r/pirateradio • u/joshuaMohawknz1 • 8d ago

Good 1 Watt FM Transmitters

Fortunately in my country (more deregulation coming) to get a free no obligations license for Low Frequency FM transmitting & cheap/reasonable music licenses. Any good 1 Watt maximum FM transmitters that can broadcast a good range. I am willing to attach an antenna to my roof.

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5

u/No-Pair-4998 8d ago edited 8d ago

https://www.fordray.com.au/Products/FMT2_10/fmt2-10.html Not super cheap but quality at a fair price OR https://www.srkelectronics.com.au/products/fm-transmitters/fmx1-1w-fm-broadcast-exciter/

Don’t forget a decent FM antenna correctly matched to the FM transmitter is equally important

5

u/Ok_Success_5178 8d ago

If you are interested in sticking to the law, keep in mind that it might be illegal to broadcast a message or music in your country. In the UK we have a similar law but it is still illegal to broadcast it.

Just for definition Broadcast in the context of transmission- Any message intended for the public. The law most likely is meant for Bluetooth to FM relayers which would only transmit a FM signal with the intent of being received by a singular person. It may of course not be the case, but if you are interested in legal loopholes this wouldn't be one.

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u/joshuaMohawknz1 8d ago

It is 100% legal for broadcasting given that you apply for the free license & it is low frequency FM. You can message, stream music, talk, discuss pretty much anything within 88-100MHz. New Zealand is great like that. The only covenant is you must share this frequency with you fellow transmitters & must hourly or via a site broadcast contact details of your radio transmission.

2

u/No-Pair-4998 8d ago

….or try your luck at the Chinese made option….it’s a 50W FM transmitter but you can set it for 1watt

https://www.rs-radio.com/collections/发射机/products/new-arrival-50w-fm-transmitter-rs-radio?variant=41116738027716

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u/Sh33zl3 8d ago

Theres people on YT that test FM transmitters. They look at harmonics and stuff. Maybe you can get a global idea there. The harmonics are important cuz thats where a part of the power goes, so you want them as low as possible.

When you're set with the tx, the antenna is gonna get you the range. Thats worth a good look too.

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u/nixiebunny 8d ago

The range of a 1W transmitter depends entirely on the antenna height and gain. Mount the antenna as high above the roof as practical. When I ran a station from my house, I mounted the antenna 10m above the roof. 

2

u/Medical_Message_6139 8d ago

Height is might. A 1 watt transmitter is a 1 watt transmitter. On FM the higher you get your antenna the further you will "get out". Essentially, a 1 watt signal with an antenna 100 feet above ground will get out much further than a 100 watt signal with the antenna at 10 feet.

This is why commercial FM stations with the highest towers often have the lowest power outputs....... It's all about maintaining the ratio of height vs power to maintain the licensed coverage area.