Where to find "real" transmitters (and antennas) for FM and AM.

[FTL_Ian]

Remember to check ebay for deals on these products:


30 Watt, super affordable
http://fmuser.com/low-power-fm-transmitter/030W-V20-PLL-Professional-FM-transmitter-1U-87108Mhz-New-Arrival.html


50 Watt Professional FM Transmitter
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=PX50  (This is a slick unit.)

1/2 Wave Antenna - easy to tune!
http://fmuser.com/antenna/Fmuser-DP100-12-Half-Wave-FM-Dipole-Antenna-High-gain-outdoor-Dipole-antenna-88-to-108mhz-for-FM-Transmitter-up-to-150w8M-Feeder-Cable.html


5/8 Wave Antenna (handles up to 200W)
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=FMA200

Lots of choices here:
http://transmittersrus.com/fmtransmitters.htm  (FM)
http://transmittersrus.com/tru/rpg80mw_overview.htm (AM)

http://www.nicomusa.com/fm.html  


http://www.pcs-electronics.com/ (variety of packages and transmitters - looks like good quality)

Looks like Free Radio Berkeley is making a variety of transmitters.  Not sure of the build quality, doesn't look like professional audio connectors:
http://www.freeradio.org/index.php?pagename=store/transmitter.html

Am I missing any good sources?

[FTL_Ian]

Low-loss LMR-400 cable (for between your transmitter and antenna), custom made:

http://www.jefatech.com/product/ll400

[FTL_Ian]

I found the manufacturer of the 80W AM transmitter that transmittersrus sells on  selling his own units on ebay.  He gave me his website:


Looks like he makes a variety of AM and FM transmitters:
http://www.pll.gr/d.htm

[conrad from spain]

The 50 Watt Ramsey transmitter can be sold in a kit that can be used right out of the box. This kit is a bit pricey though but I've heard it sounds great. Some islands in the Carribean use these to broadcast to the whole island.

http://www.tequipment.net/RamseyElectronicsPXB50.html

This kit comes with:

      50 watt FM Stereo Transmitter

      Integrated CD Player
      Integrated Cassette Player
      Built In Audio Mixer
      Professional Microphone and Cables
      Omni directional 3.4db Gain Antenna and Coax

      Installed and prewired in a high impact road case!

With a 3.4 db gain antenna you get more than twice the radiated power (like having a 100 watt transmitter).

This will give you a really good stereo FM signal! It could be portable on a car battery too.

Maybe the CD player and cassette recorder are extra if you're going to get your audio from a computer. However with this kit you are able to transmit as soon as you get the box (just set up the antenna and the cables).

Remember the higher elevation your antenna, the more range that you get.

I used to transmit off a smaller Ramsey kit in college and had pretty good results with a homemade antenna made out of copper welding rods. When I change to a 5/8's wave I got a much better signal and range.

Here's a good FAQ about setting up a transmitter:

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/radio/broadcasting/low-power-faq/

[sinceredagreat]

Here's one. Works pretty good.



One of the radios I used to work on.

[FTL_Ian]

You'd have to be mad to buy that package.  Just get the transmitter and 5/8 wave.  All you need then is the appropriate length of cable, plus your audio source.

[kalmia]

Here's one. Works pretty good.



One of the radios I used to work on.

Steal me one from the military.

[Incognitum]

Has anyone used the HLLY transmitters?  Very cheep (5W ~$100, 20W ~$200) but I would be interested to hear if anyone can report on the quality.

These transmitters show up on ebay every now and again, or can be bought direct from http://www.hllyelectronics.com

[d_goddard]

The call the other night from the Liberty Radio 1710 guy was really interesting -- if I can legally broadcast even 2-3 miles, I can get a good swathe of Manchester.
http://www.libertyradio1710.com/

If I can get some more info & specifics, I'll be setting up an antenna in Manchester(*)  



(*) in a few months once some other projects have calmed down!

[FTL_Ian]

The call the other night from the Liberty Radio 1710 guy was really interesting -- if I can legally broadcast even 2-3 miles, I can get a good swathe of Manchester.
http://www.libertyradio1710.com/

If I can get some more info & specifics, I'll be setting up an antenna in Manchester(*)  



(*) in a few months once some other projects have calmed down!

He was using the rangemaster.

[marknh]

ramsey is pretty much junk.
nicom is good.

http://www.panaxis.com/
http://www.progressive-concepts.com/info/item.html?class=fm%20transmitters
http://www.veronica-kits.co.uk/

a simple 1/4 wave antenna does work very well.

[FTL_Ian]

Has anyone used the HLLY transmitters?  Very cheep (5W ~$100, 20W ~$200) but I would be interested to hear if anyone can report on the quality.

These transmitters show up on ebay every now and again, or can be bought direct from http://www.hllyelectronics.com

Make sure you use a low-pass filter - I'm not sure units that cheap have them.  Make sure they do, otherwise you can get one to add between the transmitter and antenna.

[Low-Eight]

Here's one. Works pretty good.



One of the radios I used to work on.

It would appear that this only works up to 88mhz, which is the low end of the radio dial. . .

[KDus]

The Ramsey FM100B is a good deal. It sounds pretty good and is stable and clean. I built one for a friend and he used it for a couple years. He brought it for me to fix and I found a penny and a paper clip inside. I cleaned it up and it still works well. I did modify it with an external antenna port so we could run a small amp. It doesn't want to be driven hard.

The pcs-electronics CYBER MAX boxes are a good buy, too. They're modular so you can mix and match parts. They even have an RDS board you can pop in there. I modified one of those with a PL-259 connector and a cooling fan upgrade. They have several adjustments so you can just buy the boards you want, or a whole package.
The built in compressor might be OK for talk, but it was pathetic for music.

If you want REAL equipment, google: Broadcast Electronics, Harris, Collins, Armstrong, Marti (low-end), Crown, QEI (low-end)
REAL antennas are made by ERI, Scala, Cellwave, Harris,  Shively, Jampro("junkpro", Kathrein

[KDus]

Been helping a friend with a part 15 AM. He bought a package from iamradio.net

So far, the results are terrible. This guy built a respectible studio and did everything right but only gets a couple hundred yards. If I can solve the problem, he should get a couple miles.
If I can't fix it, I'll suggest he gets his money back and buys a rangemaster.