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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2017 17:23:09 GMT
Keeping the Quality Up
Boomer boomed: "Lately I've been hearing lots of digital artifacts on AM/FM stations, watery sound and ringing, or whines on crowd noise, and I have to think that stations must have upgraded to some kind of new STL box, and it's showing."
I notice the same thing with a local AM station that has very dull muffled sound which could be caused in any of three ways I know about:
1.) 8-BIT digital sound, which would be cheap and economical;
2.) Using an inexpensive landline telephone circuit and a COMREX device to get "near" broadcast quality, except the upper mid-range is missing;
3.) Using a point-to-point STL transmission link with very narrow bandwidth.
An interesting place to compare the digital quality of many different radio stations is to hear their public streams on services like SHOUTcast... many of those streams show that somebody somewhere doesn't know how to manage their audio quality.
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Post by Druid Hills Radio on Jul 14, 2017 17:57:11 GMT
Can Barix do an uncompressed stream, like Flac or another kind of lossless codec? Lately I've been hearing lots of digital artifacts on AM/FM stations, watery sound and ringing, or whines on crowd noise, and I have to think that stations must have upgraded to some kind of new STL box, and it's showing. I see Barix units on Ebay regularly, one time there was a whole page of them. We use mp3@320KBS. Sounds great. FEATURES G.711, G.722, PCM linear Encoding MP3 Encoding (low Latency) Shoutcast/Icecast Source capability Audio Level Supervision with SNMP Trap generation IP Streaming via TCP, UDP, RTP, Multicast Line Level Input (Stereo) RS-232 Serial Port Power Supply (micro USB) |
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Jul 14, 2017 23:51:15 GMT
You are correct. I probably should not have used the term "synching". Synching multiple transmitters seems to be the holy grail of Part 15. I've read stories of people supposedly doing it, but have never read a first hand account, or seen any real evidence that it has been done. And I've been doing this (and been on these Forums) for over 10 years. Synching, by definition, is when you have multiple transmitters operating on the same frequency, with their coverage areas overlapping at the boundaries so that there is no loss of signal as listeners travel from one transmitter to another. That is fraught with technical problems, from minimizing interference to synching up the audio feeds. It sounds as if what you want to do is to have multiple transmitters that DON'T overlap coverage areas, in which case you don't have the interference issue, and there is not the same urgency to synch up the audio feeds exactly. Or am I misinterpreting what you're saying? |
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Jul 14, 2017 23:57:26 GMT
Now that I look at a map I may re-consider. It is exactly 3 miles as the crow flies between the two locations. It's almost 6 miles by road. There may be some overlap but at the edge of coverage areas. Quick ThinkingJim, is your present transmitter site receivable in town at the township building? It is likely you can install an independent ProCaster there without encountering overlap problems. The rooftop transmitter will dominate in town, and any overlap will probably occur well within your property boundaries where no one is listening. |
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Jul 15, 2017 0:02:33 GMT
I need to study up on these Barix boxes. While I do have a CC WIFI radio and that is what the Dark Matter Digital Network recommends to receive their stream, and it is fairly reliable but it does occasionally drop a stream and will not reconnect without power cycling it. Then the only real issue you'll have is to distribute your audio to the 2nd transmitter. You could use Barix boxes, or even stream from your studio, and capture that stream at the 2nd transmitter. You could use a computer, or even an Internet Radio for that. I recommend Barix. We us it it as a STL from the university to the transmitter site. Very reliable. If your stream drops it will reconnect when the connection is restored. No computer required. |
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Post by Boomer on Jul 16, 2017 13:40:52 GMT
We have an AM sports talk station that's really low quality in my area too, it is 3 khz, like a phone line, just less scratchy and lower distortion than a phone sounds, but no more bandwidth, and with digital resonances in the sound.
I can see any scenario you've mentioned Carl for that one. I even hear the problem on FM stations, just not as bad, showing up as little separation on songs that I know what they sound like left and right, and something is wrong with the imaging.
On the morning shows, voices are affected, it sounds like they have close-in echo, like they're talking in a water closet toilet in a basement somewhere. It's like the echo is gated, so it's less of a problem, but you still hear the resonance, and the voices are distant instead of present on the mics.
That issue affects several stations run by the major network that I've listened to so far, it's like everyone has done an up-downgrade on their systems.
Boomer
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Jul 25, 2017 1:10:58 GMT
Well yesterday I submitted a proposal to the township to put a Procaster on the steel roof of the township building. When I first discussed this with the Chairman, I threw out a ball park figure of $2500. When I actually put a quote together, it came out to $2449! Included in that figure though I gave them two support options, $200/month to have me on retainer, or no MRC in which case I would bill $150/hour with one hour minimum per incident, their choice. I currently bill $250/hour for my consultancy so I am giving them a break since it is for the community. My recommendation is to keep the Internet stream private, just for linking the 2 transmitters so that we don't have copyright issues with the music police. However I did include a quote for a Part 15 license from BMI. I seem to recall that I read in one of these forums, or perhaps on the BMI website, that a Part 15 license was $151/yr but when I checked again when I was preparing the quote, I see the price is $249/yr. I personally don't think that is worth it but I know the township will want to do things legally. Is anyone else here buying a Part 15 license from BMI?
Anyway, the township seems to be receptive to this proposal but they are now doing a "deep dive" on the legal issues. Here is a small excerpt from a reply I received:
"- Regarding a second antenna, Technicon needs to make a determination if a
radio tower falls under the wireless telecommunications facility definition
of the Zoning Ordinance. I won't know next steps until that determination
is made.
"
Sheesh, Lawyers!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 1:20:55 GMT
No BMI License
KDX does not have a BMI license because we do not play any BMI music.
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Post by End80 on Jul 25, 2017 5:51:14 GMT
It's been $249 a year as far back as I can recall. For what you're doing I would follow suit with the same methods as Tim in Bovary (over at part15.us), as he has researched it deeply and has been operating in basically the same manner you are doing.
It's none of my business, but your pricing to be on retainer and/or as consultant seems a little steep to me.. especially when you are kind of flying blind yourself about what your even doing. Part 15 is very flakey to maneuver legally as it is, I would be hesitant about touting yourself as reputable consultant concerning it.. One little complaint and it could potentially all instant fall away. Realistically speaking.
On the other hand, everything might go smooth as silk. But you have no protection, no real foundation and no guarantees with part 15. More often than not there's not a problem with most hobbyist, but if ever a FCC visit, you will not have a leg to stand on - unless maybe your installs are ground mounted or the inspector is lenient.
I know that all sounds negative, but these are things to be considered because they are actual truths.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 13:35:26 GMT
Liability
Points raised by End80 are well worth exploring for any part 15er planning to operate as a business.
Way back in the 1960s when I ran a commercial recording service I was advised to have at least $1-Million insurance against possible law suits, and in the 1980s I incorporated to protect my personal assets from those of the company. I never ran into any conflicts, but some businesses do.
Many online companies are LLC (Limited Liability Corporations) which I am considering for part 15 expansion.
A consultant doesn't need to know everything but does well to know people who do, and the ALPB tries to be of some help in that direction.
My biggest worry in selling a part 15 radio package to a client would be their likely dissatisfaction with the limited range of the signal.
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Jul 25, 2017 19:02:20 GMT
Well the install at the township building will be 100% legal as per 15.219 since it will be flush mounted on their grounded steel roof. If this all happens, I will probably put that xmtr on a different frequency to avoid any problems with the 2 transmitters banging against each other. As to my rate, I think I am being very fair. Thanks for the tips! It's been $249 a year as far back as I can recall. For what you're doing I would follow suit with the same methods as Tim in Bovary (over at part15.us), as he has researched it deeply and has been operating in basically the same manner you are doing. It's none of my business, but your pricing to be on retainer and/or as consultant seems a little steep to me.. especially when you are kind of flying blind yourself about what your even doing. Part 15 is very flakey to maneuver legally as it is, I would be hesitant about touting yourself as reputable consultant concerning it.. One little complaint and it could potentially all instant fall away. Realistically speaking. On the other hand, everything might go smooth as silk. But you have no protection, no real foundation and no guarantees with part 15. More often than not there's not a problem with most hobbyist, but if ever a FCC visit, you will not have a leg to stand on - unless maybe your installs are ground mounted or the inspector is lenient. I know that all sounds negative, but these are things to be considered because they are actual truths. |
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Jul 25, 2017 19:04:17 GMT
Then it's possible I don't need it either since we carry many of the same programs. I was concerned about some of the bumper music on the talk shows. No BMI LicenseKDX does not have a BMI license because we do not play any BMI music. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 19:20:34 GMT
Important About Production Music
Probably most professional program producers use license free music which comes in several forms:
1.) Buy Out Music Libraries - Original music purchased for production use making the music cost free for anyone carrying the program;
2.) Free Music Sources - There are several sources on the web that offer license free music and invite donations from anyone so inclined;
3.) Creative Commons - a form of licensing mostly for non-commercial offering money-free simple terms of use such as "Giving Attribution to the Artist".
The "Art Bell Show" decided to use Art's preferred music from the commercial world, which means that for streaming music licenses become necessary. I do not carry the Art Bell programs.
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