How to Build a Radio Station

Radio stations hold an important position in the community.

Radio stations transmit information, entertainment and music to their listeners. They can range in size from small stations that reach a handful of people to large stations that broadcast for a hundred miles. Building a radio station can be challenging, but, if successful, the station can be an asset to the area in which it broadcasts.

Things You'll Need

• Radio Station Kit
• Antenna
• Audio Input

Instructions

1. Build the station kit. Assemble the radio station kits by following the manufacturer's guidelines. Kits typically include a transmitter, a built-in mixer with two line inputs, a microphone input and a line level monitor output.

2. Install the antenna. The broadcast antenna will transmit the output from the radio station. The size of the antenna needed depends on the amount of broadcast coverage desired. A taller antenna will provide a larger area of broadcast coverage. The antenna should be placed in an unobstructed area, such as a hillside or a roof.

3. Select a radio frequency on which to broadcast. FM radio frequencies start at 88.1 MHz and go up to 108.0 MHz, increasing in 0.02MHz intervals. Choose a frequency that is not currently in use, and is least 0.02MHZ away from another station's frequency. Be sure to contact the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for a list of any frequencies that might be blocked from broadcasting.

4. Apply for an FCC license. Unlicensed broadcasting of a radio station is prohibited, therefore a license from the FCC is required. The application and fees can be submitted online; fees are determined by the size of the station and the station wattage. There are a two exceptions to the licensing rule: carrier current stations, also referred to as campus radio stations, and extremely low-power transmitters. These types of broadcast do not require a FCC license, but are required to accept any interference that is caused by licensed broadcasters, and cannot modify their antennas in any way, except to replace a broken antenna with an electronically identical match.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply for a license from the FCC at least six months prior to the start of broadcasting. The demand for FCC licenses is high, and getting approval can take several months.

• Follow all FCC rules. Even a small radio station can be fined or shut down if prohibited material is put on the air.

• Be very careful to broadcast only within the proper frequency range, so as not to interfere with emergency services or air traffic controllers.

References

• Monster Guide: How Do I Build a Low Power FM Radio Station?
• FCC: How to Apply for a Broadcast Station