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Post by bluebucketradio on Dec 16, 2015 6:17:05 GMT
I have just finished modifying the SStran amt 3000 to accept a base loaded antenna. Next step is to start on the antenna itself. Weather has been nearly decent er something like that. It's not bad for this time of year so i should take advantage of it while it last's. First thing I need to do is re-work the blue leows bucket that used to protect the transmitter from the elements, last year it was leaking which didn't hurt the talking house transmitter I had in it but had I not caught that leak when i did , it could have been bad for the transmitter. This time around i will be sure to double up on weather proofing the bucket and remove the 3 meter antenna i have attached to the side of it. That antenna will go in the yard, while the bucket will only house the SStran protecting it from the weather, the coil and antenna will be supported by a wooden post made from a 2x4. The antenna will be on one side of the post while the coil will be on the opposite side. By placing the bucket next to the post, i should be able to run a wire to the coil from the bucket that is just long enough to reach without putting strain on anything. The bucket will be weighted down, something it lacked in last year was some kind of weight to keep it from blowing over in strong winds. Power and audio. Power will be fed to the transmitter from an extension cord running to a small building close to where i want to plant the antenna, audio will probably be the biggest challenge, i haven't figured that part out yet. In fact, i may end up with a totally different antenna design later. I have included a nifty but poorly drawn illustration.   |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 13:54:35 GMT
Bucket Technology
The nifty drawing shows the blue bucket larger than I was picturing it in my mind... I had it looking like an upside-down water pail, but in the drawing it looks like an upside-down trash can.
The size of the bucket probably doesn't matter too much, but I can see the need to keep it from blowing away.
If the bucket has edges that flare out you could use 3 self-tapping screws to bolt it to the ground.
If weights are used to anchor the bucket, the force of high winds would need to be figured into the weight, or it could still roll over.
The use of a water-proof bucket seems like a very good substitute for a more expensive weather-proof box, which is why I'm considering also using buckets for the two outdoor antennas I'll be building in the months to come.
The first cable that I install from house to antenna will feature a shielded balanced cable using phantom powering like some microphones use, so the audio and power can be sent on the same cable.
One of my antennas will connect to an AMT5000 transmitter using the on-board loading coil.
This week I'll be over at Loew's for some ice-melt... a good chance to see their bucket department.
Since you are using blue as your signature color, I'll look for a different color. If they have dead-leaf brown that's what I want.
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Post by bluebucketradio on Dec 16, 2015 14:15:44 GMT
Carl, here is a link to the bucket i use, priced for a couple bucks, same thing for the lid. goo.gl/MOzGFy |
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Post by station8 on Dec 16, 2015 19:22:42 GMT
Howdy: Blue Bucket Radio: Pretty neat drawing.
I use tiny cad to do electronic drawing,But i also used it to do what you did as well and the software is free.
On your power and audio line set up this is what i did when i ran a 50 foot line from studio to am tx in upstate n.y under ground.
Of course i used a approved UL outdoor 100 feet power extension cable.
My audio line was old switch board wire for the audio it had a real nice ground shield.
I ran for over 1 year and never had a lick of problems under ground.
I hope this helps in your set up.
Station 8
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 19:37:11 GMT
Previous Experience
I'm glad you linked the actual blue bucket, because I recognize it at once as the type buckets professional painters have. In fact, a painter gave me three white buckets of that kind, but without lids.
One of them developed a crack in the bottom when water inside the bucket froze and expanded.
Now I know what to look for at the hardware store, hoping for a less visible color than white.
Hi Jeff Station8.
The underground cables are still on my mind... good point about using approved outdoor type wire.
The AMT5000 tower will be 100-feet out, so it'll be fun tuning it on a radio in the house where I might be on a fringe area.
The second tower will be used to experiment with two different ideas...
The transmitter will be a copy of a solid-state AM transmitter designed by Neil Radio8Z located safely indoors.
1.) Under 15.209 I will run a transmission line out to the tower, so no bucket will be needed.
2.) Next, I want to try sending the RF from the transmitter on a fiber optic cable out to an outdoor-RF-output circuit which was published by Kyle Drake or somebody, and has a setting for 100 mW per 15.219. A bucket will be needed for this.
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Post by bluebucketradio on Dec 17, 2015 7:07:05 GMT
Station8
I used a combination of Microsoft Paint and Photofilter to draw that with only a mouse but wasn't really trying to make it fancy lol
As for getting power / audio to the transmitter, i think i have that covered. A few years ago i had bought a cheap black/white security camera outfit that has since become obsolete since we added a 4 camera color and night vision dvr system from Samsung.
The old black/white system has a 60 foot cable that connected between the monitor and camera, there is a barrel connector for power and two rca jacks for audio and video, the other end of the cable has a serial plug but i think with a ohm meter i can figure out which wires go to what plug. Once i figure that out i will put two 1/4" jacks and a barrel connector on that cord.
To keep the mower from chewing up the cable, dig a shallow narrow trench between the house and the antenna.
Carl, I never considered phantom power but that is an option i will keep in mind.
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Post by station8 on Dec 17, 2015 14:47:41 GMT
Hi Blue Bucket Radio:Good Idea !
There is so many various way you could run audio to your tx.
Depends on your budget.
1) bluetooth 2) video audio sender 3) cable 4) wireless headphones with a modification 5) Short range fm tx ( like 49mhz radio with mod, part 15 Fm broadcast Tx, License free walkie talkie with mod, Baby monitors, ETC. )
6) Fiber optic 7) STL 8) infared systems 9) Intercom systems wired or wireless
And when you use the antenna for these transmitter make the antenna a beam design so you have direct sight of the transmitter and receiver antenna so you don't get outside interference coming in.
Just some ideas
Good luck Station 8
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