Thanks for the range information, it's interesting to learn how far Part 15 operations can get out!
Thanks Chris. Unfortunately, I'm in a relatively dense urban environment, which limits the evenness of the coverage. If I were able to locate the transmitter in an open lot, with several hundred feet of clear space around it, I think the coverage would be more even.
I still think it's pointless, may as well turn up the stereo or even shout, you're going to be heard at a greater distance and it's free.
Good luck with your part 15.
With don't have anything like that here thank goodness and can't say I'm bothered about it
At All.
Str.
My Part 15 doesn't have particularly spectacular coverage, but I get an easily listenable signal 1/4 mile away, and my stereo won't reach that far. I sure as heck can't shout that far either - at least, not without ruining my vocal chords
There's a Part 15 station not far from me, in Sausalito, CA. They're called, funnily enough, Radio Sausalito
A few years ago, I did a write-up on the station, and went out to Sausalito to hear it. I was surprised to find that, on walking along Bridgeway, the town's main drag, the signal was absolutely consistent for a mile. It may have been further than a mile, because I didn't investigate how far it went in the other direction. It wasn't a blowtorch signal by any means - it did sound a bit thin, but it was remarkably consistent in level for a whole mile. The station uses 6 Rangemasters. I don't know whether the carriers are synchronized or not, but I'm tempted to think that they are, due to the consistency of the signal over the part of the coverage area I walked. However, the signal did get a bit more shaky on walking inside buildings. Obviously, that can be a problem!
Radio Sausalito enjoys strong support from the city, and the local Chamber of Commerce. Their format, which is strictly jazz, streams on the internet as well. Jonathan, the station owner, told me that the majority of their listeners these days are online. The streaming fees are not insubstantial, but I'm thinking that Radio Sausalito is in an enviable position. Sausalito is a small, yet wealthy town, with strong income from tourism. I'm sure they're quite proud to have their own little radio station representing their town.
I only mention the above because, in my opinion. Radio Sausalito is a good example of how to run a successful Part 15 station. Many licensed LPFM's find that, after the initial enthusiasm of opening subsides, the hard graft of keeping it going sets in. That's when the automation systems kick in
At least, with an LPFM, you have decent coverage over a small area. You barely get that with a Part 15. An internet stream really helps - but then, there are the fees associated with that.
Anyway, for me, it's a hobby. I enjoy hearing my little well-processed AM signal in the neighborhood. I'm not trying to change the world, thank goodness.
Topic: Part 15 AM and FM (Read 7074 times)
