Although I had forgotten all about it, I had actually visited this "Smallest Church in America" about 45 years ago! It was a brief stop and there wasn't anything particularly interesting about it that I recall, but it was unique, which is why we stopped. Anyway, today happened to come across this page that brought the memory back to mind. A local grocer had built it in 1949 and it's since became a tourist spot. But evidently about 10 years ago someone burnt it down (not sure if it was totally destroyed), so the City and County immediately facilitated the gathering of donations to rebuild the 190-square-foot church, for some reason it took 18 months to complete but the new structure was rededicated the just before Easter 2017. https://exploregeorgia.org/darien/general/historic-sites-trails-tours/the-smallest-church-in-america
"..Local ministers still lead non-denominational worship there every third Sunday and the church is very popular for it remains one of the most unique structures along the Georgia Coast Scenic Byway. ..."
Ok, cool story, but here's the thing, it's not really the smallest, there's evidently about 100 tiny churches like this, some a little bigger, some even smaller...
For example this one in New York, it barely big enough to hold a preacher and the marrying couple! Transport is by a row boat that's perhaps more roomy than the church! https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2435
Here's Canada's Smallest Church https://tourstoniagarafalls.com/visit-living-water-wayside-chapel-canadas-smallest-church/
Here's a site dedicated to all the tiny churches...
https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/36537#google_vignette
Well so what?
Well, I was thinking, Tiny Churches, which also double as tourist spots sure could be a prime market for tiny radio stations.. If I were Gerry I'd put together a pamphlet and mail it to every tiny church on that list. Present it right and he'd have to manufacture at least one more run!
Personally, I don't think Gerry plans to retire the Procaster at all. I suspect that lately he just feels fed up with it all over all the time, effort and money he put into putting his new high-end FM model on the market, which nobody is buying. Discouraging I'm sure, but just because none have sold yet doesn't mean they never will. The thing about premium part 15 FM transmitters is that you have to have a very specific purpose for one to justify the cost. Otherwise most potential customers will go for the $60 and $70 bargains.
Personally I think AM is better a tiny church, but perhaps FM would be more appropriate for some of them.
Well, I was thinking, Tiny Churches, which also double as tourist spots sure could be a prime market for tiny radio stations.. If I were Gerry I'd put together a pamphlet and mail it to every tiny church on that list. Present it right and he'd have to manufacture at least one more run!
@mark My point got lost in all my talk, so I quote that portion. I really think there's a genuine potential of sales. Remember all those tiny churches are also tourist spots - Everyone of them would welcome the idea of a maintenance free, station to broadcast their Tiny Church info 24/7 to their parking lot. Forget what I said about AM, this here is prime for the FM Procasters
There is an engineering problem with this. In my church, which is a modest sized place in St. Charles, MO, the mixing board/sound/broadcast area might require a lean-to in such a structure. I mean, you could seat six people in this space. Regular seating is around 300 seats. My home station space could seat three adults comfortably.
Another place, closer to my home has a similar space issue. I cannot fathom a tiny church using such space for audio gear of any kind.
If you're going to show up to a church that has Part 15 broadcasting, you might as well go inside. That's unless you are concerned with flu coodies and such.
A country church might have good signal propagation and reach a few cows like my country signal does now. If I were back in Saint Loo you could maybe reach the sidewalk.
space issue. I cannot fathom a tiny church using such space for audio gear of any kind.
If you're going to show up to a church that has Part 15 broadcasting, you might as well go inside.
I get your point but your missing mine. I'm not talking about a church broadcast, Although some of these tiny churches actually have services and/or a spot to get married, they're primarily tourist spots. The station doesn't need any gear, just a transmitter and mp3 player or laptop, that's it, takes no space.
These tiny church stations would essentially be a TIS station for tourists who come and park in the vicinity.
I think if Gerry don't jump on the idea then someone else will.
space issue. I cannot fathom a tiny church using such space for audio gear of any kind.
If you're going to show up to a church that has Part 15 broadcasting, you might as well go inside.
I get your point but your missing mine. I'm not talking about a church broadcast, Although some of these tiny churches actually have services and/or a spot to get married, they're primarily tourist spots. The station doesn't need any gear, just a transmitter and mp3 player or laptop, that's it, takes no space.
These tiny church stations would essentially be a TIS station for tourists who come and park in the vicinity.
It would only be useful for tourist purposes, only. As advertising.
Nobody is going to sit in the parking lot and listen to the wedding inside the could attend, or listen to the gospel message. Right?
@centinel Right l, that's exactly what I mean, because most of them don't even have any kind of services at all. They're basically just historic landmarks. The broadcast are just basically a short podcast about the structure, how it came to be built and the history behind it.