Radio Re-Volt: Broadcasting For The Common Man 163
An anonymous reader writes "Well, almost for the common man. This Wired article describes a project of the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis to teach people about the power of radio through the use of cheap low-power FM transmitters. Although each transmitter is limited to a range of about a block, they're cheap enough that I could see them being spread out across a city to cover it with a signal. It'd be interesting to do something like that and feed these inexpensive networks via a netcast. You could use something like this to air programming that commercial stations won't broadcast because it's not commercially viable or because it doesn't fit in with the interests of big media. You can read the above article or go directly to the Radio Re-Volt Web site."
Oh, I get it... (Score:2, Insightful)
Is that legal? (Score:1)
Re:Is that legal? (Score:1)
TALK HARD!
Or you could use Icecast and reach globally. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Or you could use Icecast and reach globally. (Score:2, Informative)
First Amendment Recovery (Score:4, Interesting)
Of course, such small radio stations will not recover the First Amendment -- the Internet has done a lot more to recover First Amendment rights anyway.
However, even with one person one watt, the failure of the government to protect freedom of religion and indeed impose politically correct beliefs upon the private lives of citizens continues not only unabated but exacerbated through the multiplication of government agencies overseeing out compliance with federal mandates about with whom we must associate in our private affairs.
The damage caused by that interference has now built up a debt as large as slavery. Such debts are so enormous and the government so unlikely to pay down those debts that basically the current US government cannot claim any legitimacy any longer.
Open Source radio (Score:5, Interesting)
Maybe low power radio will make a comeback in part because of commercialization of the internet? That is, low-power broadcasts represent an affordable, noncommercial space for creative experimentation and communication within a community (a/k/a free speech)?
The homebrew quality of the transmitter also recalls early descriptions of the personal computer kit-builders in the 70s, also a good time for free speech fans.
The small scale of the communities recalls Linus Torvalds posting about his Minix-alternative project.
Its fun stuff. What's not to like?
Re:Open Source radio (Score:2)
Re:Open Source radio (Score:2)
I don't think that the aesthetic question of what should count as creative ought to be left to prosecutorial discretion. On the other hand, my reservation hardly matters in the context of programming that would run afoul of constitutional protections whether it was posted on the net or part of a micro-broadcast.
The net effect (hehe) is to moot th
religion? (Score:2)
"Mandates about with whom we must associate? What, are you a convicted felon? The US certainly has its share of troubles at the moment, but your tirade on the cause of it sounds ab
Re:religion? (Score:2)
Your beliefs about how you want to live your life. (Score:2)
"Beliefs?" Like "all men created equal?" (Score:2)
Private business? In what sense? If you have a church it is likely to be tax exempt and operating in a non profit capacity. if you want to staff it, common sense says you hire people you know from the congregation - you don't place advertisements for "jobs" within the heirarchy of the church, so eeoc compliance at that level i
Yes, exactly as Declared at Independence (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Yes, exactly as Declared at Independence (Score:2)
and if you don't want to work with a black man, you don't have to.. you can quit. If you don't want to work with an atheist, you can quit.
If you don't want to hire an atheist, hire a friend you know. If this is impractical because your business has grown to this point, you are no longer an individual. A business does not have the same rights as an individual and, in fact, they have far too many "rights"
You should be hanged as traitor. (Score:2)
The Delcaration of Independence's first paragraph says:
In the present circumstances, the signatories to the Declaration of Independence would consider you a traitor and have you hanged by the neck until dead for one very obvious reason:
The moment the second man added his signature to the Declaration of Independence acc
Re:You should be hanged as traitor. (Score:2)
ROTFL. Talk about neck stretching!
I'm sorry I replied to you. You are obviously retarded and incapable of logical thought.
My bad.
Re:"Beliefs?" Like "all men created equal?" (Score:3, Insightful)
It has everything to do with it only almost 70 years too late. The Telecommunications Act of 1934, by recentralizing control of disemination of ideas under the new technologies of broadcast, undid the Guttenberg revolution. The Guttenberg revolution was the undoing of the theocratic control of Europe which was maintained largely through monopoly on the disemination of ideas through the written word. It was the theocracy of the
Alternative uses... (Score:5, Interesting)
Or as a micro station at outdoor festivals, concerts and sporting events to name a few. If you have ever been to Grass Roots, Jazz Fest, or a phish anything, you could see how this could be viral and allow for some interesting intermissions.
Or you could broadcast on the internet. (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Or you could broadcast on the internet. (Score:3, Insightful)
A further reminder. . . (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:A further reminder. . . (Score:2)
Do you mean the Midwest?
I think it is sad that this innovation had come because small radio stations aren't being licenced.
Re:A further reminder. . . (Score:2)
Mandatory RHZ Radio Network mention (Score:3, Informative)
RHZ radio is already up and running and streaming content on the internet so that remote stations can rebroadcast it. Very cool stuff!
Re:Mandatory RHZ Radio Network mention (Score:2)
sync (Score:4, Interesting)
I expect that is something that must be solved in software, and, according to the article, this is a hardware device. The original poster's dream of a blanket grass-roots radio station is a little far away. That being said, a small FM broadcaster would be great for broadcasting something in the house and being able to tune in from any simple FM radio around the yard.
Re:sync (Score:2)
Not only would there be problems caused by two transmitters getting a signal off the internet with different latency times, but even supposing the transmitters were in perfect sync the signals from the two transmitters would only be perfectly in phase if you were standing on a line
Re:sync (Score:2)
Generally speaking, you can not have multiple antennas emitting non-synchronous signals because then you will get a lot of low frequency interference (beating) between adjacent cells. And it would be fairly difficult to phase-lock all the oscillators, though it is possible (by locking to GPS timing signals, for example.) If you do that, th
Re:sync (Score:4, Insightful)
Simple - the naïve concepts of universal free speech over an inherently limited electromagnetic spectrum will overcome the physics-induced difficulties of multiple transmitters on the same frequency.
It doesn't matter if a technology is completely unsuited for a proposed mode of usage; all that matters is that it's the thought that counts. With a good heart, bandwidth shall be greater than what is physically allowed, and overlapping FM broadcasts shall not encounter the same problems discovered years ago by broadcast engineers!
I've got a radio astronomy background. The electromagnetic spectrum is an incredibly valuable resource, and is heavily regulated for a bloody good reason. Don't mess with it.
Re:sync (Score:2)
What does radio astronomy have to do with fascism (the combination of corporate and government power)?
As for your other point, I'd rather have a free society with rough edges than a technically flawless society that oppresses the people.
This is exemplified by the fact that the technical shortcomings of the proposed system (which are
Bandwidth and radio astronomy (Score:2, Informative)
Take a look here [setileague.org] for some of the frequencies.
The idea is that, if we want to take clear radio-frequency "images" of distant images, it makes sense to avoid polluting the sections of the bandwidth where those images are to be found. No, I don't think any of these lower-power trasmitters will be broadcasting directly in these ranges. Unfortunately, most transmitters also transmit harmonics of their main frequenc
Re:sync (Score:2)
Boom boxes with Wi-Fi (Score:4, Interesting)
This would work better with Wi-Fi enabled boom boxes. Wi-Fi can handle multiple transmitters. An Wi-Fi enable Walkman-like device has real possibilities.
Re:Boom boxes with Wi-Fi (Score:2)
Re:Boom boxes with Wi-Fi (Score:2)
Re:Boom boxes with Wi-Fi (Score:2)
Re:Boom boxes with Wi-Fi (Score:2)
Kinda seems like the Radio version of a Blog (Score:1)
Anyway, looks very cool to me.
Freedom of speech, even if a small voice. Rock On!
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Another example of this: (Score:1)
RHZ AMATEUR RADIO NETWORK
The RHZ Amateur Radio Network is a articipatory experiment aiming to create
the possibility of a legal, publicly owned and operated radio that grows
successively with each new participant. Based on the FCC allowance for individuals to operate a one milliwatt> > micro-radio station, RHZ uses the internet to share content between micro-stations so they can broadcast the same content at the same time.
> > Anyone can have their own radio station,
MP-308 (Score:3, Informative)
It's called the "MP-308 Car USB / FM Transmitter", Here's a review of it. [the-gadgeteer.com]
Strangely enough, it seems to be the only Car MP3 player out there that takes a USB card - the discontinued "EMPEG" used to have such an input, but it's hard to get now. I've been wanting to use a nice cheap USB stick instead of CDs for the sheer convenience of popping it into the car and listening with an interface that's much more casual than CDs. Instead of plugging into the car's existing audio system, it works by sending out a short-range FM signal across the 87.7-88.7 dial (you select which subrange). That makes setup easy (so long as you have a good radio in the car), but I can't help but wonder how many radio markets have that FM signal open at that range, and what interference this would have with nearby cars. Fortunately, the device is fairly cheap to experiment with - you can find it for around $50 on pricewatch.
Ryan Fenton
Re:MP-308 (Score:2)
But the usage of one of these things would be different than a CD. I personally mostly want to listen to voice (books, philosophy, debates, talk shows, etc.), so the linear play is fine. I also want to casually pull out the USB stick from my pocket, throw something on
Re:MP-308 (Score:2)
I drive about 5, maybe 6 hours a day as a courier, and I have certainly taken interest in hooking an MP3 player into the car, rather than fumbling with CDs every 80 minutes. Not only that, but I stop a lot, and my CD player doesn't pick up where it left off, but returns to the beginning of the track. When stops are only a mile or two apart, this means the same song gets played 3/4 of the way through an
Two solutions (Score:2)
A Neuros [neurosaudio.com] is a cheaper, but not as cool-looking, alternative to an iPod. For $250 you get 20 GB and an FM transmitter. And it plays .ogg. Hide it under the seat and blindly hit the pause button whenever you get out.
A belt clip on an iPod/iRiver/Dell DJ will let you walk out without stashing it. But those require a separate FM transmitter thingy (and a budget for AAA cells).
Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:3, Insightful)
THat is why this kind of grassroots media is so important.
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:3, Insightful)
No not really. There as been public access TV on cable systems for years.
Interesting insight into your logical processes: you seem to think that public access TV is as influential as all the other mass media networks, just because it exists at all. Go figger!
It is mostly crap. The Web is mostly drek as well.
If you give the average person the ability to publish what ever they want guess what you get mostly crap.
How about we tax some of these rich people and use that money to provide soci
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:3, Insightful)
The irony is that the same group of people who insist we must forcibly take money from the rich and redistribute it are also statistically less likely to contribute to charities themselves. We can allow people who can afford to pay more do so without being punative about it.
I'm tired of people acting all morally superior by pretending that redistributing other people's money is charity. I'm tired of hearing that the government is giving you something by taxing you less. I get tired
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
As an analogy, if you as a lawyer work in a law firm, and you happen to do very well in bringing in new business and/or do a lot of work in general, and generate a lot of income, the partners of the firm well very may give you a large bonus commensurate with your work. But they will NOT give you most of the income you generated. For example, you may generate $1 millio
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
The American partnership, (although what you describe sounds more like the one-sided Soviet partnership to me), might work fine when I am paying for infrastructure and defe
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
That same situation might exist in other western countries, but their economies suck compared to the U.S. Rich people are not stealing from everyone. You've just been suckered in by the bigotry of class warfare, inflamed by the hypocritical Dick Gephardt, Tom Daschle and John Kerry. As usual for the Democrats, they play on people's envy, jealousy, hatred and fear. Quit hating the
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
heh....uh.....ok. That is quite a bold statement. You got anything to back it up with?
didn't think so
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
Here are a few quotes I found with Google, but there's much more out there if you dig a little:
http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc/0,1607,7-137-6118_11 7 35-35396--,00.html [michigan.gov]
Excerpt:
Some variation in volunteering rates emerged by political affiliation, with higher rates for Republicans (58.6%
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
Overall I would say that this
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
No, but it's more than you expected, now isn't it?
I wasn't able to find anything broader, but I have heard that statistic being cited numerous times. I apologize if I don't have the time to do more thorough research. I think you can admit I'm not just speaking out of my butt.
The OpinionJournal piece isn't objective, but it is citing something that is, the statistic from the Catalogue for Philanthropy, which
Re:Black==White; Slavery==Freedom; (Score:2)
Just like the web, the problem with any media is that just because you create it, doesn't meant they will come. You need to market your content to get eyeballs. Look at Viacom. Look at AOL/Time Warner. They suceed becuase they own the media chain from start to finish. They heavily market their own stuff. Why is there great programing on the
Lines, lines, lines... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Lines, lines, lines... (Score:1)
Feasible? (Score:2)
Re:Feasible? (Score:2)
Given the assumption that such grass roots community actions are seen as a good thing, what makes you think they will come about if you don't try?
Yeah, this project might fail--in fact, odds are it will take off in a big way. But even just this single slashd
Welding? (Score:2)
I sure hope they actually mean soldering.
A beowulf cluster? (Score:5, Interesting)
Microwatt transmitters have their uses, but I'm afraid that ain't one of them.
So... what's the point? Do people even listen to the radio anymore? I mean, maybe in their cars - but anywhere else? I've been involved in one way or another with radio since I was a teen and even operated my own fleawatt when I was a kid, but that was a long time before the internet.
If you want to be a pirate it seems to me you'd reach a lot more people taking the max headroom route. When I was a kid I actually wanted to be a radio pirate - now I see no point in it at all aside from being any easy means of civil disobedience. But now, with the internet and the ease with which we can build a vast video library (not to mention it's just as easy to locate a tv modulator as an fm modulator) I'd much rather be Reg [webtv.net].
Re:A beowulf cluster? (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, what you really do is tune them to the same frequency - as long as you're using FM. FM has the wierd property that if you have two FM stations tra
Ummm... not exactly (Score:4, Informative)
Not to diminish the ministry of death... (Score:2)
This is the reason I have zero sympathy for those complaining about not being able to "broadcast" RIAA label artists on their internet stations. If you want to operat
In response to the posts so far (Score:1, Interesting)
Using FM as opposed to Internet streaming: Don't get me wrong, I love streaming audio and video, and I use it daily. However, not everyone does, and I've yet to see someone have it set up in their car. However, FM receivers are everywhere. To me, technology is a tool, a means to an end. If you reach more people using FM, then that makes
It's not "out of sync audio" (Score:4, Insightful)
It just don't work the way the OP "imagined" it. This isn't digital, it's not a "software" problem.
Don't get busted (Score:1, Informative)
At best, your gear will be seized. If you're feeding your station with a computer, it will be seized, too. You may also face fines.
If your broadcasts cause interference to a licensed service and res
Re:Don't get busted (Score:1)
Lack of resources is the same reason that they don't bust people using unshielded PC cases. Otherwise, anybody who added a window to their computer's case would be busted (unless the window was metallized
Re:Don't get busted (Score:2)
Taking requests (Score:2)
Re:Taking requests (Score:2)
Re-inventing cellular technology? (Score:2)
This is a highly flawed concept, because "broadcast" of programming of this type would require the coopertion of hundreds of transmitters, which would interfere with each other at the edges of their individual ranges. Cell phones fixed that problem by broadcasting on a range of frequencies instead of just one, but t
Fun, annoying, powerful, and probably illegal (Score:4, Interesting)
1984. The height of communism in at least one Eastern European country. We were teenagers, and very much into AC/DC, Judas Pries, and ever'thing western. One of us knew some electronics; so we got ourselves some parts and soldered together some FM transmitters. Then we broadcasted AC/DC, other heavy metal rock, stupid teenager rants :), and sometimes even Radio Free Europe. All this at random times all around the neighbourhood, so we don't get caught. Those in the know realize how much the secret service hated people like me and my friends (and they really hated AC/DC). And we knew that is was dangerous to taunt them. Nevertheless, it was fun.
Present: people probably realize how powerful it is to be able to disseminate ideas, even in a limited and local setting. And this type of radio TX is all but forgotten in these day of the web, but it can be much more personalizable. People react different to hearing a real voice for a change. I'm glad to see people pushing the idea of microradio. In fact they should make radio TX free, not hand guns.
Not so easy... (Score:2)
I can't. It's hard to have on-channel repeaters of the same signal work together propery... issues with phase shift will end up causing the signal to be spotty even right next to transmitters. It just wouldn't work on a city-wide basis.
Be Careful or the Feds will get you. (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/2762/i
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display
http://www.indybay.org/archives/arc
From http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org
" Two community radio stations, one in Knoxville, TN and the second in Santa Cruz, CA have been raided in the last 2 weeks by armed US Marshalls (and/or FBI) and the FCC. Last October, San Francisco Police and the FCC raided a popular Bay Area radio station. Despite the federal government's war on community media, radio activists across the US are operating community stations in open defiance of FCC regulations. The FCC strives to squelch community radio so that the airwaves remain free for media conglomerates like right-wing ClearChannel Communications, which owns 1,250 radio stations (six in Pittsburgh), and Viacom-owned Infinty Broadcasting, which owns 180 stations (four in Pittsburgh).
Also, in Pittsburgh, two broadcasters were shut down in the past week due to FCC intimidation. South Side Radio broadcasting at very low power on 102.9FM, and "WCSA Radio" in Plum, PA (Allegheny County, east of Pittsburgh near Oakmont). Indymedia Rustbelt Radio, our biweekly news program on (licensed) WRCT 88.3FM, will feature reports on these actions in Pittsburgh and around the US this week on Tuesday, October 5th at 6pm.
Next week the National Association of Broadcasters, a powerful lobby group, will meet in San Diego. In opposition to their corporate agenda, independent media activists will be holding a four day convergence of workshops, speakers, and actions to tell the NAB "We Want Our Airwaves Back!"."
Re:Be Careful or the Feds will get you. (Score:2)
There is a case to be made that mid-level radio -- the LPFM debate -- is being squelched by big media (including, shamefully, NPR). But part 15 still exists, and it works just fine on the AM side of the dial -- just ask Allston-Brighton Free Radio (www.abfreeradio.org). They started o
Coordinated Broadcasts (Score:3, Insightful)
No, I don't have the law handy, but
Ramsey electronics - much better (Score:2, Interesting)
They also have compressor/limiters that make the audio sound louder (STC1C).
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/hk/default.asp ? pa ge=amfm
I personally have the FM25 (predecessor to the 25B) - t
Its an art project (Score:3, Interesting)
Commercial and to a lesser extent public radio in the Twin Cities is pretty big thing. We have a couple of "giants in the industry" here with two AM stations that are historic giants of the industry (WCCO-AM and KSTP-AM) both 50,000 watt clear channel stations and an FM station that consistantly captures the highest market share of any station in the country (KQRS-FM). On top of these giants, there are many other stations on both the AM and FM bands that cater to nearly every taste imagineable. Our airwaves are crowded.
Over the years we have had our share of pirate and "underground" stations. Most of them have gone off of the air before I even heard them - but the several that I did get a chance to hear reminded me more of "Bob and Ted's Excellent Adventure" than anything else. Nothing special at all.
I do believe that there is a major problem with public airwaves here and probably in most every major market. The stations are locked into playing the same old stuff. I really do think that stations should be required to devote a portion of their broadcast time to programming local and new talent. They are too locked into the charts, the major music labels and other things that sort of homoginize and blend the music into pablum for the masses.
There is a whole lot wrong with radio but a bunch of low power transmitters aren't going to do anything to fix it.
Re:Key question? (Score:1)
Re:Key question? (Score:1)
Re:Key question? (Score:2)
Re:Key question? (Score:4, Insightful)
No you don't [fcc.gov].
Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is a private two-way voice communication service for use in personal and business activities of the general public. Its communications range is from one to five miles.
Licensing
License documents are neither needed nor issued and there are no age or citizenship requirements. As long as you use only an unmodified FCC certificated CB unit, you are provided authority to operate a CB unit in places where the FCC regulates radio communications.
Good answer (Score:3, Informative)
Let me tell those of you who have not used a CB radio before, they are incredibly handy to have. I have a good setup on my car (although my transceiver just took a dive, will be upgrading that unit this next week!), and on the open highway in open country, you can send and receive a good distance.
A CB radio is the best "radar detector" money can buy. Truckers are always on the lookout for speed traps, and will continually call out the position of
Re:Good answer (Score:3)
Is there a designated channel that the truckers use for this "service"?
Re:Good answer (Score:3, Informative)
Don't speed (Score:2)
When I was a teenager the "CB boom" was in full swing. I sat in front of a radio many an hour. I applied for a first class license years ago and built my first crystal set when I was like five. But travelling down the highway on a trip, having to listen to the crap that flies over channel 19 the entire duration is my version of hell.
If you're worried about you
Re:Key question? (Score:3)
CB license (Score:2)
There were no tests, beyond being able to spell your own name, unlike a ham license, or a license to support a commerical broadcaster.
Re:Key question? (Score:4, Informative)
The relevant documentation can be found here [fcc.gov]
Re:Key question? (Score:2)
Somehow I get the impression there is some element of risk involved in this venture...
Re:Key question? (Score:2)
At least that's the idea behind Radio Re-Volt: One Person .00One Watt, a project by Minneapolis' Walker Art Center that intends to open the radio airwaves to the general public, one small radio station at a time.
Re:A consideration... (Score:4, Funny)
Switching from an aluminium foil hat to tinfoil should be adequate for a one watt FM transmitter.
And whenever someone walks near you with a cell phone? They're trying to hack your brain.
In a word, (Score:1)
Re:A consideration... (Score:1)
Re:Why not just set up a streaming audio server? (Score:1)
So this means you have an infinite signal strength if the antenas are touching each other?
Re:Why not just set up a streaming audio server? (Score:2)
Re:RF power is like bandwidth (Score:2)