HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation => Topic started by: tybee on September 07, 2025, 0423 UTC
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I saw this rack mount unit on eBay and am curious if it could be utilizes as only an AM carrier-current transmitter? I don't know anything about this thing, but could it be the "1310 nm" refers to the frequency for audio?
I personally have no need for such, but if turns out it could be used as such then I'm sure someone would be interested. It's $99 or best offer. There's numerous pictures in the auction. To be clear, I'm not the seller, just saw it on ebay
Emcore 2804TK-SCAP/12 CATV VSB/AM Transmitter 1310 nm
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156451980138
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DIwAAOSw52xnCBXi/s-l1200.webp)
Item description from the seller
This sale is for a Emcore 2804TK-SCAP/12 CATV VSB/AM Transmitter 1310 nm. Item powers up and it's in good cosmetic condition. We are unable to test it for “full” functionality ourselves at our facility. There are some scratches and/or scuff marks on the item from normal use. It will also come with a power cord.
Item comes with a full 30-day warranty (US Only).
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It's a fibre-optic TV transmitter for the cable TV market - 1310nm (nano metres) refers to the wavelength of the light source (laser).
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Ok, that makes sense (I had no idea what the "nm" signified), but it's called a "VSB/AM", which Google tells me:
"VSB/AM" stands for Vestigial Sideband Amplitude Modulation, a technique that transmits one full sideband along with a small portion ("vestige") of the other sideband to save bandwidth while simplifying demodulation compared to single-sideband (SSB) modulation, and is notably used in digital TV broadcasting like the ATSC standard.
Yeah, well, that's over my head, and why I posed the question here. Since the unit is designed to pass an amplitude modulated signal, does that mean it could be easily modified to utilize as an AM carrier-current system?
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I can't see it being any use for anything useful, other than a nice 19" rack case to use for a new project ... ;D
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Yeah... That's an interesting converter, to take NSTC video, to modulate it on Infra Red light, to then send on Fibre Optic link to like a CATV Head-End facility. The TV station that I worked at did this to send clean A/V signal from our studios to Time Warner Cable, at the time. Except, that unit was twice the size of a pack of cigarettes. If, you had a means to de-MOD that light FREQ, through Fibre Optic Cable, then it would make for a nice STL to a transmitter somewhere. other-wise??? The case, and maybe the built-in power supply, would make for better use.