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Topic: fm transmitter

Phil Radosevich
Film Handler

Posts: 22
From: Centerville, IA, USA
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 06-02-2002 10:37 PM

does anyone know what kind of FM transmitters that are in use in drive ins

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 06-02-2002 11:16 PM

Mostly illegal ones, no?

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 06-03-2002 12:25 AM

Phil, There are several FCC approved FM transmitters that can be used in the drive-ins. I think around 100mw or so......Just strong enough to keep it on your property.

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 06-03-2002 01:25 AM

Does anyone market those loop antennas (the kind where the signal is receivable only inside the loop) for drive-in use? Seems to me like that would be a perfect application of the technology...

The Non-Weenie-Wielding Paul

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-03-2002 05:48 AM

Decade in Montreal Canada makes an excellent stero FM transmitter that is DOC approved. They also supply the correct antenna for it as well

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 06-03-2002 06:36 AM

Most of the stuff out there is made for pirate radio use. Speaking from a former pirate's view, you have the following options(undoubtivly I've missed a few):

Veronica FM www.veronica.co.uk/
Uk based comapny with a good PLL, some consider it the standard, FM kit.

Broadcast Warehouse www.broadcastwarehouse.com/

Ramsey kits www.ramseyelectronics.com/
makers of the famous FM25 stereo transmitter.

If you do go this route, make sure the kit you get is compliant with FCC rules and does not exceed 100mW. it is also necessary that you put out a clean signal, or the feds will be on your ass in no time at all.

Josh

------------------
"Film is made of silver, video is made of rust"
'nuf said

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John Anastasio
Master Film Handler

Posts: 325
From: Trenton, NJ, USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 06-03-2002 06:58 AM

I don't have the URL handy right now, but do a search on LPB. It's a Pennsylvania company (Easton, I believe) that manufactures broadcast consoles and low-power (legal) transmitting equipment. I've worked on their stuff for years and it's excellent. If you're going to do an installation, you might as well do it right.

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John T. Mellor
Film Handler

Posts: 52
From: Htafield, Pennsylvania, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 06-03-2002 07:38 AM

Marble sells one that is legal and complete with antena for Drive in use

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 06-03-2002 10:05 AM

The Broadcast Warehouse TX-1 is an excellent transmitter (although too much power for FCC Part 15). I beleve the output power can be turned down, but I might be mistaken.

I personally have a Ramsey FM25 that I got from an old defunct drive-in. It came in a crappy little plastic case which did not shield it from any stray RF signals and noise. I bought a single space standard 19" rack mount chasis from Par Metal Products (www.par-metal.com), and mounted the circuit board inside the new chasis. It works great and my interference issues went away. I put a couple of ferrite coils on the 12volt power supply line and that helped too.

------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 06-03-2002 10:16 AM

Actually for drive in use, the Ramsey Electronics FM-100 is the best, but here in the USA you have to assemble it yourself (it's sold fully assembled only for shipment outside the USA). It's a professional unit (and in a nice metal case with digital display of frequency). Be sure to buy the companion TM-100 antenna to go with it.

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 06-03-2002 01:18 PM

If the output power is too high, you can always make an attenuator to reduce the power. old FM exciters work great for drive ins too, just require more maintainance.

Josh

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 06-03-2002 05:40 PM

Yeah, Josh. They do. However, they are too powerful. 10 watts will do an excellent job on coverage of a whole city. Just exactly what FCC gets a little horny about.

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Matthew Bailey
Master Film Handler

Posts: 461
From: Port Arthur,TX
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 06-03-2002 06:15 PM

How about ordering a C. Crane FM stereo transmitter? PLL,digital tuning,,FCC approved. www.ccradio.com

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 06-03-2002 07:14 PM

well, then put an attenuator on it.

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Mike Jones
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 108
From: Birmingham, MI, USA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 06-04-2002 06:39 PM

Hey Paul, what are you holding? i hope its just a hot dog.

nice to me back working again,

mike

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