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Post by thelegacy on Jun 11, 2018 23:04:44 GMT
Our install is finished and our frequency is 1640 Khz Our Sean Cuthbert C-Quam Stereo transmitter is now in a weatherproof box out on the pole with a very short wire connected to the antenna and a bluetooth receiver connected to the transmitter.
Inside the studio we have a blutooth audio transmitter connected to our audio processor's output. This eliminates RFI from entering the audio chain and increases legal range. It also helps keep RFI from the other units in the same building since the antenna is above them.
Range is what we wanted We have a clear signal to the 7 11 with some dead spots that quickly fade back up as you travel in your vehicle towards the Deltaville Market or Sunset Grill. The other way towards Taylors is good except when you pass some of the electrical lines in that direction which causes buzzing. Get near the bay and the water seems to amplify the signal. Album Rockers in their boats should get a great signal. Don't own a boat to find out.
I'm pleased with what my broadcast engineer friend done for me as he allowed me to make Album Rock in this area a success. Its truly folks like this who WILL eliminate the need to be tempted with FM Pirating. Only wish I'd ran into him earlier.
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Post by mark on Jun 11, 2018 23:19:24 GMT
The Sean Cuthbert seems like a good transmitter....as good as any of them. At 1/4 the price!
You've waited so long to get what you want and I'm glad it is finally working the way you want. Keep letting me/us know how it progresses.
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Post by thelegacy on Jun 11, 2018 23:47:19 GMT
And it beats Pirate FM @ 7 Watts!! FM does not like trees. Pirate FM causes too much bleed and interference. AM is not as plagued with this issue since two things. One the transmitters out there for Hoby Broadcasting legally for AM have better filtering. Plus AM is not so susceptible to splatter associated with Pirate FM.
AM is a challenge but if you have a good internet stream you may get sponsored and funded! I encourage folks to seek out opportunities for sponsorship because there are folks with kind hearts who want to see more legal Hobby Broadcasters helping to make Radio more diverse. It takes years of sheer determination on your part don't expect to be sponsored over night. I just got lucky.
A fun and learning experience You'll have some hands on training as you go and you'll learn about how AM broadcasting works and things that help you as you try different things. Some antennas may work for one transmitter but poorly on another. The antenna design I had for the Talking House didn't work as well for the Sean Cuthbert. Plus I learned how the concept of a transmitter in a box close to the antenna out performed the transmitter in the house and external ATU design.
Now we will let you know as we grow and we'll always save our funds in case of a failure.
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Post by mark on Jun 12, 2018 0:06:04 GMT
Of course it is better to have the antenna directly on the transmitter as there is signal loss through a feed line with the transmitter in one location and the antenna somewhere else.
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Post by Boomer on Jun 12, 2018 3:15:47 GMT
Niice Legacy! I'm glad you've had some success with AM now, and 1640 seems like a good frequency, not all the way at the end. I'll have to look into that Blutooth method of STL (studio-transmitter link), since I've been thinking about short distance isolation for ground loops and lightning.
I'd agree, the big boys like the conglomerates, translators, everyone is clamoring for FM, so why do hobbyists even need access or to compete on such an overexposed band anyway? I like AM because it's less than popular, and it has the classic feel of something that's 100 years old, back to a time of spark gaps and rotating coils. I'm not down on FM, just trying to give it some perspective.
Album rock on AM sounds good, it really goes back to some of the early AOR stations that were on AM, often smaller stations that the cool people knew about. Word gets around and you can catch some people with stereo AM radios, sounds rockin'!
I'm glad Sean's transmitter is out there too, and it's a simpler circuit than others I've seen. As for funding on my station, I haven't thought of it yet, I guess at this point I'm less community radio and more hobbyist, keeping costs down by repairing second hand equipment and building what we need. I put effort into keeping my station as inexpensive as possible, it's part of the challenge over here.
Boomer
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Post by thelegacy on Jun 12, 2018 17:10:39 GMT
The Audio processor the engineer gave me he got used and had to re cap. It was not an issue for him as he works on this stuff all the time. That helped save a little. If you know how to repair electronics you may get something used and all it may need is a new power supply or a solder joint needs fixing. Hear of this a lot.
Our station should grow now and I really do like the sound of AM Stereo and it actually seemed to improve the audio on my mono Grundig Radio too but maybe its cuz the transmitter has way better audio than the talking house.
Less harmonics with the Sean Cuthbert transmitter too. The talking House is like a cheap Chinese FM transmitter in comparison. I listened at the same frequencies my Talking House transmitter came in on and the Sean Cuthbert transmitter in my opinion should do a lot better as far as the elimination of harmful interference. If your serious about your station you need a Sean Cuthbert transmitter not a splatter box Talking House.
Again this was me and my engineer friend's experience. If your handicapped you may have to find a friend to put together the Sean Cuthbert transmitter for you. Because of certain entities I don't think Sean will risk putting together a transmitter and selling it in the USA. Again my opinion no actual link to prove that theory.
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Post by mighty1650 on Jun 12, 2018 18:29:40 GMT
I was under the impression sean only sold finished transmitters, I had no idea he sold kits or switched completely to kits. Mine was prebuilt and as much tweaking as these Stereo transmitters take it would be a bugger to build as a kit.
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Post by thelegacy on Jun 12, 2018 18:40:28 GMT
Nope this was a kit. There was another website where people were talking about how sean Cuthbert was selling pre-built transmitter that weren't certified. All I'm going to say is that Sean found out about it and no longer is doing so in fear of getting into trouble. I actually talk to the person who notified Shawn of that particular website and their Posse against him.
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Post by Admin on Jun 12, 2018 19:15:07 GMT
Sounds great Troy. Congratulations! Do you have a coverage map? Our install is finished and our frequency is 1640 KhzOur Sean Cuthbert C-Quam Stereo transmitter is now in a weatherproof box out on the pole with a very short wire connected to the antenna and a bluetooth receiver connected to the transmitter. Inside the studio we have a blutooth audio transmitter connected to our audio processor's output. This eliminates RFI from entering the audio chain and increases legal range. It also helps keep RFI from the other units in the same building since the antenna is above them. Range is what we wantedWe have a clear signal to the 7 11 with some dead spots that quickly fade back up as you travel in your vehicle towards the Deltaville Market or Sunset Grill. The other way towards Taylors is good except when you pass some of the electrical lines in that direction which causes buzzing. Get near the bay and the water seems to amplify the signal. Album Rockers in their boats should get a great signal. Don't own a boat to find out. I'm pleased with what my broadcast engineer friend done for me as he allowed me to make Album Rock in this area a success. Its truly folks like this who WILL eliminate the need to be tempted with FM Pirating. Only wish I'd ran into him earlier.
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Post by thelegacy on Jun 12, 2018 19:55:29 GMT
No I don't have a coverage map but I can tell you it goes 1.5 to 2 miles in each direction of fishing Bay Road in Deltaville Virginia. I have some very short spots where you can hear me up to 3 miles but I'm talking very short and it's past Taylors restaurant.
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Post by Druid Hills Radio on Jun 13, 2018 12:42:46 GMT
Our install is finished and our frequency is 1640 KhzOur Sean Cuthbert C-Quam Stereo transmitter is now in a weatherproof box out on the pole with a very short wire connected to the antenna and a bluetooth receiver connected to the transmitter. Inside the studio we have a blutooth audio transmitter connected to our audio processor's output. This eliminates RFI from entering the audio chain and increases legal range. It also helps keep RFI from the other units in the same building since the antenna is above them. Range is what we wantedWe have a clear signal to the 7 11 with some dead spots that quickly fade back up as you travel in your vehicle towards the Deltaville Market or Sunset Grill. The other way towards Taylors is good except when you pass some of the electrical lines in that direction which causes buzzing. Get near the bay and the water seems to amplify the signal. Album Rockers in their boats should get a great signal. Don't own a boat to find out. I'm pleased with what my broadcast engineer friend done for me as he allowed me to make Album Rock in this area a success. Its truly folks like this who WILL eliminate the need to be tempted with FM Pirating. Only wish I'd ran into him earlier. How about a map since no one really knows what your talking about.
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Post by thelegacy on Jun 13, 2018 15:41:06 GMT
Don't know how to make one Yes I should know how but the only thing I can tell you to do is google Deltaville, VA or use your navigator app and google Fishing Bay Road from My location. Now your Android will give you the full route to Fishing Bay Rd. Now zoom in and you'll see on the app the places I mentioned. I mean really when someone narced on me that was how they did it and they didn't need a map.
Not trying to be smart. Just noting that on another forum where I had issues with a particular person he pointed out to others that was the way he knew my coverage back then (My FM Days). Maybe someone could use Bluestacks Android emulator and maybe make a screen shot of what I just said although you'll have to give Bluestacks your location. Bluestacks allows android apps to run on your PC and SNAV is a very good FREE android navigator app.
I'm visually impaired and drawing maps is hard for me too.
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Post by mark on Jun 13, 2018 15:42:17 GMT
I looked on Google maps to see Deltaville and Fishing Bay Road and the coverage is quite impressive for a legal AM transmitter set up. Saw on close up satelite view all the places mentioned.
If you get to the Marina by the ocean that's great!
Quite a nice little town you are in there, seems like a nice place.
Looked around in 3D all around Deltaville.
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Post by thelegacy on Jun 13, 2018 15:47:23 GMT
Very Low Noise Floor and a good Broadcast Engineer!! This guy has set up plenty of Hobby Broadcasting stations and never has any got busted so I know he is legit. Again you have to get your antenna away from obstructions this is the way you'll get Range. Water carries the signal too.
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Post by Druid Hills Radio on Jun 13, 2018 17:14:58 GMT
Don't know how to make oneYes I should know how but the only thing I can tell you to do is google Deltaville, VA or use your navigator app and google Fishing Bay Road from My location. Now your Android will give you the full route to Fishing Bay Rd. Now zoom in and you'll see on the app the places I mentioned. I mean really when someone narced on me that was how they did it and they didn't need a map. Not trying to be smart. Just noting that on another forum where I had issues with a particular person he pointed out to others that was the way he knew my coverage back then (My FM Days). Maybe someone could use Bluestacks Android emulator and maybe make a screen shot of what I just said although you'll have to give Bluestacks your location. Bluestacks allows android apps to run on your PC and SNAV is a very good FREE android navigator app. I'm visually impaired and drawing maps is hard for me too. Thanks. I looked on Google Earth. Where on Fishing Bay Rd do you live? Just trying to get a feel for your location and range.
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