Ambassador of Recreational Radio, owner operator of KDX Worldround Radio, webmaster for kdxradio.com, host of The Blare Blog.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Lefty Gomezsays
Ouch .
Can part 15 take over Ouch .
Can part 15 take over in this concept ? Can part 15 reach enough people to really matter >?
That is the question I am asking myself right now.
RFBsays
What Matters “Can part 15 take over in this concept ? Can part 15 reach enough people to really matter?”
Sure…if field strengths and antenna/input power limits are changed for the better. Those two items are what limits the reaching of enough people to really matter.
Next to expanding a station with synchronized systems or pushing beyond those limits of the rules anyway.
However it is a battle going much further than having rule change proposals. Those big wig violators will pull everything in their
arsenal to bear down on such efforts. Can’t disrupt the order of things per say.
And it’s just beginning with the proposal to put more restrictive restrictions on existing Part 15 devices..and that doesn’t just speak of baby monitors and the like. Remember the fella was talking about the AM broadcast band and turning it into an all digital hash tagging band, meaning our operations are currently at the ends of the double pump double barrel shotgun solution.
I would be more worried about that than worrying about program distribution and/or building credibility with a tiny group whom with without organization itself..will lead away from such endeavors.
By the time a small organization builds up any clout in the big wig violator controlled media place..our operations will be long gone due to those already proposed rule changes..ie all digital hash tag AM band.
Tic..toc…tic…toc….time’s a wasting.
RFB
censoredshipsays
Just discovered Prometheus Just discovered Prometheus Radio Project the other day.
Liked the spirit of their origin, but now seem watered down liberal give me type academic outpour.
Big difference from the days where they ran covert suitcase transmitters with umbrellas as antennas and up the sleeve microphones.
Low power licensing up to 100 watts has its place. Most metros could use several of these stations.
Stephen Dunifer who penned that excellent piece is a well known old school pirate radio leader and maker of transmitters used for pirate radio. His observations are right on, even though he has a material interest in promoting the pirate movement.
RFBsays
Solving Congestion By Adding More I don’t see the benefit of adding more clutter to the already cluttered spectrum in metro areas.
Those proposals would work well in non-congested areas. Unfortunately the entire East coast to the Mississippi is congested..both population wise and spectrum wise.
It will be interesting to see where they plan to park all that with the congested spectrum in those metro areas.
And besides all that, don’t throw under the rug the 6000+ standing by applications for LPFM’s and translators and booster stations that have been sitting for the last 13 years, all of whom are ready to shell out the big bucks to win the bid for their 200khz of FM spectrum…and it won’t be cheap!
RFB
ArtisanRadiosays
I’d like to believe that Part I’d like to believe that Part 15 matters. The limited broadcasting we can do, combined with the unlimited activities (same as the big boys) such as internet streaming, smartphone apps, websites with blogs, surely can make a difference. The key is exposure and getting the word out, I.e., marketing.
The ALPB is trying.
Exactly how are you trying to change things, RFB?
RFBsays
Doing To Change Things “Exactly how are you trying to change things, RFB?”
A good example..and one of quite a few, is reading through that Kansas Ham operator thread, and pointing out the incredible flaw in enforcement.
Another…pointing out that spending time trying to establish program distribution when that is already there in things like podomatic.com, radio4all.com or net or whatever, and others like yousenit, mailbigfile and so on, is time better spent on creating and drafting proposals to address issues of tilted enforcement AND changes to lift these totally ridiculous limits based on airplanes falling out of the sky and jamming big flame throwers or threats to their created cash cow.
As the sole responsible one for the operations and programing of my stations, I already established program distribution matters at the onset…which was 4 years ago, leaving plenty of time to focus on other matters and priorities.
Don’t get me wrong though, everything does need a starting point. But what I do stress is that the things being focused on are already established and well entrenched, and quite honestly far more reliable, and recognized.
Building the credibility will be based on how you begin it’s foundation. For what it’s worth, establishing a new program distribution network isn’t a bad thing, but it won’t earn any credibility or clout or attention to matters of administrative issues like the rules AND the crooked practices of enforcement of those rules.
Just how I see it..but how I see it is not everyone’s same position. I certainly won’t stand in ALPB’s way of what it and it’s membership and leadership wishes to do. But at the same token, by replying to your inquiry is but just one part of what I am going to do, and will do to bring a change to what needs changing…the rules and enforcement of them. And those are just the beginning! 🙂
RFB
Carl Blaresays
The Case For the ALPB Program Service The ALPB provides the only radio program distributorship in the world expressly for Part 15 Radio Stations.
The many other program sources are for general purposes such as podcasts, personal consumption, archival, et al.
Many podcast sources bear the caveat “for individual personal use only, not for public dissemination.”
ArtisanRadiosays
Sorry, but talk is cheap. Sorry, but talk is cheap. And it’s easy to be negative and critical, particularly in an environment such as this where it is relatively anonymous and you’re not interacting directly with anyone else.
It’s much harder to be positive and attempt to build something. That’s what the ALPB is attempting to do.
From where I see it, programming is just one aspect of the ALPB. Technical assistance, assistance in complying with the existing legal aspects of low power broadcasting (including copyright issues) – all are also there, if not so obvious.
I, for one, am in the process of designing and building apps for Smartphone users to allow them to tap into internet broadcast streams (as well as hotspot streams) – I will be offering this app up to the ALPB membership and they will be able to brand the app and distribute it under their own flag to their user community, and also make it available to the general population, if they so wish, via the Google Market, iTunes store or wherever. I’m starting with Android, and then IOS, but eventually want to also build it for Blackberry and Windows 8 Phone, as well as the PC. I’m doing this in any event, regardless of the ALPB, but the existence of the latter allows me to easily share with my fellow Part 15 broadcasters.
Nothing new in the apps, but try to find an individual radio station amongst the 30,000+ that are listed in TuneIn and other such vehicles – little guys just get lost. You can call this programming assistance or whatever you want, but I also see it as a great marketing tool.
It’s too bad that you have obviously chosen not to join the ALPB, as your experience in the radio industry and with Part 15 broadcasting would be invaluable.
RFBsays
Your Entitled AR, you are entitled to your opinion as is I and anyone else. You see it differently from how I see it. Regardless of what post it note label you slap on my prospective, it’s only a mere opinion, from one angle, from one voice.
As is mine.
The app your developing sounds neat. Though a plenty of apps like your building already exist, but perhaps you may have a little edge on a small part of the whole. However that app will still have to fish through the 30 thousand stations out there, unless the app is specifically programed to only look for specific stations..which isn’t a bad idea, as long as the end user knows what to put into the search and maybe they do..maybe they don’t.
Now I don’t want to draw country border lines but you live in Canada, not the US. Although the radio laws up there are “similar” they are NOT the same, nor is the processes to bring about changes because that system to bring about the changes is in of itself more complex than the rules. From your neck of the woods, perhaps programing could be more important than rule changes. It isn’t so here. The evidence is posted right over there in another thread and ignoring such evidence that change is desperately needed won’t help either.
By the time that organization “might” be ready to do something else besides hand out shows to fellow member stations, the process is and has been well underway to rip the guts right out of all of us down here in the US by adding stronger restrictions to Part 15 devices. And if anyone thinks that adding more digital crap to the band and adding more restrictions to Part 15 devices will help that AM band..they are not talking about adding more restrictions to baby monitors or wireless intercoms or wireless routers.
They are talking about Part 15 broadcasting. So does anyone really think that the process to put more restrictions on Part 15 devices is only applying to things not used in the AM band when the intent is to “try” to improve that AM band?
Think real hard about that.
And by the time you guys “might” be ready to tackle the administrative issues, they will be far ahead of the game which will make any attempts by anyone at that point..pointless.
The time to act is now..not 6 months or a year from now.
Talk is cheap..but action isn’t. So…who’s done more action lately eh? Speaking out about tilted enforcement IS action. Informing Part 15’ers about that IS action. Pointing out the obvious route to take IS action.
With the holidays fast approaching, concentration is on other things everywhere. After the new year begins, it will be time for more action, be it talk, or drafting rule change proposals.
Is it a hobby..or something real. That is a question asked by your organization’s temporarily stepped down chairman in a blog titled “So..now what?”
Is it live or Memorex? If they rip the rug out from under Part 15 AM broadcasting…well there is always the web eh? I can see where there would be a marketing opportunity at that point!
Good luck with that! And that’s not being sarcastic, it’s a serious good will wish.
RFB
Carl Blaresays
One Month Two Myths This month of December has people planning Christmas activities following the end of the world. That’s Myth # 1.
This month also has repetitious prophesies about the coming crackdown on Part 15 broadcasting. Myth # 2.
The line about “doing something with part 15 device interference on the AM band” was a “filler” line, a “padding” of a single speech with the other thoughtless line being “perhaps AM stations should have higher power”.
It was empty talk with no formal proposal attached, no follow-up plans, and is absurd on all counts. The interference to the AM band from electronic devices will continue to grow in the billion dollar industries that manufacture junk, and from AM stations themselves with their silly digital waste of time.
Part 15 radio stations are too few to be thought about at all, and only the pettiest of sneering loners have the time to pester us with innuendos of violation.
It’s easy to pick on small people, and some small people pick on each other, yet we are usually graceful in handling it.
In January we will only have the one myth to deal with.
mram1500says
What Are You Doing… The recent launch of The ALPB and The NLPBA covers the spectrum quite well without being redundant.
There are plenty of groups out there pushing for rule changes in the U.S. The NLPBA is one more with a fierce agenda to accomplish this.
The ALPB agenda is to help the license free, low power broadcaster improve their product. Members helping members with not just program content but also technical/operational advise. If there are no others doing this, our need is obvious.
Yes, there are thousands of online content providers. How many are you aware of? Members helping members is a great way to sort through the myriad of content providers not to mention developing our own unique programs to share.
The NLPBA has set their goal to bring rule changes. Go Guy! We all appreciate your efforts. One more group for rule change could make a difference.
The ALPB has set a goal to bring everyone of us UP to a professional level. Why? To improve the public’s appreciation of license free, low power broadcasting. The result, more support for license free, low power broadcasters not just in the U.S. but around the globe.
May we both be Winners…
Carl Blaresays
That’s Right Very well said, MRAM 1500, and to underscore a point….
I think we all agree that most of the public DOES NOT KNOW THAT LOW POWER BROADCASTING IS LEGAL.
Somewhat informed people might ask, “Are you an amateur (meaning, of course, a HAM)?”
That’s a tricky question because many part 15ers are amateur broadcasters in the literal sense, but of course licensed HAMs are officially designated as “amateur”.
This all goes to demonstrate that a public relations effort by the ALPB can serve the important function of making the public savvy to the legality and prospects of part 15 radio.
FURTHERMORE, as time goes along, further goals and objectives will arise as the ALPB grows.
thevalley1700amsays
More work for FCC I think they are scared because of the increased workload of patrolling the airwaves maybe?
Ouch .
Can part 15 take over
Ouch .
Can part 15 take over in this concept ? Can part 15 reach enough people to really matter >?
That is the question I am asking myself right now.
What Matters
“Can part 15 take over in this concept ? Can part 15 reach enough people to really matter?”
Sure…if field strengths and antenna/input power limits are changed for the better. Those two items are what limits the reaching of enough people to really matter.
Next to expanding a station with synchronized systems or pushing beyond those limits of the rules anyway.
However it is a battle going much further than having rule change proposals. Those big wig violators will pull everything in their
arsenal to bear down on such efforts. Can’t disrupt the order of things per say.
And it’s just beginning with the proposal to put more restrictive restrictions on existing Part 15 devices..and that doesn’t just speak of baby monitors and the like. Remember the fella was talking about the AM broadcast band and turning it into an all digital hash tagging band, meaning our operations are currently at the ends of the double pump double barrel shotgun solution.
I would be more worried about that than worrying about program distribution and/or building credibility with a tiny group whom with without organization itself..will lead away from such endeavors.
By the time a small organization builds up any clout in the big wig violator controlled media place..our operations will be long gone due to those already proposed rule changes..ie all digital hash tag AM band.
Tic..toc…tic…toc….time’s a wasting.
RFB
Just discovered Prometheus
Just discovered Prometheus Radio Project the other day.
Liked the spirit of their origin, but now seem watered down liberal give me type academic outpour.
Big difference from the days where they ran covert suitcase transmitters with umbrellas as antennas and up the sleeve microphones.
Low power licensing up to 100 watts has its place. Most metros could use several of these stations.
Stephen Dunifer who penned that excellent piece is a well known old school pirate radio leader and maker of transmitters used for pirate radio. His observations are right on, even though he has a material interest in promoting the pirate movement.
Solving Congestion By Adding More
I don’t see the benefit of adding more clutter to the already cluttered spectrum in metro areas.
Those proposals would work well in non-congested areas. Unfortunately the entire East coast to the Mississippi is congested..both population wise and spectrum wise.
It will be interesting to see where they plan to park all that with the congested spectrum in those metro areas.
And besides all that, don’t throw under the rug the 6000+ standing by applications for LPFM’s and translators and booster stations that have been sitting for the last 13 years, all of whom are ready to shell out the big bucks to win the bid for their 200khz of FM spectrum…and it won’t be cheap!
RFB
I’d like to believe that Part
I’d like to believe that Part 15 matters. The limited broadcasting we can do, combined with the unlimited activities (same as the big boys) such as internet streaming, smartphone apps, websites with blogs, surely can make a difference. The key is exposure and getting the word out, I.e., marketing.
The ALPB is trying.
Exactly how are you trying to change things, RFB?
Doing To Change Things
“Exactly how are you trying to change things, RFB?”
A good example..and one of quite a few, is reading through that Kansas Ham operator thread, and pointing out the incredible flaw in enforcement.
Another…pointing out that spending time trying to establish program distribution when that is already there in things like podomatic.com, radio4all.com or net or whatever, and others like yousenit, mailbigfile and so on, is time better spent on creating and drafting proposals to address issues of tilted enforcement AND changes to lift these totally ridiculous limits based on airplanes falling out of the sky and jamming big flame throwers or threats to their created cash cow.
As the sole responsible one for the operations and programing of my stations, I already established program distribution matters at the onset…which was 4 years ago, leaving plenty of time to focus on other matters and priorities.
Don’t get me wrong though, everything does need a starting point. But what I do stress is that the things being focused on are already established and well entrenched, and quite honestly far more reliable, and recognized.
Building the credibility will be based on how you begin it’s foundation. For what it’s worth, establishing a new program distribution network isn’t a bad thing, but it won’t earn any credibility or clout or attention to matters of administrative issues like the rules AND the crooked practices of enforcement of those rules.
Just how I see it..but how I see it is not everyone’s same position. I certainly won’t stand in ALPB’s way of what it and it’s membership and leadership wishes to do. But at the same token, by replying to your inquiry is but just one part of what I am going to do, and will do to bring a change to what needs changing…the rules and enforcement of them. And those are just the beginning! 🙂
RFB
The Case For the ALPB Program Service
The ALPB provides the only radio program distributorship in the world expressly for Part 15 Radio Stations.
The many other program sources are for general purposes such as podcasts, personal consumption, archival, et al.
Many podcast sources bear the caveat “for individual personal use only, not for public dissemination.”
Sorry, but talk is cheap.
Sorry, but talk is cheap. And it’s easy to be negative and critical, particularly in an environment such as this where it is relatively anonymous and you’re not interacting directly with anyone else.
It’s much harder to be positive and attempt to build something. That’s what the ALPB is attempting to do.
From where I see it, programming is just one aspect of the ALPB. Technical assistance, assistance in complying with the existing legal aspects of low power broadcasting (including copyright issues) – all are also there, if not so obvious.
I, for one, am in the process of designing and building apps for Smartphone users to allow them to tap into internet broadcast streams (as well as hotspot streams) – I will be offering this app up to the ALPB membership and they will be able to brand the app and distribute it under their own flag to their user community, and also make it available to the general population, if they so wish, via the Google Market, iTunes store or wherever. I’m starting with Android, and then IOS, but eventually want to also build it for Blackberry and Windows 8 Phone, as well as the PC. I’m doing this in any event, regardless of the ALPB, but the existence of the latter allows me to easily share with my fellow Part 15 broadcasters.
Nothing new in the apps, but try to find an individual radio station amongst the 30,000+ that are listed in TuneIn and other such vehicles – little guys just get lost. You can call this programming assistance or whatever you want, but I also see it as a great marketing tool.
It’s too bad that you have obviously chosen not to join the ALPB, as your experience in the radio industry and with Part 15 broadcasting would be invaluable.
Your Entitled
AR, you are entitled to your opinion as is I and anyone else. You see it differently from how I see it. Regardless of what post it note label you slap on my prospective, it’s only a mere opinion, from one angle, from one voice.
As is mine.
The app your developing sounds neat. Though a plenty of apps like your building already exist, but perhaps you may have a little edge on a small part of the whole. However that app will still have to fish through the 30 thousand stations out there, unless the app is specifically programed to only look for specific stations..which isn’t a bad idea, as long as the end user knows what to put into the search and maybe they do..maybe they don’t.
Now I don’t want to draw country border lines but you live in Canada, not the US. Although the radio laws up there are “similar” they are NOT the same, nor is the processes to bring about changes because that system to bring about the changes is in of itself more complex than the rules. From your neck of the woods, perhaps programing could be more important than rule changes. It isn’t so here. The evidence is posted right over there in another thread and ignoring such evidence that change is desperately needed won’t help either.
By the time that organization “might” be ready to do something else besides hand out shows to fellow member stations, the process is and has been well underway to rip the guts right out of all of us down here in the US by adding stronger restrictions to Part 15 devices. And if anyone thinks that adding more digital crap to the band and adding more restrictions to Part 15 devices will help that AM band..they are not talking about adding more restrictions to baby monitors or wireless intercoms or wireless routers.
They are talking about Part 15 broadcasting. So does anyone really think that the process to put more restrictions on Part 15 devices is only applying to things not used in the AM band when the intent is to “try” to improve that AM band?
Think real hard about that.
And by the time you guys “might” be ready to tackle the administrative issues, they will be far ahead of the game which will make any attempts by anyone at that point..pointless.
The time to act is now..not 6 months or a year from now.
Talk is cheap..but action isn’t. So…who’s done more action lately eh? Speaking out about tilted enforcement IS action. Informing Part 15’ers about that IS action. Pointing out the obvious route to take IS action.
With the holidays fast approaching, concentration is on other things everywhere. After the new year begins, it will be time for more action, be it talk, or drafting rule change proposals.
Is it a hobby..or something real. That is a question asked by your organization’s temporarily stepped down chairman in a blog titled “So..now what?”
Is it live or Memorex? If they rip the rug out from under Part 15 AM broadcasting…well there is always the web eh? I can see where there would be a marketing opportunity at that point!
Good luck with that! And that’s not being sarcastic, it’s a serious good will wish.
RFB
One Month Two Myths
This month of December has people planning Christmas activities following the end of the world. That’s Myth # 1.
This month also has repetitious prophesies about the coming crackdown on Part 15 broadcasting. Myth # 2.
The line about “doing something with part 15 device interference on the AM band” was a “filler” line, a “padding” of a single speech with the other thoughtless line being “perhaps AM stations should have higher power”.
It was empty talk with no formal proposal attached, no follow-up plans, and is absurd on all counts. The interference to the AM band from electronic devices will continue to grow in the billion dollar industries that manufacture junk, and from AM stations themselves with their silly digital waste of time.
Part 15 radio stations are too few to be thought about at all, and only the pettiest of sneering loners have the time to pester us with innuendos of violation.
It’s easy to pick on small people, and some small people pick on each other, yet we are usually graceful in handling it.
In January we will only have the one myth to deal with.
What Are You Doing…
The recent launch of The ALPB and The NLPBA covers the spectrum quite well without being redundant.
There are plenty of groups out there pushing for rule changes in the U.S. The NLPBA is one more with a fierce agenda to accomplish this.
The ALPB agenda is to help the license free, low power broadcaster improve their product. Members helping members with not just program content but also technical/operational advise. If there are no others doing this, our need is obvious.
Yes, there are thousands of online content providers. How many are you aware of? Members helping members is a great way to sort through the myriad of content providers not to mention developing our own unique programs to share.
The NLPBA has set their goal to bring rule changes. Go Guy! We all appreciate your efforts. One more group for rule change could make a difference.
The ALPB has set a goal to bring everyone of us UP to a professional level. Why? To improve the public’s appreciation of license free, low power broadcasting. The result, more support for license free, low power broadcasters not just in the U.S. but around the globe.
May we both be Winners…
That’s Right
Very well said, MRAM 1500, and to underscore a point….
I think we all agree that most of the public DOES NOT KNOW THAT LOW POWER BROADCASTING IS LEGAL.
Somewhat informed people might ask, “Are you an amateur (meaning, of course, a HAM)?”
That’s a tricky question because many part 15ers are amateur broadcasters in the literal sense, but of course licensed HAMs are officially designated as “amateur”.
This all goes to demonstrate that a public relations effort by the ALPB can serve the important function of making the public savvy to the legality and prospects of part 15 radio.
FURTHERMORE, as time goes along, further goals and objectives will arise as the ALPB grows.
More work for FCC
I think they are scared because of the increased workload of patrolling the airwaves maybe?