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For fun, we sat down and tried to imagine what your reason(s) for broadcasting might be. Comment at the end of this article if we got it right, if we got it wrong, or if you can think of any others. Without ado, here are our top 12.
Reason One: Democracy needs free media distribution. Democracies require an educated and informed electorate in order to function. Since (in the USA) the FCC has completely sold out to abominable corporate interests, it is the responsibility of capable free-thinking people to subvert those abominable corporate interests by operating free radio stations, allowing the masses a voice.
Reason Two: Chicks dig it. There are a hundred guys in your town who can bench press a Volkswagen. There are a dozen guys in your town whose cars beat the ten second quarter mile. There are three guys in your town with over a million dollars in passbook savings. There’s only one guy in your town who operates his own radio station and plays really cool music. And dude you’re him! Screen “Pump up the Volume” for prognosis.
Reason Two B: Guys dig it. If you’re a chick running a pirate radio station, you are one in twenty-million. Email us now.
Reason Three: Can’t Sleep. Insomnia is a *****. What is there to do at two in the morning but drink some more whiskey and break out the old soldering iron? Frustrating trial and error projects like homebrew RF amplifiers can be entertaining well into the morning hours. Besides, who is going to bust you at 4:00 AM?
Reason Four: Uber Geekness. Nothing says, “I’m strange” like showing off your bitchin’ new Veronica 1W PLL exciter all over the dorms. Every physicist and engineer covets the beautiful discreet component PCB. Every wannabe DJ texts you begging for a slot. And the whole world is emailing you MP3s.
Reason Five: Satan Is Here. Whether he has taken the form of the WTO, or the IMF, or the G8 is irrelevant. Beelzebub threatens to piss on your soul, and you MUST get on the air in protest NOW. Too bad you waited until the day before 50,000 boots hit the street in your town. Adrenalin rules.
Reason Six: Clear Channel Sucks Ass. Clear Channel bought all the radio stations in your town. The FM dial has been reduced to a montage of cheap commercial crap. It blows. You’re starting your own radio station.
Reason Seven: You own 10,000 plus records. Your vinyl collection weighs about three tons. There’s amazing shit in there that no one has heard in two generations. You must share.
Reason Eight: You’re a roadie. Take three parts reason two, add one part each reasons five six and seven, load into van and boogie.
Reason Nine: Dictators. Face it; even a corrupt democracy is better than an outright dictatorship. When the man steals your fun, your freedom, and your food; it’s time to speak out. Those of us who live in opulent capitalist “free press” democracies salute your courage. Email us now.
Reason Ten: Communists. Those commy bastards control the radio, and they’re dead set on confiskating your assault rifles. It’s time we showd those leftys what it meens to be a patriot. Fire up the rig.
Reason Eleven: Extra-Terrestrials. They’re out there, and they’re listening. Maybe if you transmit a binary encoded greeting on the three meter band they will pick it out of all the analog crap and choose YOU.
Reason Twelve: Your reason. Come on, we’re dying to hear it. Leave a comment.
Whatever your reasons for operating a pirate radio station, please be aware of the following: Operating a transmitter over 50mw on the 3 meter (FM) band (in the USA) is a violation of FCC regulation part 15. It is a civil offense (like a traffic ticket) prosecuted under federal jurisdiction (they send marshals) that carries a steep (about $15000.00) fine. So if you’re going to indulge, get some game. Build a good rig. Operate smartly. Make it count for something.
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