Two Part Question

[Partyof9]

I got the EDM, found a vacant channel but I'm alittle surpised about reception. I have a very slight hum but I am thinking a in-line volume controller would fix that right? Second I don't pick up very far at all. Mainly just in front of and to the left and right of our home maybe 40 ft. I purchased a better antenna from Radio Shack but did'nt really get any different pick up from it. Suggestions???

Since I now have my station id. I wanted to get Kevin to fix me up some spots that would be neat. Did'nt do that last year. I am not really creative so I can't even come up with a Christmas Display name. Our last name is Woodard, the road we live on is Mount Calvary Church (yep our road goes to our church). We live in a very small town in Hoboken GEORGIA. Total of one red light. LOL The kids like woodardville lights since my bil and mil and us take up the road from one curve to the other. I am not sold on it just lets not go there But it wins so far. Then we thought Woodard Family Lights. Surely there's just something better?? We are a large family we have 7 kids and no one is really coming up with a neat display name. Any suggestions??? Also is there anything I should have Kevin do other than announce our display hours and display name and call letters?

Tammy

[wallleyes]

How about Hoboken Lights?

[Guest guest]

I purchased a better antenna from Radio Shack but did'nt really get any different pick up from it.

Far as I know, Radio Shack does not sell an antenna suitable for your EDM. Do you have a part number for what you bought? EDM sells a suitable antenna, and you can find them on ebay. My guess is, you bought a wide-band scanner receive antenna..for a transmitter, not a good choice.

[Partyof9]

I don't have the part number my ex picked it up for me. I have been testing this station all day and moving my antenna around a bit. The more I read the more I see that placement has a lot to do with reception. I am getting better and better reception so I'm pretty happy with it. Up to 1/2 mile away is a plenty. LOL

The Hoboken Lights hmmmmm I like it. The kids are so useless helping me. LOL They want Woodard in there somewhere I'm just wanting something that flows nicely.

[Guest guest]

Again..would not recommend your using a radio shack antenna.

Transmitters are not very forgiving if they don't have a good antenna, meaning proper frequency range they are built for, connected to them, they will not last long.

RS antennas are antennas for scanners, etc..receive antennas. For your EDM, strongly advise against it.

Trust me on that..even if the guy at radio shack tells you it will work just fine.

[CKSedg]

I still haven't found a good name for my display either. All of my children are married, so last year for Christmas I had them all (and their children) each come up with a name and submit it to my wife. My wife then gave me the display names, without tell me who submitted it. That way I could be completely unbiased in choosing. I chose a winner and gave a prize, but frankly I don't like the name. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Our last name is Sedgwick and we live in Syracuse, Utah. Marty already has "Christmas Utah" so that is out.

[Steven]

Partyof9 wrote:

I am not really creative so I can't even come up with a Christmas Display name. Our last name is Woodard, the road we live on is Mount Calvary Church (yep our road goes to our church). We live in a very small town in Hoboken GEORGIA.

I think "Calvary Church Lights" sound good. If that makes people think the display is at the church, then how about "Calvary Church Road Lights"? If that's too long, how about just "Church Road Lights"?

I agree with your kids that "Woodardville Lights" sounds better than "Woodard Family Lights."

I named my display after our street because it's a multi-family display, and there are already a half-dozen displays in our city.

[Partyof9]

Thanks for the advise on the antenna guys I'm sure you guys are right it's a scanner antenna. I need to do more homework on this but i am running out of time. Would it hurt to just use the one scanner one this year? I only run it a month.

As for the display name, their are good suggestion here. I really appeciate all the input from all of you. Thank you so much.

[geronc]

Speaking because I am a ham radio operator, but if you are tx on an antenna that is out of band(not what it is designed to do), you can damage the finals in the radio tx. then you will be buying a new fm tx. Just my .02.

[JBullard]

geronc wrote:

Speaking because I am a ham radio operator, but if you are tx on an antenna that is out of band(not what it is designed to do), you can damage the finals in the radio tx. then you will be buying a new fm tx. Just my .02.

You are correct. Fortunately the EDM is designed to handle a SWR mismatch of 25 to one. One of the few transmitters that I know of that can do that.

I know my tri-band Icom would smoke.

[Guest guest]

Partyof9 wrote:

Thanks for the advise on the antenna guys I'm sure you guys are right it's a scanner antenna. I need to do more homework on this but i am running out of time. Would it hurt to just use the one scanner one this year? I only run it a month.

As for the display name, their are good suggestion here. I really appeciate all the input from all of you. Thank you so much.

The EDM is pretty tough..it may survive.

However...a big part of the performance you are looking for is dependent on the proper antenna.

You may want to consider trying the test antenna that was included and compare how it does against your radio shack special.

[Surfing4Dough]

Partyof9 wrote:

Would it hurt to just use the one scanner one this year? I only run it a month.

I wouldn't. I would use the wire test antenna that came with it (per EDM it is ok to just use the wire antenna). Has worked fine for me.

[JBullard]

Surfing4Dough wrote:

Partyof9 wrote: 

Would it hurt to just use the one scanner one this year? I only run it a month.

I wouldn't.  I would use the wire test antenna that came with it (per EDM it is ok to just use the wire antenna).  Has worked fine for me.

I wouldn't use a scanner antenna on my EDM. Wrong part for the application.

[TJ Hvasta]

Most radios, when presented with a mismatched antenna, reduce the output to protect itself, some to the point of no output at all.. the EDM, I'm not sure of, but I wouldnt use that antenna you got from RS.. You would do much better by making an antenna for it.. You can take this advise for what its worth, but you've got at least 4 ham radio operators, who've been building/using 2-way radios for a long time saying it's not a wise thing to do using that antenna..

TJ, NS2E

[evan.a]

Partyof9 wrote:

I got the EDM, found a vacant channel but I'm alittle surpised about reception. I have a very slight hum but I am thinking a in-line volume controller would fix that right? Second I don't pick up very far at all. Mainly just in front of and to the left and right of our home maybe 40 ft. I purchased a better antenna from Radio Shack but did'nt really get any different pick up from it. Suggestions???

try a snap choke core. its an inline magnet you snap on your power line. cost about 3 bucks at radio shack. there are 2 sizes.

[dknahoolewa]

I had issues with transmitting distance and mine had more to do with where i placed it and i also made a home made antenna out of electrical wire that i attached to the end of the test antenna that came with the kit. i also changed channels, not sure if that helped but that's what i did.

I had to move mine to the attic above the garage. I made a X out of wood and made a square out of bare copper wire for my home made antenna.

[WhitePlainsNY]

How about, "Woodard Wonderland Lights" or "Woodard Light Wonderland"?

[thevikester]

CKSedg wrote:

I still haven't found a good name for my display either. All of my children are married, so last year for Christmas I had them all (and their children) each come up with a name and submit it to my wife. My wife then gave me the display names, without tell me who submitted it. That way I could be completely unbiased in choosing. I chose a winner and gave a prize, but frankly I don't like the name. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Our last name is Sedgwick and we live in Syracuse, Utah. Marty already has "Christmas Utah" so that is out.

What street do you live on ?? I incorporated that into mine, and it seemed to flow nicely with the Demented Elf did the voiceovers.

[Steven]

JBullard wrote:

Fortunately the EDM is designed to handle a SWR mismatch of 25 to one. One of the few transmitters that I know of that can do that.

It's possible to design a transmitter that can take that mismatch when the highest output is 100mW. Most ham transmitters are at least 1W, which can cause major damage as reflected power.

[CKSedg]

thevikester wrote:

CKSedg wrote:

I still haven't found a good name for my display either. All of my children are married, so last year for Christmas I had them all (and their children) each come up with a name and submit it to my wife. My wife then gave me the display names, without tell me who submitted it. That way I could be completely unbiased in choosing. I chose a winner and gave a prize, but frankly I don't like the name. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Our last name is Sedgwick and we live in Syracuse, Utah. Marty already has "Christmas Utah" so that is out.

What street do you live on ?? I incorporated that into mine, and it seemed to flow nicely with the Demented Elf did the voiceovers.

Ya, I don't think the street name will help much, since it is simply "1100 West".