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I am trying to get my house computer hooked up to a talking house transmitter in my shop. The distance is approx 90 feet. What wire size would you guys recommend to travel that distance. I did a test with simple speaker wire and the audio can’t seem to travel that distance. Any ideas would be nice as this is the ideal location i can keep the unit inside and still have a height of 23 feet. Daytime distance is doing fine 1-2 miles but I am wanting to do some live streaming but can’t do so from that location. I am not sure how far sound cards can push audio through wire and need some thoughts on this. Thanks gang in advance for the help.
Total posts : 45366I’m facing a similar problem, but it’s easier for me … I own a sound studio, and I can run balanced lines if necessary. Unless you have a mixer/recorder system with balanced TRS output capability, I would recommend ordinary shielded 1/4″ TS P.A. speaker cables.
If you can’t go that, then as heavy speaker cables as possible, 12 AWG.
Or, you can try the old studio trick: Buy a single 100′ long 12 AWG 3-wire heavy duty outdoor power cord and cut off both ends. This can carry a stereo signal thus: The ground is normally the same ground on both L&R signals. The positive stereo signals will be carried by each of the remaining wires.
IOW, make connectors from 2 pairs (4 total) of RCA (or whatever you’re connecting with) to bare wire cable adapters, maybe these:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103848&filterName=Category… at each end of the power cord. Don’t forget to put shrink jackets on before soldering (I’ve forgotten to do that more than once, had to desolder the connection and start over;))
Total posts : 45366It is hard for me to imagine that you are losing your audio due to the resistance of a 90 foot run of speaker wire (such as 24 gauge). Are you sure the connections are good and not reversed? Check this before you invest in “big” wire.
Neil
Total posts : 45366Interesting post from one of those operators here:
Total posts : 45366I’d have to agree with Neil. We have used leased “dry pairs” from the phone company for years to carry audio to remote transmitters.
The phone lines are usually 26 or 24 awg, unshielded twisted pairs.
Yes, high frequency loss may be a problem without compensation but at 600 ohms impedance signal loss was never a problem and these lines were 2 or 3 miles long.
You can purchase from Radio Shack impedance matching, unbalanced to balanced adaptors. The adaptors use standard 1/4″ to XLR connectors. They match 10k ohm unbalanced to 600 ohm balanced lines. Or you could just get a couple 1:1 – 600 ohm audio transformers and roll your own.
Total posts : 45366Most over the counter computer sound cards are unbalanced low impedance devices. The low line level audio from the sound card gets gobbled up pretty quickly. One fix might be a visit to Radio Shack and acquire a couple of those mini 10K ohm to 8 ohm transformers. Hook the 8 ohm side to the sound card output and drive the 90 foot conductor with the 10k side. You will have a lot of audio at the other end to play with. Try it you’ll like it. Oh and by the way, you might consider shielded wire for a run that long. Ground the shield at the load end of the line only.
Total posts : 45366Give Keith Hamilton a call. he has a nice audio unterface device with a small amp that matches impedance and provides drive levels you need.
Total posts : 45366Thanks for the wealth of knowledge you guys have. I was able to find the perfect wire that i already had and forgot about. It is 3 conductor wire with a braided cable sheath wrapped in plastic coating. It is 14ga and fixed the problem. I only used it for the run from building to building. I believe the speaker wire I had was way too small a gauge (24 i believe) to carry the audio properly. We went to Walmart today and were able to pick up usable signal at 3 miles, and still pick up signal at 4+. Yesterday there was hum to the signal but today very little. Both days have been the same weather wise, no clouds but yet today was much better signal travel. I am very happy with this unit and see no need to experiment with a different antenna other than getting another 10′ of height which I will be working on soon unless you guys think another ten feet will not add much to it. That would give me a total height of around 32′. Will ten feet make that much difference? Thanks again for the help gang.
Total posts : 45366Just an update on antenna height. The THT was inside a clay block building in the attic. The height was 22′. I decided to get 10 more feet out of it and punched a hole in the roof and set the transmitter up in the peak. I used expanding foam for now to seal tight around the hole. Took a drive yesterday afternoon to see reception did not expect much because it was a heavily overcast day. The town I live in has 200 ppl. There are 2 neighboring towns within 6 miles. My town is lower by 60′ and we are surrounded by rich black Iowa soil. Anyway I was able to pickup my station at 6 miles and it was not static and intermittent reception. I then drove the twelve miles back to the other town and was able to listen to it the whole way. I increased my potential audience to approximately 2000 now during the day.
The antenna was always above the clay brick structure due to the pyramid roof. Getting this outdoors increased reception greatly to the point I was only dreaming of. So my lesson learned is to get the antenna up and outdoors whenever possible. Total height now is 32′ and wish I was able to get more now, lol. Best 10 bucks I have ever spent has anyone else experienced range like this? I am going to take another drive today and see if I get a repeat.
Total posts : 45366remember. Range fluctuates day to day 😉
Flea Power is Fun!
Total posts : 45366That is phenomenal range,but probably not legal. I’d suspect you are radiating a lot of signal via the power and audio cables. The expected range from a compliant station should be a few hundred feet to a couple of blocks. I fear you would come under investigation rather quickly with a range of 6 or 12 miles,so beware!
Total posts : 45366Until they come knocking and show me that this certified device is not in compliance it will remain on the air 24/7. Nighttime is limited to a 1/4 mile. As far as a few blocks it is rated by the company upto 3000 feet. Useable signal is 2-3 miles on those good days. I have not been able to duplicate the distance of the other day and am chalking it up to atmosphere conditions. Yesterday the signal was able to be picked up at around 4 miles with useable at around 2. As far as me attracting the FCC here in boondocks Iowa I would hope they have more important fish to fry. If they come knocking I have nothing to hide and they are free to examine everything.
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