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How to build a Basic FM transmitter with spare parts available at home

N

noners

How to build a Basic FM transmitter with spare parts available at home

Hi,

I would like to know if you guys know or have a schematic which is
easy to follow for a beginner, on how to build a fm transmitter with
household spare parts? I would like to play back my pc music files
over the transmitter to a radio 15 ft away.
THANKS
 
N

NSM

| How to build a Basic FM transmitter with spare parts available at home
|
| Hi,
|
| I would like to know if you guys know or have a schematic which is
| easy to follow for a beginner, on how to build a fm transmitter with
| household spare parts? I would like to play back my pc music files
| over the transmitter to a radio 15 ft away.

Look for back copies of electronic hobby magazines at your library. Pop
'Tronics published several of these over it's lifetime.

N
 
J

James Sweet

noners said:
How to build a Basic FM transmitter with spare parts available at home

Hi,

I would like to know if you guys know or have a schematic which is
easy to follow for a beginner, on how to build a fm transmitter with
household spare parts? I would like to play back my pc music files
over the transmitter to a radio 15 ft away.
THANKS

FM is a bit more tricky than AM, but try Ramsey Electronics, they offer some
very nice kits, lots of radio related stuff. Also do a search online for FM
transmitter circuit.
 
N

none

How to build a Basic FM transmitter with spare parts available at home

Hi,

I would like to know if you guys know or have a schematic which is
easy to follow for a beginner, on how to build a fm transmitter with
household spare parts? I would like to play back my pc music files
over the transmitter to a radio 15 ft away.
THANKS

ust do a google or dogpile search for "FM transmitter kit".
There are several electronic hobby shops on the web selling all sorts
of DIY kits.
 
M

mike

none said:
ust do a google or dogpile search for "FM transmitter kit".
There are several electronic hobby shops on the web selling all sorts
of DIY kits.

I don't want to discourage you from building stuff. Learning is good.
But let me try to adjust your expectations. I've built several over the
last 40 years...from scratch, Built kits, Bought commercial ones.
None are worth a darn
and here are some of the reasons why.

I live 10 miles from Portland, Oregon. Here, there ISN'T a blank spot
on the FM dial you can use for such transmission...at least with
anywhere near legal power output and a receiver you're likely to be
using. If you live in a rural area, this won't be a problem so much.

Pay particular attention to frequency stability. Doesn't do you any
good if it's drifting all over the place. You probably can't retune the
receiver, cause there's a radio station either side of the spot you're
using.

Plan on running the transmitter from batteries. Unless you use a VERY
good isolated supply, you'll get more hum than you want.

Do you want stereo? That significantly complicates things.

The audio quality is likely gonna be less than you expect.

These things are sold by the zillions for people to use their CD player
in the car. Sounds like crap relative to a direct connection, so there
should be a lot of 'em laying around gathering dust. Try to borrow one
to check your location and adjust your quality expectations. If you're
anywhere near PDX, I'll loan you one or two or three...I get 'em at
garage sales for a quarter. I keep hoping I'll find one that sounds
good. Still hoping.
If you like what you hear, go ahead and start buldin'.

For 15 feet, an excellent solution is often a pair of powered speakers
and a wire. I junked all my fm stuff and switched to powered speakers
everywhere I want music and a roving mp3 cd player. Wireless laptop
with powered speakers can also sound great, but that's overkill
unless you just happen to have laptops laying around. Those Recoton
wireless speakers work quite well at 15 feet. Find those frequently
at garage sales and goodwill stores.

Also, do some math on the costs of electricity. I was amazed to learn
how much it was costing me to have a dedicated computer to play music.
Paid for the walkman-style portable mp3 player in short order on power
savings alone.
mike

--
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Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/
 
J

James Sweet

I don't want to discourage you from building stuff. Learning is good.
But let me try to adjust your expectations. I've built several over the
last 40 years...from scratch, Built kits, Bought commercial ones.
None are worth a darn
and here are some of the reasons why.

I live 10 miles from Portland, Oregon. Here, there ISN'T a blank spot
on the FM dial you can use for such transmission...at least with
anywhere near legal power output and a receiver you're likely to be
using. If you live in a rural area, this won't be a problem so much.

Pay particular attention to frequency stability. Doesn't do you any
good if it's drifting all over the place. You probably can't retune the
receiver, cause there's a radio station either side of the spot you're
using.


It really depends on a lot of things. I have a Ramsey FM-25 (I think that's
the model) it wasn't cheap (about $120) but the performance is very good.
Frequency is microprocessor controlled with a PLL so stability is excellent.
Transmits in stereo on any frequency in the FM band and the audio quality is
very good. Range for me with the included telescoping whip antenna is about
a 1/4 mile radius around my house. This sounds like more than he needs
though.
 
A

AshTray700

you can get one for $15 at the local walmart that will work in the 88mhz
range, if you want full fm capabilities you have to add like $10 to that,
they do work, but if you are an audiophile you will not be impressed
because the sound quality is not so great but they are cheap and they run
off AAA batteries for days constantly before going dead, what i would
really like to know is where to get diagrams and parts to build a
powerfull fm transmitter, like a few miles powerfull:)
 
J

James Sweet

AshTray700 said:
you can get one for $15 at the local walmart that will work in the 88mhz
range, if you want full fm capabilities you have to add like $10 to that,
they do work, but if you are an audiophile you will not be impressed
because the sound quality is not so great but they are cheap and they run
off AAA batteries for days constantly before going dead, what i would
really like to know is where to get diagrams and parts to build a
powerfull fm transmitter, like a few miles powerfull:)

Ramsey sells these also, likely cheaper than you could build one, but if you
live in the US, operating one without a license is a good way to get a very
large fine/jail time.
 
A

AshTray700

speaking of fcc rules, what is the limitation of power you can operate
without having to be sneaky about it
 
D

Dbowey

Ash posted:





<< speaking of fcc rules, what is the limitation of power you can operate
without having to be sneaky about it >>

--

I believe that is covered in CFR47, Part 15.

<A HREF="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/47cfr15_03.html">2003
CFR Title 47, Volume 1</A>


For the FM broadcast band look at 47cfr15.239, but there is a bunch of sections
that may also apply.

Don
 
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