ALERT-PIRATE BROADCASTING WMAL-AM ON 161.700

[Chip Fetrow]

161.7 is a Part 74 licensed Broadcast Remote Pick-Up frequency.   
Unlike 166.25, which is shared with public safety near NYC  
(specifically fire) and the federal government, and 170.15, which can  
be shared with newspaper news gathering, 161.7 is not shared.

Under 47 CFR 74.431(h), stations licensed to an RPU frequency (ALL  
SHARED) may use it as an STL (Studio Transmitter Link) in an  
emergency, but I don't believe "testing" it is legal at all.  OK, it  
isn't legal.

Under Part 74, there is an odd rule.  If licensed under Part 73 (a  
real broadcast station) you have 720 hours to operate a Part 74  
service without a license.

--chip

On Feb 18, 2011, at 8:03 AM, tacos-request at amrad.org wrote:

> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:46:59 -0800 (PST)
> From: "Bob Rice, KG4RRN" <kg4rrn at yahoo.com>
> Subject: ALERT-PIRATE BROADCASTING WMAL-AM ON 161.700
>
> ALL ADDRESSED:
> ?
> Ref: PIRATE BROADCAST AM-630 on 161.700 Mhz
> ?
> ?I don't usually yell fire in a crowded theatre, but I think you all  
> should be aware
> that some radio technic person has WMAL -AM 630 broadcasting on  
> 161.700
> non- stop today locally here today in the McLean Area.
> Hopefully some on this list can track down the source which appears  
> some
> distance from my QTH (Old Dominion Drive and 123 West McLean.)
> The re-broadcasting of a terrestrial AM station on the FM band is a  
> serious
> offense and hopefully the transmitter will be located.
> I am picking up the signal S-7 and clear on my ICOM 2200H and on a  
> HT here
> the direction is somewhere close-by possibly blocks away and in the  
> area of
> central McLean.
> 161.700 is a Marine radio frequency for the Coast Guard use to  
> communicate
> with ships intra-station.
> Please reply direct to me, if you want to hook up, to locate the  
> culprit,
> otherwise if the briadcasts continue, the FCC will be notified ASAP.
> I am free Friday all day.
> My telephone number is 703-582-2898 cell
> Let's hope we can get the person who is doing this and maybe
> not get the FCC involved.
> It must be spring !
> 73~
> Bob Rice, KG4RRN