It has been a few years since I dabbled in part-15 broadcasting. However, I have decided to return to the airwaves... in Auburn, Alabama. After visiting part15.us from time to time, I began to think of my high-school days when I broadcasted my part-15 AM station, and how in those days my 1/4 mile signal only traveled the distance of my 1/4 mile gravel driveway.
However, now that I am in the more densely populated area known as Auburn, I have decided to return to the airwaves, since 1/4th of a mile is much more significant down here than it was in Cullman County, Alabama.
I look forward to being active in these posts once again, and look forward to catching up with those fellow part 15'ers I posted with back in the day - along with the new members too!
-Travis
Well, welcome back. I'm sure we all look forward to your post.
By the way, your icon sure looks very familiar to me
Glad you are back with us and with broadcasting. We had some nice conversations back when. Let us know how things progress.
Neil
With the right installation and proper tweaking, you can get double, triple, even four times (or more) the range you experienced before. So, welcome back to the airwaves; give the fine folks of Auburn some radio gusto!
The love for radio and broadcasting never fades away. It might take a little vacation, but will always forever be a part of your life.
RFB
You've got that right, RFB. It's terminal.
Welcome back to the airwaves, Travis. I'm planning to get an AM back on the air, maybe with an iAM radio. I've been busy working on the new radio building.
Alan
Welcome back ...
Also, FWIW, I agree, you shuld be able to do better than 1/4 mi. There are lots of variables, including local interference from transformers, motors, even LED Christmas lights (definitely affecting my after-dark signal here in Friday Harbor, WA) ... but, assuming your TX is putting out what it should and is properly modulated (max modulation before distortion), the two most obvious things are peak-resonance antenna matching and highest quality direct ground you can create ... the best, as you know, being shallow-buried ground radials.
Unless you're like me, broadcasting from a boat grounded to the sea. I dunneed no steenking ground radials 😉
If you're trying to broadcast from an apartment building, hang in there ... I'm working on an antenna design which is basically a loop which isn't a loop ... stay tuned ...
Welcome back to hobby Tallred.
TRAVIS! Glad to hear that you are back! That's
the thing - you get the feeling of the coolness
of Part 15 radio, and it never goes away.
Also, I am glad to see the post from
WJJD. I'm glad the Part 15 version is keeping
the memory of that legendary Chicago country
station alive. When I was a kid, I heard the
50,000 watt day only signal from WJJD on 1160
many times, around sunset. The receiving location
was Hartford, CT. It still is, too.
Bruce, DOGRADIO STUDIO 2
(Formerly MICRO1690/1700)
P.S. And Ken, when you get the "loop"
design done, please let us know.
Thanks for the comments about WJJD. I've been running variations of WJJD since 2003. I still run some of the original jingles on the station as well.
Like Travis, I hope to get an AM signal back up and running as well.
I purchased a Talking House II transmitter (VCR type) off ebay the other day, and here is my review of it.
Range (wire antenna) better than the SSTRAN AMT3000's wire antenna coverage. In one direction, I have about a 1/8 mile listenable signal but can hear it about 1/2 mile among the powerlines and static.
Audio Quality: the SSTRAN had great audio, The THII is OK, though, and still sounds better than a few AM stations out there.
I thought about trying the range by hooking it up to the cable TV coax (just for experimental purposes), but I fear that might damage the transmitter.
-Travis
"I thought about trying the range by hooking it up to the cable TV coax (just for experimental purposes), but I fear that might damage the transmitter."
It might damage it. Besides, the cable tv system is filtered for band pass and the AM band frequenices are unfortunately not even an afterthought or ever were considered as passable frequencies or a band considered to be offered like some cable companies uses to offer the FM band on their systems with both local stations and very distant ones via the cable company's elaborate FM reception antenna systems.
Try wrapping the antenna wire around an extension cord (large yard type) and plug the extension cord into a wall socket. Connect a good ground (cold water pipe or ground rod) up to the chassis and you got yourself a pretty good performing little CC system.
RFB
I have about 20' of christmas lights on my porch (2nd floor) I can wrap or "plug" the antenna into. However, would the ATU on the xmitter be able to accomodate the increase in wire length. Also, I am unaware of any cold water pipes (these around here are PVC) or ground rods I can ground the transmitter chassis up to.
Thanks for the help,
-Travis
Most likely the auto tuner will not tune it. Sometimes you hit the right multiple and it will but not often.
I don't think you can hurt the transmitter as if it won't tune the wire, it just errors out and won't transmit. And, it has some type of power limiter on the output stage.
The only grounding I can possibly use would be the "center screw" on a wall outlet cover. My porch rails are approx. 4x8' panels, which is what my Christmas lights are wrapped around. If I used the "external" ATU option on the transmitter, could I then use an increased wire length without the "error" or damage to the transmitter?
Thanks,
-Travis