Spitfire AM transmitter

I searched "spitfire" and a lot has been written, but here's probably the conclusion that was said by a very experienced member, Mr. Ken Norris of Friday Harbor Tiny Radio:

"The Spitfire isn't a bad unit, great for experimentation, but it just won't range out like I'd hoped, and the sound is a bit thin. It has no controls."

Throughout the search results the members leaned toward the AMT3000 and AMT5000 as the best transmitters out there

http://sstran.com

I had the spitfire - I think it was called a gizmo originally, yeah?

I thought it was great fun, but ended up going with the sstran-3000 - that was a crazy boost to my range.

If you want something that out of the box works, and requires no soldering (half the fun! 🙂 ) - the talking house is pretty ok 🙂

I've just bought the Spitfire. Currently evaluating it. First impressions, sounds better than my Talking House. I liked the 9kHz spacing that you dont get with Some US rigs. Im Working on the range aspect however. Give me a bit of time and I should be able to give a clearer picture. 

The sound quality of the Talking House seems to vary greatly both between individual units, and also different versions.

The best sound quality I've heard from my testing is with the Rangemaster (along with outboard sound processing and an Inovonics 222).  Also the best consistent range.  But I'm finally getting an SSTran 5000, so we'll see how that performs.

Finally somebody who can make comparisons!

Since the introduction of the AMT5000 there has been a press to get a comparison set up, but nobody seemed to be in a position to do it.

I'm finally setting up an outdoor antenna for my AMT5000, but I still won't have a Rangemaster.

Good going Artisan!

I own(ed) an amt 3k, 5k, Talking House 2, Rangemaster, Talking House 4.6, ATU for the talking house, Procaster (original and new version), Gittings 100mw, Gittings 6W CC, Metzo, and a few FM rigs.. what do you want to know from a non-tech guy?

Kits and Certified units:

Procaster (Certified) and AMT-5000 (Kit) sound the best. Hands down.  To be fair, they both have onboard processing - and yes.. if you have not got a ton of external processing gear, it matters.

AMT-3000 (Kit) is also a GREAT sounding thing, and get really decent range when coupled with a base loaded antenna.  This was the second transmitter pressed into service by Manteca Local Radio.

Rangemaster(Certified) is sort of its own thing IMO - with the ability to synchronize them, it changes so much of the dynamic.  Range is great on them as well.  I found that the sound is a little tinny without processing.

The metzo(Comes built, not certified) is a great little around-the-house deal, and it was the first transmitter on the air for Manteca Local Radio.  Sounds great, range is limited.

Talking House 2(Certified) sounds like two kids with soup cans and string.  You can make it better with processing, but still.. nothing like the Procaster or AMT-5000.

Talking House 4.6 (Certified) sounds better.  Still no Procaster or AMT-5000.

Custom Rigs (Gittings):

My Gittings AM100 was the best antenna transmitter I ever had. I would give a body part to have mine back.  The sound was clear, powerful, and you didn't miss much.  It modulated to 110%, and it pushed so close to 100mW (it varied from 95ish to 103ish).  The modulator control and gain were a seperate box in the studio.. and it was built like a bloody tank.

Next was my custom Gittings Carrier Current and Coupler.  Tube transmitter, loved the hum, the glow, the buzz, and hearing the programming coming out of the transmitter itself (you also get the cool programming audio artifact on the AMT-5000).  It was sooooo clear and beautiful sounding.  Nothing.. NOTHING beats tubes to my ears.  Love the sound. The range is what you would expect from 6watts and no pole pigs.  I pretty much covered about 50 acres with the carrier current..

I have one, but with as much antenna and coil tweaking to resonance as I could muster, it never came close to my Talking House for either range or sound reproduction, tho' I admit I didn't do the same amount of tweaking multi-band compression/expansion, EQ, and limiting in my audio softwate as with the TH.

I don't think I spent more than about $60 or so for the Spitfire a couple years ago.

Just for your future reference, the AMT3000 and AMT5000 are also available with 9kHz spacing, but since you got a Spitfire it will be interesting to hear your report on how well it works.

And wow! I never before heard about the Gittings 6-Watt CC transmitter! Maybe one will turn up on the Bay. I'll jump at it!

hope not - there was only 1 🙂

Have you had a chance to evaluate this yet?. I actually did buy one, not from ebay but directy from Vcomp in the UK(the assembled one) and I was surprised when I tried it and was thinking of posting a review but curious as to what you found.

Mark

Hy guys,

This is Dario, web broadcaster from Italy. It would be great for me read your reviews about the Spitfire. So please... write about. Thanks and good luck

I started this thread asking for some opinions on this transmitter, but got no difinitive answer as to whether this was good or junk so I went ahead and bought one. Now in response to Dario1968's request I will answer my own question and post a review from my experience with this transmitter.
This comes assembled or in kit form so for $10 more got it assembled. There are RCA jacks for audio in, RCA for antenna connection and separate ground terminal but the RCA jack can be used for the antenna & ground also. Impressive with this is the LED on front is NOT to indicate if the transmitter is on or off but to indicate when the antenna is peaked. The red LED goes OUT when adjusting the trimmer to indicate resonance. Checked with field strength meter and it's right on. When the LED is out the max field strength shows on meter. No need for a multitester and having to always access the circuit board for test points. No array of jumpers that do this, that, and again always having to access the circuit board. Once you set the frequency you will be on, set the ATU for the frequency range of your operating freqency(with dip switches) you can close the cabinet, make a small access hole in the top to access the trimmer and that's it. No need to take it apart anymore. If the antenna gets moved just notice the LED and make adjustment if needed through access hole...simple. Now for performance, I was very surprised...Absolutely no hum and very little background noise...at normal radio volume not heard at all. Modulates to 100%, can "almost" get to the volume of the other stations with clean sound. Sounds great, better than expected. Listening on a Tivoli Audio PAL the sound was as good and better than the other stations. Same on the car outside too. By adjusting the tone at the source I could adjust the sound on air. No, unlike sstran there's no compression but not really needed...maybe only 1 or 2 db less volume than other stations and that can be done at source too. With indoor antenna at 45 degree angle and grounded to 3rd hole on A/C plug(found this to be best) with banana plug on ground wire had great signal inside(overpowered all noise) and in car was good to about 3 or 4 houses down the street...From the basement inside. If I could get antenna out a window would be much better. Can be used with outdoor antenna same way as others.
Well that's it, my take on the Spitfire.

Hi guys, anyone with experience of the PROCASTER?? As I know it can be screwed up to 200mW and in 9 kHz raster. Anyone in europe using this unit??

What I know about the Procaster is that is a great transmitter but available only with 10KHz spacing.

In the meanwhile I just ordered a Spitfire and I'm waiting to get it. I'll post a review after installed and tested in different conditions.

I think useful to know, mainly for European LPAM supporters, next month a dedicated linear amplifier will be available for this AM transmitter.