The Fading of the Low Power Transmitter Age

Media tends to mirror society.

I take a look at the current crop of movies, TV and radio, and think, yeah, it's an accurate portrayal.

Much of radio today is mindless drivel.  From the 15 song playlists to the shrill conservative and/or liberal talk shows to endless sports   People want stuff that is safe.  Stuff that reinforces their current beliefs.  Stuff that doesn't require them to think.

You see this in news reporting.  Investigative reporting going the way of the dodo, and being replaced by opinions and outright falsehoods on twitter and facebook.  What gets me is that most of the panderers know they are lying, they do so unabashedly, expect people to accept it blindly, and are rewarded when a lot do.

Most TV shows and movies promote gratuitous sex and violence, with little thought (or creativity) required.

In other words, people are getting what they want, and probably what they deserve.

I want different.  I want thought.  I want to be uncomfortable.  I don't have to agree with, or even enjoy, the music that is being played, what is being talked about, or witten about, or filmed.  I want to be challenged, and to learn.

I do this in my own little way with Part 15 broadcasting. I focus on music right now, but in the past I've also focused on community.

There will always be some that go against the current.  Not many, perhaps, but some.  I'm not surprised by the demise of SSTran.  I'm actually rather surprised that a few enthusiasts stll are in the low power broadcasting business.  Expecting to make a lot (or even any) money is a stretch, both for practitioners and manufacturers.

Perhaps we need to accept that, at least until society becomes more enlightened (and I'm not holding my breath), this is the best it's going to get.

And hey, it ain't bad.  At least 3 healthy Forums (I don't count the Facebook page, which caters mainly to those on the fringe of legality at best).  Some intelligent people to help others.  Some controversial individuals.  Interesting original programming and suggestions.

It's something.  A small flickering light in the darkness.  And something for those who have similar interests and motivations to move towards if they are so inclined.

Artisan Radio has made one of the best statements ever posted here at part15, and I am looking forward to following up with anything I can say to build on it, but that willl come later.

For now I'm unloading groceries and getting setup for the evening schedule here at KDX.

In the interim, please tell us your ideas about whatever it is we think we're talking about.

"There will always be some that go against the current.  Not many, perhaps, but some.  I'm not surprised by the demise of SSTran.  I'm actually rather surprised that a few enthusiasts stll are in the low power broadcasting business.  Expecting to make a lot (or even any) money is a stretch, both for practitioners and manufacturers."

How true, although the demise of SStran could also have been just getting older and retiring or a health reason etc.

I fear that with no transmitter manufacturers coming up to fill the void when the current ones close up shop that could be it....scary. If Decade goes no other Canadian manufacturer makes such a thing.

The Decade is the only BETS-1 certified transmitter there is and since they make a product that is designed to last indefinitly I feel better and can always have 1 or 2 extras for back up put away. The adaptors to power them are hard to get as they need A/C not D/C and I have 4 extras for back up that I found at Sayel Electronics here in Toronto.

The AM ones(the two best) are as noted overpriced and more than a lot of hobbiests will spend and I don't think they make that much money at it. But if a product is made better to last with no built in obselecense and not to many will be sold it has to cost more, just goes along with better quality.

As for one of us designing and marketing some a good idea but who here is an electronic engineer willing to take on a business like this with the capital needed?

Carl could be right that part 15 has peaked and has a bleak future with no one picking up the slack as the current transmitter makers get older and retire or get out of the business.

Mark, by suggesting that we should design our own transmitters I do not suggest that we can offer them for sale.

We can design them as a team, but we each must build our own, which in the U.S. is legal.

But can you in Canada build your own transmitters?

Legally here, unlike the US, you can build your own, BUT, you can't use it even if it meets the rules(field strength, other stuff). It has to be certified as meeting the rules by a test lab aproved by Industry Canada with label on the product and in their REL list. Especially with BETS-1. I said legally.  Cost $3000

The US has it better in this regard. As long as you are not over the 250uV/M@3meters or meet the AM ground, antenna length and power limit you can use anything, home grown whatever.

The SStran couldn't be used here, neither could the EDM, or Ramsey, or Talking House, or anything you make yourself as not approved here...legally that is.

There is though, something in the BETS-1 rules that says if a transmitter doesn't have the technical acceptance certificate it can be used but you will need a broadcasting certificate you can get from Industry Canada but don't know cost or how that's done. And it still has to show it meets the rules.

So the US has it better in some ways and Canada has an advantage with more allowable FM coverage.

I am certainly saddened by the current state of SSTRAN, and equally happy that I have my own AMT-5000, which I may never put into production but I've got it if I need it.  As to the thought that some other options liken the Hamilton Rangemaster or the Procaster are just impossibly expensive, i disagree. They represent a great VALUE for money. Certainly the SSTRAN is a great value, but so are the others. Over the years I have seen similar sentiments in other hobbies such as radio, cars, computers, shooting, photography and others.  If you are committed to a particular hobby then you can make it work, at least in  the U.S.  Pick up another part time job, they're everywhere, and you can earn the cash in just a few weeks. Be positive, be committed, and you will overcome such obstacles. I am all for such initiatives as Carl mentioned, designing our own Part 15 compliant transmitter but it's not like that is our only option. Part 15 has as bright a future now as it ever has, probably even more so considering the way our economy is booming. 

Jim Henry rejects dark forecasts:  "Part 15 has as bright a future now as it ever has, probably even more so considering the way our economy is booming."

All we need is about five or ten more Jim Henrys!

As unfortunate as it is that SStran has discontinued business, it really has very little bearing on anything.. I mean SStrans very existence was birthed by the part 15 hobby and not the other way around. Suggesting that a single manufacturer somehow was the backbone of part15AM broadcasting is ludicrious.

I don't know for sure what transmitters the majority of Part15 hobbyist use, but I've always got the impression that the most predomiately used are the Rangemasters, Procasters, Talking Houses, with the SStrans kits being the least commonly used of the group.

If cost of Rangemasters and Procasters is really an issue (which in reality, it's not) then there are low cost ready to transmit alternatives.. Now days you can buy a brand new Talking House 5 model for only $90 w/free shipping.. or go for the upgrade IAM model for less than $200, plus Radio Systems is saying the external ATU's are supposed to be returning to the market shortly..

SStran has gone away, so the part15 hobby is sure to die? - Nonsense. There was rumblings of the same sky is falling attitude after KENC demise - It too was nonsense and the occurance had little genuine bearing upon our hobby.

I really agree with Jim Henry, all is well with part 15.

"..by suggesting that we should design our own transmitters I do not suggest that we can offer them for sale. We can design them as a team, but we each must build our own, which in the U.S. is legal..."

I meant to comment on that Carl.. Keith Hamilton had inquired with the legality of selling kits ( http://www.am1000rangemaster.com/kits.html ) and the FCC response was as follows:

"The kit does not require equipment authorization to be marketed (sold) but they would still need to comply with the limits set forth in corresponding sections of part 15. The responsibility of compliance lies on the user, or the person who assembles the parts together, not on the manufacturer."

So I'm not sure why you say you do not suggest that an experienced designer/builder within our own part15 community could not do the same thing which SStran had done.

"Suggesting that a single manufacturer somehow was the backbone of part15AM broadcasting is ludicrious."

I (Carl Blare) have never denied being ludricrous. In fact it's my distinction.

"So I'm not sure why you say you do not suggest that an experienced designer/builder within our own part15 community could not do the same thing which SStran had done."

That much is true... an individual could launch and market a transmitter kit. I only said that the part 15 community as a team will never do it because we're eccentric individualists and much too disorganized.

The part 15 community is the only place where I've ever truly belonged.

"All we need is about five or ten more Jim Henrys!"

We need more than that!

In the olden days those who wanted to use Part 15 AM had few options.  Essentially, they were to build your own transmitter or get one of the few available kits such as the KnightKit, Graymark, or some others.  The KnightKit was my starter unit and back then it cost about $13 which is about $130 in todays inflated money.  For me that was about 1 1/2 weeks pay earned as a bike mechanic or about four hours pay for my father who bought it for me as a gift.

We have options today, purchase a certified assembled unit or build our own from scratch.  Regarding the perceived high cost of the assembled devices, if one is really serious about the hobby then one should accept that hobbies cost money.  Think about the cost of golfing, bowling, shooting, fishing, bar hopping and proceed.

Neil

Radio8Z named "bar hopping" as  a hobby he seems to know something about.

Bar hopping never worked for me. Sure, I was fine at the first bar, but I never could last until the second one.

One of the best radio program ideas around is listed at Rich Powers End80 website, in which he foresees interviewing the many bar tenders around Tybee Island for "Bar Stories". When Rich Powers starts that show I want permission to carry it.

A friend of mine did a Sunday night jazz show along similar lines called "Table Hopping with Charlie".

Suddenly I don't know what thread I'm in nor what the topic is. Could someone show me the way out?

"Radio8Z named "bar hopping" as  a hobby he seems to know something about."

I know enough about it to not do it.

Neil