Trying to find some advice. I am tasked to find or build an AM antenna. It may sound crazy to you but Iam not kidding. We have a 50K watt transmitter and no antenna. We wll be transimitting at about 1670AM. No, I am not breaking any laws where I am.
I have been in electronics a long time, but never had much to do with radio.
Can a quicky home made one be configured?
Any one have any advice on how to do this?
Thanks for any advice
Even if your installation would be locally compliant, that output power level would suggest some very large safety issues, both for yourselves and anyone nearby. Some time spent studying ARRL readings and FCC information about RF hazards and safety precautions seems like a good idea. .
Just guessing here, but if there aren't any power output restrictions where you are then there might not be too many antenna restrictions, so once you understand the safety issues the antenna construction would be fairly straightforward.
You are breaking the law if you have a 50k ....Inless you have a permit
Wow! I want one! lol
So we really can't say whether someone is operating illegally or not. The operator has responsibility for determining that, wherever they are from. Example, even our tiny Part 15 AM output power is banned in the UK, so for a UK visitor almost nothing on this site is appropriate.
Conversly, there might be other jurisdictions where other guidelines are in effect that permit greater power.
To see where our visitors come from, check this post:
http://part15.us/node/1529
No restrictions at all, no licenses, or rules. FCC has no say in it. I am in an odd place here. Safety is the main concern, but the area surrounding the setup is isolated. Any ideas on how to make this? Or would it need to be purchaed?
Im not sure i would touch this with a 100 foot ground isolated tower and atu. But then again. 🙂
At that power level,you cant just throw a wire in a tree....
Well,you will need a tower about 250-300 feet tall mounted on an insulator with 20 yards of concrete base,with insulated guy wires,an Antenna Tuning Unit,about 20,000 feet of solid copper ground wire for a counterpoise,some source of 440 volt,3 phase power,a shielded transmitter building,lots of ground rods,safety fenced in and some mighty deep pockets!!!
You will need to hire an engineer to lay it all out so it will work right.
Where exactly are you planning to put this up? What is your budget?
A typical installation (USA) will run anywhere from $250,000 up to $1,000,000!!! or more!
How many times 100 milliWatts does it take to get 50 kw?
I'm glad Wilcom Labs put in the blunt truth of the matter.
But I do have these questions.
What brand of transmitter is it?
What kind of programming is planned?
Who and how many are in the audience in an area 40-miles in all directions (not to mention the night sky wave signal which will go hundreds of miles)?