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There are choices to be made starting with AM or FM?
For FM, a legal transmitting system will have a line of sight range of about 200 to 600 feet depending on the receiver used. Transmitters can be inexpensive types which are intended for use with iPods, etc. to kits such as the Ramsey FM-30 at about $130. The antenna should be outdoors for best results.
AM will give greater range if the proper antenna system is used. Range with a car radio can be a mile or so but with portable or table top radios will be considerably less. The typical indoor environment for AM reception has noise which will limit range further.
Kit transmitters for AM run from about $100 to $250 for the SSTRAN models AMT-3000 and AMT-5000 and the Ramsey AM-25 is about $125.
Assembled and certified transmitters cost in the neighborhood of $700 to $800. The Rangemaster and the Procaster are two popular models.
Whatever you decide to pursue, start small and proceed slowly. FM is fairly straightforward to use since the antennas are simple and easy to build and connect. AM can be a real challenge due to the need for an effective RF ground but the range can be much greater than for legal FM.
This is just a quick overview of the topic and if you would like more focused answers please ask more questions. You are probably at the point where you don’t yet know what to ask but if you search this site using some of the keywords and transmitter brands I mentioned you will probably have questions.
Neil
