I live in Plano and we love to drive through the Deerfield neighborhood every holiday season to look at the lights. Several homes there have highly elaborate displays set to music and played over small FM transmitters. None of them broadcast very far. Maybe half a mile. (I can get them in the parking lot of Christ Church if the conditions are just right) However, they all have a really good stereo sound. I'm curious if anyone knows where they might have gotten transmitters and how much something like that might cost.
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FM transmitters used for Christmas displays
- Thread starter arnoldevns
- Start date
You can get a cheap one for about $20 at Wal-Mart. The one I bought there only broadcasts at the far upper and lower ends of the dial. But you can put it up in the attic and get decent range ... several blocks. Half a mile is probably pushing the FCC limits.
A 1/2 mile range is definitely in the "extra-legal" category. The majority of legal Part 15-compliant FM transmitters will barely reach the street in front of the average property. In this case, the displayers are probably using something akin to the 0.5 watt Chinese units often found on eBay. While the built-in processing is pretty good, without a properly matched antenna the frequency harmonics can splash all over the dial.
In the words of CBS "Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson, 'I've said too much.'
In the words of CBS "Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson, 'I've said too much.'
I'll admit, my "half mile" statement is a bit of a guess. Still, it's far beyond their yard.
This guy in Frisco is using 99.9 FM for his Christmas music with 85,000 computer controlled lights. I heard him talking about it on KLIF during one of their Saturday afternoon shows.
http://www.friscochristmas.com/
http://www.friscochristmas.com/
M
Mordac
Guest
tested said:I'll admit, my "half mile" statement is a bit of a guess. Still, it's far beyond their yard.
The transmitter running the light show in The Colony (sponsored by the city) is just off Main about a half a mile north of 121. However I can pick up the signal all the way up Main Street to Lebanon, that's 5 miles! That can't be legal.
The Part 15 stations can interfere with each other 24/7 as long as neither interferes with a licensed station on that frequency. Would likely be frowned upon by FCC but I wouldn't expect anything to be done if my neighbor was interfering with my little station. Part 15 stations get no FCC protection, only the licensed stations.
That said, it would be interesting to see which neighbor could outdo the other on an open frequency. The capture effect would define the winner.
That said, it would be interesting to see which neighbor could outdo the other on an open frequency. The capture effect would define the winner.
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