Well, I've finally completed my slow transition into downsizing, and now live in an apartment on the waterfront in West Vancouver.
I've gone through some interesting experiments with micro broadcasting in the past few weeks. First, the apartments don't allow antennas on the balconies, or hanging out windows. It's a concrete building, so there are also problems in running wires outside, even if I could rig up something that would be overlooked. The front balcony is over water, so not many listeners in that direction. There are windows in the back as well, that overlook a residential area - however, they also overlook a causeway in the building (not often used) but with columns that I'm sure have rebar reinforced concrete.
It was pretty obvious that anything I came up with would be a compromise and certainly not ideal. I quickly ruled out AM, and decided upon using FM. It helps that for FM in Canada, we're allowed 4 times the field strength of the U.S. I ended up putting a Decade MS-100 on a dresser, with the telescopic antenna extended to broadcast out a back window (but it's inside, not outside, to meet the rules - there are no restrictions on what you do inside).
Results have been mixed. In open space, I would expect up to 1km range to a sensitive car radio. In this configuration I get a solid signal for about 300 to 400 meters (dependent on the direction, probably between those causeway columns) and then the signal degenerates into noise rather rapidly - in one direction I was able to get a listenable signal to about 500 meters. It helps that the transmitter is up rather high. The population density is also high, with a large number of condos and apartments within the listening area). However, range on a consumer type portable or home radio would be much less, of course - while I haven't done any testing (I will), I expect 100 meters, maybe a bit more. And not too many people will have a car with a radio in their living room.
So I will now be working on getting the Internet stream going once again. I've had it in test mode off and on over the past months, but will attempt to get something reliable up in the next while.
It seems that most Part 15 broadcast endeavors as discussed on forums result in impediments to range. Rarely do we hear of free range situations and even with this, in the U.S., the range for FM is mighty small. Good luck as you face your new challenges.
On the topic of checking FM range with a car radio, I recently did this using the radio in my Neilmobile. The receive system is a space diversity type with an antenna embedded in each back side glass panel. It seems to be quite sensitive and here's what I observed in my latest test of my FM tx. range:
Driving away the signal was OK to about 300 feet in both directions on the street. But driving toward the range was about half this. It appears that the FM reception in this vehicle is directional, favoring the rear direction. This is just one more thing which confounds trying to be compliant without having laboratory equipment. I am trying to strike a balance between the minimum signal possible and that required to cover the house using portables. Taking my longest range observation, I am probably nearly compliant and the signal inside the house is adequate. Guessing games such as this are quite frustrating.
For comparison, a pedestrian mobile check with a portable with the whip extended is only 90 feet maximum from the antenna.
Neil
Good luck Artisan, with your new
set-up. I know you have good
programming, because I've heard it
on the internet in the past.
Neil, I think you've got it about right.
It sounds like you and I are trying to
do the exact same thing with the
FM transmitter range.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, The DOGRADIO Group
What I see in Neil's response, when describing the "window embedded space diversity recieve antenna," is a clue to what might work in the Canadian apartment.
Since you, Artisan, have already moved close to the window as your hoped for portal to the outer world, think about copying the auto-window method of building an antenna onto the surface of the window (from the inside), an exact reverse of Neil's auto-window antenna.
Since Neil described his antenna as being "on either side" of the back window, we surmise it is a horizontal antenna. Digressing for a second to talk further about Neil's setup, we assume his FM transmit antenna is polarized vertically, so the results may be somewhat diminished by mis-matched polarity.
Getting back to Artisan's window, the space-diversity antenna could be oriented vertically, top and bottom of the window.
Unfortunately, building an FM antenna wouldn't really work, as using it would void the certification of the transmitters I use (the Decade, and the Landmark FM-350).
The range I'm getting is satisfactory, given everything, and I'm probably hitting a potential audience greater than when I was in my house, even with the reduced range.
Too bad you can't experiment with Neil's Space Diversity approach.
For those who are curious, here is a link that explains "antenna diversity," please note that it can also be used for transmission as well as reception.
Or, perhaps an FM version of Carl's WinTenna!