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Pirate radio station in Ottawa on 91.9 FM

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173K views 1.3K replies 128 participants last post by  hugh  
#1 ·
Please note that for the past couples of weeks in October and November 2009 we have noticed that a group of teenagers are broadcasting a radio service on the FM dial (at 91.9 FM) in Ottawa. According to the CRTC there are no licence for this frequency??? They seem to broadcast mostly weekends on Fridays and Saturdays. Music seems to be coming from an Internet (stream). Website for the station: http://919mixfm.piczo.com/?g=1&cr=7

Anyone in Ottawa heard about this? Station can be receive in a car at various locations in Ottawa (Orleans, Greely, Richmond and even a weak signal in Gatineau on the other side of the Ottawa River.
 
#2 ·
Ya, i have heard them in my car, as far south as franktown. They also run RDS, on my car radio it says MIX FM then the phone number for requests.
They seem to broadcast only on weekends, and they have been bouncing around from 91.9 to 99.9 to 106.5, looking for open spots on the dial. But this is the strongest of heard them. They must be pushing a couple hundred watts, or more ERP

Industry Canada is sure going to have fun with these guys, if any complaints roll in. Once word gets around about it, something will break. They have even had posters on telephone poles in the market downtown, i have seen them.

They are pushing a fine line, and i believe they want to broadcast on weekends, figuring that Industry Canada spectrum agency for communications (ottawa district office) , won't investigate to tracking on sat or sun. (mon-fri) thing.

If i was a pirate radio operator i would sure not put such publicity on it, but hey its a gamble, lets see how far this is going to go.
 
#3 ·
I remember when radio nuclear broadcasting on 88.3 in ottawa, years back, got a stop and desist order from industry canada. And pirates have been relatively quiet until now. Of course if you go broadcasting 100 , 200 , 500 watts, at the top of a 20 story building, your bound to attract some attention
 
#5 ·
They have contact numbers on their site

Ottawa 613-366-4040
Montreal 514-447-4287
Toronto 647-367-4393

Google the phone numbers and you get a link to http://WWW.927MIXFM.PICZO.COM
 
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#13 ·
They will shut them down, if the other radio stations start complaining, usually how it works by an engineer or communications staff. Then industry canada starts investigating. A radio station cannot simply get a liscense from the CRTC, is has to apply, then the industry canada sees whether or not it will interfere with NAV/COM communications that it is technically acceptable, meaning airport/airplane. Then there is an intervention allowed from others, after the initial application request.

CRTC also looks as station feasability regarding money, sales, market, types of music. Does it warrant a liscense to broadcast in a market already saturated with plenty of applicants wanting a spot on the dial

in 2010, Ottawa is going to get 2 new radio stations on 99.7 Eve fm
and 101.9 Dawg FM.

I wish the guys luck in there endeavour , it can be fun, but hopefully, no consequenses will follow. The worst that can happen, get a slap on the wrist, don't do again, followed by a cease and desist order from the spectrum management and telecommunications of industry canada.
 
#17 ·
From the site:

MIX FM WILL BE BROADCASTING ON THE RADIO ON OCTOBER 31 ON 106.5 FM IN OTTAWA AND GATINEAU
Guess they have to move it around.
 
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#22 ·
I wonder how they did find out. Was it this thread or someone reporting it directly to Industry Canada?
 
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#24 ·
Back in the early 80's we had a pirate in Hamilton.... CFME.... Not sure who complained but his production was quite professional in nature. I think what didn't help was the over-deviation of the FM carrier and the fact he was stomping on popular out of market signals with a fair amount of power.... :) It was receivable in Dundas....

He got canned as far as I know. Don't know the details though of that process.

Cameron
 
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#25 ·
That VA3 call sign is registered to a person living on Main St. in Toronto, not some TV station. Under the radio regulations, an amateur radio licence is not allowed to be used for broadcasting.
 
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