Revisiting Artesians points that originated in the thread https://www.part15.org/community/broadcast-equipment/transmitter-prices/#post-60034 (now closed)
Artsian had said:
".I find it ridiculous that someone by now hasn't come out with a low power, unlicensed, digital transmitter. They're really not much more complicated than analog ones, and there are plenty of open source avenues to explore and experiment with... "
I'm not sure that no one has, but if there is already a design out there, how capable would it be? 200ft?
Yes, there are all kind of experimentations to explore in part 15 - So why has it always been that AM has been the primary exploration and use?.. It's all because of one solitary reason - Extended range capabilities to a standard receiver. It's the 15.219 range . What good would a part 15 digital AM station do? there would be know potential to gain an audience.
[Aritsian said]..To add a bit to my previous post, I'll also add in programming to the things that we need to seriously look at.
What's the point of the collective us programming the same sort of things that everyone else does? I can see it if you program for yourself primarily and you can't get that stuff locally. But otherwise, why not explore different things?.. ..If we get the creative juices flowing, who knows what kind of interesting things we can come up with?... "
That's been an argument forever, but the reality is that the greastest majority of hobby stations are essentially our own personal jukeboxes, playing specifically the music we prefer. That hasn't changed 80 years. But the primary point is that 15.219 is the true lifeblood of this hobby, it's the range capabilities that is the backbone of this hobby
But you point is compleatly valid.. So let's look at some examples..
Uh.. let's see.. Um, ok, Radio Sausalito, he went big band and jazz because there wasnt any such stations in his area. I tune in now and again, I like it and would make it a point to more regularly tune in if it were local terrestrial. - So that's one (kinda).
Tim in Bovery, Iron Range Country, his is classic country music but as we all know he has specialty programs featuring Polka - now that's different! he also features gospel. So that's another one (kinda)
Heres a good example of part 15 AM use that is really different.. I recall numerous part 15 radio experimentations of Wave Farm on their 29 acre properties that had numerous installations that broadcast on-site locations of nature and other interesting broadcast (their site has changed a lot but I'm sure the write-ups on it are still up there somewhere, incedently I notice they have a publication "Transmission Arts: Artists & Airwaves" https://wavefarm.org/ta/archive/works/ah1hz2 but it doesn't appear to be downloadable). Anyway, that group definately does outside-the-box part 15 experimentations.
Who else? Well, another thats generally not music format are the part 15 AM interpertation and information stations most used in parks and recreation locations, Seagate had a few publications focusing on this 20 years ago but the practice is still in use today as much so as it was 50vyears ago. It's safe to say they utilize more part 15 AM transmiters across the US than they do actual TIS stations.
IMO, part 15 AM enthusiasts always tend to be personal taste music stations and there's nothing wrong with that, it makes perfect sense, but they should also regularly provide information, announcements, news, weather, and whatever else specific to the area it's received. People are going to turn on their radio to hear music anyway.. usually on FM, but if you want to get them to opt for AM then at least give them a reason to do it with local specific programming too.
..I believe that we as a group need to move past analog radio .. ..So, DRM anyone? I guess I'll need to start another line of investigation...
Nah.. I don't think so, analog has been the foundation and primary substance of this site since it was established over 20 ago. Perhaps add a sub-catagory for DRM if enough were interested, but actually leave the analog transmissions (and its range) behind and focus on digital broadcast? - I don't see it.
In response to Rich's post, from my perspective, some opinion and a few facts.
As for being different and not just doing what the other stations do I agree 100%. If I had a commercial station to listen to I wouldn't have gotten into this hobby but radio left me behind as there's a maximum age demographic they have to target and as I get older they loose me. No other terrestrial station does what I do, or what Artisan does.
I am different from every other commercial station in in my area. As for streaming there's no way you can be unique as there's hundreds, and hundreds, of others doing what you do and you are 1 tree in a forest and what would make someone tune to you out of all the others? No matter what you do it can never be "different" if you are streaming.
Should we leave analog behind?, and about a digital part 15 transmitter....
There won't be a digital part 15 transmitter. Here's why. Digital is an owned and patented system. It is not like analog where there is a band of frequencies and you can just pick unused ones. You can't just build a transmitter that is digital transmission like you can with analog. Anyone can make an analog transmitter, get it approved and operate on a commercial broadcast band. And even if you did have a digital transmitter, who has the radio to receive it? All radios made receive analog transmissions. But it won't/can't be done. Remember, analog is not a patented system owned by a corporation. It can't be. That's how our hobby works. No one can "own" analog bands and frequencies, or the transmission system.
Freedom of the airwaves.
And lets look farther...Rich asks how good would range be if there was a digital transmitter at part 15 power or field strength? Answer, not as good as with analog you can still receive it with a weak signal with a better receiver but with digital, you need a strong signal as when it gets to be fringe and you loose some digital information it just breaks up, like your TV with a weak over the air station and the picture looks like a messed up jigsaw puzzle. Analog doesn't do that. Our signals are all "weak" signals in a part 15/BETS listening contour, AM and FM. Artisan mentions moving past analog and Rich comments....I agree with Rich! Keep it analog as digital can't work with this hobby. Yes with AM there would be the advantage of no noise to screw up reception but, it won't be done with our hobby for the obvious reasons.
Me I am older, and old school. I like the way things were in the past.
Rich asks "What good would a part 15 digital AM station do? There would be no potential to gain an audience."
Exactly!
I agree with all your points, including this one:
.. And even if you did have a digital transmitter, who has the radio to receive it? All radios made receive analog transmissions...
I think there probakly are digital AM receivers, but they certainly aren't common. This is very similiar to when hobbyist try to promote part 15 AM stereo broadcasting... It lacks potential for the simple reason that AM stereo receivers are rare.
A few more facts.
First, yes, the AM stereo/HD/digital system adopted in the U.S. is proprietary. Not so with something like DRM, which is an open standard.
DRM is used extensively in Europe, so there are receivers. True, they would have to be imported, but they're available. Also, some of the North American HD receivers around can decode not only the standard, but also CQUAM and I believe DRM (DAB as well). It's all software-based anyway.
Because it's software, most SDR's have no issue with decoding any of the digital broadcasting standards, including DRM.
I've managed to find at least one implementation of DRM transmission utilizing the HackRF SDR/SDT, and GnuRadio (software). I'm sure more will start turning up as I look further. If not, again, because it's all in the software, those familiar with programming can roll it themselves using readily available software libraries.
I'm not arguing against analog Part 15. Far from it. But I liken what we do to amateur radio. There will be a lot of people that have different interests. Many will purchase ready made equipment and rag chew (just chat). Or broadcast music, in the case of Part 15. Others in the amateur radio field will run nets and do other, specialized things. And there will be those that experiment with new modes of operation, pushing the limits so to speak in hardware, antennas, audio processing, etc.
I don't know how much range DRM broadcasting on the AM band will get you. Wouldn't it be interesting to find out? Particularly when most digital modes include some error correction, which can greatly increase potential range. Heck, even dinosaur digital modes like FM's RDS include error correction, which does work (I've played around with it). DRM, as an example, is very efficient in terms of spectrum, so it allows for much better correction than, say, digital TV, which is what most people are familiar with in the digital media world.
And while I, too, grew up in the analog world, I recognize that we need to keep up with the technology. Most other countries are recognizing that as well. There's no reason why we can't keep analog alive, while delving and experimenting with such digital modes as DRM.
More on DRM
https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/readers-forum/letter-drm-has-its-place-and-its-not-in-the-u-s
I can't see this for part 15 as this is not adopted in N. America and there is not now and won't be in the foreseeable future any transmitters for part 15 that broadcast digital for us to use DRM. Plus the range which we have little enough of would be less as digital requires a strong signal to work. And you need a band dedicated for this type of reception. If part 15 could make use of this I'd add the forum topic.
Besides what Mark just pointed out, how many people in your area would have a radio imported from Europe to be able to tune in a DRM station? And would someone a half block away from you even be able to hear it?
I'm not knocking it. but if a listening audience is the objective.. DRM just doesnt seem the route to go.
If that's not the objective, and it just for the sake of exploration and experimentation, then absolutely.