Well, this kind of device is pretty much flat out illegal to operate anywhere in Europe. You aren’t too likely to get caught due to the low power. However all it takes is only one person who files a complaint about interference on their radio for a van with triangulation equipment to show up.

Stuff that transmits on frequency bands not licensed by the operator is illegal, especially on commercial bands. And if you use it as a “bug” you can be sure to get a very stiff fine or even criminal prosecution.

If you want to play with radio, either get an amateur radio license or use one of the unlicensed bands. It is much better for everyone involved.

Regards,

Jan

We have FM transmitters for mp3 players and the like here in the states. However, they are usually VERY low power (sometimes it can’t make it to the car radio antenna) and so the FCC restriction is really on the output power.

Amateur Radio operator here.

Basically, the FCC doesn’t care what it transmits so long as it’s in an unlicensed band. Unfortunately, these bands are so crowded that it’s very difficult to get much range in the power you’re allowed to transmit at.

A simple google search should reveal what american unlicensed bands are. s/bands/frequencies/ if you need to.

I am amazed by some of the things posted on HaD, but this is the first one that makes me want to go out and make. Thanks for the post.

Anyone building a transmitter must desire for someone to receive the signal. The most readily available inexpensive FM receivers are for the broadcast band. After siting Tetsuo Kogawa’s webpages it’s clear he is an activist/archaist/ radio pirate, and the intent is to use this transmitter on the broadcast bands; “These workshops also provoke those involved to consider the technical, political, and social ramifications of electromagnetic broadcasts. By building transmitters the workshop participants inevitably deconstruct broadcasting, challenging their own notions of what broadcasting is now and whiat it could be.”

Anyway when it come to unlicensed radio transmissions in the USA in any band the FCC expects the transmitted signal to be of good quality.

I remember building some of these for friends many decades ago, and then seeing the outcome. Like the guy who promptly put it in a teddy bear to prove that his ex-wife was getting laid now that she was single. Yawn. Maybe if he’d had access to craigslist in the 1970′s, he could have found someone else to spread herpes with.

You know what? If you’re finding yourself wanting to spy on an ex, or bug an apartment, or any of a thousand stalker-like behaviors because you need “closure” or “have to know” or whatever…

It’s a very good sign that 1) You’re way, way, way creepier than you give yourself credit for – no, really, I mean it – you’re messed up and just haven’t realized how messed up you are, 2) You really don’t need that relationship and 3) I can guarantee that you will do nothing but twist your guts up because he/she/it/they have moved on and you haven’t.

It’s almost the same with pirate radio. You can build it, and about 3 guys will listen to it over the course of 4 months before you screw up and your gear gets hunted down and impounded.

Seriously – you’d probably have more political and social impact by becoming a mime.

I love the basic electronic project posts HAD :) Please keep it up :)

@bob way to flame and call people out, get a life.

I’m going to make a couple of these go to my work and block every station i don’t like.
Listening to wuss R&B music is not helping me concentrate while i’m constructing electrical closets with PLC.

I just hope i won’t get busted or fined for this stuff.

Another radio amateur chiming in with 2c worth

This simple but robust method of building a circuit is an ideal opportunity to learn some useful stuff.

If you provide the circuit with a dummy load to avoid it transmitting while you fiddle, it’s an opportunity to experiment with component choices to see what effects they have on frequency-stability… you’ll learn more effectively that way than you will with any book.
If you’ve got a frequency-counter, a scope, or both, there’s a lot of fun to be had seeing what matters and what doesn’t.

Perhaps I’m missing something, but I was under the impression that the US Government institution, the FCC, doesn’t operate in Europe…

this was actually the first project I ever made! I remember having lots of fun with it.
cool!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

It’ll back up into the mai….I mean, I love the radio hacks!!

Great project for those just learning about electronics. Simple and easy to understand what is going on in the circuit.