Mike Walker said:
Ok Pocket, I know you and I have tangled before. But I've gotta' give you your "props". That may be the collest Part 15 on Earth! I've been listening online. VERY slick.
Who are all the jocks on the website? Volunteers? When can we hear a live human? Slick as it is, I've only heard jingles/sweepers/songs (12-12:30pm EDT Thurs May 3).
How great is the spacing for each of your Rangemasters? How did you get permission to space them? Are they on the property of friends? What's the power source? I'm interested in the nuts 'n bolts. Plus, how the hell do you get audio to all of 'em? How many are there? Is what we're hearing online your processed on-air feed? (I notice it's mono) What are you processing with? What's your automation software? Now you've peaked my interest! Expensive hobby!
Ok, I've got to rag on you just a little bit. "HD--High Definition Digital Radio". It's freakin' MONO, and sounds to me like there's not much high-end above a few kilohertz. It sounds GOOD, but "high definition?" If I were making that claim, I'd at least have my web stream in stereo. Just a thought.
Just heard "Chuck Matthews"...an actual warm body. Kewl!
LOL- What you trying to do, give me a big head?!!
I've been reading all the posts and let me give you guys a little background on
www.Surfside1640.com and our part 15 stations.
I used to own an FCC licensed AM station, WZFB in Fair Bluff. In about April of last year, I sold it to large established company. I turned the company profits immediately into research into part 15 AM. My goal was not to build a part 15- but to build it right. The very best system for sound and signal.
Everyone seems to agree that a Hamilton Rangemaster (
www.am1000rangemaster.com)
sounds better than most others. The use of assymetrical modulation alone with these units alone make them well worth the money.
If you're gonna do it right...
Everyone loves the coverage... though my experience in my area is about 1/2 to 3/4 mile each.
The biggest sell point about this system, however, is the ability to synchronize them... practically seemlessly, if done right.
Heck, if the box only goes 200 feet, then space em at 400 feet and have a nice station... without the signal limitations of traditional AM.
Buy enough transmitters and you could cover a huge area with part 15...
Incidentally, part 15 AM is not defined by signal if the full scope of the rules are digested. There is no signal strength limitations. Only part 15 FM is restricted by signal strenth.
However......
Our network growth of part 15 transmitters has been slowed. Early in the game, we connected an internet stream to our station... the first one, mono at 64kbps.
Your questions about HD Digital Radio are understandable.
We added that when our stereo 24kbps AAC+ feed was installed. As you know, AAC+ is the exact format for HD Radio- soon to be broadcast on many AMs (probably higher bitrate, admitted) is the US. As you know, some already do.
We avoided calling ourselves HD Radio as there may be a problem with trademarks and Ibiquity. Instead, we, became HD Digital Radio, which we view as completely different. Internet radio has been digital since it's birth in the 90s.
Our internet streams have grown beyond expectations. Even local people would rather hear a monophonic 64kbps stream than a crystal clear, static free AM- high power or low. At least in our experience.
We morphed quickly into a very popular internet radio station. Our attention to part 15 wained a bit.
But it's talks like this that make me want to go out to a site and add a Rangemaster transmitter to it- lol. We have done some wild things from two transmitters on the same pole- one upside down one right side up. We even tried one horizontal! (lol)
Seems the experts who you read on this board and on part15.us all are right. Just use one, ground it the best you can and run a loud dense signal into it- that's the best you can do. Coverage, it seems is ALL in the spacing of one transmitter to the next.
Man! I wish I could figure out how to send out one of those 8 mile signals!!!!
The announcers are all friends of mine who are gracious enough to help with the station. They are all the cream of the crop talentwise and we are very lucky to have them.
The jingles were produced by Tony Griffin Produtions in Dallas... who are also my friends (see:
www.AmericasGreatestHits.com ) They are also one of America's most respected jingle companies- with powerful jingles at CBS New York and many others. I can get you a good deal if you'd like some for your station.
The sweepers were all cut by Jim "Catfish" Prewitt (
www.JimPrewitt.com) and produced by Digital Audio Tracks (
www.DigitalAudioTracks.com) - the same company who is behind the production PSAs for the SaveNetRadio.org campaign-
www.wzfb.com/savenetradio
I believe all those elements are very important to our sound. I think our audience agrees.
The public perception has been one of a full power solid radio station. Newspaper articles have been written about us, TV stories have been done, we are a full radio affiliate with a huge TV station here for news, weather, etc. We have taken the brand to to the masses in grassroot ways with a focus on online marketing- see:
www.CarolinaProfile.com and our MySpace page at
www.Myspace.com/surfside1640 .
But things could be changing. The new internet music rules are very scary stuff. New attention to our part 15 operation may soon be occurring again- lol.
My advice to you is to buy only rangemasters- pair them each with innovonics 222 processors- run a great big multiband processor at your head end and send it to each (yes including main transmitter synch) via a part 15 video sender system and you'll do fine.
Oh yeah... and be sure to have good solid content. You need a decent program director. I have been a PD for lots of big companies in large markets under very successful conditions and have somehow conned myself (huh?) into being this station's PD. However (knocking on wood)...so far so good...
Remember: A good signal doesn't make a
good radio station!
Dave
PS: We are about to offer our programming to part 15 stations as the first 24 hour part radio network. It will be a great way to make your part 15 stations sound great 24 hours a day. The network is localized to your area very easily. Email me at
[email protected] for information.