As a new apartment dweller, I've been facing some Part 15 challenges.
First and foremost, the space. I don't have much of it, so I've been operating out of a closet.
Another challenge has been the location of the transmitter (FM). I wanted to put it on my balcony, but there's the issue of how to run the cables (they don't go through glass very well) and besides that, who wants cables snaking around the floor.
So here's my solution. It also ties into other recent posts on how to remotely feed a transmitter.
I put a Roku M1001 internet radio, plus my Decade MS-100 transmitter, inside a weatherproof box. There's power on the balcony, so I just set up the box in a corner hidden behind a Yucca plant (to avoid complaints), with the Decade's antenna sticking out the top of the box (well sealed, of course). The Roku receives my Internet stream, feeds it into the transmitter, and voila - instant remote radio with no external audio cables. I do all my audio processing on the computer prior to generating the stream, so there's no issue there either.
Plus there's an added bonus. The single sound card output on the computer is not used up feeding the transmitter, and I can preview material before programming it into the automation software (Zara).
As an added precaution, I've also added a Hyperlink amplifier to my wireless router. I've counted up to 15 other wireless networks reachable from my apartment (!) which generate a lot of interference, but that amplifier gives my signal a good (and legal) bump.
Now I should be able to pick up Artisan Radio while running on the seawall in front of my apartment building - at least for a short distance, in any event. It will be interesting to see how much range I get (remember, Canada allows 4 times the field strength of the U.S.).
The remote FM transmission system described by Artisan is very informative for those of us thinking of managing remote transmitters.
One more detail that I'd wonder about... how can the carrier be turned off and on from a remote control point?
my only issue would be needing auto restart of everything upon power loss and restore.
kc8gpd has an interesting challenge.
Besides needing to remote-control carrier off-on, how could we also remote-control all necessary resets?
Very good.
Some internet radios will automatically restart after a power failure and reconnect. The Roku does this.
As for remotely controlling the carrier, I'm not sure how to do that. I just unplug the box when I want to power it down. If you were really remote and, say, powering everything with batteries and/or solar power, that could be a problem. I would imagine you could rig something up with an infrared remote if you really wanted to. Or, failing that, some sort of wire hanging down from the box with an off/on switch.
Does the Roku have any type of status light to indicate signal present at the receiving end?
If so, when you shut off the link transmitter and the status light goes out, the signal driving the lamp could be used to drive a relay to drop the transmitter carrier.
I'm a little late in commenting.
But - you did a great job, Artisan!
Bruce, DOGRADIO