Ban on MP3 transmitters is lifted in UK

UK Makers, good news you can now legally use a FM transmitter starting 12/6/2006 –

“The devices fell foul of the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949, which forbids the use of radio equipment without a licence or an exemption. But strong consumer demand for the devices led Ofcom to rethink the legislation. Liberal Democrat MPs were also prominent in asking for iTrips and similar devices to be legalised. The new Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2006 mean that certain low-power transmitters will now be legal. “ – Link.

But you don’t need to go out and buy an FM transmitter (well, the iTrips is fun to mod, so that’s OK) – anyway, there are tons of kits and how-tos that are really easy to make…

Get your FM on:

• HOW TO – Make a low power FM transmitter – Link.
• HOW TO – Make a telephone FM transmitter – Link.
• DIY FM Transmitter – Link.
• HOW TO – Build an iPod Shuffle FM transmitter – Link.
• HOW TO – Make a HI-FI Stereo FM transmitter – Link.
• Homemade FM transmitter in New Orleans – Link.
• HOW TO – Make a low power FM transmitter – Link.
• HOW TO – Increasing the iTrip’s range – Link.
• Extending the iTrip’s Range – Link.
• iTrip for iPod nano – neat hack… – Link.

From the pages of MAKE

• irock Broadcast Boombox. Pump up the volume with a portable FM radio station. MAKE 02 – Page 122. Subscribers–read this article now in your digital edition!

And here’s a fun tip, when I visit cities where I’m going to be in a taxi I bring a FM transmitter and have a “blank” track on my MP3 player – usually the taxi drivers have a radio station blasting really loud and this is an easy way to get rid of it – oddly enough, the driver usually starts talking and we have a great conversation. Sure you can ask them to turn down the radio, but usually after that they’re mean. I suppose you could also record your own fake news and broadcast it, like “today is taxi day” – but that might not go over that well…