I previously had my Rangemaster mounted up on the garage. Last spring, I took it down and transported it to my summer home in Michigan for experiments with ground mounting. While I don’t want to become embroiled in a discussion about the legitimacy of elevated mounting, I have decided that it’s not currently an option for me. Therefore, I’ve been trying to find out what I can do with a ground mounted system.
My experiments at the lake were not exactly earth-shattering. Over there, I have the benefit of a completely clear channel during the daytime– which is great– but the ground conductivity is awful. It’s basically sandy soil. I’m hard pressed to get a usable signal beyond a few hundred feet, although I can detect it on on a very sensitive receiver at a mile or more (at a level that no one would ever listen to).
I brought the Rangemaster back home for the winter and set it up in the back yard last weekend. I have one of those “impossible” situations: average (high clay) ground, a small lot with very little room for a decent radial system, and a crowded dial. At least with my ham radio setup I can get around some of the siting problems by putting antennas up in the air. I do have one ground-mounted vertical; it has never worked that well although on 40m and above, the ground radial system is fairly efficient.
I have more experiments to do, but so far it appears that my Part 15 signal is no worse than when the transmitter was on the garage. I attribute this to a slightly better radial system (there were no radials under the transmitter when it was elevated; just a lightning ground). I am still trying to decide how to construct the capacity hat antenna that I want to try. I also think I might try putting a short (3m) ground screen under the antenna. Since I can’t put out long radials, at least I could try that.
My second transmitter is an SSTRAN. I have that one set up in the living room with its floppy wire draped over the TV set, where it couples into the ac line via the internal degaussing coil. This setup works way better than it has any right to– the signal is surprisingly good on my block. As soon as I go beyond that, it drops into the noise. Inside my house and around my yard, it has a super signal. I use it as a translator for a distant university owned classical FM radio station. This enables me to listen with a strong, clear signal anywhere in the immediate vicinity of my home.
Unfortunately, I think that the “new normal” of being restricted to a ground-mounted system will mean that the idea of “community broadcasting” is dead except for those who have locations with excellent ground conductivity and the ability to deploy a really outstanding radial system. This will not apply to most of us. I am still interested in further refinements to radials and antenna loading, to see what small improvements can be achieved.
What are we left with? For now at least, I have decided to “make a virtue out of a necessity” and use my Part 15 system as a short-range FM translator. If my my closest neighbors want to tune in, they can hear it, but that is about all. Nevertheless, I derive a great deal of enjoyment from it. I think that there are still many out there who will find great uses for short range transmitting to their own or neighboring properties even if “broadcasting” to the community is no longer feasible. More work on ground systems for those with limited space is still needed.
Some of us will keep on enjoying the hobby
Having experimented since the mid 80s, I’m a bit taken aback by the sense of loss some are expressing of something that was never ours. The three meter rule always included the ground lead and that was always pretty clear. An ‘elevated installation’ is really just an unbalanced dipole; it was never OK, so being told we can’t do that isn’t much of a loss.
Lots of great work being done with Talking house units and home brew sitting on the ground and near field/ground wave can be pretty phenomenal when everything is adjusted just right.
The Hamilton Rangemaster first entered the market in the late 80s and was distinguished as both a more efficient user of the 100 mW DC in, and as a certified unit. They’re damn good transmitters and should provide great results with a legal installation.
Yes the near field is quite strong
Within about 200-400 feet, the signal is excellent from a ground-sited transmitter. After that, in my experience, it goes down pretty quickly to the point of being practically useless. As I explained, due to constraints at my location, it is not practical for me to deploy a highly effective ground radial system. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who is faced with this problem. If I had a better ground system and could site the transmitter further away from trees and buildings, I am sure it would perform better.
My ground mounted Rangemaster delivers a great signal within about 300 feet at my home location. It is somewhat listenable as far away as the end of my block, although the line-conducted signal from the indoor SSTRAN setup is better at that distance if the receiver is not too far from the power lines. Beyond one block the SSTRAN signal dies out almost immediately– there must be a transformer in the circuit at that point. The Rangemaster continues to be audible, but is badly beat up by co-channel interference and noise. I am pretty sure that no one but a DXer would listen to anything that weak. I can hear it for perhaps 3 or 4 blocks before it is totally swamped.
That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it. I wish I could report better results, but I can’t. It is what it is. I’d be interested to read Ermi’s comments if he has anything to say.
Future of “Micro-Broadcasting”
After more than 40 years of producing electron waves with transmitters and antennas, I find that the same 2 camps of interest continue to exist today with exactly the same challenges as when I started. My first radio station was a homebrew tube rig hooked to a 45 rpm record changer, phono preamp and hand mike. At the time, the antenna was a single wire strung down the block in the gutter. We had a ball just listening to “the hits”. Later, we added the venerable Wollensak tape recorder, replete with news and sports casts.
There were those who used the transmitters to experiment to accomplish God knows what. And them there were the folks who were to be the future of radio broadcasting as we have known it. Thus we have two primary camps of interest; the hobbyists and the broadcasters.
The challenge of getting the FCC involved has always been there. It was always in the back of our minds that what we were attempting was very transitory. Here today, gone tomorrow. The FCC could stop by and it all went away. That was O.K. because we could always build another transmitter and antenna. The tape recorders, microphone and record players were always disconnected and hidden after each use. At least, modern day micro-broadcasters are honest about their intentions to serve a community of people. In years past, we were experimenters; well sort of (with the heart of Black Beard and a black eye patch—arghhh).
I happen to agree with the view point that the Part 15 rules are pretty clear as to their meaning. I think the confusion arises from the application of the rules from time to time by inspectors. The NOUO citations happen to remark if that can’t get you one way they can get you another way (speaking exclusively of AM BCB Part 15). Regardless of interpretation, if a transmitter is mounted on the roof of a tall building and the transmitter ground lead is a couple of inches long and connects to the steel super structure of the building does the metal building structure constitute part of the ground lead under the rules. Be aware building and NEC codes regarding electronic equipment mounted on a metal building are required to be grounded. This normally wouldn’t be a problem for high frequency RF like WiFi. Any length of ground lead would radiate, no matter how short.
Recent FCC inspections and rulings would indicate, that the WiFi Part 15 use would be acceptable, but the AM BCB Part 15 transmitter with the same hook up would not pass rules muster. The challenge for the new experimenter or micro-broadcaster is having a clear understanding of the right and wrong practices allowed by the FCC. Most of us who have been around the block a couple of times would agree, the FCC is nit-picking the Part 15 rules to death when it comes to Rangemaster 1000 transmitter installations. In comparison, licensed broadcasters that I have inspected, as a compliance consultant and prospective buyer, have crazy and egregious violations in their antennas and transmitter plants; and most of them are heritage AM stations. And in most cases, there isn’t an FCC inspector within a hundred miles. And their last inspection was done by a federal employee dressed in animal skins, writing citations with charcoal and papyrus. Well, may be not that old. But honestly, where is the fairness, equality and justice in all of this?
I do believe the “hay-day” for Part 15 unlicensed community broadcasting has passed; at least for the foreseeable future. With the advent of online broadcasting, cell phone apps, MP3 players, the Apple devices and services like Pandora, terrestrial broadcasting is being forced to take on a new look and purpose. The big money to be made in licensed commercial broadcasting of 5 years ago is now non-existent. The financing sources for terrestrial broadcasting have gone away to digital entertainment and information technology. So, it stands to reason, commercial broadcasters are a little cranky about the 100 milliwatt competition in their town.
The Part 15 hobbyists, looking somewhat smug and feeling vindicated, see there future as bright and complete as ever. The hobbyists, however, need to allow the folks who possessed the vision and passion for unlicensed community broadcasting the opportunity to rightfully mourn the passing of their dream. Give ’em a break folks. I’m just sayin’.
I agree
I agree with kk7cw.
Micro-Broadcasting isn’t completely dead, but the interest in the band is dying.
I think I do my community good with my Part 15 FM stations.
I have the AM but it doesn’t go anywhere.
Certain folks have ruined Part 15 AM,
Issues that weren’t really looked at before are now being hounded. (Ground Leads).
When I first entered the land of Part 15 Broadcasting in 2008 It was fun and the mood seemed different on the part 15 websites. Folks seemed happy and bright. The interest seemed to go up in 09 and fell flat this year. Maybe we are in a slight rut, I don’t think micro-broadcasting will ever die, but it (like all radio) will suffer.
Digital Death
With all the devices at hand for little kids; IPODS, cell phones, etc., I suppose the curiosity of a crystal radio has long since died.
But what I fear is the build out of digital radio, both AM BCB and shortwave. Gone will be the tinkerers of simple radio.
Yes I know of the proposed advantages of digital. And yes, manufactured kits for hobbyists might be available. But gone will be winding a coil, hooking it to an antenna wire, a diode, a tuning capacitor, an earphone and hearing someone from out there…
Despite all of my modern equipment as an Amateur Radio operator, I still enjoy trying to squeeze a voice out of the ether using little more than a crystal receiver and communicating back with next to no power.
Well, I’m not giving up. I’ll keep my Part15 AM long after no one is listening. It’s a passion, an addiction, a challenge, a curiosity, an experience, a need, a desire, and just plain old fun.
Ya think Ibiquity would offer free licensing to Part 15 AM?
My Two Cents
MRAM’s second to last paragraph sort of
summed it up for me.
I love my Part 15 station. It
is partly a broadcast museum with
the old radios and the vintage console
and reel to reel deck. But there have
also been listeners over the years.
My antenna system has always been
ground mounted. It has been in several
different places in my yard over the years.
If I had to do it again, I would put the
AM transmitter and antenna back closer
to my house. (It is now way out in the
backyard.) When the transmitter/antenna
was close to the back of my house, the
RF field did couple into the power lines
(I guess) because the signal up and down
the street was stronger for about 1000
feet of more. I went into a house 800 feet
away and my GE Superadio heard the station
pretty well during the day. Another house
600 feet in the other direction had the same
outcome. Granted, the houses in my neighborhood
are very close together, and the GE Superadio is
very sensitive, but it is still something.
Also, my most loyal listener, to this day, is my good
friend who drives around my downtown area
a half a mile away. When he is doing errands, he
listens on his car radio. Sometimes he is a mile away
and still hears the station pretty well.
That’s my take on it.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, MICRO1690/1700
Everything is (partly) True
Everything that’s been said is partly true. I think we could describe the situation in a negative way or a positive way.
The FCC is far more protective about the FM band. That says a lot. But they kick up some dust on the AM band every once in awhile, and it’s probably a fact that they respond only to complaints, and complaints come from certain types of people, such as licensees, maybe some hams, maybe the occasional citizen who likes to be an “informer.”
But if the AM band becomes a (mostly) vacant lot, Part 15ers will probably be able to skateboard with bigger skateboards, and there will always be DXers staying loyal to their legacy medium.
As for digital, digital is encryption. The natural world is analog. The ears, the eyes, speech; all analog.
But new developments will probably bring us a choice of analog or digital, just like some serious members are hanging on to AM stereo. We’ll have our choices.
We may not be on the leading edge, but we’re definitely on some kind of edge, and we’ll cling no matter what.
Reality is not the same as negativity
I did not intend my blog entry to imply anything negative about Part 15 operation. I love it, and my transmitter is on every day as a low power FM to AM translator. I just wanted to point out that based on my own personal experience, ground mounting is very constraining, and the distance my signal goes is not very impressive. That is not an opinion, it is a fact. If someone wants to come over and observe it for themselves, that would be fine with me. Unfortunately I cannot provide you with accurate field strength readings. I considered and abandoned the idea of purchasing a used Potomic FIM-41 because it just not make sense for a hobby application. I would love to have one.
I don’t want to start up the ground conspiracy theory discussions again, because we’ve been over that subject numerous times. But I would like to point out that there is nothing in the FCC rules that I have ever read that explicitly states that a Part 15 transmitter must be mounted on the ground. However, that is how some people have interpreted it.
Community Oriented Micro-Broadcasting
I have enjoyed the responses on this thread. It is obvious that the passion we have, regardless of its form, is the determining factor as we move forward into the future. In almost every thread I have ever read on the acceptance or demise of community micro-broadcasting, the mention of some-ONE some time possibly listening is made with the supposed intent of legitimizing the effort. Listening is the reason we transmit, right?
Radio is a communications tool and process. Communication is not a complete process without transmitting AND reception. The ham radio t-shirts that proclaim, “I transmit, therefore I am” is pure nonsense. Ham radio is most effective with the presence of receiving stations and listening. In the licensing classes I teach for a ham license, my students learn the most important aspect of communication is LISTENING, not transmitting. Otherwise what is the purpose and what is the measure of effectiveness of the technology or the process? I have been a licensed commercial radio operator since 1967 and a licensed ham since 1978.
Please notice, successful community micro-broadcasters are not part of this discussion. That’s because they have been targeted, in the past, by complainants and the FCC. If you have a successful and credible local audience, why would you fall on your sword and put it all at risk. I have begun to notice that proponents and active participants of community micro-broadcasting have drifted off to other web sites and blogs. I wonder why?
Most of the responses here are hobbyists, not broadcasters. Sorry gentlemen. I don’t mean to demean your efforts or offend you. After 40+ years as a professional broadcaster, the number one driving force is to engineer and program a signal that people will consistently listen and respond to. Without the preceding criteria how would a potential advertiser or underwriting sponsor be able to determine any return on investment for their messages. Not too many people are all that altruistic in this economy.
If you can continue to feed your hobby, I applaud your effort. I also applaud those who are learning the art of broadcasting by putting together a station and developing the programming piece by piece. Most large and medium market programmers are finding their new talent on the internet already doing fresh things with the medium. They and their audiences are not at all interested in the way we used to do it. So, their is a reason to be optimistic about what we do. It just depends where you want to end up. Life is like shooting a movie. Oddly enough, the director shoots the last scene first. Everything else in the film must fit into the ending. This is about the only example I can think of in a positive vein that is backward looking producing a positive result. What is your vision?