Do you have any idea the legality of using those super low power transmitters that say they are FCC approved on ebay and connecting them to a raspberry pi that is pulling a stream and then doing that in multiple locations? Like technically having no one location exceeding the FCC limit to transmit without a license, but increasing coverage by just simply running one per block or something like that? Aside from other technical issues that might crop up with timing and what not, does that break any FCC regulations that you're aware of?
@grimacing Looks like 61 meters per transmitter. All the rules I am aware of are "per transmitter", but I am not an attorney... I mean, if you had an entire block of people with their own FM transmitters playing Halloween music or Christmas music (noncoordinated) that is legal as long as each transmitter meets requirements. If they are all coordinated, I would (guess?) they are all separate transmitters, as long as every transmitter is below the limit. Great idea!https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/low-power-radio-general-information
grimacing
I've been working on using a python library to coordinate streaming to a bunch of raspberry pi's with this in mind. 61 meters is a good amount of distance to be honest... I have had this loophole in mind for many years, but I guess I should probably consult a lawyer before going through with it. I feel like if this got used for pirate radio at any real scale, new laws would pop up pretty quickly to address it, so I am not trying to ruin anybody's good time either... Just thinking hypothetically at the moment.
@grimacing It's a great idea! And you could distribute it through neighborhoods.... So, even if transmitters not next to each other, you could make that station available widely through your community in hotspots. Which could be a cool thing anyway.