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AM Stereo Part 15

R

RadioMan203

OK, I just have to throw this out for a giggle:

Has anybody played with AM stereo Part 15? I saw Chris Cuff is making another run of his C-QUAM AM exciters and recently on ebay I saw an AM stereo Part 15 transmitter for sale from a group in Greece. While I'm sure it's not a great range getter I was wondering if anybody has tried these. I know C-Quam stinks at night but it might be an interesting listen during the day.

Comments?
 
I have one of chris' exciters :) the HP(100mW) version. I also have a CRL 4s processing chain and a Harris AMS-G1 and a Cunningham CM 30-50 w/ a Carrier Current tuner.

Ready for full AMS. I am completely ready should LPAM become a Reality. All i would need is a type approved antenna and EAS.
 
I would think the 100mW version would be ready to roll. I assume you're reference to LPAM would mean you plan on using the CQUAM board as an exciter for a higher power transmitter.

So, have you had it on the air? How is the performance?
 
I have a complete type accepted broadcast facility from mic to transmitter. Everything came from various B,cast stations. all i would need is a TIS or Morad antenna and a EAS setup to be legal if/when LPAM becomes reality. if not i'll run C-QuAM on Carrier Current and run my hamilton rangemaster over the air.
 
I've been told by veteran engineers that my setup looks better than some of the 50kW stations they engineer.
 
Dr_Johnnie_Fever said:
I've been told by veteran engineers that my setup looks better than some of the 50kW stations they engineer.
Click to expand...

Sadly, with the exception of some of the major group owners, many hobbyists like us can build studios that would impress the socks off many a person. A friend of mine who owns a few FM's here on the East coast tells me I'm a maniac with my webcast station. I have all modern gear, from a 15 channel console, full MOHD automation, two full multi-processor / mutiband diigtal audio processing chains (with another half to make a third) and a full set of studio furniture. I hope to maybe dabble in Part 15 AM down the road but with my new home I need to build custom furniture for the studio as my current furniture is a little on the tight side for the size of the designated available room.

There is certianly room for many to make some great community-serving radio services and it's the hobbyists who have the passion to "do it right" like us who have a great chance of making that succeed.
 
All this talk of Part 15 AM stereo is great, and I'd LOVE to go stereo myself, but one hurdle that would have to be overcome is the fact that AM stereo receivers are about as common as hen's teeth. Manufacturers don't make 'em anymore for various reasons (4 different systems, each incompatible with the others, FCC took forever to set a standard, blah blah blah). I've only seen 2 (two) AM stereo receivers in my lifetime, and both were Sonys. A few years ago, I went to a Circuit City to look for one, and the guy looked at me like I had 3 heads. "AM stereo???" Until the AM stereo receiver makes some sort of a comeback, well...?
 
Rick, actually I think would love to do AM stereo mostly for my own benefit. I have a collection of several AM stereo Sonys in my collection (the SRF-A100 portable, the A1 and 42 walkabout types and I just purchased a Sony AM stereo boombox). I know CQUAM stereo radios are in some automobiles I would doubt vehicles passing my coverage would pick up stereo for long so I would do it for my own enjoyment. It would be nice if the circuitry could be integrated into a Rangmaster for an FCC certified Part 15 compliant transmitter.
 
Yeah, you make an excellent point, Bill. In fact, I'm wondering if there doesn't exist some sort of stereo generator to at least give the Rangemaster a pilot tone that could be set up in series with it.

I think you're definitely on to something, Bill.

Thanks for broaching the subject. It certainly got me thinking.
 
rickradio said:
Yeah, you make an excellent point, Bill. In fact, I'm wondering if there doesn't exist some sort of stereo generator to at least give the Rangemaster a pilot tone that could be set up in series with it.

I think you're definitely on to something, Bill.

Thanks for broaching the subject. It certainly got me thinking.
Click to expand...

I know Keith Hamilton reads and posts to this site often, maybe he can suggest a way to interface Chris' Alfredo-Lite with the Rangemaster or even design a modification for it (that's assuming that C-Quam is even compatible with the Rangemaster's design).

db
 
My 1997 Ford Explorer came with a FACTORY AM Stereo/FM Stereo 6CD changer setup. The first time I was scanning on AM and the Stereo light came on and I heard separation, I was very surprised. Sky wave night listening in AM Stereo is a bit rough but a good daytime signal sounds pretty good.

Our station group has a Motorola C-Quam AM Stereo Exciter and mod monitor that has been on the shelf for about 10 years. Working when removed.

8)
 
I'd love to find an AM stereo generator and mod monitor to use for the high school carrier current station I'm putting in but usually most folks want more than a school system budget can afford. I had some very useful gear donated to the school from Cumulus and Cox but nothing quite that nifty

:(
 
rickradio said:
Yeah, you make an excellent point, Bill. In fact, I'm wondering if there doesn't exist some sort of stereo generator to at least give the Rangemaster a pilot tone that could be set up in series with it.
Click to expand...

While I never dealt with an actual CQUAM exciter first hand (the AM Stereo station I engineered was using the Kahn system, which I still feel worked better, but that's a whole 'nother thread) I believe you could feed a 25Hz pilot tone into the Rangemaster's audio to allow some receivers to "open up" and enter wideband mode, less the actual stereo transmission.

I had read somewhere about experimenting with using a broadcast CQUAM exciter for a carrier current system. I may try to find a broadcast station with an ophaned exciter they may consider donating it for a tax deduction to the municipal school system I work at. I've begun building up a on-campus radio station that will also be used as part of the Tech Ed curriculum in our high school and it would be great to be able to teach them about this piece of AM transmission history (as well as being able to hear it actually transmitted).
 
The site is gone from the tubes of the internets but there was a part 15 station that did broadcast in AM stereo. It was owned by an engineer who built his own AM stereo exciter. I think the engineer is a radio-info regular but don't remember who it is.
 
radiorob2.0 said:
The site is gone from the tubes of the internets but there was a part 15 station that did broadcast in AM stereo. It was owned by an engineer who built his own AM stereo exciter. I think the engineer is a radio-info regular but don't remember who it is.
Click to expand...

I wonder if it could have been Chris Cuff, since he's the only one I've seen with a homebrew CQUAM rig (he has another round of his kits for sale on ebay). The only other one I've seen is a rig made in Greece with is digitally controlled, but they haven't made any inroads into the US market yet.
 
Bill DeFelice said:
rickradio said:
Yeah, you make an excellent point, Bill. In fact, I'm wondering if there doesn't exist some sort of stereo generator to at least give the Rangemaster a pilot tone that could be set up in series with it.
Click to expand...

While I never dealt with an actual CQUAM exciter first hand (the AM Stereo station I engineered was using the Kahn system, which I still feel worked better, but that's a whole 'nother thread) I believe you could feed a 25Hz pilot tone into the Rangemaster's audio to allow some receivers to "open up" and enter wideband mode, less the actual stereo transmission.

I had read somewhere about experimenting with using a broadcast CQUAM exciter for a carrier current system. I may try to find a broadcast station with an ophaned exciter they may consider donating it for a tax deduction to the municipal school system I work at. I've begun building up a on-campus radio station that will also be used as part of the Tech Ed curriculum in our high school and it would be great to be able to teach them about this piece of AM transmission history (as well as being able to hear it actually transmitted).
Click to expand...

Chris Cuff <[email protected]> has built C-QUAM AM Stereo Carrier Current systems in addition to his 100 milliwatt "Alfredo Lite" AM Stereo Part 15 transmitters, and he has gotten excellent results with the Carrier Current AM Stereo systems.


-- Black Shire
 
go to qrz and look up "WA2FNQ". they have his email. i talked with him once before. he ran a ramsey am25 and a homebuilt ams generator and antenna system.
 
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