My Maxell FM transmitter goes about
200 feet with the car radio. It's certified
and there is no antenna at all. It just plugs into
the side of the laptop. The laptop here is in the
middle of the first floor of the house. What about
taking the whole station outside and hiding it on
top of your lawnmower? Yeah Baby Yeah ( - Austin Powers.)
But seriously folks (and Carl I'm just keeping the conversation
going because it's fun) If the guys across the street have a
GE Superadio or something like it they might hear it. If they
are REALLY good friends just give them a Superadio. Or 2.
One for the downstairs and one for the upstairs. (I realize
the Superadio isn't made anymore - this is just for the sake
of discussion.)
I have to read your notes again. Did you use a groundplane
and if so, what did it do?
I'm looking forward to your next experiment.
Don't worry about getting any kind of disease
with this power level. (I noticed the above comment.)
The only thing you could get would be obsessive compulsive
disorder from having too much fun -
but seriously folks
Brooce, Dog Radio, Etc.
P.S. Then there's the Mono vs. Stereo
thing, oh boy
To me, Part 15 as a hobby is a sophisticated toy, like a model train layout, remote controlled camera drone, an inflatible girlfriend, or other plaything.
My three certified transmitters match each other perfectly as factory calibrated, so Brooce's Maxell is a mystery as to why it pushed signal over such a good distance.
Today's test was done with the Wholehouse 2.0 set to monaural.
Neither the Scosche nor C.Crane have a mono switch, they're strictly stereo.
The next tests will be in the Canadian mode, as long as the hidden switch in the Wholehouse 2.0 is intended to achieve the BETS standard for Canadian low power, 4X part 15.239, and many have said that's what the switch is for.
At the ALPB Meeting July 4th I went on record supporting a movement to petition the FCC to adopt the Canadian BETS standard as a U.S. part 15 standard for FM, and this next test will demonstrate just what the Canadian RF level will be like.
Neil estimates the actual boost in signal strength will cover approximately twice the distance.
answered my last question. I
won't delete this because there are maybe
a few points still here(?)
Carl you should try your WholeHouse
2.0 in mono.
There has been tons of discussion on this
but it would be fun.
My take is that the signal distance would be
the same but the quality of the reception would
be better - meaning less noise along the path -
maybe a lot less noise. My tests with a North Country
Radio MPX 96 rigged for switchable mono and stereo
seemed to indicate this.
The Whole House 2.0 will do mono - isn't it about
$120.00? I think that's too much but it WILL do mono
- - higher in price - well the Decade MS-100 and it's
brother(s)? Artisan Radio knows the MS-100 better
than anybody else. I think. Then there are still
some of those Panaxis FM mono transmitters floating
around. With all of these - the WH 2.0 is the least
in cost - as far as I know. Are there any other certified
FM transmitters that will do mono?
Bruce, DOGRADIO
My Laptop/Maxell transmitter isn't
too far from a window.
Oh - we sent messages out at the same
time. As 2 hams on an FM repeater would
say, "We doubled."
Brooce. DOGRADIO
For FM stereo to do its job it needs enough transmission or reception power to achieve enough signal level to open the stereo function in the radio.
At low Part 15 FM power levels systems perform better in mono mode.
Those wacky FCC rule makers set 15.239 at a level called "the edge of off."
Alcoholism is high amongst hams as well.
Since range is linearly proportional to field strength, adopting the Canadian standards would mean an increase of 4 times, line of sight.
Alcoholism is high amongst hams as well.
A.) As well as being exposed to RF from transmitters;
B.) As well as among Part 15ers?
Part 15.239 is 4X less signal allowance than the BETS FM rule in Canada, and the weather was right for setting the Wholehouse 2.0 WH) to the secret BETS position and take measurements.
This morning, before I threw the secret switch in the WH I took a look at the spectrum analyzer to see the Certified Part 15 level: 36 dBu. Yesterday it showed 31 dBu. Nothing has been physically changed, except maybe a chair moved.
When switched to the BETS position, the spectrum analyzer shot up 10 dBu all the way to 46 dBu.
Next, the TECSUN PL-310 was brought in for signal strength and S/N readings in the immediate campus grounds of Worldround Radio. Telecopic receive antenna raised vertically to 5" NOTE: it could be raised more, which would increase the numbers being seen, but could bring interference from high RF fields in area.
TECSUN placed directly at transmitter = 71 dBu Signal 66 dB S/N;
Center of transmitter room = 54 / 54;
Center of adjoining office on the east = 40 / 42;
Front surface wall (bricks) = 37 / 40;
Outside surface wall = 39 / 41;
Porch rail = 21 / 22;
ground level in front of porch steps = 24 / 24;
Auto windshield at NE corner of building = 24 / 26;
Public sidewalk 100' east = 11 / 09.
Comment: These readings seem more usable for yard coverage than the 15.239 certified results. My support for upgrading the part 15 FM rules to at least match the Canadian BETS rules is reinforced.
I have to draw diagrams to get it all
in my brain. Which is what I'm going
to do with your data.
Sometimes I use a big gigantic piece
of paper on the floor with a really
bright light.
This is fun.
The only transmitter I have here that's any good
is the Maxell - and it is certified. I could take it
out in the yard and run some tests. I think when
the FCC tested a bunch of these little transmitters
to check compliance they used a groundplane.
If they did than we can. Right?
Their tests have got to be on the web somewhere
still. They ran those tests because so many FM
transmitting products were out of compliance.
How many years ago was that?
I'd like to try it myself. I have a Tecsun PL-380.
A big plug for Tecsun. I've mentioned it before -
but that radio gets FM DX meteor scatter pings
outside in my backyard with just the whip antenna.
It's that good.
(There has to be a big meteor shower of course.)
Brooce
All day I am enjoying running KDX-FM at the higher Canadian power level because we are still in test mode. The next test will be the drive in the automobile. I am very lazy and may do it tomorrow.
Oh, hey, UPS Tracking has been announced for the Sangean U1 Construction Site Radio I have coming from Universal Radio! It will be here Thursday. According to one advisor that radio has the reputation of drifting. The radio being replaced, Grundig FR-200.
Oh, I walked around in a slightly misting rain with the TECSUN PL-310 antenna raised to about 14" and with the BETS setting the FM reception was decent all around the yard. This is NOT true at 14.239 certified levels.
All day I am enjoying running KDX-FM at the higher Canadian power level because we are still in test mode.
While such an operation may be enjoyable to its operator, what FCC provision allows unlicensed FM setups subject to FCC jurisdiction to exceed the limits given in §15.239, in any mode of operation?
Clicking-heels to exhibit obedience.
KDX-FM shutting down! We are obedient to even the most miniscule rules in your so-called "Homeland"!
What a noble Citizen you are to have the time to wag your finger and scold the smallest perceived deviations from strict adherrance to microscopic uniformity.
What's wrong with you?
Clicking-heels to exhibit obedience. KDX-FM shutting down! We are obedient to even the most miniscule rules ...
But apparently (and sadly), not until the FCC Rules are referred to in a public forum.
BTW and other things equal, it takes an ERP increase of 16X to increase the maximum free-space field intensity permitted by FCC §15.239 by only 4X, which then just meets the Canadian standard.
Does that 16X power increase equate with an acceptable definition of "most miniscule?"
The word, which can also be spelled minuscule, means "very small, tiny."
It is not unlike a neighbor reminding one that his grass appears 1-inch over the 6-inch maximum specified in municipal ordinance.
It marks a man lacking a peer group who substitutes inferiors because it emphasizes his superiority.