Messages

121

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: March 08, 2020, 2345 UTC »

22ms or less depending on mode for the Optimod 8700i.


Optimod 8600Si can go as high as 270ms for the MX presets.



25ms or less for the Optimod PC 1101e I use for ham radio. I can monitor my audio in headphones no problem.

122

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: March 03, 2020, 0213 UTC »

Swapped Behringer out for a Aphex 320A Compellor. Much better.

123

Equipment / Re: NanoVNA for dummies

« on: February 26, 2020, 2138 UTC »

Got my NanoVNA today. Haven't had time to play with it yet, but here's a video on how to use it to measure SWR


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_drx7ORUDWI

124

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 25, 2020, 0156 UTC »

Think I'll try StereoTool to see if it is better than the spartan integrated processing in RadioDJ. I'm only using the AGC control there and passing the peak limiting to the Behringer.


An aside...


Why do we want to transmit AM to our yard and home?


Well, for me, it's something odd. I have a veritable plethora of 70's music of all genres. A lot comes from the inevitable Time/Life series. In fact, I have a "TL" format on RadioDJ for this AM station. All Time/Life, all the time. Why???


All of this music, for me, was listened to via AM radio. During the majority of the 70's I was in an area that wasn't served by any listenable FM station, so everything was AM Top 40 from local and at night, distant stations.  I have a certain affinity for the sound of AM radio. That's it. Carole King or Jethro Tull hit music sounds weird in pristine, clear, digital audio. I know it from AM. And I like it that way.

125

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 23, 2020, 2245 UTC »

Property coverage achieved. Sounds pretty good driving it with a cheap Chinese mini PC running RadioDJ, into a Behringer Composer Pro-XL.

126

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 22, 2020, 2245 UTC »

The Talking House transmitter actually has a built in antenna tuner. You can hear the motor adjust the ferrite core as it tunes when you change frequency. A bit complicated, but certainly the best way to squeeze out every foot of range from a legal Part 15 transmitter installation.

I have a Talking House transmitter for sale BTW if anyone is interested. Almost new in box except for me taking it out a few times to play with it 

I would really like to know how the TH & Range Extender setup works. Is it really a signal directly from the TH to the Extender tuner section? OR a low level signal that is then amplified by the Extender? OR, is it just audio and power down the coax with a bias tee on the Extender and a transmitter integrated there.


How did TH get FCC certification using a variable coax length?


 

127

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 22, 2020, 2242 UTC »

I got it cookin' now. It's running with internal ATU OFF, into a 9:1 balun and a respectable piece of wire length. Now to condense that wire down to a "load".

128

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 22, 2020, 0354 UTC »

Does the provided antenna have a loading coil or is it just a wire with a connector on the end?

+-RH

9' wire with RCA connector.

129

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 22, 2020, 0306 UTC »

I got the Spitfire. With the provided 9' antenna wire it is piss poor. Not even good to 16 feet. POS. Won't go from 2nd fl to 1st fl in a house. Looking for an alternative.

130

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 20, 2020, 1921 UTC »

And, I wonder if the 3m rule applies to actual wire length or if a loaded coil with a radiator in excess of 3m of wire wound, but not in physical "length", would be in compliance.

131

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 16, 2020, 1919 UTC »

It is interesting the TH is allowed to use a TH range extender connected via coax, supposedly legally.

132

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6890 LSB 1904 UTC 16 FEB 2020

« on: February 16, 2020, 1907 UTC »

can't make out what exactly is playing, but it is distorted music and/or sound effects, maybe sports

133

Equipment / Re: Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 14, 2020, 0202 UTC »

If I felt I could get away with it, I would put in a Stretchyman xmtr, hands down. Unfortunately, I can't take chances of retribution from local licensed stations who will invariably feel offended by the production quality of my station compared to theirs :-)


Got to stay with the 100mw and 9' antenna. I will probably take a whack at doing the SSTRAN antenna system and mount the xmtr on the pole to comply with Part 15.

134

Equipment / Spitfire Am transmitter

« on: February 13, 2020, 0204 UTC »

Anyone have this gear? Comments? Thinking of putting one on to cover my property with lovely AM-ness.

135

Equipment / Re: VHF/UHF coax recommendation

« on: February 12, 2020, 0512 UTC »

As long as it works, it's all good