how much does it cost to start a fm radio station?

[Eli]

Originally posted by: sunilv
if its so, can you give tell me the procedures and the equipment that are need to start a radio station from home.

Thank you

Just a hint; it's against the law...

But realistically, unless you've got like 50 watts or something.. I doubt you'll get caught?

How many officers does the FCC have out there, patrolling for pirate radio stations? lol...

All you need is a transmitter and an antenna.

You could be up and running for 100$.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=fm+transmitter+kit

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: aphex
iTrip is on sale at CompUSA this week for $19.99

ahahaha

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Eli
Virtually nothing if you know a bit about electronics...

You'd be surprised how far even 1 watt of broadcasting power can go.

Heh... my buddy used to run about that for a few years, then a christian radio station came into town and took over his frequency (he was using 88.9 IIRC). You could still pick it up in his apartment complex, I think.

 

[irwincur]

I was in the business a while back and it sucks - did computer work for them.

If you are lucky you might be able to get a license for $3 - 5 million. That is if your local mega entertainment monopoly (Clear Channel. etc...) wants you to have one of theirs because odds are they bought them all by now. Even if you get one it may only be a low power dawn till dusk license and not a 24/7 high power license.

In short, it really is not worth it. Not to mention there is almost no money for the small guy these days. You really need to be able to land big name contracts ($$$) and national advertisement ($$$).

 

[sunilv]

But I want to do it legally (what am I saying :shocked: ) really though, I want to do it right.

So all I need is a computer, AM transmitter kit, head phoes, mic and most important a license from FCC right.

but if I want to do it legally (with a license) do I have to have an office or can I do it from home?

Iam taking about AM not FM? (but is the AM license as expensive as FM's)
thanks

 

[radioouman]

http://www.fcc.gov

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: sunilv
But I want to do it legally (what am I saying :shocked: ) really though, I want to do it right.

So all I need is a computer, AM transmitter kit, head phoes, mic and most important a license from FCC right.

but if I want to do it legally (with a license) do I have to have an office or can I do it from home?

Iam taking about AM not FM? (but is the AM license as expensive as FM's)
thanks

You can easily rent AM radio time from various stations. Here in Houston there is 1180, 1240, 1520, etc that people rent time. Plenty of foreign language radio services do that.

 

[Spacehead]

A guy i sorta know (friend of my sister) started one just last year. Well that's when they 1st went on the air. Looks like it's a long process to get the OK from the FCC.
Here's their website. Check out the announcement archives for a little more info about the process.
There's an email there, maybe you could email them & get a bit more info. Sam's a nice guy.


FM, low power station... only about a 10-15 mile coverage.
They're on the air 24/7, no commercials(just the occasional PSA like a collage station). They can play anything they want too. I have heard them bleep out a few swear words but i'm not sure if it's them or the FFC makes them. I assume the FCC.

I've already asked about being a guest DJ... i can play anything i want out of my own collection or theirs

 

[mzkhadir]

here is the location of the fees schedule for the fcc, there is an app fee and a regulatory fee.

http://www.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html

and the fees for radio station pays

http://www.fcc.gov/fees/am_fm_2004.pdf

 

[Chode Messiah]

pirate radio station???

 

[chiwawa626]

My cousin's friend ran a pirate radio station out in some town near the socal/mexico border. He had something like a 20 mile range and all the kids at their highschool listened to it - This was before the days of broadband, he usedto play mp2s/mp3s downloaded via dialup on his computer thru some bootleg radio equipment lol.

 

[sunilv]

thanks guys.

Its good information to know.

its not a pirate radio station, I want to do it legal.


thanks

 

[neutralizer]

Hmm... it'd be awesome to play streaming internet radio and broadcast it via erm... regular radio so i can listen to it in the car.