Floating Radio Station

[philwsailz]

Guys-

I guess I ought to share a little project I am working on. SInce I own a little production recording studio, I have access to full capabilities of producing both real and bogus radio commercials.

A while back, I decided to purchase a Kick-ACE little FM transmitter from these folks:
http://www.mobileblackbox.com/
At the time, the 5000 series transmitter was the top of the line, so that is what I bought. The new 6000 seems to have a lot of potential, and I REALLY like the built-in microphone input capabilities!!!!

We got bored one night, and sat around and just let the recorder run with a couple of condenser microphones, and then edited together all of the fun little tidbits that came up and out of our mouths. With that, and a few other items, I now have a running bogus radio station, bogus commercials, bogus hilarious sound bites, all straight from an MP3 source, complete with the pirate radio station ID, "107.3 The Duck"

My plan is to ge a flag embroidered with the logo for my stern light pole, and then on the weekends when we have large raft-ups, we can all tune to "The Duck" and the entire raft-up can be listening to the same "station"

Know this: the specs with regards to range for these things is, uh, shall we say, conservative. I hate to share how far my 5000 will transmit, for fear of getting the manufacturer in trouble, but I bet we will have no problem broadcasting to a LARGE raft-up of boats.

I don't know if you guys have done same or similar, but it is a lot of fun, and we intend to have a blast with it this summer!!!!!!

[Moki]

Ahhh yes, I remember how much fun we had making our own radio station down at Lake Powell

No, Phil, I think that you are in a league of your own (with the exception of maybe Spharis). It sounds like a lot of fun, but I just don't own the equipment or have the knowledge. But if you ever move or visit here, let me know and I will listen to your station!

[CP3]

how much have you recorded in the way of time to broad cast?

[dogbert]

Of course, you could just install a stereo like Dom's and I bet it has the same range Just don't go near his boat when he's blasting without ear plugs!

Nice job Phil. I used to be a DJ on my college radio station. In the summer time, my Friday night party was on at all the bars downtown...we had lots of fun.

[zad0030]

Nice job Phil. I used to be a DJ on my college radio station. In the summer time, my Friday night party was on at all the bars downtown...we had lots of fun.

Now that would be COOL!!!!!

[dogbert]

Hey, he and Dom need to hook up. Dom's boat could be a floating bar!

[chpthril]

Hey, he and Dom need to hook up. Dom's boat could be a floating bar!

and strip club

[dogbert]

Now you're talkin'!

[CP3]

and strip club

he just needs one of those stripper poles

[philwsailz]

how much have you recorded in the way of time to broad cast?

I have had little time to do any bogus radio commercial recording this summer.

I did learn tha using the H/U to drive the transmitter is a bad idea. The voltage output of a typical H/U is WAY more than the transmitter wants. I finally listened to the garbage that the transmitter was putting out due to its front-end being over-driven and immediately went out and bought a 30GIG Zune. That is now the driver for the "radio station". It workes extremely well, but I still have to watch the player's output.

I bring that up, and everyone should be aware; most radios probably will not let you use the AUX input with your portable media, (MP3) player turned all of the way up. It is real easy to overdrive the radio's AUX input and clip the signal coming from the player. I have heard this now on several systems, and will recommend that you carefully adjust the output of your portable media player so it is not clipping the H/U input. I have found that many times, over half-way up wills tart distorting.

FYI...

[billspin]

philwsailz, Funny you should mention that too much volume from the MP3 player to the Aux input of the H/U. I am using a Samsung unit that does not play well at a high volume. Luckily I have a feature on the MP3 unit that limits the volume. I have used this and am having no more problems.

[dogbert]

Many head units now have CD Changer inputs for which you can get iPod specific cables. I have one of these on my Kenwood H/U and it does not have this problem. It effectively turns the iPod into a CD Changer. I can switch playlists, artists, genres as well as songs within them. I can also turn on shuffle mode. The bonus is that I can also do this through my remote. It's pretty cool

[philwsailz]

Many head units now have CD Changer inputs for which you can get iPod specific cables. I have one of these on my Kenwood H/U and it does not have this problem. It effectively turns the iPod into a CD Changer. I can switch playlists, artists, genres as well as songs within them. I can also turn on shuffle mode. The bonus is that I can also do this through my remote. It's pretty cool

Yeah, agreed. When connecting the media player to a H/U that has control, you are grabbing the audio at a different stage in the machine, and it works MUCH better!!!

Controlling the MP3 device is a great bonus feature as well; I am waiting for that feature for my system. I cannot tell you how mant times I have reached for TRACK FORWARD on the H/U only to remember I am listening to the MP3 device rather than the flash drive in the H/U... All I can do is laugh!

[dogbert]

That feature was actually my motivation to change out my H/U and upgrade my stereo. I still need to go back and replace my cabin speakers (they are the original JVCs that came with the boat). I want to also get an amp to drive them...will probably get another Kenwood 7202.

[CP3]

phil are you still running your radio station? Id like to know more about how to do it and set it up with the black box