Post by mark on May 18, 2020 17:02:46 GMT
Yes, I’ve joined the majority on these hobby radio forums and made the switch to AM!
OLDIESWMRK is now on 1670(subject to change) in Toronto Canada. Realize that older radios won’t get up to 1670 but this was the quietest nighttime spot.
Recently purchased a Talking Sign(predecessor of the Procaster) from a forum member in like new condition, believe it was Artisan’s originally, and certified with RSS-210 section A2-2/part 15 FCC, operating at 90 mW into antenna(lab test results), with 3 meter 14 gauge wire antenna indoors taped to a wall, I get the same range as my Decade MS-100 BETS-1 did. Here’s from my other post my range with Decade……if it comes up…..https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://part15.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/114420/lm5fc8ivotpcsvhdo9rcdyyrkbiuj48v.jpg
Did another walk around test with a Sangean radio and a passive tuneable loop and with the loop did 1 1/2 to 2 times times the range I was getting with the MS-100! Listenable.
With the loop it’s better than the car! All noise interference is gone as this overpowers it all indoors. Sorry Legacy, but would have a hard time doing a video with a radio, Grundig loop, and a camera! Don’t have anyone to carry the camera.
I realize I don’t need the outdoor set up as the indoor install is good. A little humming was solved(almost) by using a desktop “brick” style 12 volt power supply but a little humming is there with computer and compressor/EQ connected but changing radio position nulls it.
The tunable loop in the right position eliminates the hum too. But the hum wasn’t outside. I will get another desk top power supply for the compressor as it takes 12 volts also. But may consider a Schlockwood 200 AM processor.
FM here, unless I move was just not good anymore….one spot left here and on that frequency 90.7 the only place with space each side has a repeater station there that duplicates a local CBC station about 60 miles north of here and comes in sometimes and kills my range.
Yes, AM has lots of space to go, a simple set up similar to FM gets you legally farther, MUCH farther in the USA, no field strength restriction and is much safer. The only disadvantage…not as good audio fidelity but with tweaking it’s not bad and that is outweighed by other advantages. I grew up with AM anyways. The Talking Sign has full sounding audio and does sound as good as the other stations.
Oh yes I have NO ground. The only thing I have is a wire from shield of RCA jack of antenna connection to the 3rd electrical ground in plug as Procaster told me to eliminate humming you have to have the transmitter connected to this and it worked.
Checked with bar graph signal strength meter and NO radiating is coming from that wire and no difference in signal strength from 3 meter wire with that connection. Doesn’t alter tuning peak on meter on the transmitter. Just gets rid of humming.
Don’t get quite to the volume of the other stations as Gerry at Procaster told me it does only 85% modulation but not a big deal. If I tried to give it more volume that the Sean Cuthbert compressor is allowing it would just cause splatter. If I can find another of these I will get a second.
So there it is. I am converted. Hobbybroadcaster may like me now.
AM is your friend and I see that now. Feel more connected now as more do AM than FM with this hobby and yes I see why. Harder to get listeners but It doesn’t matter to me as much as it did before.
OLDIESWMRK is now on 1670(subject to change) in Toronto Canada. Realize that older radios won’t get up to 1670 but this was the quietest nighttime spot.
Recently purchased a Talking Sign(predecessor of the Procaster) from a forum member in like new condition, believe it was Artisan’s originally, and certified with RSS-210 section A2-2/part 15 FCC, operating at 90 mW into antenna(lab test results), with 3 meter 14 gauge wire antenna indoors taped to a wall, I get the same range as my Decade MS-100 BETS-1 did. Here’s from my other post my range with Decade……if it comes up…..https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://part15.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/114420/lm5fc8ivotpcsvhdo9rcdyyrkbiuj48v.jpg
Did another walk around test with a Sangean radio and a passive tuneable loop and with the loop did 1 1/2 to 2 times times the range I was getting with the MS-100! Listenable.
With the loop it’s better than the car! All noise interference is gone as this overpowers it all indoors. Sorry Legacy, but would have a hard time doing a video with a radio, Grundig loop, and a camera! Don’t have anyone to carry the camera.
I realize I don’t need the outdoor set up as the indoor install is good. A little humming was solved(almost) by using a desktop “brick” style 12 volt power supply but a little humming is there with computer and compressor/EQ connected but changing radio position nulls it.
The tunable loop in the right position eliminates the hum too. But the hum wasn’t outside. I will get another desk top power supply for the compressor as it takes 12 volts also. But may consider a Schlockwood 200 AM processor.
FM here, unless I move was just not good anymore….one spot left here and on that frequency 90.7 the only place with space each side has a repeater station there that duplicates a local CBC station about 60 miles north of here and comes in sometimes and kills my range.
Yes, AM has lots of space to go, a simple set up similar to FM gets you legally farther, MUCH farther in the USA, no field strength restriction and is much safer. The only disadvantage…not as good audio fidelity but with tweaking it’s not bad and that is outweighed by other advantages. I grew up with AM anyways. The Talking Sign has full sounding audio and does sound as good as the other stations.
Oh yes I have NO ground. The only thing I have is a wire from shield of RCA jack of antenna connection to the 3rd electrical ground in plug as Procaster told me to eliminate humming you have to have the transmitter connected to this and it worked.
Checked with bar graph signal strength meter and NO radiating is coming from that wire and no difference in signal strength from 3 meter wire with that connection. Doesn’t alter tuning peak on meter on the transmitter. Just gets rid of humming.
Don’t get quite to the volume of the other stations as Gerry at Procaster told me it does only 85% modulation but not a big deal. If I tried to give it more volume that the Sean Cuthbert compressor is allowing it would just cause splatter. If I can find another of these I will get a second.
So there it is. I am converted. Hobbybroadcaster may like me now.
AM is your friend and I see that now. Feel more connected now as more do AM than FM with this hobby and yes I see why. Harder to get listeners but It doesn’t matter to me as much as it did before.
