I've had a talking house 5 coupled to a talking house ATU for several years now that is used seasonally. In the summer it is used to broadcast the sound from movies that are played in my backyard theater. At Christmas time it is used to broadcast the sound from a light-o-rama, which is essentially a christmas light display that dances to music.
My problem. For the most part when I have tuned the ATU in the past I have been able to get around a 7 or 8 on the output meter, and at least a 1/2 mile of coverage, but not this time. We have our Christmas light display in a new location and I can only get the ATU output meter to peak out at about a 3. I'm only getting a decent signal out about 150 feet. I got everything set up last weekend except for the ATU giving me trouble. I need to try to get it going for this Friday, if I can.
I am running a fiber glass 10 foot CB antenna for the antenna, it's the same one I've always used. I'm not running a ground wire, but I have never used one in the past. I tried swapping Coax cables but got the same results with two different cable so I don't think that's the problem. I'm running on 650AM which is about the only open channel in our area. I am open to any and all thoughts.
Thanks for helping if you can,
Rob
You could try flipping the switch on the back panel over to INSIDE ANTENNA and installing a 9 foot wire on the antenna wire terminal. If your range improves, it would narrow your search for the problem.
You could try flipping the switch on the back panel over to INSIDE ANTENNA and installing a 9 foot wire on the antenna wire terminal. If your range improves, it would narrow your search for the problem.
Actually I did try that. I would say that the performance was about the same as it always has been with the inside antenna, which in my opinion isn't all that great.
Using the inside wire antenna I can pickup the signal inside the house, on a radio but not much outside. Seams to me that is how it has always been.
Not sure what that tells us other than the talking house unit seams to be working.
Maybe I should drag all the stuff back home and see how it behaves in where it is normally at in my yard?
Actually I did try that. I would say that the performance was about the same as it always has been with the inside antenna, which in my opinion isn't all that great.
Using the inside wire antenna I can pickup the signal inside the house, on a radio but not much outside. Seams to me that is how it has always been.
Not sure what that tells us other than the talking house unit seams to be working.
Maybe I should drag all the stuff back home and see how it behaves in where it is normally at in my yard?
Are you using this unit just during the holiday season, or at other times as well and got better results then too?
If you gone through the checks of different coax, internal antenna and back to ATU..I would suspect the ATU is at fault if the internal wire antenna mode yields better range results.
RFB
Are you using this unit just during the holiday season, or at other times as well and got better results then too?
If you gone through the checks of different coax, internal antenna and back to ATU..I would suspect the ATU is at fault if the internal wire antenna mode yields better range results.
RFB
I wish you the best... but if you ever get so frustrated you want to sell your ATU... please let me know.... [email protected]
I wish you the best... but if you ever get so frustrated you want to sell your ATU... please let me know.... [email protected]
Are you using the same coax cable(s) that you've used in the past (i.e., are they the same length? longer? shorter?) - the reason I ask is that you say you've moved the light display, which may have necessitated a cable change.
I've never experimented with broadcasting that low, but you're going to get a lot more efficiency and range in the higher ranges of the broadcast band. Did you attempt changing frequencies higher, say around 1600 (forgetting about noise/interference, etc. just to see what kind of tuning number you would get there?).
Are you using the same coax cable(s) that you've used in the past (i.e., are they the same length? longer? shorter?) - the reason I ask is that you say you've moved the light display, which may have necessitated a cable change.
I've never experimented with broadcasting that low, but you're going to get a lot more efficiency and range in the higher ranges of the broadcast band. Did you attempt changing frequencies higher, say around 1600 (forgetting about noise/interference, etc. just to see what kind of tuning number you would get there?).
No I have not tried a higher frequency, but I will just to see what happens on the output readings.
I have two coax cables one is 100 feet the other one is 25 feet, they are the same cables I have always used. The 100 foot cable ussally yields about a .5 drop on the output meter over the 25 foot cable. I have tried both cables in the current new location and I peak at about 3 1/2 with the 25 foot cable and about 3 with the 100 foot cable, both result in a very small listenable area.
I have used this setup in 4 locations with this location being the fouth. The other three, one of which is my back yard I have been able to peak out at a seven or an eight I have never tried to messure the coverage area but I would guess at least a couple of tenths to maybe a 1/2 of a mile.
But in this location the best I can do is a 3 to 3 1/2 on the output scale. 150 maybe 200 feet of useable broadcast area. I tried moving the ATU and antenna location about ten feet which didn't seem to make a differance.
Do you guys think it is possible that it could have to do with the area I am broadcasting from? Thats really the only thing that has changed.
Is mosture inside the ATU unit a possible cause? If there was a bad seal on the case. I only ask because this is the pacific northwest and there has been a lot of rain lately. Just trying to think up some possiblities.
Thanks,
Rob
No I have not tried a higher frequency, but I will just to see what happens on the output readings.
I have two coax cables one is 100 feet the other one is 25 feet, they are the same cables I have always used. The 100 foot cable ussally yields about a .5 drop on the output meter over the 25 foot cable. I have tried both cables in the current new location and I peak at about 3 1/2 with the 25 foot cable and about 3 with the 100 foot cable, both result in a very small listenable area.
I have used this setup in 4 locations with this location being the fouth. The other three, one of which is my back yard I have been able to peak out at a seven or an eight I have never tried to messure the coverage area but I would guess at least a couple of tenths to maybe a 1/2 of a mile.
But in this location the best I can do is a 3 to 3 1/2 on the output scale. 150 maybe 200 feet of useable broadcast area. I tried moving the ATU and antenna location about ten feet which didn't seem to make a differance.
Do you guys think it is possible that it could have to do with the area I am broadcasting from? Thats really the only thing that has changed.
Is mosture inside the ATU unit a possible cause? If there was a bad seal on the case. I only ask because this is the pacific northwest and there has been a lot of rain lately. Just trying to think up some possiblities.
Thanks,
Rob
"I have two coax cables one is 100 feet the other one is 25 feet, they are the same cables I have always used. The 100 foot cable ussally yields about a .5 drop on the output meter over the 25 foot cable. I have tried both cables in the current new location and I peak at about 3 1/2 with the 25 foot cable and about 3 with the 100 foot cable, both result in a very small listenable area."
Ok..what TYPE of coax? From your description it sounds like good low loss coax with only a .5 drop on the meter between the 25 foot coax and 100 foot long coax.
"Do you guys think it is possible that it could have to do with the area I am broadcasting from? Thats really the only thing that has changed."
No, I don't think your talking about a huge distance difference from the 4 different locations, if all 4 locations are on the same property of typical size, unless your talking about a huge property spanning more than 1 acre. But going from the back yard to the front yard...seriously doubt that is causing the problem..more like what your suspecting now and what I pointed out earlier....
"Is mosture inside the ATU unit a possible cause? If there was a bad seal on the case. I only ask because this is the pacific northwest and there has been a lot of rain lately. Just trying to think up some possibilities."
Yep. The ATU by itself..it's case is not exactly 100 percent weatherproof, but adequate for infrequent uses. Most have put that thing inside their own outdoor cabinet for added weather proofing.
Moisture build up will cause a problem..a big problem to any loaded 3 meter antenna system if that moisture builds up on the loading coil/tuning coil and in the case of that ATU, the ATU's input coupling toroid.
Open it up and take a look...should be dry with no evidence of any moisture condensation spots or other discoloration.
BTW, have you gone back to location point 1 where it was performing better since moving to the other? If so and your getting the same degraded performance, I put my money on the ATU being the fault.
RFB
"I have two coax cables one is 100 feet the other one is 25 feet, they are the same cables I have always used. The 100 foot cable ussally yields about a .5 drop on the output meter over the 25 foot cable. I have tried both cables in the current new location and I peak at about 3 1/2 with the 25 foot cable and about 3 with the 100 foot cable, both result in a very small listenable area."
Ok..what TYPE of coax? From your description it sounds like good low loss coax with only a .5 drop on the meter between the 25 foot coax and 100 foot long coax.
"Do you guys think it is possible that it could have to do with the area I am broadcasting from? Thats really the only thing that has changed."
No, I don't think your talking about a huge distance difference from the 4 different locations, if all 4 locations are on the same property of typical size, unless your talking about a huge property spanning more than 1 acre. But going from the back yard to the front yard...seriously doubt that is causing the problem..more like what your suspecting now and what I pointed out earlier....
"Is mosture inside the ATU unit a possible cause? If there was a bad seal on the case. I only ask because this is the pacific northwest and there has been a lot of rain lately. Just trying to think up some possibilities."
Yep. The ATU by itself..it's case is not exactly 100 percent weatherproof, but adequate for infrequent uses. Most have put that thing inside their own outdoor cabinet for added weather proofing.
Moisture build up will cause a problem..a big problem to any loaded 3 meter antenna system if that moisture builds up on the loading coil/tuning coil and in the case of that ATU, the ATU's input coupling toroid.
Open it up and take a look...should be dry with no evidence of any moisture condensation spots or other discoloration.
BTW, have you gone back to location point 1 where it was performing better since moving to the other? If so and your getting the same degraded performance, I put my money on the ATU being the fault.
RFB