I'm launching a new part 15 radio station in the Midwest in August. Over the past year I've been everywhere online researching, hired an engineer and I am now set to order 4 transmitters. Choice has come down to either the SSTRAN, or the Rangemaster. Which is best guys from some of your experiences? My station will be commercial in scope and it will target a certain demographic. I'd like to attain a 6-8 mile berth radius via the (4) transmitters. Secondly, I'd like to know what syncing methods are best for these antennas. I've looked into everything from GPS methods to Barix box audio syncing methods. Thanks in advance, Eddieb.
If your planning multiple transmitters and are planning to place them outdoors the rangemaster is the ONLY way to go.
Sync is something the rangemaster can do but will require a cable strung between transmitters, I think there may be an GPS option now with the rangemaster. you would need to talk to Keith Hamilton about that.
Barix boxes can be used to feed audio but here again there will be delay on the TCP/IP packets getting to the radios. the only other thing that you could do is use some sort of 915/2.4/5.7Ghz audio link to feed the transmitters.
Good luck!
Kent
You will need a rangemaster. However, you will NOT need a cable connecting them.
Ideally you'll want a way to keep them synced audio wise, so be sure to feed all the transmitters with the same exact audio source. even the studio TX will need to be fed the same as the distant ones.
Fox Sports 1650 Flagstaff uses the rangemasters and covers darned near the whole city.
The rangemaster is the only TX that will carrier sync.
be sure to space them properly as well, or they will beat against each other.
Within the past few months a Radio World story was linked on this website telling about a Part 15 synced situation planned for the Spanish speaking section of L.A. by full power KPFK, as a way of serving a particular audience.
As new details come out it will be an interesting project.
Thanks a ton, guys. Appreciate the advice immensely. I settled on using outdoor, wireless, point to point, non-line of sight units to sync the singular signal. The units I'm ordering have a range of 10 miles. My (B), (C) and (D) antennas/transmitters will all be 3 miles apart from what I've deemed my (A) antenna/transmitter hub.
That Flagstaff, AZ station is the example of how I want my Part 15 to operate. I want it to eventually penetrate the station ratings in my market. I hear they were number three in their region. And they are obviously commercial in scope. I come from working 13 years in AM and FM radio in a major market. It going to feel good being able to call all the shots, operate and oversee the daily programming of the station. Any ideas on a cheap automation software. Toying around with one called "Station Play list". Frankly, I'm unimpressed.
Thanks, Eddieb.
WBCI-AM (On the way)
For a PC: S.A.M.
http://spacial.com/sam-broadcaster?gclid=CP6o5NjRiaoCFQY-bAod0H3Yzg
For a Mac I recommend:NiceCast & Megaseg:
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/nicecast/
http://www.megaseg.com/
Talking about 10 mile range and 3 miles between transmitters indicates a lack of appreciation for the limitations of Part 15. It might be helpful to review the press releases on Ken Cartwright's website, www.kencradio.com . Scroll back to the July 8, 2010 press release, and read it and the previous several press releases.
Thanks again for all of the positive feedback guys. Great forum. For the record, I am not seeking to gain a '10 mile' berth via the (4) Rangemaster transmitters/antennas I am establishing in my region. As mentioned, I will have four of them placed on rooftops at proper intervals of 2-1/2 to 3 miles apart to reduce signal overlap & 'flutter'. With this configuration, we will be able to achieve a 6-8 mile radius via the four towers. I am however, purchasing (3) non line of sight wireless ethernet point to point "syncing" units which have the ability to go through trees and around obstructions to connect my point (A) audio to the aforementioned appendage installations which have the ability to reach their target panels "10 Miles" or more away.
As far as arbitron ratings and weak signals go, I worked at an AM daytimer that went to low power .05 watts after 3:30pm (per FCC rule) CST for 38 years. During daylight high power hours we broadcasted at 50 watts of power. Our low power evening newcasts were the stations most popular programs. We were constantly in the ratings with a 1.0 to 1.3 market share each quarter and we were also BDS/Mediabase detectable. Thank you guys a ton for the info, dialogue, discourse.
Be well,
eddieb
I would strongly recommend that you test out 1 Rangemaster in the locale in which you hope to broadcast, installed in the manner you hope to do with all of them. That will give you an appreciation for the potential range of a listenable signal, which is key. And what you need to receive it, either with a car radio or a home radio.
While it's certainly possible to get a range of 1 to 1 1/2 miles with Part 15 AM, there's going to be a whole lot of fringe reception in there due to interference, both natural and man-made.
In my experience, I usually count on (with a well thought out, legal - at least in my opinion - installation) 1/4 to 1/2 mile of strong and listenable signal to a good AM radio. I can get a listenable signal in my car (and a good home radio) out to a mile in some directions, but in others I wouldn't want to listen for any length of time at all.
And as advised in an earlier post, I would investigate the problems other installations have had, particularly with legality. Any attempt to cover the kind of radius you're looking at will receive a great deal of scutiny, both from licensed stations and the FCC.
Again, I would experiment before making any expensive commitments.
I agree with you, sir. Thanks again!
eddieb
Simply the best automation to give you the most bang for the buck would be Zara Radio. This sucker does EVERYTHING! Top of the hour ID's, scheduled programs, playlist shuffling, and more!
Their new website makes it difficult to get a copy, but I'd be MORE than happy to email you a copy!
Zara Radio is actually designed to be radio automation software, its difficulty streaming with would be the only downside.
Yeah, well, in my little corner of the universe, Ermi's and David's comments aren't exactly about the capabilities of the Rangemaster, nor experience with licensed AM broadcasting. What KENC went through should still be considered for it's lessons, which, for better or worse, are now a part of history.
E.g., "towers" were mentioned , so ...
http://www.kencradio.com/press.php?page=6
http://www.kencradio.com/press.php?page=5
What the agent was looking at was a signal so strong that he considered it well beyond the intent of the rules. That it also appeared to cover more territory than he expected was apparently also a factor ... I believe his first thoughts were of piracy rather than a constellation of small Part 15 -compliant transmitters. Once caught up in the cluster of follow-up events, it appears the situation escalated into posturing on both sides of the issue.
What seems most significant to me, and apparently many of Mr. Cartwright's listeners and friends, was the extraordinary effort that went into trying to understand the rules and the creative thought and engineering by Keith Hamilton and others to resolve the conflict and still keep KENC on the air with its listener base.
I'm in favor of whatever success can be achieved with the proposed launch, but I'm also aware of the potential hazards, some of which arose during the profiling of the KENC case.
You can download Zara from my webpage at MRAM.50WEBS.COM where you will find both the older version (1.4) which supports plug-ins and the newer version (1.6) which has some really neat features but does not support plug-ins.
The idea of putting a Part 15 AM cluster on
is always intriguing.
In the case of Ken, KENC, I ask this:
How many listeners were actually hearing
him on AM? Has anybody ever heard anything
about this? Does anybody know the answer?
I know Ken had people listening to his streaming
signal. He had thank you notes from people on
his website. The notes I saw were from all over
the U.S. I even listened to his programming on
my computer a few times.
But again, how many people were listening to his
AM transmitters? And I mean the Rangemasters
on the towers - before he went to that class D AM
station.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, MICRO1690/1700
"How many listeners were actually hearing
him on AM?"
Hard to say, but I'd guess very many ... they did a lot of programming, country music (some live in their studio), garage sales, coverage of local news and politics, just about everything. It was an excellent model for AM community radio.
At any given time, I have really no idea how many people are listening to my AM station ... theres's no way to tell. Today I was in a local grocery store and a friend came up and said he'd been shopping around town and was listening on the car radio in between stores. A few days ago, another friend said he had a good time listening to Sherlock Holmes. I have regular listeners for my church's Sunday sermon, digitized on line at 6:30pm Sundays.
Like I said, hard to tell ...