WTRH-AM the low powered AM station is off air, because the transmitter does not stay on frequency and is always off set not to mention the range is poor and poor sound quality. So I am working on saving up for another part 15 AM transmitter something better than the “toy” lab kit. For the time being the part 15 broadcasts are on 96.9 FM on a very low powered AAA X 2 FM stereo transmitter and when the AM transmitter comes back on the air the audio should sound better than it was before and straight on frequency.
With the very tight budget I have it’s going to take longer than expected. I might get a Vectronics or something that I can keep close to my studio set up nothing is going to be on top of the equipment. If it the station goes on air, that is because they are special test transmissions. Right now it’s off air and just the FM station is taken over for the time being.
AM TX Lab Kit
By lab kit are you referring to those multi-in-one type kits where a bunch of different circuits can be built using those springs for the connections?
Or an actual AM TX kit that somehow has decided to go astray from its intended frequency? If it is such a TX, how is it developing the transmitting frequency? A PLL? DDS? Direct on-frequency crystal? Or is it a run-free LC tuned circuit?
There may be a way to correct the problem and save some $$$. Could just be a trimmer cap drifted or stab cap that changed value thus shifting your carrier frequency off center.
RFB
Hi GCCRADIOSCIENCE
I’ve been thinking about your
AM transmitter situation since I
saw your post. I have wanted to
help but I’m not sure what to say.
There is only one thing I can think
of. I don’t know if this would apply.
You could make a transmitter for
1000 kHz, if that channel is clear
in your area. 1000 kHz crystals
are very inexpensive because they
are used in so many other applications.
Then you would have no drift. You
would have to have the right circuit,
of course.
About the Vectronics AM transmitter – I
did not know it was still around. I
was interested in that unit 4 or 5
years ago, but I already had a Ramsey
AM-1, so I didn’t need the Vectronics
transmitter. I did hear good things
about the Vectronics unit, but it was a
long time ago, and I don’t know if the
information was valid.
One thing is good. You have the FM stereo
transmitter. And in the world of Part 15 FM,
it’s probably just as good as anything else
that people are using.
It’s nice to see you back.
Bruce, DOGGRADIO STUDIO 2 (Hi RFB)