Hi All,
Hi All,
Wondering if I'm going down the right path. I'm in a small community in SW New Mexico. Our big event here is 4th of July parade. Parade watchers park along the state route and tail gate it to watch the parade. We have a public address system that reaches across the road and about 25 feet either way. So, I'm wondering if a small radio transmitter would allow announcements and the playing of the national anthem, to watchers within 1/4 mile? We have no budget to work with, or i should say very little, so I'm thinking I could get a purchase approved for 100 bucks, give or take. This would allow parade goers at either end of the parade route to tune in their car radios to hear who the parade entries are. Thanks for any info you can provide. I have no electronic experience or understanding, although there may be someone in the valley that could deal with the hookup.
Thanks Joe in Rodeo, NM
Hi Joe from Rodeo NM. My hometown is Alamogordo! 🙂
You could cover the 1/4 mile range with an SSTran 3K or 5K unit off it's 10 foot long wire antenna on the AM band and be complying with the Part 15 219 and 209 rules. But those transmitters are kits and do require some electronic knowledge and some experience in assembling an electronic kit. Just click on the link to SSTran on the left of the forum for more info on those units.
Another option is a Talking House V5 AM transmitter with it's simple 10 foot wire antenna. This unit is a fully assembled FCC certified transmitter with simple up/down frequency selection with a large LED digit display and a mic and line audio input. It also has an automatic antenna tuner built in to peak the signal output through the 10 foot long wire antenna. This option can be an even better choice because you can find a Talking House V5 transmitter on ebay at a decent price, sometimes as low as 50 bucks and I have seen them at that price brand new in the box never used. Just search ebay for "Talking House V5 AM transmitter" or "real estate transmitter".
Hope that helps! And welcome to the forum!
RFB
I'm thinking a "leaky-cable" type FM station would be able to cover the entire parade route, but the cost would be in the thousands and require cooperation of the municipality and utility companies.
A single FM transmitter feeds a special cable that runs along the route from end to end, and at every point along the way radios would receive a constant signal.
You would need a specialist to design and install the system.
The Talking House option is probably the way to go for ease of use and cost.
If the parade route is straight, then there should be no problem in covering the distance required, particularly if you can get the transmitter up high along with it's antenna, to 'see' the entire route.
Thanks RFB. Yes that helps. Everything helps. Our planning meeting the other night went the way of trying to scrounge speakers and wires to extend to the parade route. I don't think that's a realistic approach. Joe
Thanks Carl,
We're not in a position to spend thousands, unless we could secure funding through state or fed for a community alert system. Which wouldn't be a bad thing to investigate.
Thanks Artisan,
Yes the route is straight and if divided is only 1/8th mile in either direction. I've only been here a couple years and I'm not sure why this method has not been tried before, except this is New Mexico......"The Land of Manana". Which is cool, I like it that way.
"Our planning meeting the other night went the way of trying to scrounge speakers and wires to extend to the parade route. I don't think that's a realistic approach."
It might be if the speakers and wiring could be installed on a permanent basis so that both the speakers and wiring were protected and not in the way of patrons etc. It would be quite an expensive solution, and although possible, you are correct that it is an unrealistic approach with budget and permission considerations.
The Talking House transmitter will be the best solution. I am assuming the parade will be on one of the main N to S streets..ie 2nd or 1st (NM80)? Should be no problem for the TH V5 transmitter on those streets or any of the others in Rodeo. (referencing google map)
It is not unheard of for the TH V5 transmitter to cover up to 1/2 mile and more with it's basic wire antenna. I recommend using a frequency between 1450 and 1610 for two reasons. 1, the upper frequencies of the AM band get out further at low power than the lower frequencies, and 2, choosing a frequency below the extended AM band (1610-1710) will ensure that those who have older vehicles with the older radios that do not have the extended AM band will be able to tune into the signal.
Let us know how it all goes!
RFB
Thanks RFB,
We shut down SR80 for the 20-30 min. parade. Participants enter from the side street at the south end of town, and exit to the side street at the north end. Tailgaters pull of 80 on the west side with tailgates dropped, lawn chairs, etc.
A permanent exterior speaker system would be perfect. I just don't see it happening. As you can see, we're not a very big community. Although, the larger community turns out 400 to 700 attendees and gawkers. You're welcome to come celebrate with us.....hell you can be in the parade if you want ;-). Every float and entry gets a prize!
Our little parade and pulled pork dinner & dance afterward are our fundraising event that supports the community center and a scholarship fund for local graduates. The event was started many years ago to help fund the purchase of a fire truck after a couple of houses burned.
Thanks for the info. You've provided exactly what I was looking for.
Joe
Your project is very interesting, jdmeenach, and I very much hope you will report to us how it is coming along and finally how it works for the big event.
I have a car and radio, maybe I should check a road map and see where you are from here...
Let's see....... go southwest across Oklahoma, then what....
Hi Carl,
We're in the bootheel of New Mexico. 50 miles north of Mexico, 1 mile east of Arizona. Rodeo, NM on US 80. Get your red, white and blue groove on!!
you could by the i.AM from RSI then down the road upgrade to the external ATU for more range
I don't think the budget could cover the cost of a new iAM unit for this particular situation..ie the once a year 4th of July parade.
However it could open the doors to submit a proposal for a community station funded by the community and supported by the town commissioners and that would serve both the yearly parade situation and serve as a community station throughout the year.
Begin in small steps and eventually giant leaps will follow.
RFB
start a 501c and solicit donations to buy certified part 15 am equipment and studio support equipment. many radio stations will donate old gear for the tax write off.
The advice for this parade radio project has been very good. Yes, radio stations will donate surplus equipment, that happened for us back when we ran a 501(C3), and also TV stations! Yes, a TV station donated an audio console.