This Western Electric had a cabinet dropped from the rear-underside of the table where all the interconnections were done, thus when it was installed it wasn't meant to be moved.
To me it was the most beautiful audio board I've ever seen.
It was mono, the second channel and meter were an audition and/or production channel. We would often record spots on the second channel while the main channel was playing a record over the air.
Of course once in awhile we'd switch the microphone to air when we meant to go to channel 2, and we'd start reading a spot on top of the record that was playing.
The little circle between the meters is a cue speaker for setting up records and tapes.
A few years later the engineer rebuilt it into a stereo board. By then there was a second studio for spot recording.
Once all the wires and equipment are set up the carrier flips on.
That's when programming starts and gets sent out on carrier waves to unknown listeners.
From that time the radio station operator becomes hooked on the joy and pleasure of radio broadcasting.
Never again will it be possible to live without part 15 broadcasting with thoughts of wild ionospheric events putting the signal in unexpected far aways where absolute strangers will hear you on their car radios or portables.
From thence forward the outer world of the night sky and distant land will take prominence over mundane activities such as supporting the family.
Serving phantom strangers imagined to be listening will supercede even school and work as that magical 200-foot ring of service will demand total attendance foreclosure not-with-standing.
Frequency Hopping is the manual version of spread spectrum.
Spread spectrum is a secure form of transmission that prevents anyone except those equipped with special radios from listening, because the frequency of transmission/reception keeps moving around.
Frequency hopping is the intentional and deliberate changing of a station's frequency to shake-off uninvited listeners, but that's only one use.
At KDX Worldround Radio each frequency serves a purpose.
The AMT5000 transmitter has reach and serves the outdoor part of the campus here at the Internet Building during landscaping and picnicing and even with a low power of 34 mW the coverage is excellent.
The AMT3000 transmitter solidly blankets the indoor studios, offices and snack areas for listening to the programs of KDX.
Two C.Crane FM Transmitters on 2 frequencies are alternated for workstation editing and recording projects.
Coming soon the Ramsey AM25 at 1710 kHz will provide overnight listening with virtually no detectability outside the walls.
Rarely are all the transmitters on at the same time. In normal operation only the frequency in use is on the air. All others get switched off.
Unational Private Radio.
Believe it or not , most of Kentucky is covered by one or two powerful FM signals.
Yes, even the foothills are alive with the sound of music.
WSGS-FM Blasts the airwaves with ho hum Country music at 100 KW
WMMT-FM has boosters all over the Eastern section of the Appalachian Mountains. Varied format
WQHY-FM Another 100 KW blowtorch plays Dance music
And that's not all. a few new LPFM's are under construction as we speak.
And yet, the FM and AM dial is still a vast void of nothingness.
Look up at Radio-Locator the following zip codes to see how empty the fm band is here.
41723
41701
41702
Use the Vacant Channel search function.
Maybe Kentucky should be "The Part 15 State." Plenty of frequencies for everyone.
Give Kim Davis a call and tell her that Part 15 radio would give her a perfect microphone to preach her beliefs.
Who is the governer there. He's smart, though, isn't he? Wait a minute...
Oh, it's Steve Beshear. Well, you can't go by looks.
I don't know much about him, I guess he is ok.
To tell you the truth because I am not a politician, my wife and I really don't like this state lol
She was born here, i was born in Ohio and moved to Kentucky when i was 22 years old and with my ex-wife.
Stephanie and I have plans to move out of the Bluegrass but that takes money, research and money. lol
For now, we are here against our own will, we keep to ourselves pretty much most of the time and ignore a lot of the nonsense happening around us.
Unless of course it seems like a worthy story to tell on our show, then all bets are off .
In a burst... nay, an outburst of energy, I have resurrected the Low Power Hour from moth-balls (moth balls are very tiny) and begun returning it to the Part 15 world.
http://kdxradio.com/RadioPrograms.html
Along with this I started contacting affiliates who carry the LPH and reached many of them. Others have been set aside for day after tomorrow.
At the moment I've been temporarilly diverted into other business because the local town sent an "anonymous" survey which takes 1-hour to complete, and when I didn't respond immediately they sent a reminder ONE WEEK LATER! That's the equivalent of tailgating and horn-honking.
But think, if it was anonymous, how did they know which address hadn't responded?
At the same time the gas company sent a letter demanding an indoor "pipe inspection" as per safety policy, and I spent 45-minutes on the phone listening to hypnotic boredom music until I was finally able to speak to a human.
But wait. As I've written about, the electric service right by the workbench/gas meter has been down due to old house wiring gone bad, so I spent Sunday re-constructing the circuit inch-by-inch for maximum safety, and finally got the area lit.
The double advantage of light at the workbench is that the Big Talker Shortwave Transmitter is awaiting installation in metal cabinetry so we can restart the KDX shortwave station.
Now I'm pre-occupied thinking maybe I should buy Tim a C.Crane FM2 Transmitter for field testing, but the other hand is waving me down.
Don't forget the outdoor antenna planned for the far back yard where a 40-foot dead elm tree needs to come down first, but the tree service I asked to do it has avoided me ever since they saw it, and I need to get that tree down before the next wind storm or the neighbors might meet their demise when 70-tons of wood comes lopping down on them.
I could save time by not writing these lengthy blogs, but always know this: procrastination is the greatest nation in the world.
At the next ALPB Meeting I think I'll propose a Part 15 award for the pioneering work of two members... Mighty 1650 and MrBruce. I'll explain why in a second.
I remember the ALPB naming "Streamer of the Month," and maybe we've given other awards or recognitions, we'll find out.
Here's what's going on in broadcasting. The licensed stations don't have a clue what's happening to them, nor do they anticipate being replaced by Part 15 low power stations. We hear talk of giving AM stations litlle FM Translators on the FM band and it doesn't take a lot of imagination to realize the up front cost of doing it will probably trigger a flood of bankruptcy closings, nor will it amount to anything if it goes through.
Plain fact is, centrally programmed radio is past history. Individual people have too much control now and are quickly becoming their own programmers.
The logical extension of every computor in the world is to attach a Part 15 radio transmitter so people can hear what they want when they want, just as we are already doing, except for the cranky guy who implies we are violating the Little Rules. There's the possibility he represents the last cry of an extinct high power medium trying to shoo us away, but we are here to stay. He could be repurposed as a greeter at Walmart... no, we'll find something.
As of now the avenue for programmers to get heard on the air is to arrange being carried by the hundreds or thousands of low power personal stations, no longer being subject to the over-crowded pipelines of a few high prower outlets.
Mighty 1650 and MrBruce were the pioneers in starting Part 15 Radio Networks, hookups of many low power stations all being programmed from a main office. And sure enough, the forces that be, now to be called the has-been forces, chased them out of operation with a bit of terrorism. But Mighty 1650 and MrBruce had already accomplished it and their legacy is not affiliated with TheLegacy, another mover and shaker who recognozes the importance of a power increase for Part 15 FM.
To be absolutely fair about this we must address the ongoing success of licensed stations like the one in Bovey, Minnesota, with intuitively keen engineer/talents like Tim, who also operate a Part 15 station. Such small market stations have escaped the death strangling of big city corporate radio.
Hold tight, the cattle rustlers and sheep herders had their turf wars, now the crumbling radio industry will try to blame Part 15 for their downfall, but God has seen fit to send us to carry out his plan. Awomen.
Lol I have to admit, I'd never think in a million years that I'd ever be considered for an award for that part 15 network. Now I might have to consider a relaunch.
That took longer than a second.
Carl that was Brilliant. Thanks for bringing up Mr.Bruce's network of part 15 FM transmitters. It does prove that we do have the imagination to make our rules work, but still get a neighborhood range. Some scream a joyous noise, but so too there are many who want to put a lid on our joyful behavior. I think Hobby Radio will make a huge case for itself in the future. But it will take the sheer determination of our pioneers in this hobby who instead of sheep they are shepherds and lead the way for change.
Your sermon was good also, TheLegacy. Ever thought about being a radio preacher?
Big money, and it's tax free!
"Keep TheLegacy on the air! Send your donations today and may the Good Fairy's bleed you... I mean, bless you."
Our brains are small which prevents having too many thoughts all at the same time. But on rainy days like today thought reception opens up and it becomes obvious there will never be enough time to do everything. Things get far more tense when Daylight time steals an hour which comes right off of life expectancy.
A priority list, if it existed, would be for purposes of elimination to cross things off that will never get done.
For the Part 15 life style all projects relate to radio, trivials like house cleaning are left to anyone who is generous enough to do it without compensation.
Broken equipment is closer to the top of the imaginary list. The computer at the heart of station operation has a chronically noisy fan, unresponsive to 2 oilings. Both carrier current transmitters are down. The shortwave transmitter is a box of parts and the longwave transmitter is only half designed. Shall I go on?
Then there's that pileup of licensed BS blocking most of the AM/FM dials with unlicensed culturally enlightened Part 15 stations confined to bicycle lanes that are narrower than the bicycle.
Um, that one isn't exactly a project so it gets crossed off the list.
On the other hand the projects exist to support the bicycle hobby, it's kind of a fence sitter...
Time for a visit to the ALPB (The Association of Low Power Broadcasters) to gain the proper perspective. Good, that puts it off for a whole week.
What are you gawking at?
As Carl has said, his radio stations exist for his benefit... to provide excellent programs during waking hours.
AM 1680 is the power stoker (AMT5000) reaching out to 1,000 feet for listening in the car on the way for beer.
During evenings at home listening transfers over to AM 1550 (AMT3000) solid household coverage while trying to locate a beer.
The next stage of customization will be a modified Ramsey AM25 dumbed-down for 15.223, operation on 1710 kHz. The effective radiated power allowed under this rule is so low the signal is about equal with background noise at ten feet from the antenna. This will be for listening while asleep.
Not exactly. While asleep there is no radio, the Internet Building maintains perfect silence to allow dreams their own uninterupted soundtracks, but we all awaken at 3 AM for certain reasons and this is the moment when 1710 comes into it.
Having a Part 15 station is like having a pet. It's loyal, and you can even take it for a walk using a portable radio. What's better about it is there's no scooper necessary.