Neil, thank you and....
> > > > Neil:
> > > > Thanks so much. I'm still contemplating whether or
> not
> > to
> > >
> > > > just go AM. The more I talk to Jake Thomas and he
> brags
> >
> > > > about how he'll be able to get a mile of range legally
>
> > > with
> > > > the help of Antenna guy Carl, and that I could have it
>
> > all
> > >
> > > > done for under $500 and it'd all be legal, I may just
> go
> >
> > > > that route. Getting pretty excited about this whole
> > > setup.
> > > > I have automation, I'll have an oldies music library,
> > I've
> > >
> > > > got a RAMKO broadcast board, a Sennheizer broadcast
> mic
> > on
> > > a
> > > > boom, all I really need is the transmitter and the
> help
> > of
> > >
> > > > Antenna Guy Carl! Gotta' get some free news feed that
>
> > can
> > >
> > > > be automatically downloaded from the web and aired
> back
> > > > around the top of the hour, and find the time to cut
> > local
> > >
> > > > news, and I think I'll probably be able to get a few
> > > people
> > > > to listen. With oldies, some news, and running some
> > local
> > >
> > > > church services throughout the week, I think I can
> bring
> >
> > > > community radio back to Cedar Gove, WI.
> > > >
> > > > -Bill Scott.
> > > >
> > > Bill,
> > >
> > > Your welcome. I hope I helped. I like part15 AM. You
> > > sound serious about real broadcasting and that is great.
>
> > > Obviously you want to maximize your range. AM can be
> good
> >
> > > and it can be bad. I only intend to broadcast around my
>
> > 1/2
> > > acre property and for my own use. I am my most loyal
> (and
> >
> > > probably only) listener! Therefore, other than the
> > > technical satisfaction, range is not my concern.
> > >
> > > That being said, here are some things to consider. I do
>
> > not
> > > mean to discourage you, but rather point out some
> > obstacles.
> > > If you are renting, you may have a problem installing
> an
> > > outdoor antenna. Carl's antenna design (SSTRAN site) is
>
> > > very well done and according to what I have read works
> > well.
> > > Could this be installed at your rental site? When I
> > > rented, I struck a deal with the landlord...in exchange
> > for
> > > some painting and wiring, I was allowed to mount an
> > antenna
> > > on the roof (a dipole for short wave listening). That
> was
> >
> > > many years ago and I know things have
> changed...landlords
> > > seem to be skittish about liability.
> > >
> > > Another problem that I have is electrical interference
> to
> > AM
> > > reception. I cannot listen to AM in my house (other
> than
> > my
> > > own transmitter signal) because of interference from
> light
> >
> > > dimmers, flourescent lights, etc. I suspect that this
> is
> > > the case for many of your potential listeners. This can
>
> > > really limit your range. In my case, signals that are
> > great
> > > in my driveway are not usable inside my house. Yes, I
> > could
> > > eliminate the sources, but I doubt that the average
> > listener
> > > will do that.
> > >
> > > I really enjoy using part 15 AM and it suits my needs
> > well.
> > > Just do your homework. Read this board, other boards,
> and
> >
> > > check out the Rangemaster site. It has some good tips
> and
> >
> > > explainations.
> > >
> > > Neil
> > >
> > Neil is quite right.....these things do indeed
> > happen.......so I will say a few things........(please
> guys,
> > try and cope with the typing; it is not me, it is just
> webtv
> > and posting, cause they don't get along).........
> > Generally, If you CAN put an AM antenna on a roof of an
> > apartment building, and we are looking at a very unusual
> > ground system, the results are generally pretty
> > good.......Considering that there are a large group of
> > people living in a very small area, and the signal does
> > travel around a mile or much more even with this
> > installation, the apartment building and the buildings
> > surrounding it receive a very good signal. Remember, a
> good
> > quiet frequency is important, and I like to remind people
> > that not everyone has an expanded band radio
> > available.......................I came up with a somewhat
> of
> > a solution some time ago by mistake: and I can't get into
>
> > antenna lengths because of space and time constraints, but
>
> > in truth, we operate with very very small
> > antennas.........I've made it a bit smaller by installing
> a
> > type of top hat that makes the antenna a legal length, but
>
> > in doing so, it is kind of directional as well......so as
> > the antenna itself radiates omni-directionally, some of
> the
> > signal (well, about 60% of it) does concentrate in a 90
> > degree direction......this antenna works well for someone
> > who has a deck and nothing else to mount it on......and
> > needs to shoot thier signal in another
> > direction.........Generally, everyone beneath the antenna
> > will receive the signal. While true that electrical
> devices
> > will work against any AM signal, the simple fact that you
> > have an originating signal right there should give you a
> > strong signal in your apartment complex, and to buildings
> > very close to yours....Regular houses should receive
> signal
> > within a 1 mile area and cars should receive it a bit
> > further than that.
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> > I do think the Rangemaster is a great tx; I also think
> the
> > Rangemaster is vastly overpriced and out of the range of
> the
> > average consumer. Therefore, I do endorse the sstran as
> the
> > best sounding, best ranging transmitter at about the best
> > price that can buy an AM transmitter.
> > The Rangemaster has skills the sstran does not; that is
> > that you can use several of them in different locations to
>
> > elongate your signal. Our antenna doesn't work with the
> > Rangemaster; it uses a standard CB type antenna, which
> > costs about 80 bucks at Radio Shack....................For
>
> > people like Maurice that has a very large installation,
> the
> > Rangemaster is killer and in fact, kind of needed. I
> > understand Maurice may use sstrans soon to fill in blank
> > spots, but that is another issue....................
> > But if you consider AM, I would look very closely at
> SSTRAN
> > because it is simply the most affordable and best sounding
>
> > tx money can buy.
> > I went on record on this years ago and I stand by what I
> > said.
> > Carl (
[email protected])
> >
>
> Carl,
>
> Thanks for adding to what I said. Again, I do not mean to
> discourage Bill and your words are encouraging. I have not
> achieved the field strength that you are talking about. I
> don't have an outdoor transmit antenna. Was going to put
> one up last week, but an old back injury flared up and
> prevented that. May not get it done until Spring. The top
> hat sounds like a good idea.
>
> I also did not necessarily intend to steer Bill to the
> Rangemaster unit, just to the website which has some nice
> technical tips.
>
> I also have the SSTRAN AMT3000 and am very pleased with it.
> It is a fine product and is reasonably priced.
>
> Bill, I tried to post a reply to Radiobrandy's post to you
> about the TV antenna, but I must have punched the wrong key
> and it got lost. Radiobrandy is right. I did not think
> about the fact that this could be a shared antenna.
> Definitely do not send a signal into that system. You will
> most likely interfere with TV reception and get banned
> forever from transmitting in you building. I know from
> experience (ham radio...not part15) that TV interference
> (TVI) problems are not solved by discussing the legality of
> your transmitter. I have had only one TVI complaint in 30
> years of operating and it was due to a defective connector
> on an antenna amplifier at my neighbors house. I fixed it
> for him, TVI gone, and a better picture than ever. I hear
> that not all TVI scenes end as happily. Point is...I was
> operating a licensed station in a legal manner. The only
> thing that mattered was my neighbor had interference.
>
> If you use your own antenna for FM or AM, the chances of TVI
> are minimal and nothing to worry in advance about. You will
> probably never have to deal with it.
>
> Neil
>
You are welcome as well......I will say that an inside antenna is indeed cool if you are broadcasting for yourself.......in fact, just placing the wire antenna outside the window will most likely cover your yard depending on how large your prarie is, but you don't need to install my antenna high in the air and it is not back breaking work either!....There is a lot of people who love it high up and you really can't change these guys minds; it is doable, sure.......but when asked I say keep it on the ground where, if you need to you can attend to it. For some reason people think "high-up" is great for AM, but that is not the way AM works........not for nothing but I've had reports from about 30 of my 50 customers this year and all had something "else" to say but all of it pretty positive.........I appreciate your comments.
Carl<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected],
[email protected],[email protected]</P>
