Black Echo Project

The Black Echo Rebroadcasting Station Project

Black Echo re-broadcasters operate their own commercially-available or home built low power FM and AM transmitters.  In an information black-out, when commercial broadcasting may be spurious or non-existent,  they will act as sources of information and reassurance to their communities on the FM and AM dials.

General overview and information
to get you up and running – and broadcasting.

First of all, don’t let the ‘Pirate Radio’ thing scare you off! You can set up and operate a Black Echo Rebroadcasting station LEGALLY. As many of you saw in the COMMS UP! video, an overview of AmRRON (the American Redoubt Radio Operators Network), rebroadcasting station Black Echo-3 was using an FM Transmitter capable of transmitting legally, yet had the capability to increase power to output levels that would currently be illegal under FCC Rules. In a major disaster/collapse (let’s call it TEOTWAWKI), keeping your community informed of life-saving information would probably trump the fear of having a bureaucrat from the FCC knocking on your door to hand you a cease and desist notification. Many factors can affect the range of an AM or FM broadcasting transmitter, such as the power output setting, antenna tuning and height, and terrain (buildings, trees, hills).

Why does AmRRON have a rebroadcasting program?

Besides the fact that it’s FUN, there’s really a tactical and strategic point. The goal of AmRRON is to connect people. In most cases the overall goal is to connect like-minded people. In the case of the Black Echo rebroadcasting program, the point is to inform your community. It’s a one-way flow of information. AmRRON primarily employs two-way radio communications such as Ham radio. The CH3 project ties non-ham operators with ham operators, so more people have more information than would otherwise. Plus, that’s that many more eyes and ears who can share information in both directions. But that still leaves the overwhelming majority of the people in your community in an information blackout, since most people do not have adequate communications to tune in.

Enter the Black Echo Rebroadcaster – an FM or AM station operator. An AmRRON operator with a slightly different mission. Nearly everyone has access to a battery operated FM or AM radio, even if they have to go to their car to listen. In a serious ‘down’ situation (not talking about EMP here), it’s probable that the commercial stations will begin going silent. People will be scouring the radio dial looking for any information – any voice that can bring them news and information, and most importantly, encouragement, comfort, and hope. That’s when you go full power and high-gain antenna and become an information lifeline for people you’ve never met before, and probably never will.

Let’s talk about what is legal right now…

To transmit ‘legally’ without a license, under the FCC Rules, a transmitter must be limited to transmitting a maximum distance of approximately 200 feet. Of course, we see violations of this in every community; Real estate advertisements at homes for sale, musical Christmas lighting displays, and other outdoor events. In many of these cases, it’s not uncommon to still receive the signal in your car for up to a half mile or more from the transmitter. These get little, if any, attention from the FCC. The commission tends to focus on the blatantly-illegal transmissions of pirate radio DJs and political stations that intentionally far exceed the legal broadcasting limits, and do so continuously or regularly and especially those who interfere with the signals of existing local commercial broadcasting stations. They’ll throw the book (and hefty fines) at those cases, and eagerly confiscate all associated items, including laptops, music collections, transmitters, antennas, etc.

 

 

Information from:  https://amrron.com/communications-resources/rebroadcast-stations/