Forget the cesium atom time check calibration ...1500 kc Mystery solved

[Sam Lit]

And it didn't sound much like a sophisticated weather experiment, although we've all been hoping for one for a long time....1500 kc Mystery finally solved. And who thought it was a beach bum with an exceptional amount of free time, a modified I-pod and a really, really long wire? Well, your close.

Dateline: Friday August 15.

Field agents shut down an illegal AM station operating out of a home in Long Beach, CA . The FCC first learned about the pirate station operating on AM 1500 on July 9th and have since shut it down.

[Carmine5]

Jeez, all this hubbub over one stinking, lowly pirate.  This incident has even made its way into Inside Radio's newspaper.

http://www.insideradio.com/pdheadlines.asp?phid=549584&PT=Today%27s+Top+Stories

The only way we'll get the real story on this situation is when the FCC publishes the NAL.

But it just goes to show you that if Royce REALLY wanted to build a station and broadcast on 1500 they could have done it years ago.

After all, how long did it take a pirate to set up and start broadcasting?

C5

[XRQKFM]

   God help the pinhead who turned him in, allot of tattletales don't know it becomes a matter of public record as to who the snitch is. I know an engineer was found hanging on the end of a crane, not because he turned someone in, but the person busted, suspected him. A manufacture of low power broadcast equipment (legal), almost lost his business, because legal low power part 15 AM broadcasters came unglued when they found out he turned in a competitor. Most will not do business with him again out of principle, the guy admitted he would not have turned in his rival, if he knew it would be revealed to the public that he did it.

If you snitch; be careful, there might be an unattended price to be paid!

Steve
www.knjoradio.com

[Carmine5]

Here is the FCC's Field Notice on our Long Beach pirate.  30,000 microvolts per meter (uV/m) at 30 meters is a fairly healthy signal.  Thankfully for Mr. Campbell he just got off with a warning.

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-284465A1.html

C5

[Tom Wells]

Cripes! 30,000 uv/meter! How far was the signal going?
This must have been 100 watts or better.
Even in conductivity-and-terrain challenged southern California, that must have been a healthy transmitter.   

[David at USC]

How far was the signal going?
...that must have been a healthy transmitter.   

I was able to pick it up between the 405 & Lakewood and to just beyond the 405 /605 interchange.
The house was near to the Palo Verde off-ramp from the southbound 405.

[K6JHU]

And north along the 605 to Carson/Lincoln. I thought it was interesting that the signal faded just before reaching South Street in Cerritos :-)

[xoanon]

Try 400 mW into a 32 ft. top loaded vertical. On pretty muddy ground, I might add (not very good for earthquakes though). 

Interesting experiment...gotta find another hobby. (!)