Liberty is nobody's bitch
© Trevor DaileyTracking down radio transmissions
In Canada, the USA, and likely other countries in the world, there are Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) capable portable two-way radios. These average 1 or 2 mile maximum range “walkie-talkies” as many people call them are free for the public to use without a government issued licence. They can be bought in many retail stores. For the past couple of weeks, my scanner receiver has been tuned to these FRS/GMRS frequencies. There is not much activity that I hear except two groups that I am now attempting to find out who and where they are.
These two groups broadcast each day, but they do not broadcast frequently. Both are some kind of business as the radio users are employees. They have not yet said anything over the radio that I can use to identify them. All I know for sure so far is that they must be fairly close by because the radios they are using are not long range. Probably within a couple of city blocks. Not all transmissions are clear, so that also makes me guess where they could be coming from.
To assist me in my search, I have the audio from my scanner recorded by my computer through Audacity having it set in the “sound activation recording” mode. This way I can listen to all the recorded transmissions in a few minutes and pick out any clues I might hear. I can also listen again to hard to hear transmissions. What is annoying is there are many radio "call" transmissions recorded.
Another thing I can do is walk around with my scanner and earphones where I suspect these people could be. I may be able to identify them this way.
It is a fun game that kind of makes me feel like an investigator, or a spy, or somthing sometimes.
UPDATE: I think I may have identified one. A new transmission was heard. I keep listening.
© Trevor Dailey
To Hell with the CRTC
Here is another reason why I think the U.S.A. is still the greatest country in the world.
For the occasional radio broadcaster we offer this great deal to get you on the air.
Send us $50 and a one hour audio file of your program.
We’ll play your program on our 7490 transmitter at the next best time available on our schedule.
We’ll run your show on our 5130 transmitter, at no extra cost, at the best next time available.
We’ll send you an email message when your program will air.
This is a great deal for those programmers who wish to get on the air from time to time.
I recently took advantage of this deal from WBCQ The Planet, and I was able to put something on international short-wave radio. My programme was nothing special, it was only music, but it was aired on a real radio station. It is something I never could have done in Canada. One reason is because there is not a single radio station (AM, FM, or SW) in Canada that I know of that leases air time to the public. The main reason is the Canadian Radio-televison and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
The CRTC is an administrative tribunal that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in the public interest.
Unlike all radio stations in Canada, WBCQ is not restrained by the repressive CRTC that requires radio and television stations in Canada to be CRTC approved and licenced before a station may be permitted to broadcast.
Canadian content requirements for music on Canadian radio
Radio plays an important role in introducing listeners to new music and artists. CRTC policies and regulations ensure that Canadian works are played on Canadian radio stations.
The CRTC licenses seven general types of radio stations:
Commercial station
Campus station
Community station
Ethnic station
Native station
CBC / Radio Canada
Other not-for-profit stationsEach licensed station is required to devote a percentage of its weekly music broadcasting to Canadian content. The required amount of Canadian content depends both on the type of radio station and the type of music it broadcasts: Popular Music (Category 2) or Special Interest Music (Category 3).
Unlike radio stations in Canada, WBCQ will broadcast almost anything its programmers want to broadcast.
WBCQ strongly supports the United States of America’s constitutional right to free speech. Programs aired by WBCQ’s clients are not censored in any way.
WBCQ believes that it’s programmers have the right to express themselves on the airwaves in any way they seem fit. This is why you will find a diverse mix of music, talk, commentary, spiritual, religious, and commercial programming on WBCQ. WBCQ only restricts programming content if the programmer directly advocates harming other human beings based on their race, creed, or national origin.
In Canada, the CRTC tells broadcasters what to broadcast to Canadians, and tries to completely control what broadcasting Canadians receive.
One of our goals is to ensure that Canadian broadcasting content meets the needs and interests of Canadians by delivering compelling, high-quality Canadian-made creative content from diverse sources on a variety of platforms.
Among other things, we engage in public processes that generate content policies, encourage linguistic duality, support public affairs programming, and support broadcasting for Canada’s diverse communities. We also support the maintenance and development of Canadian talent by ensuring that Canadian artists can create content for both Canadian and global audiences, that they can gain financial support, and that they can promote their creations.
Other ongoing activities related to content made by Canadians include:
Analyzing various broadcasting licence applications from the perspective of content made by Canadians
Issuing Canadian Program Certification to independent Canadian program producers for TV productions that use mainly Canadian crews and talents
Monitoring the programming and financial performance of broadcasters to ensure they comply with regulations and licence conditions
Getting my programme on WBCQ was easy and reasonably affordable for me. I created what I wanted. Nothing in my programme, absolutely nothing, complied with CRTC regulations. WBCQ aired my programme on international short-wave radio. The time I bought was mine to do with however I wanted. No censorship. My getting on the radio with WBCQ, and my listening to short-wave radio, is my way of telling the Socialist, Communist, Fascist, Racist CRTC to go to Hell.
I support short-wave radio. I support WBCQ. I support freedom. I support abolishing the CRTC.
© Trevor Dailey