Every year some friends and I go up to the Gorge to camp and watch three nights of The Dave Matthews Band. There are two campgrouds that total probably serve well over a thousand people. I think it would be really cool to create a temporary signal up there where I would broadcast Dave Matthew's (and some of his contemporaries) songs, as well special features, campground announcements, etc. It sounds like a helluva lot of fun. I'd only be broadcasting from an iPod or laptop, so does anyone know what the transmitter setup would cost for something like that?

Depends on the area you need to cover, not how many people. Also the type of area, are there a lot of hills, any buildings etc.

Your best bet would to do it on AM, if you wanted any kind of REAL coverage. The rules on AM are way more lax, and some part 15 AM stations have gone miles. FM part 15 might cover a 100 yards.

Good to know. covering the one campground I'd need a couple hundred yards. To get to the other one, probably a mile, all line-of-sight. In fact, the other campground is on a hilside that is completely visible from the campground I stay at. No obstacles at all. As for the AM thing, almost all cars have crappy AM tuners. People won't give up their CD players for phone-quality mono sound.

Also, when I worked for KUPL, we had our annual campout at Flying M ranch. The engineers set up a "party 98" signal at 98.1 that covered 2 or 3 miles from the ranch. And it's not flat terrain up there. That's the kind of coverage I'd like to see (I'm starting to think maybe legal is not the way to go... what the hell, it would only be for a few days)?

For a few days, I would totally do this.

To get caught, some one has to complain to the FCC, and they only have a few inspectors, so, unless there is a real jerk, or your signal is bleeding over, there is not much risk.

And if you get caught, deny.

Yes it's always good to lie to a government agency.

I didnt say that, I said deny. He obviously isnt an expert on FCC rules, so he can truthfully deny he knew he was breaking the rules, also if he doesnt take a field strength meter, he can honestly say he didnt know how much power he was putting out.

I doubt anyone in the vicinity of the Gorge Amphitheatre would complain. Besides, I don't think the 17 cows and the fauna have access to a phone. They'd probably complain more about some of the entertainment choices than a radio station.

Seriously, that is one of the finest and most spectacular places to see a concert and then camp overnight in the nice soft grass under amazing stars. It's worth every penny and mile to get there. Awesome!

Um, not to be a wet blanket, but it occurs to me the band will probably be selling product at the venue. It might therefore be something of a CLM for a prospective DJ to "undersell" them with an infringing broadcast.

Part 15 AM will suffice if one wishes to make pronouncements like "Don't take the brown acid!" and "It's ladies night tonight at the Palace Hotel Ballroom!"

After reviewing that disparaging-sounding post, it occurred to me it might actually work if the gags were looped with, say, five-minute intervals of crickets chirping (frogs croaking, etc.). A few will discover it (perhaps with some subtle "help") and pass the word.

The "nature mix" would provide an intriguing "hook," as well as furnish some groovy outdoor ambiance. And most will remember the creativity of it (though it's admittedly a sort of a cross between the bumpers on Lights Out and the Yule Log).

Check out http://www.part15.us/. They are a great resource for low power radio information...

blame the fact that most AM receivers are poorly made these days listen to a well engineered station on a good wideband AM radio and you will be blown away. I like the Blues Brothers reference in there too great movie but it is not on TV that much.

I was under the impression that if someone posts to a message board, gets advice that what they are thinking of doing may be in violation of broadcast laws, and go along with it anyway, that they can be fined for "willingly and knowingly" violating the law.
Something else I've heard about that started happening in the last few years... ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC contacting people that ask about Part 15 broadcasting on message boards, or run a website that suggests a Part 15 operation, and demanding thousands of dollars in back public performance license payments, threatening a copyright infringement lawsuit if the operator doesn't agree.

Or, do a search on ebay for FM TRANSMITTER...

that would be a good way I am interested in doing something like the but what I want to do is part 15 AM stereo not FM

Seriously, it would be in the middle of nowhere for 3 days, broadcasting to just the crowd that's there for the concert. And I'd use a clear frequency. I won't lose any sleep over it.

Experimenter-kid broadcasters seldom lose more than confiscated equipment ... but hams can kiss their license goodbye.

how about this, use 2 transmitters, one for each site.
http://www.am1000rangemaster.com/

that is true if the field strength and antenna limits specified in Part 15 are violated.

At the risk of writing another "me, too!" post, I'd like to caution you not to underestimate the issues of running an "unofficial" broadcast that is not sanctioned by the concert promoters.

I think that your LPFM (or AM) broadcasts would be more welcome at Burning Man than at this event.

That's a good point. I certainly wouldn't claim to represent the venue, the promoters, or anyone else. I'm pretty much ignorant to the laws surrounding this, but I wouldn't be making any money off of it in any way, so I can't imagine what damages anyone could possibly sue me for.

i dont know either.

Ask BA, he knows all about "campground underground"!