After catching up on all the topics I decicied to go to my blog. I noticed Neil from radio8z asked me a question about my telephone ground. I am nearly 16 and don’t know the techinical jargon but I can do my best to explain. What I call a “telephone ground” is an 8′ gnd stake beside my house. There is a small telephone interface network box ( I don’t know what that is) on the outside of my house. Bellsouth has the TIN box drounded to it. I did the same thing. I am getting about 1,000 to 1,500′ with this setup. My wire antenna is connected via an alligator clip to the screw on a light switch plate. For some reason the signal is best under or near the power line. That’s where I’m getting the 1500′ from. I don’t know why it works in that manner, but I find it interesting that it does when w/ most AM stations’ signals under powerlines cause interference w/ the AM signal. I am currently trying to get my outdoor antenna set up. By then I’m expecting at least 3/4 mile to 1 1/4 mile of quality signal.
After catching up on all the topics I decicied to go to my blog. I noticed Neil from radio8z asked me a question about my telephone ground. I am nearly 16 and don’t know the techinical jargon but I can do my best to explain. What I call a “telephone ground” is an 8′ gnd stake beside my house. There is a small telephone interface network box ( I don’t know what that is) on the outside of my house. Bellsouth has the TIN box drounded to it. I did the same thing. I am getting about 1,000 to 1,500′ with this setup. My wire antenna is connected via an alligator clip to the screw on a light switch plate. For some reason the signal is best under or near the power line. That’s where I’m getting the 1500′ from. I don’t know why it works in that manner, but I find it interesting that it does when w/ most AM stations’ signals under powerlines cause interference w/ the AM signal. I am currently trying to get my outdoor antenna set up. By then I’m expecting at least 3/4 mile to 1 1/4 mile of quality signal.
Travis Allred, Hometown Radio 1610.
radio8z says
Phone Ground
Hi Travis,
Thanks for your explanation of your telephone ground. It seems that maybe with your transmitter grounded to the phone stake and the antenna connected to the light switch screw (which should be at power ground) that you have created a system where both grounded leads are radiating a signal with some coupling to the power line which takes the signal “down the road”. I am surprised and glad you are not having interference from the power line.
When I posed the question, I had in mind an experience I had when I built my first one transistor radio receiver. I had read that the dial clip on the phone made a good antenna connection, I guess by coupling to the phone line. I tried it and it didn’t work, and was curious if that was what you did.
You are about the same age as I was when I went on the air with Part 15 AM (1959). I have had a lot of fun and gained a lot of knowledge “playing” with this over the years and I still experiment with Part 15 today. I earned an amateur radio license and really got distance, but I still enjoy “yardcasting” and experimenting with the SSTRAN and Ramsey FM-25. I hope you have as much fun and learn as I did.
Here is a link which describes my first Part 15 AM transmitter. You might enjoy reading the sections about broadcaster memories and fan stories. It brought back memories for me and may give you some ideas.
http://www.knightkit.com/
Neil