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Any recommendations for a small FM transmitter

L

Luckeeeme

Guest
Looking for a smaller inexpensive transmitter because ours is going out. I don't need much power. Maybe 100 - 300 watts? Or if anyone has one that they are selling please let me know. You can E Mail me at: [email protected] Thanks
 
Don't go the cheap route:
POWER MINISTRIES. Notified Power Ministries of an Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture in the amount of $12,000 for operating with a
non-certified transmitter. Action by: District Director, Tampa Office,
South Central Region, Enforcement Bureau. Adopted: 09/07/2011 by NAL.
(DA No. 11-1503). EB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1503A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1503A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1503A1.txt
Click to expand...
Cause it's too expensive.
 
There are transmitters certified for low power use...

Then there are good transmitters. For example, don't think the 300 watt Nautel is certified for low power, but no-one would argue it isn't a good transmitter.

At least if they are certified, they are not likely to have emissions in the aircraft band.

Not impressed by them, but probably will work--P-Tek.
 
If you need around 100 watts, I'd buy a Bext 100 watt exciter. I've had good luck with them.
BW Broadcast has some great low power FM transmitters at decent prices too.
 
The station fined was using a PTEK amp with CSI exciter.Although not certified for LPFM,it's possible the old CSI had issues.BW makes good certified lor LPFM boxes and Nautel has a certifed VS xmtr for LPFM use.The main reason for the certification was to prevent the Ramsey and other types of low end xmtr,but it surely seems reasonable the FCC would be ok with BE,Harris,Nautel and xmtrs used in main stream broadcasting without going thru the certification..
 
I'm slightly confused. Luckeemee never said that this transmitter was for an LPFM; so why the discussion about certification? And if it was for a licensed station, I would think one would know if you needed 100 or 300 watts ... quite a difference in power and some difference in price.
 
OlderRadioGuy said:
I'm slightly confused. Luckeemee never said that this transmitter was for an LPFM; so why the discussion about certification? And if it was for a licensed station, I would think one would know if you needed 100 or 300 watts ... quite a difference in power and some difference in price.
Click to expand...


Excellent points. Only LPFM licensees are required to use type certified gear. All other broadcast services can use type verified gear, if they want. Beware though that verification still requires that the gear be tested. It's just that the documentation is kept with the manufacturer and the gear bears no FCC number. A lot of foreign made stuff, particularly from Asia and the Middle East, is neither certified or verified.
 
Less of a problem at the 100~300 watt level, but some exciters come with a low-pass filter, some don't.

Modern equipment may have it designed into the power amplifier, so this may not be an issue. Some of the older, though still good gear, used outboard filters.

Classic example is the Continental 802A and older 802B's where the filter was attached to the side of the power amp. Or not--depending on who had it before you go it.

Of course, there are inexpensive low-pass filters on the market that can be added to such equipment.
 
Mistake #1 for them was not getting in a hurry to comply with shutting down the transmitter. They probably wouldn't have ended up with a fine if they would have just shut it off, then called their engineer to figure out why they were creating interference. With the flood of all the foreign stuff on the market, it's pretty easy to get something that's not even verified these days. Add to that the need for certified equipment when dealing with LPFM and you're really sliming down the list of available transmitters. I know why they put the rule in place, but I really wished they'd switch it to a required spectrum and modulation check once ever 18 months similar to the spatter/occupation mesurements for AMs. Many of these LPFMs never see anyone with any real test equipment. Forcing a real check every so often would go a long ways to keeping problems down.
 
CSI is an old brand, probably was due for a re-cap.

I've found the various flavor of RVR exciters (sold under such names as Energy-Onix, Bext, Armstrong, etc.) will develop spurs after a while. Cure is to replace the electrolytics buried in the power amplifier. Memory is that they are 47 ufd/50 volt electrolytics on the power rails.
 
And I wish that better FM Exciters would be Type Certified gear. I'd much rather see the LPFM stations using a BE FX 30 or 50, or newer, anything Continental, or any Nautel or Harris when they get older than many of the Type Certified options when they get older.
 
The new Nautel 300 watt is type-accepted. Pricey--compared to a P-Tek or something from Italy--but then the Nautel will still be running ten years from now.
 
PTek has some mighty good pricing right now. 500 watts for $2,950.
 
Let's see... Nautel, Nautel and Nautel. Those are my 3 top suggestions.
 
I think BW Broadcast currently has a deal that gives you a free DSPX Mini (audio processor / stereo generator) with the purchase of one of their LPFM certified transmitters. The DSPX-mini is well worth considering, even if you don't buy the transmitter.

As was previously pointed out, P-Tek has some good prices right now, or so said a BSW ad the other day. I've had one of their 150 watt exciters on the air for some time. It sounds good and has been trouble free.

I've also had "something from Italy" on the air for nine years, running 24/7. So far the only problem has been a bad fan.

I will also agree that Nautel makes great products and has excellent customer service. Bottom line is there are a lot of choices out there.
 
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