What does the enhanced version do that this does not?
Thanks.
Jim
The Iam version has an improved audio fidelity circutry.. I don't know how much better it sounds since I've never heard any Talking House before. I am tempted to get one of these due to the bargain price.. At least it is a 5.0 version which is supposed to sound better than any previous version.
But it might be a mute point, because it appears the modified improved fidelty versions have been discontinued as of last month.. I wonder what the reason for that. The 5.0 (but still named iAM) is now the only version available.
I think for the work they put into it the ROI was not there. I purchased one of the modified units and it does sound MUCH better.
I can take pictures and provide detail of the mods if that would help?
How bad is the $49 unit?
Does it do 100% modulation?
Is there audio distortion? Or
digital artifacts in the audio?
Is the audio response curve weird?
Does it sound like a telephone?
I'm confused. I couldn't tell if it was
in the Hobby Broadcaster video
or not. (Eyesight not too good.)
Nice video, by the way.
Brooce, Part 15 Hartford
We are not at home, but at my
sister-in-law's house.
Everybody left - - but I have been
staying back here taking care of
the dogs. So...
I fell asleep on the couch. The dream I
had was probably about the $49 transmitter.
It sure looked like it. I took it apart and lost
most of the screws and some other little pieces.
Then something else happened in the dream.
I was moving furniture or something.
Then I woke up. The dream is still clear in
my mind. What a goofy chain
of events.
Brooce
So that is what happened.
I have been finding small parts from a Talking House Transmitter showing up all over the house!
Bruce, I will return them to you. No, I mean to your dream.
My AMT-3000 is at least 10 years old
and is getting "rough around the edges"
from so many experiments in so many
different locations.
The above mentioned transmitter is
very tempting. But I didn't expect to
fall asleep and dream about it.
That's really bonkers! Still - it
might be a suitable backup for
the SS-Tran.
Oh well - back to the drawing board.
Brooce
So if anybody has any more info related to
the questions in Post #7 let me know.
Best Wishes
Brooce, Part 15 Hartford
The following comments are subjective based on my personal experiences...
I've used the Talking House II for over 10 years. When I first put it on the air, using the indoor wire antenna, I was not impressed with the performance.
Soon after I obtained the Talking House ATU, external antenna system. Things improved greatly. The range went from a few hundred feet to about half a mile.
Roof mounting with 4 short radials (12 to 15 feet) took the range up to about a mile.
The audio was a bit tinny, no low end. I compensated with an external EQ box. Later, after obtaining a schematic, I found that changing one coupling capacitor in the audio stage took the low freqency response from 300 Hz down to 30 Hz. The sound became much fuller.
It still had an odd warbling sound to it when my signal beat against a skywave signal on the same frequency at night as though my carrier was shifting in step with my audio.
Checking the transmitter output frequency I found it to be about 80 Hz off frequency. I installed a small air variable capacitor at the phase locked loop oscillator crystal so the frequency could be precisely set. Doing this seems to have eliminated the warbling effect.
The only other problem most have is the built in auto-tuner has a tendancy to get stuck. The mechanism won't move. Some tinkering and lubrication has helped but then again I don't use the internal tuner since I use the external ATU antenna system.
Today a have 5 Talking House II transmitters and 2 Talking House ATU antenna systems.
Mram, that's some valueable first hand experience and modifications you describe, but based on the general consenses a stock Talking House 2 is an inferior model when compared to a stock Talking House 5, so your above response doesn't really address Micro's question about the 5.0 model.
I have no experience with any TH - But I know this much.. All Talking Houses were manufactured for 'speech quality" output and not particuarly suitable for music, and also are known for having poor quality control in production.
The only exception was when Radio Systems aquired the company in 2009 and then modified the existing version 4.0 and 5.0 models to inprove the audio (much the same, I presume as you did on your 2.0 models).. Those modified units the became rebranded the "iAM", and quality control was improved because each of those units were individualy tested before it was sent out to the consumer..
Now that Radio Systems has sold the company to ISS, those modifications are no longer being applied, and the iAM is now only a stock 5.0.. which I can only presume (and have heard others report) is superior to a stock 2.0 would be.
I guess I haven't help much to answer the question either, but common sense dictates that if you can buy a brand new Certified AM transmitter for $49, don't expect premium quality performance, but that said, keep in mind these have been deemed perfectly acceptable for use in many state parks for years now as public information radio, so they aint complete garbage.
I still think they're a bargain for $49
- - and more.
If I can get it I will. But there are so many things
going on here - - I might not have time to do it.
I do very much like the idea of a self contained
unit. I'm also prepared to deal with any problems
the unit might have. Sometimes a "messed up"
piece of electronics is more fun than one that
is in perfect condition.
So, well see.
Thanks again!
Brooce
This was an accidental duplicate of
the previous post. I'm trying to eliminate/change
it. I wonder what will hsppen.
Brooce