I plan on using it to replace the Talking Signs I purchased, and that I used to feed my SDR Server (down right now, but coming back up) and an AM radio I have in my house. As Mark reported previously, the sound from these gets muddy after about a day of running - likely old electronics, probably capacitors, failing.
When (or if) I move into a real house, I'm hoping this will at least cover my yard, even to a cheap, portable, AM radio (I'm hoping to get a big yard). It should.
@artisan-radio Understood, happy for you. I had intended to get a Procaster at some point but apparently have waited to long, I thought they were still only about $600 new. Now it's unlikely I'll ever get one unless another great deal like this comes along (which it might on eBay or something) but I really don't need one, I have two Rangemasters (though the one I bought on eBay several years ago has a problem, it shuts off after a few seconds of broadcasting, Keith told me it sounds like one of the components isn't seated right - not sure what he meant really, I pressed on all the components inside and everything seems to be seated properly, it plays normally for a few seconds then quits. I hadn't messed with it since and will probably send it to Keith for repair eventually. The original one I bought direct from Keith about 20 years ago still work fine.
Just lucky that I got up early this morning, saw Mark's post and e-mailed him right away.
This actually comes at an opportune time for me as well. My last Decade gave up the ghost (the one I purchased to replace an aging one giving me trouble). I'm trying to decide whether to buy a used one again (which is basically taking a chance on what you're going to get), or try something else. For what I'm doing, this ProCaster will be perfect until I make aa decision (if I do).
@artisan-radio Is this Decade that quit the one where you asked about the RF and which way is more or less power?
The used ones are fine, these last "forever" as long as no one has been tampering inside.
I have 2 of the older plastic case ones. They are going for good prices on Ebay. One is in operation now and one extra that I just got. I only get the older ones as the new ones come in the 5 lb metal case. I mean I can always get the new ones if I have to. AV electronics actually sell them in their store here in Richmond Hill(Toronto)
He switched for the metal case ones a long time ago now.
Well, my older one, which I've had for quite a while, just quit working a while ago. That one earned its keep over the years, running almost 24/7 for years and years.
I then purchased one used, online. Got a good deal, but now I know why. That's the one that the output and range was poor, and I talked to you about it. I could not get it much better (although I did learn the purpose of that little hole in the side of the case and how to adjust). To give you some idea of how bad it was, I was getting fence boarding just under my apartment on the street below, when my older one was getting a strong signal for several hundred meters). Then about a week ago it just faded out to virtually no power or range. Someone could quite well have opened it up and tampered with it.
Unfortunately, I've also been dealing with computer issues, and didn't have the intestinal fortitude to open it up myself and see what was happening (unless something was obvious, I couldn't do much about it anyway).
That's why the ProCaster came at just the right time, as I'm the only listener anyway, and I need something reliable. The Talking Signs and their older electronics just don't cut it. Meanwhile, I'll have to decide what I want to do with FM. I did send you the money via Paypal, by the way.
The big drawback of buying used is that you never quite know what you're getting. And often you don't find out until a little while later, after return windows close. The other side of the argument is that I couldn't do what I am doing unless I purchase used, as new everything is just too expensive.
@artisan-radio That's what it was, it was tampered with as the metal ones with the hole are the newest ones.
I've been lucky with the older plastic case ones, just like new.
As for the Talking Signs the problem was they were sitting in his basement for 20+ years, and it when it is never used in storage for decades that's where the capacitor problems happen. In all electronics it needs to be used. If something is stored and not used it has to be turned on once in a while to preserve the electrolytic capacitors. All those antique tube radios need recapping to work as they have been sitting idle for how long....50 years!
The Decades I have as back up will get turned on once in a while for just this reason and make sure operating as it should. Then the capacitors will stay good. Using it for 24/7 for years and years is way better than it sitting unused for years and years. Which reminds me, I should turn on my Schlockwood that is not being used for this reason as I am using the Cuthbert processor.
@richpowers The Procasters were $695 USD and have gone up $50 last year to $749.
On his site he now shows the Canadian price which he didn't before. for you in the USA it is $749 new. All because of the exchange in USD to Can$$. He sells in USD.
@mark Not sure I understand. All I'm saying is his cheapest option shows CA$1,160 which according to Google:
CA$1,160 is approximately US$837.94.
As of April 11, 2026, the mid-market exchange rate is 0.7224 USD per 1 CAD.
On another subject, your FM operation.. I don't know much about mesh networks but have you considered using multiple FM transmitters spread around to extend range like Radio Sausalito did for their first few years before they went to AM. Perhaps buying cheaper options for the additional transmitters of course to make it feasible from a cost point.
That's what I think, trying to get more power and range out of the thing. Even when cranked up to its max of 1 milliwatt (for RSS-123), RSS-210 certified transmitters like the Whole House and the BVE have more range. Obviously, something is not right there.
@richpowers It was $749 US so I don't know what he is doing now. Seems just the Canada price is there. I'll have to ask. The exchange keeps changing. Seems logical the USA price is the fixed price but converting it to Canadian dollars makes the Canadian price fluctuate.
As for multiple transmitters here I don't know if allowed, Artisan knows more. But it doesn't matter as where would I put them and power them? You can't just install transmitters around North York in Toronto!
@artisan-radio That BVE is 8 times overpowered as we Gerry and I were measuring it. Even if it was BETS it is still several times overpowered. Way more than the Decade at full power!
As for the power too low on the one you have what I would have checked if audio was working OK is it the RF trimmer itself and trying to see if anything looks like it was tampered with by opening up and removing the board and also looking underneath.
I would see if by shorting it out on the bottom does that increase the output. If so the trimmer could be faulty. Or did you turn in the right direction enough turns.
You are right that no matter what sellers say it always a gamble buying used. But not from me! With me you are getting a properly working item or I wouldn't sell. But who knows where the sellers get it from. They sell it as they were told. Really the best is to get new.
As for multiple transmitters here I don't know if allowed, Artisan knows more. But it doesn't matter as where would I put them and power them? You can't just install transmitters around North York in Toronto!
Jonathan Westerling did it for 5 years 24/7:
"... One is Radio Sausalito, an all-jazz station broadcasting on 100.1 on the FM dial with less than one watt of power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Radio Sausalito is the smallest legal radio station in the Bay Area. It can be heard only inside Sausalito ... Radio Sausalito boasts that it is the largest network of tiny FM transmitters in the United States, ...
Beausoleil broadcasts a poetry and jazz show three times a week on Radio Sausalito. "I have absolutely no idea who is listening," he said. "Sometimes I think nobody at all is listening to my show." That's not the point, he said. The point is that small-time radio outfits are community stations, played in the barber shop and the corner store, run by volunteers, most of them with no previous experience in radio.
The presiding guru at Radio Sausalito, Jonathan Westerling, is so concerned that his signal doesn't reach all areas of the town that he says he'll come to someone's home to adjust the radio antenna, making Radio Sausalito the only station in the world that makes house calls."
Full article:
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/marin-county-weaker-signals-create-stronger-260872