Carl, I have not ever observed any (except one person) ever reporting successful range with elevated ungrounded installs.. Have I missed some reports?
Rich Powers looking to verify: "Carl, I have not ever observed any (except one person) ever reporting successful range with elevated ungrounded installs.. Have I missed some reports?"
I've seen two people say that... Tim in Bovey has his Rangemaster or maybe it's a Procaster up in the attic window and Mighty 1650 just said what he said.
In our small part 15 community two witnesses are plenty.
My memory is not the sharpest.. I do recall Tim speaking of his attick install, but I don't recall him boasting any substantial range. As for Mighty just said.. I'm not sure what he meant.
Tim gets all over Bovey with his fully legal install.
Ok, let me ask a different way.. How can I too acheive multiple miles of Range with my Rangemaster raised in the air ungrounded? Because obviously I must be doing something incorrectly, because my signal barely makes it down the street without a ground.
I tell you what.. Nevermind, this really isn't worth the conflict. I have a hard time beleiving anyone can honestly say with a straight face that a ungrounded part 15 installation is capable of acheiving miles of range. I'm not insuating that the signals are not traveling that far, I just think accurate info is what should be provided.
End80 has some great points and questions.
For antenna height, you just need to be above the tree and roof line.
Additionally End80s suspicions about range are correct, you will almost always have a better result with a grounded install than an ungrounded elevated installation. However, repspectable range of a mile or so can be achieved. (Entirely dicated by local soil conditions)
I was able to achieve phenomanal range with an elevated rangemanster mounted on a pole about 9 feet in the air, the range was unbelievable with an added radial system. Around 15 miles of coverage quickly showed me the reason why the FCC no longer allows elevated installations to have grounds. Removing the ground dropped my coverage to about 5 miles, I have since assumed my audio and power path must be acting as some sort of ground. My studio equipment is all grounded to both house ground and an added ground rod by the studio window.
For a lot of users, an ungrounded installation will serve them just fine. For users that want some serious range and have the space for a proper radial system a ground install is the way to go.
All that said, there are a handfull of elevated installtions I can think of that have some phenomenal range for a part 15.
DJCR 1670 San Antonio, TX 1.5 Miles or more
KLSR 1650 Rowlett, TX 1.5 miles or more (confirmed)
Liberty Radio (1670?) from somewhere up north. I've seen videos of their installation and coverage, they appear to cover most if not all of their town.
FWIW, my elevated install gets about 1-2 miles of good daytime coverage, about 5 miles of very faint but intelligable coverage.
Are you using a shielded audio/power feed?
Nope, just standard run of the mill telephone wiring.
Missed you at the latest ALPB meeting....forgot all about it, LOL. I'm Matt, the owner/operator of 1650 AM, Radio Free Connecticut. We broadcast right around the Bridgeport/Stratford CT city line area. Let me tell you how I run my setup.
First, I transmit using a Talking House (aka I.AM) AM Transmitter, and included antenna. At my location, the signal usually gets out a good ways....I think about 1500 feet or so.
Second, I don't use any really special software to air my programs. Usually, I just use my WinAmp Media Player, coupled with my music library, for music. If I'm doing a talk show, I usually host it via phone on Blogtalkradio.
Finally, I use my PC's built-in mic for a microphone. This setup works great for me....just saying. 🙂
I love my Hamilton 🙂 no magic...
Here's the best video on net advertising the Hamilton
Joe
🙂
(( HERES HIS THE YOUTUBE COMMENTS ))
Rangemaster Sold but this is what AM audio quality is possible from one.
