Two-way radio convert to short-range radio?

Okay, for introduction on the topic, I'm a DJ and music producer, and will be starting college this fall. This is the era of not much exposure to the unheard of, so I need a way to get an exposure base.

If it needs to be said to continue, everything I detail here will be crosschecked for legality, as I don't intend to operate on any unauthorized bands.

What I was wondering about doing is converting a two-way radio (a walkie-talkie) into a short-range, "pirate" (loosely) radio. Obviously, one unit would be the send signal, and anyone wishing to receive would have to purchase their own unit and dial in to the correct frequency (which for the most part are standardized as channel numbers).

Question is, how would I rig the two-way radio to accept a headphone (3.5mm) or a 1/4" TRS plug for connection to a DJ mixer, etc.? Also, how would I modify the circuitry to allow for a constant power source rather than batteries?

Also, would it be possible to (simply) modify the unit to eek out a bit more range? It wouldn't need to be anything more than 3-4 miles (5-7km).

 

I would be using one of the consumer hand-held walkie-talkies to do so. Simple channel selection - that way I can avoid a tap on emergency freqs.

Also, these things are pretty much limited to 2 miles (best case scenario) as they are in the range of mW output.

Would the conversion of one of these walkie-talkies (without the headset) just be as simple as desoldering the microphone and soldering to/on a TRS female connector for input? Also, would a coaxial connection (standard coaxial cable) transmit the power to an antenna adequately or would I need another form of antenna because of losses due to things such as resistance?

And Dave, the transceiver I'd be using is already tuned for those allowances for power and band in the US, and unless our FCC has made rules otherwise (which through extensive research I haven't come across yet) there is nothing regarding transmission of music. Of course, there always is unauthorized broadcast if you do not own the rights, but as this channel would be used for broadcasting only what I produce (my own original work), I would have the rights to broadcast and do as I see fit with that part of the question.

Is converting a CB radio another viable option in terms of power? CB radios in the States are not regulated or requiring of licenses.

 

Well yes, all this is fine & good, but the root node of the original question was how to accomplish this, not the legal implications of doing so and utilizing it.

I believe I said it above, but I know that I am responsible for the legal implications of what I create and how I use it; as such I am investigating myself into how to do it in the most legal fashion possible. Gunsmithing is legal. Carrying your gun in public and brandishing it at people, however, is not.

Half of my interest in doing such is my interest in mechanics and electronics - "physical" methods if you will - I know I can pay internet radio sites to get my own space and host that way, but that takes a lot of the fun of thinking, constructing, and testing away, and the "live" component is lost (I'd have to pre-record anything to do, and upload it at a later time).

All that being said, I was planning on soldering a female 1/4" (~6.25mm) TRS jack to the microphone connection as well as desoldering the manual PTT button and rigging a toggle throw for constant transmittance. Would this fly?

Also, would lengthening the antenna produce any viable increase in transmittance range / signal quality? Or will the extreme low power of the unit (500mW max) and its transmittance capabilities be swamped by any significant increase in antenna size?

 

Well yes, I know there are more legally-legitimate ways of doing what I want to do rather than modifying a 2-way walkie talkie and shimmying through some legal gray zones to transmit, but none of that gets me the thrill of actually getting to build something; to wire something; to test it; to see if it works. Probably what will end up happening is I will forget all about it while I'm off at college, but it's the building and the learning about how things work that I'm after. With a Wi-Fi access point, I plug in a few cables, add a screw-on antenna and Bam! I'm done. No learning about wiring or circuitry, which is what I'm after.

And I understand about the whole "conspiracy to commit a crime/offense", but at least under my country's definition of such you have to know what I plan on doing is undoubtedly a crime, and you also have to instruct me on how to do it. Telling me if I'm doing a general concept the right way and warning me against it in the meantime falls more under freedom of information, which secures freedoms for information if used in a hypothetical and for-knowledge sense.

But, I understand that I won't be getting any further with this, so it's time for me to wire it like I think it should be wired with basic circuitry knowledge, and then play the game of "I hope it works".