Transmitting your own signal

[dhermann1]

There are questions of legality involved, but I think as long as the power stays under a certain level, you're safe. Beyond whatever this baby puts out, you need a license, and are subject to FCC rules. Don't even want to think about that.

 

[The Reno Kid]

There are questions of legality involved, but I think as long as the power stays under a certain level, you're safe. Beyond whatever this baby puts out, you need a license, and are subject to FCC rules. Don't even want to think about that.

The legalities are covered under Part 15 of the FCC code. There is a lot of ambiguity in this, however. Generally, if you keep your signal at 100mW or less and your antenna length under 3 meters (including the signal and ground connections from the transmitter) you will probably be legal. There is a ton of information on the web on Part 15 broadcasting, and lots of debate.

 

[kpreed]

Hello all,
I have a AMT3000 hooked to my computer right now and do internet radio or old radio shows that I have on my hard-drive, over it to my many (7) old radios. I love it and I think the car show/ cruise night, drive-in etc. idea is great! I wish I did it when I had my many, many old cars.

 

[funneman]

Cool thread!

It reminds me of two great stories.

1) I once had a client who invented a snorkel with a tiny radio receiver in the mouthpiece. When you would bite down on the mouthpiece the transmitted signal would vibrate in your teeth allowing you to hear the audio in your head. He used it to transmit pre-recorded narrations to divers who bought his snorkel tours around the Caribbean. To test the audio mix of voice to music, we would run the antenna up on my basketball hoop, fire up the transmitter and then run around the neighborhood with these snorkels in our mouths. Must have been quite a site. :eusa_clap

2) I had a friend who as a kid built a Heathkit crystal transmitter and began broadcasting to his neighborhood from his bedroom. When he started selling advertising though, the FCC stepped and shut him down. Years later, my friend appeared on "To Tell the Truth" because of his "broadcasting" and stumped the panel. lol

 

[FedoraGent]

I'm thinking of getting one of these...

Folks,

I'm thinking of getting one of these, but did you folks have to get your own antenna or did it come with it?

FG.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Folks,

I'm thinking of getting one of these, but did you folks have to get your own antenna or did it come with it?

FG.

The antenna is included -- it's basically two short lengths of wire, one for the aerial and one for the ground, attatched to an RCA plug that goes into the back of the transmitter. Just tack them up where convenient, and you're ready to go.

Don't add length to these wires -- unless you want to risk a visit from the FCC. The lengths supplied are cut exactly to suit the output restrictions of the Part 15 Regulations.

 

[The Reno Kid]

Folks,

I'm thinking of getting one of these, but did you folks have to get your own antenna or did it come with it?

FG.

My SSTran came with a loose wire antenna/ground. However, I built a (Part 15 compliant) 3 meter antenna out of copper tubing and PVC. I set it up in the back yard and mounted the transmitter on the antenna. I also installed some ground radials. After I tuned the transmitter, I was able to get a pretty good signal out to about half a mile.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

I made a mounting bracket and added a telescoping antenna on the back of the transmitter I use.

 

[russa11]

I use a Metzo transmitter. I have had very good luck with it. I am able to get a respectable distance (signal wise) without making any modifications. I love using it to listen on my older radios.

 

[Earp]

AM Transmitters

Here is a previous thread on the subject of AM transmitters with some more information.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=18067&highlight=AM+transmitters

And I would also heartily recommend the SSTRAN transmitter. You'll see why if you visit the other thread

 

[LizzieMaine]

Easy Programming for your SSTran

Bumping this one to the top to ask folks what sort of programming they feed to their AM transmitters, and how they do it -- do you run yours constantly, or is it just an occasional thing?

What I've found is that it's very easy to use I-Tunes to create a reasonable approximation of an always-running vintage-style radio station. I've loaded a couple of thousand musical selections from 78s into the I-Tunes application running on my desktop computer, and added an assortment of vintage commercials and actual vintage station ID's as well. I use the "rating" feature of the application and the "play higher rated selections more frequently" function to cause the commercials and ID's to come up on a frequent basis, and the result sounds startling like what you'd actually hear from a typical small record-oriented station of the Era.

I've also begun the long and torturous process of digitizing some of my OTR recordings (all of which are on tape), and store these in a seperate library. The only drawback of the system is I have to switch manually from one library to the other, but that's a minor inconvenience.

It's also quite a lot of fun to mystify visitors, who hear some obscure 1930's dance band record coming out of my Philco, followed by a cigarette commercial "by electrical transcription" and an ID for "WHDH, 50 Thousand Watts, In Boston." My landlord was able to tune it in at *his* house as well (he lives next door), and I haven't had the heart to tell him it isn't a real station...

 

[dhermann1]

So far I mainly play my big band CD's, and listen to a couple of internet radio shows, particularly the Big Broadcast. When I get myself settled in my new place I want to digitize some of my 78's. A lot of my 78's are oddities that I wouldn't necessarily want to listen to. What I really wish is that I could find a jazz station on the web that really focuses on my favorite music, the 1936 to 1945 era, with the really good progressive swing stuff, rather than some of the rumpy tumpy pop stuff of the day. That plus ballads. Why don't big bands play ballads any more? I've ranted on other threads about how I've heard Moonlight Serenade butchered more than once.
Question: How many hours at a stretch is it OK to play a radio like my 41 Zenith? One guy at a store said I should be careful because heat builds up, and heat is what wears out radios. But I don't totally buy that.

 

[The Reno Kid]

Bumping this one to the top to ask folks what sort of programming they feed to their AM transmitters, and how they do it -- do you run yours constantly, or is it just an occasional thing?

I run mostly OTR and 30s-40s music from my library. Occasionally, I will feed an internet stream from one of the on-line OTR stations. I have a freeware program called ZaraRadio (available for free download, highly recommended) for doing full-on station-type programming. Eventually, I will route the whole works through my RCA 76-C broadcast console and use an RCA 74 mic (or 44 if I'm really lucky) for occasional voiceovers.

Sometimes I run constantly, sometimes not--depending on my mood. Right now the transmitter is down so I can put it in a new housing.

 

[Flivver]

Question: How many hours at a stretch is it OK to play a radio like my 41 Zenith? One guy at a store said I should be careful because heat builds up, and heat is what wears out radios. But I don't totally buy that.

If you've done a complete electrical restoration of your Zenith, including all capacitors, and especially the power supply filter capacitors, you should be able to run it as long as you like. That is, provided you have adequate ventilation space around the radio so it can cool.

Tube type electronics will actually give longer, more trouble-free performance if left on 24/7. That was the old military practice. But I wouldn't recommend this for vintage electronics today.

When operating any vintage electronic devices, it's a good idea to stay within earshot...just in case something goes wrong.

And with regard to radios that have *not* had a full electrical restoration, it's best to operate them for only short periods of time keeping constant watch on the rectifier tube for a blue glow. That indicates shorted filter capacitors and requires an immediate shut down to prevent a ruined power transformer and a likely fire. Operation of un-restored radios should only be attempted by experienced technicians to assess performance before starting a complete electrical restoration.

 

[Flivver]

One additional thought...if your radio is a table model with an enclosed back, limiting operation to an hour or two is probably a good idea since the heat *will* build up in these sets. My comments above were pertaining to open back radios in large cabinets which usually cool adequately when operated for long periods of time.

 

[russa11]

I tend to run my transmitter constantly. I have it attached on my pc and use winamp as the mp3 player. What I do is load up the player with some of the shows I have (this includes otr, old music programs or some of the many podcasts that are out there) and also old commercials. I try to position the commercials right before or after a otr program that the product was a sponsor for. I have also created little play lists with links to sites that I can get the updated weather report and also 5 minute news breaks. I can then listen to this anywhere in the house on any of my older radios or outside on a portable.

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

Brilliant!

Bumping this one to the top to ask folks what sort of programming they feed to their AM transmitters, and how they do it -- do you run yours constantly, or is it just an occasional thing?

What I've found is that it's very easy to use I-Tunes to create a reasonable approximation of an always-running vintage-style radio station. I've loaded a couple of thousand musical selections from 78s into the I-Tunes application running on my desktop computer, and added an assortment of vintage commercials and actual vintage station ID's as well. I use the "rating" feature of the application and the "play higher rated selections more frequently" function to cause the commercials and ID's to come up on a frequent basis, and the result sounds startling like what you'd actually hear from a typical small record-oriented station of the Era.

I've also begun the long and torturous process of digitizing some of my OTR recordings (all of which are on tape), and store these in a seperate library. The only drawback of the system is I have to switch manually from one library to the other, but that's a minor inconvenience.

It's also quite a lot of fun to mystify visitors, who hear some obscure 1930's dance band record coming out of my Philco, followed by a cigarette commercial "by electrical transcription" and an ID for "WHDH, 50 Thousand Watts, In Boston." My landlord was able to tune it in at *his* house as well (he lives next door), and I haven't had the heart to tell him it isn't a real station...

I'm going to try to emulate this myself - what a great way to do it! I especially love the idea about the ratings to make certain items come on more frequently. A regular Hedy Lamar - that's what you are!

 

[scotrace]

Converting An Old Tube Radio to Play Your iPod

I know some of the members know how to do this. Any chance of a photo tutorial?

 

[Guttersnipe]

I second that motion

I also would love a tutorial on this subject!

 

[BinkieBaumont]

I Play my IPOD thru the RCA jacks in the back of my repro "Sparton" blue mirror radio it works well, and i can listento endless.... hours of OTR

To totaly rebuild an old valve Radio would be a bit of hard work I would imagine:rage: