Having a part 15 radio station is only the beginning of a growth process. It is human nature to build onto the basic setup and there are many upgrade paths.
Having a part 15 radio station is only the beginning of a growth process. It is human nature to build onto the basic setup and there are many upgrade paths.
A better antenna is probably number one, followed by stepping up to a better transmitter.
I thought of several bell and whistle things to do –
It would be neat to have a central remote control point for controlling and monitoring each transmitter, wherever they are located.
Also, how about mini-meters for watching transmitter “readings.”
Finally, while listening to “This Week in Radio Tech” from the TWiT Network, there was a tour of a transmitter plant with the sound of very heavy-duty blowers keeping the transmitters cool. For part 15, how about ultra mini blowers that run just for realism.
Meters
Carl I think we bounced around the idea of using meters to monitor things a while back so forgive me if I repeat things.
Analog metering is a good idea as well as a flashy visual for an audio medium. The meters can be simple and yet convey useful information. I would start by metering the DC current supplied to each transmitter. Once the “transmitter engineer” becomes accustomed to the normal meter pointer indications, deviations which would indicate that something has changed become evident. Almost any transmitter failure would cause a change in current reading.
When I had a ham repeater on air there were four analog meters measuring Plate DC Volts, Plate DC amps., Grid drive current, and reflected antenna power. After a while I became used to the normal pointer patterns and didn’t have to check the data log to tell that things were OK or not.
Neil
Little Refinements
Yes indeed, radio8z, we have talked about meters before, but our conversations fade into the data base of the universe.
This time I am seeing a little more detail in the vision, with extra-tiny mini-meters to represent the scale of our Wattage, and redendant meters at the transmitter and remote locations.
Then just now, another idea flashed in the brain-cell while I was thinking how intertwined computing has become with part 15…
Imagine a part 15 transmitter with a GUI computer interface! It could be PhilB’s AMT-1-Million, or radio 8Z’s way of making his transmitter invention have a marketing edge.
Already Done
“Imagine a part 15 transmitter with a GUI computer interface!”
I quote the famous line from the Chicken Of The Sea commercial…”Sorry Charlie”..but that’s already been done.
Just look to the left row over there under the PCS ad. See that neat PCI card in the ad picture? It’s a GUI interface FM transmitter.
The reason why there is not one for AM is because a Part 15 AM transmitter needs to be outside at the antenna, and if I am right, hardly anyone likes to have their TX outdoors even in a weatherproof box..much less have their entire computer outside!
But for those who like stringing wires across the walls and roof, there may be hope for you soon to come! But I would not wait around for it! Gonna be awhile!
RFB