more defs

Antennas (CB & FM): Transmitters deliver their power and receivers find signals thru antennas that may differ extremely, according to their uses. Transmission lines bridge the power, when the antennas are not directly connected to equipment. See topic: TRANSMISSION LINES. Frequency used, signal pattern, and if frequency change is required, dictate three types of antenna, sought. Local transmission circumstances and terrain, make some antennas and bands, less desirable. Antennas are often required to perform at specific impedances. Similarly built antennas are sometimes converted for broadcast use, and very low frequencies generally use wires, tuned and couple, for efficient transmission and reception. Antenna articles forthcoming in the future.

Regulated 12 Volt Power Supply: Reg power supplies supply a higher level of filtering of voltage ripple and voltage stability, for their amperage (capacity), than other power devices. Stations needing to power equipment, should seek power supplies twice the amperage of the station's peak load, to run cool and reliably. 12 volts is highly desirable, as vehicle power or a standby battery may be substituted. Batteries should never be recharged, with equipment connected. Stations often adjust or convert 13.8 volt regulated supplies to a lower 12-13 volts so mobile radios run cooler. Fuses and reverse polarity connecting precautions should be used. Each piece of station equipment should also use its own proper value fuse. Using battery chargers and "Wall unit" power supplies are common ways of destroying electronics.

Exciter/Transmitter: There is not just one band for broadcasting or one set budget required for a bootleg station. Pirate stations may choose frequencies not usually popular to the public, or 2-way radio frequencies, and consider signal propagation characteristics. Audiences are not always the whole listening public. Any continuous transmission is broadcasting. Citizens Band and FRS (family radio service) are the newest rock bottom cost means of performing between small groups. Military and ham radios are popular for transmitting on long, middle "AM broadcast" and shortwave bands. Solid state quality FM portable stations are revolutionising local pirate activity. FM kits and prebuilts are often divided into a lower power Exciter (small stage station) and an Amp (wattage boosting amplifier). This is particularly useful when the amp is left behind for small events and classrooms. Public be warned. "It's a jungle out there." Many offered pirate stations are inferior or not cost-effective. The Red Orchestra guides new stations to equipment that satisfies their own needs.

How to Make Tape Loops: Compact (music size) cassettes can fill a pirate station's special needs to be recognised and heard bery quickly. Five screw type cassettes are dissassembled and the 1/8 inch tape removed from the spools. Cheap type tape is selected for loops as sound retaining iron oxide on high grade tapes cannot usually be separated from the polyester tape. Tapes are laid oxide up, on a smooth preparation surface, and wet very fine steel wool burnishes bare spots for silent joints where the loops will be glued. 9 and 1/4 inch tapes are cut and their clear ends are cyanoacrylate (nail or crazy) glued into 1/8 overlapped squares. CAUTION: Cyanoacrylate glue releases extremely poisonous Cyanide Gas which must be kept far from your EYES, nose and mouth. Glue bonds to skin, instantly; Oops; but loops take an hour or more to dry. Beauty supply shops sell nail glue remover. Place the resulting 9 and 1/8 inch loops oxide out over the reels and tape path and close cassettes. Expect some loops to fail. Recordings may now be made and played by getting lucky with the start of the message falling on the silent glue joing. Both sides of the loop cassette should record. Resulting 4 second repeating tracks may be broadcast live or recorded on more durable media. Keep a tin full of extra glued tapes handy for making/ repairing more broadcast tape loops.