Step-by-step for the clueless (Part 15)

[d_goddard]

I may well set up a transmitter or two if I had a nice, simple, step-by-step cookbook to follow.
To that end, I request a set of instructions.

Assume I have about zero time, but do have some extra money to invest in this. Give me a list of specific things to buy -- preferably with direct links to where I can buy them. Make it as no-hassle, "plug-and-play" as possible.

Assume I have no intention of paying a fine or going to jail over this -- I want a strictly legal "Part 15" thingy.

If you can provide a few alternate cookbooks, for different amounts of capital outlay, that would be ideal. Presumably doing it "on the cheap" involves more time investment & fiddling around, which may be appealing to lots of people looking to pick up a hobby. As for me -- my barrier to entry is time. Lower that barrier and I am more likely to jump in.

Thanks!

[FTL_Ian]

For Part 15 AM, you can go the hobby route, or you can go with the Rangemaster:

http://www.am1000rangemaster.com/

The testimonials are pretty amazing.  The good news is it looks like they've lowered their price.  These used to be $1,000.  Either way, it's a lot of money for 1/10 of a watt. 

More info on getting started:
http://www.am1000rangemaster.com/intro.html


Don't even bother with Part 15 FM.

[FTL_Ian]

Kdus may have more suggestions on how to set up the antenna, but for AM, you need some height and a ground:
http://www.am1000rangemaster.com/hints.html

[d_goddard]

Indeed, AM makes the most sense. I'm vaguely toying with the idea of putting one up in a spot I'd have permission to put the antenna -- it'd be on the flat roof of a 2-story building, that just might have coverage out to a main road in Manchester. Actually I just checked Google Maps and it's 2700 feet from I-293, and about the same distance from Queen City Avenue.

Is 2,700-3,000 feet a reasonably likely range?

The idea is that I could then put up a sign on each road saying "TUNE TO 1590 AM" (or whatever). A lot of people would come across it.

Hmmm... $795 for the antenna. That's outside of what I was hoping for in terms of price range. I was hoping for like half that price.

Says it has an audio input. That's cool. What I really want is a setup than will broadcast the FTL stream (that replays the most recent show). I have (several) old, underpowered PCs with internet access that can suck down the stream... presumably it would be easy to set one up and plug the PC audio output into the RangeMaster audio input. Analog quality, but who cares on short-range AM.

Hmmm.... I suppose another possibility would be to put up a chip-in. I'd toss in the first few hundred bucks and invite FTL fans and Porcs to contribute what they could.

I'm just noodling with the idea at this point.

Comments?

[FTL_Ian]

I have no idea what you can expect in your terrain.  Check their testimonials to see what others have gotten.

There are cheaper AM transmitters - that's just one with a fair amount of "buzz" in the Part15 world.  I haven't really been watching the message boards, so maybe there is a new competitor around.

-googles-

Yep.  This is why Rangemasters are no longer $1,000.  Competition in the form of another FCC certified part 15 transmitter, the Procaster, which apparently has internal audio processing:
http://www.chezradio.com/

detailed review
http://www.hobbybroadcaster.net/reviews/Procaster_05_2008_P01.html

[FTL_Ian]

Rangemaster review from the same site:
http://www.hobbybroadcaster.net/reviews/Rangemaster_10_17_2008_P01.html

[NHArticleTen]

I was thinking along the lines of constructing micro-transmitters that could be utilized in a multitude of ways...

my rock bottom, lowest cost device would use a disposable battery, one of those micro-sound-recorder/repeaters, the transmitter, and antenna...

it would only repeat a very short message and would continue until the battery went dead or it was otherwise incapacitated...

say something like "Free Talk Live Dot Com"...


still...you'd have to drive it hard enough to be able to over-power the local station within your chosen broadcast area(since that would be the frequency where you'd get the most people listening)...


probably do better standing on a corner with a good sign...


at any rate...


enjoy!

[KDus]

I think we're moving toward some of those little Ramsey transmitters fed by $89 dollar internet "radios" that I saw on e-bay.

[KDus]

The rangemaster includes features most of us won't need.
If AM stations want to use the internet streams for programming, it will be even more important to put the audio processing at the originating end to keep things simple and get the loudness needed to make AM effective.

AM requires a very long antenna and a serious ground system to get the most distance out of your transmitter. Many of those radio towers you see ARE the antenna. The height of the tower is a fraction of the wave legnth: 1/4, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4. A full wave is unlikely because it would be virtually impossible to feed; impedance wise. The 102" whip that is suggested by Rangemaster is about 1/100 of the wave legnth and they probably expect to waste lots of power into the antenna.

[d_goddard]

Interesting posts, KDus.

Assuming I am, as stated in the top post, entirely (a) clueless and (b) short on time, what would you suggest?

Also, I have a location on a roof 2 stories high, just shy of 3,000 feet from main roads in NH's biggest city. It makes no sense for me to put up a transmitter and get 2,000 feet of coverage; it's be a kickass win to get 3,000 feet (and 3,500-4,000 is exponentially better)

So far I don't even see an order-of-magnitude guesstimate as to what I could expect with a given setup.

[NuroSlam]

Interesting posts, KDus.

Assuming I am, as stated in the top post, entirely (a) clueless and (b) short on time, what would you suggest?

Also, I have a location on a roof 2 stories high, just shy of 3,000 feet from main roads in NH's biggest city. It makes no sense for me to put up a transmitter and get 2,000 feet of coverage; it's be a kickass win to get 3,000 feet (and 3,500-4,000 is exponentially better)

So far I don't even see an order-of-magnitude guesstimate as to what I could expect with a given setup.

I guess the question for me is, are you in the center of town or on the outskirts?

[sinceredagreat]

All that shit is SO not necessary to get good range on an AM frequency, when you know about skip distances, dead zones that you don't care about, how to properly get your signal concentrated in certain directions. This is what I used to do before I was intel. 2841 and 2844 in the Marines. All I did was fuck with ground radios, and sometimes microwave systems, but if you want a really good setup for an antenna, PM me, and I will tell you some real high-tech shit.

[NuroSlam]

note the title of the post "For the clueless"

[sinceredagreat]

note the title of the post "For the clueless"

I know. I can give some good clues for the "clueless"

[NuroSlam]

you must consider the size of antenna's at these freqs

1/2 dipole   = 283ft. 7 - 21/32in.
1/4 vertical = 141ft. 9 - 27/32in.