Carl Blare

I’m talking about equipment documentation, in this case, computer sound card documentation.

I’m talking about equipment documentation, in this case, computer sound card documentation.

It’s not really a soundcard, it’s built onto the mother board, and I use it because it produces broadcast quality sound. If I was recording the New York Philharmonic I might get something else.

But recording the ALPB Meetings has put new demands on the sound board, and although I managed to get the job done, there was hum in the resulting signal, and it happened again when I talked to Lefty Gomez on Team Speak, which is the same system used with the ALPB.

As far as I can tell, the board is capable of outputting two distinct and separate stereo audio channels, a total of 4-channels, except it doesn’t seem that the stereo can be split for use as individual channels.

KDX programming streaming on the web and broadcasting on AM & FM ties up Audio Output No. 2, and keeps running during recording sessions over on Audio Output No. 1.

I think the normal way to employ Team Speak is to use both Audio Output Channels, one for sending voice to Team Speak and the other to play back Team Speak participants speaking into their mics.

But in manner that I do not understand, I am getting my microphone to Team Speak and hear back without interfering with KDX Streaming Audio, by simply sending on the C.Crane FM transmitter and receiving on the C.Crane radio. But the hum.

I opened the little one-sheet fold-over from the mother board company and found the most unexplained description of the input and output plugs, opened the software on the screen and saw many things that may or may not have a use, if someone knew.

Probably the documentation is so feeble because, like this blog, it gets harder and harder to describe, the more one tries.

Anyway, bottom line, I have made an improvement, but not because I tried to study the problem in a formal scientific way, but because I stumbled onto a solution by trying a bunch of stuff until something worked.

I don’t know why it works.

In Low Power Hour No. 56 two things happen.

In Low Power Hour No. 56 two things happen.

First, we visit with Lefty Gomez on a Team Speak Studio he arranged especially for the Low Power Hour. We learn about Lefty’s career in professional radio, followed by his pioneering efforts in the Part 15 arena, as founder of ALPB and now the builder of a string of transmitters covering Santa Cruz, California and beyond.

Then we participate in the Annual Parade of Part 15 AM Transmitters as it rolls past our reviewing stand at the Internet Building, home of The Low Power Hour.

http://www.kdxradio.com/lph.html

Fast changing weather patterns have entered the area and KDX, located in the center of North America, where the Missouri River confluences with the Mississippi River, is being rained on.

Fast changing weather patterns have entered the area and KDX, located in the center of North America, where the Missouri River confluences with the Mississippi River, is being rained on.

Prior to the rain sharp static discharges cut through our AM signals, but the rain seems to have subdued the static. Woops, there was one, the thunder is arriving.

For a few moments there was a red tornado warning on the weather service map just northwest of here, but that threat has been removed by the weather service.

As on duty operator I am responsible to make the decision whether to remain on air or cut power.

Lightning and wind can cause fatal damage to electronic equipment, computers and transmitters foremost.

KDX is not a public service disaster station serving the public. We are part of the public, and shut down entirely when threatening conditions arise.

Although during the time I have been typing conditions seem to have become steady with light rain, all that could be swept away in a moment by one lightning strike or wind storm.

If we survive, we will give an outcome.

The LPH microphones visit RFB in Casper Wyoming for the melding of part 15 KROCKS with part 73 KMLD for a joint venture in which licensed meets unlicensed.

The LPH microphones visit RFB in Casper Wyoming for the melding of part 15 KROCKS with part 73 KMLD for a joint venture in which licensed meets unlicensed.

If it was a marriage, one party would have a marriage license and the other party would be legally unmarried.

For a 2nd feature Professor Peter Schickele comes to us from WOOF, Hoople, Southern North Dakota, with a demonstration that might teach us something about selling the part 15 line of products.

Low Power in the News contacts MICRO1700’s neighbor regarding his being seen touching telephone poles with a box.

http://www.kdxradio.com/lph.html

Bringing Part 3 and conclusion of the Oct 5 Meeting of ALPB.

Bringing Part 3 and conclusion of the Oct 5 Meeting of ALPB.

Also, Low Power in the News looks to Friday Harbor and Friday night Football Live On Air over part 15 station Tiny Radio broadcasting from a boat.

Episode 4 “The Funny Side of Bonnie & Clyde”.

http://www.kdxradio.com/lph.html

All the way from Hong Kong came the Tecsun PL-310, suggested by member rich as a tuner with something akin to an S-meter.

All the way from Hong Kong came the Tecsun PL-310, suggested by member rich as a tuner with something akin to an S-meter.

Indeed this quite small radio has a numeric display of signal strength in dBu as well as a numeric indication of the S/N (signal-to-noise ratio).

Right away I was jotting down power measurements in every corner of the yard for AM1680.

When I walked around listening to 107.1 it was a whole different galaxy. NONE of my several other FM radios do well picking up either the C.Crane nor Wholehouse 2.0 FM transmitters outside, not even in other rooms… but the TECSUN kept 107.1 clearly in every room and outdoors in the entire yard.

The radio is compatible with many countries, and since somewhere the FM band runs from 64 to 108mHz, that’s how I set it, which might be channel 3 on up through FM. There are no audible signals down there in this region, but now I know about that whereas before I wondered.

Very good tip from rich.