How to Build a Low Power FM 10 Radio Station

Low-power FM radio stations, also known as LPFMs, are only available to noncommercial / nonprofit radio broadcasters. LPFM radio stations have a maximum broadcast power of 100 watts. L2 class (which are referred to as LP10) LPFM stations have a broadcast capacity of between one and 10 watts. While it's not a lot of power, you still need to be licensed with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to operate legally. LPFM stations are required to meet certain technical standards designed to protect the integrity of authorized broadcasters on the same and neighboring radio frequency channels.

Instructions
Building a LPFM Radio Station

1.Use the FM Query resource link to find an available low-power FM frequency.

2.Work through the technical requirements needed to file your FCC license application. You will need to specify where you intend to hang your LPFM antenna, and where you intend to install your transmitter. While you don't need to specify the location of your broadcast studio on the FCC license application, you should bear in mind that, for a low-power FM radio station, your broadcast studio needs to be within 10 miles of your antenna and transmitter location.

3.Fill out and submit your license application, along with the appropriate fees, with the FCC. Wait for approval before you proceed to purchase the needed broadcast equipment.

4.Purchase the requisite radio broadcast transmission equipment. You need an LPFM antenna and transmitter. If you tell the manufacture of your transmitter and antenna the radio frequency your station has been assigned to broadcast on, they can pre-tune the equipment for you. Otherwise you will have to tune the equipment yourself to ensure that your LPFM station is broadcasting on the appropriate frequency.

5.Install your broadcast transmission equipment. The antenna needs to be placed outdoors. You can secure it to a tower, or on some other structure. For example, you could attach your antenna to a pole and secure it to a building. The FCC has mandated a maximum antenna height of 30 meters HAAT (height above average terrain) for LP10 stations. The transmitter needs to be placed indoors to protect it from weather elements. It also needs to be placed near a power source because it requires electricity to run. Both your antenna and transmitter should be placed in close enough proximity to each other to allow a cable connection.

6.Purchase the studio broadcasting equipment you need. This should include a radio console (also called a "board"), at least one microphone, headphones, and at least two CD players. You might also want to put a cassette player, record player and an Internet-ready computer in your studio.

7.Hook up the equipment in your broadcast studio.

Tips & Warnings
You should aim to put your broadcast studio in the same building that houses your transmitter. If you're able to do this, you can connect your studio equipment to your transmitter using cables. If it's not possible to have your studio in the same building as your transmitter, you will have to set up an STL studio-to-transmitter link through your phone company in order to get your audio signal to your transmitter. A microwave link could also be used to accomplish this, but this option requires obtaining an additional license from the FCC.

 

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