"I need to source the right cables to get the audio 150 ft. from my server to the transmitter, and probably an audio amp."
I think you could use ethernet cables to deliver both audio and power to the transmitter without losing audio quality. This can be bought in bulk or rather in a box of 300 feet or more. Well i don't know why i am explaining how you can buy the box of cable, you have experience in the networking field lol
Anyway, the Chez Procaster if i am not mistaken , uses ethernet cable to deliver power and audio to the transmitter at a remote location. There is other ways, i like the idea of solar for the power and perhaps one of the audio/video senders which work best at line of sight.
The options are endless, your creative juices will go wild with all of the different ways to feed the transmitter.
Have fun with it.
The Bluetooth device here looks interesting, but the audio output on my PC is a 3 mm phone plug, not usb, and I don't know how I'd redirect the audio output to a usb port. Then on the transmitter, the AMT-5000 , there is no bluetooth nor usb port either, so I have no idea how I could bring the audio into the transmitter.
ONLY when a USB audio device is detected by the computer operating system will a new choice appear on the list of available audio outputs.
For example, if the main audio program is Zara, the Audio Output Setting will show the list of output choices.... and USB Audio Out will be on the list, put there by the USB audio device attached at a USB port.
TROUBLE IS, if you set Zara to point its output to the USB Audio port, the output will be switched away from whatever it was pointing to before, which might inlcude needed paths like local monitoring, signal processing or stream encoding.
As with anything there is a solution... using "Virtual Cable" to distribute the audio to all desired points... but this raises the complexity to the degree of periodic confusion trying to figure out where the audio went (things change sometimes all by themselves no one knows why).
Even so, how do I get the audio into the 5000?
You've basically got 3 choices:
1. CAT-5 cable (networking cable, preferably shielded). Long runs of 150 feet should be fine (I've had a run of about 125 feet with no problems).
2. RF. You can use a video sender, as suggested, or a Part 15 FM transmitter (although 150 feet is close to the limit for a good signal with the latter)
3. Wireless streaming. You can use an Internet radio, or for a more complex, expensive (and reliable) solution, a Barix box.
#1 is the simplest and probably the cheapest. Plus little can go wrong with cable (compared to the electronics in the other solutions, anyway).
As a service of the ALPB we have detailed a complete step-by-step instruction for building a professional audio transmission line to connect studio with transmitter at a distance of 150'.
Find it at the ALPB Forums in the Transmitter column titled: AMT5000 Questions.
Thanks
I think i am going to be fine using Cat5e 4 pair (solid) STP WITHOUT THE AMP . If I need the amp I can add it later
Carl i'd say you provided some very insightfu thoughts
Jim Henry notes: "Carl i'd say you provided some very insightfu thoughts."
Carl: Credit the ALPB.