one of two antenna's.  The first one is an old pirate radio standby called a Comet.  Cheap, easy to set up, easy to tune.  Model number  CFM95SL 5/8 wave.

http://www.progressive-co…

Now this is a big deal for the radio world. Maybe, just maybe, we'll get some decent radio stations on the air again.
Start your own low power FM station!
March 19, 2012
We did it! Today the FCC announced the biggest victory for community radio since we led the fight to pass the Local Community Radio Act more than a year ago. The FCC will dismiss thousands of applications for translators (repeater stations) to clear the airwaves for community radio. Across the country, hundreds of channels that would have gone to giant networks will now be preserved for our communities to use. This victory would not have happened without years of effective advocacy from Prometheus and grassroots activists. And we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you! (Scroll down to read our full press release.)
Today's announcement will help hundreds of local groups to build their own community radio stations for the first time. But our work isn't over. We still have another fight ahead at the …

I recently was asked how to do this, with more detail, on Reddit. Here's what I put there (with some additional infos):
Transmitter, dipole antenna and cable $3000 Package here: http://progressive-concepts.com/info/item.php?id=812
Mast assembly $150 (base and poles): Insulated pivot base assembly http://www.ebay.com/itm/160748331985?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1125 Military antenna mast support poles (4ft each X 12): http://www.ebay.com/itm/120825971714?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_849wt_882
Guy-wire and stakes (home depot): $50
Laptop with USB Mixer and 2 mics Laptop (any will do): $400
Behringer 1204BUSB Mixer $200 http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/X1204USB.aspx
2 Shure SM57 Mics with Stands (but any mics will do): $275 http://amzn.to/xSh1bs
This is all you need to get going. Total: $4,075
If you want a really small antenna for stealth, go with this 1/4 wave $60: http://www.ebay.com/itm/140695102306?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&…

To the IAmA folks at reddit, this is, indeed, me.

Pirate Radio USA, the movie, is available to watch free online (hulu) here:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/150136/pirate-radio-usa
Well worth the time.