New to this. Have a few ?

[gso125]

Hello all. New to this waiting for my controller from LOR, got the start up kit with software advanced key and a music cd. I bought a bunch of led lights from Home Depot.

I have seen a lot of shows on YouTube playing is there any threads showing how people run the lights on there homes for the whole house effect covering it. Is this a net type lighting or is it like one string from roof to the ground.

Any other newbie tips on how to set the lights up would be great.

After all the stringing up the lights do most people take them down or leave them up all year.

Is there special strings of lights to buy for cool effects like the LOR ribbon where you can change the colors by software not bulbs.

I live 500 plus feet of the road and I bought this fm transmitter any one using it, I thought I'd give it a try and use it on low power.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANGESTUD-20-W-LONG-RANGE-FM-TRANSMITTER-GP-ANTENNA-/120656282412


Thanks for any help, advice Gerry

[John2571]

That transmitter may be a very bad idea. Correct me if I am wrong but a 20 watt transmitter could transmit 30+ miles correct?

[gso125]

I'm hoping someone has this one and can give me any info on range in the low power 1 watt setting. The other units I see posted only stated 200 feet and I'm set off the road 500 feet.

[Guest guest]

I think even 1 watt is TOO much power. You should be looking at or using a transmitter in the mW range.

Even my MBB Eclipse-4000 is 500mW(milliwatts), which is still a bit too much at basically 1/2 watt.

So I have an 10db, 50ohm 1 Watt attenutator between the transmitter antenna connector and the antenna itself to lower the range of the output to keep it closer to the part 15 FCC requirment.

Without the attnenuator I was transmitting way too far away, in some cases close to a 5 mile radius, put the attenuator between transmitter and antenna per many folks recommendations here, and now it still transmits a little over the 200 foot area, but it's not getting out there like it was, nor do I want or need it to go that distance!

Not sure what size attenuator you'd need to decrease the output to within your needs, but sure someone here with more experience on attenuator specifications will be able to inform you of what the specific attenuator you would need for your specific transmitter.



Believe me, you don't want a visit from the FCC because you're transmitting over the limitations of part 15 rules, distant radio stations or adjoining channels near the frequency you may be using.

[gso125]

I can try and contact the ebay seller and see if they will let me exchange for a smaller unit. They don't take returns on this 1-20 watt unit. Is this a better choice then..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120635392642&refid=store&ssPageName=STORE:HTMLBUILDER:SIMPLEITEM

Thanks Gerry

[jstorms]

I've seen .5 watt transmitters that go about 1/2 mile. Performance varies with terrain, humidity, purity of thought, etc.

*Most* people take their lights down after the holidays. Keeping them up, exposed by the elements, beaten by wind and rain shortens the lifespan of the lights.

From what I've seen, people that blanket their walls with lights do so with strands of lights vs. Net Lights. Net Lights need some tension to keep them straight (good on bushes and sometimes on the ground or roof)

[John2571]

This would work. I just ordered it yesterday and it will get here by thanksgiving...... hopefully
http://www.amazon.com/0-5-Fail-Safe-Long-Range-Transmitter/dp/B003FO4UHW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321832916&sr=8-2

[PMC]

Ebay has This FM Transmitter if you get the rubber stub antenna you "might" just be compliant if you run it at 100mW (10th of a watt) and install it in your basement inside a lead box

The FCC requires 250 µV/m@3m to be FCC Part 15 which equals 11.43 nW (nano-watts) see graph

I showed this graph just to give an example of even 100 milli-watts in power can produce, now imagine 20 watts

I'm a Radio Engineer by profession for a few stations in Pittsburgh PA, and 20 watts... Wow.

The replies you got from the people in this thread are correct try to cancel this order, I'm surprised you actually got them to sell this unit to you and shipped in the USA
and if they didn't warn you about the FCC violation. which they should
email them and bring up the FCC Part 15, which is nowhere on their selling statement and I never heard of Amish Paradise, Indiana. (Google) Weird AL must vacation there

The FCC doesn't like "Pirate" radio stations and 20 watts, I get a trade magazine and in this weeks issue the front page states the FCC is cracking down on High Power illegal radio stations.

There are some Low Power FM's that are FCC licensed and they broadcast at 10 watts and happy to have that

This FM Transmitter is FCC Part 15 compliant, and I been using this for 5 years now

Goto http://hobbybroadcaster.net to get more information on Part 15 broadcasting


Attached files

[gso125]

I had no idea how much fun a fm transmitter could be, I'm learning a bunch here. I'm waiting for the seller to see if they will exchange it for a lower watt one. I wonder how many people have bought one having NO idea on FCC rules like I did and messed up the local rock station with xmass music. Thanks so far for all the help Everyone

[PMC]

gso125 wrote:

I had no idea how much fun a fm transmitter could be, I'm learning a bunch here. I'm waiting for the seller to see if they will exchange it for a lower watt one. I wonder how many people have bought one having NO idea on FCC rules like I did and messed up the local rock station with xmass music. Thanks so far for all the help Everyone

Ouch, lesson number 1 "do not step on licensed stations", if a listener complains to said station the Chief Engineer will triangulate your location, use a spectrum analyzer to take a "snap shot" of your TPO "transmitter power output" use google maps to do a visual lock on your location and save the data for when he calls the FCC.

The FCC doesn't mess around with this kind of complaint

When I get calls from listeners that tell me that they now hear Banjo Music where it should be something else I can lock in on that pirate signal in under an hour. and I knock on the door and give them some education on Part 15. 100% of these people heeded the warning

Turn off your transmitter, you will thank me

When you get the legal FCC FM Transmitter go to radio-locator.com and find an open frequency in your hometown to broadcast on
(I tried to link to their home page, doesn't work)

I just read your post, below this one, that's real good, I'm leaving my post alone so if somebody reads this it will resonate

[gso125]

Just to make it clear I don't even have it. I tried to cancel the order before it shipped but got a ups tracking # . I won't even open it up if I can just RMA and send it back. Another question do these just plug in or do you need some sort of power supply for the lower watt ones.

I'd shut them down to if they were playing banjo musIc over my station LOL

Thanks Again for this great info

[PMC]

most require a 12v DC power supply (wall wart) type, get one rated at 1 amp and be 100% positive that it has an RF Choke/filter on the supply line, if not you might get a buzz "on-air"

[Guest guest]

PMC wrote:

most require a 12v DC power supply (wall wart) type, get one rated at 1 amp and be 100% positive that it has an RF Choke/filter on the supply line, if not you might get a buzz "on-air"

Even with the chokes it can still get a hum through the audio feed lines if Y adapted. If I use a Y adapter from the computer so I can feed the computer speakers and the FM Transmitter I get this humm or buzz, no Y adapter, no extra noise. And the Y adapter I don't think is big enough to put those filtered chokes on. Guess someone needs to manufacture a longer Y cable that has the room to include these. It only happens if and when I use a Y cable and I've got gold plated as well as standard ones, every single one I've tried has always put in a light hum or buzz as soon as it's connected. So it's a good thing I don't use or need the computer to run my shows, my transmitter is fed directly from an DC-MP3 Showtime Director and no more issues with hums and buzz.

BTW: I'd buy that low cost transmitter you suggested, but there is a problem, it only says it transmits from 88.0-92.0, and that's just too limited. So it would be useless in my area, first open freq in my area is 99.5 and is what I use to transmit my show. If that unit went over the entire FM dial, 88.0-108.0 then it could work for me. I was thinking of buying a second unit, but with that one, I'd definitely be stepping on a lot of LOCAL radio stations!:shock: So I'll just save my money and buy another one that covers the entire FM band so I have a wider selection of freq's to choose from. At least one that covers the entire FM Radio dial if I move, I can select a freq not in use for that area.

[Guest guest]

From what I read on the site. They'll only do an even or exact exhange of the item.

From their own terms, it would seem you're going to be stuck with it. I'd suggest you try and sell it on e-bay once you get it, as I don't think you might have much luck in getting the seller to exchange it for a lower cost unit from their own wording.

Now you may be able to do something if you contact e-bay and tell them the company did not divuldge anything about FCC Rules and Regulations about the transmitter and explain why it should have been posted because folks may not be aware of them and that info should be posted as to wether a transmitter is FCC compliant or NOT. If ebay and/or paypal get involved and can see their is a valid complaint with the purchase, they may or may not be able to help you get the transmitter you need as well as part or all of your money refunded so you can go elsewhere to purchase another transmitter.



Good Luck!

[JBullard]

Orville wrote:

Even with the chokes it can still get a hum through the audio feed lines if Y adapted. If I use a Y adapter from the computer so I can feed the computer speakers and the FM Transmitter I get this humm or buzz, no Y adapter, no extra noise. And the Y adapter I don't think is big enough to put those filtered chokes on. Guess someone needs to manufacture a longer Y cable that has the room to include these. It only happens if and when I use a Y cable and I've got gold plated as well as standard ones, every single one I've tried has always put in a light hum or buzz as soon as it's connected. So it's a good thing I don't use or need the computer to run my shows, my transmitter is fed directly from an DC-MP3 Showtime Director and no more issues with hums and buzz.

Sounds like a ground loop problem. chokes and gold plated contacts will do nothing to fix the ground loop. You would need an isolator product that is sold just for that purpose.

[JBullard]

Orville wrote:

now you may be able to do something if you contact e-bay and tell them the company did not divuldge anything about FCC Rules and Regulations about the transmitter and explain why it should have been posted because folks may not be aware of them and that info should be posted as to wether a transmitter is FCC compliant or NOT. If ebay and/or paypal get involved and can see their is a valid complaint with the purchase, they may or may not be able to help you get the transmitter you need as well as part or all of your money refunded so you can go elsewhere to purchase another transmitter.

The seller stated they ship world wide.

Why would you think they should mention FCC regs ? Why would a buyer in Uganda care about the FCC regs? Or New Zealand, or in Syria ?

The buyer in Uganda then would be upset that they didn't mention the Uganda regulations.

Then people in other countries would want the regs for operating a transmitter in their country listed.

People need to use some common sense and know what they are buying and how to use it.

[gso125]

Got a reply by the seller they are going to exchange it for the basic 100 to 500 milli watt one with the small rubber antenna. Just had to let them know that was what I wanted and will see how it goes.

Thanks guys for the info maybe someone else new reads this they will have the extra knowledge needed to by a FM transmitter.

[JBullard]

Glad to hear that it worked out for you.

[Guest guest]

JBullard wrote:

Orville wrote:

now you may be able to do something if you contact e-bay and tell them the company did not divuldge anything about FCC Rules and Regulations about the transmitter and explain why it should have been posted because folks may not be aware of them and that info should be posted as to wether a transmitter is FCC compliant or NOT. If ebay and/or paypal get involved and can see their is a valid complaint with the purchase, they may or may not be able to help you get the transmitter you need as well as part or all of your money refunded so you can go elsewhere to purchase another transmitter.

The seller stated they ship world wide.

Why would you think they should mention FCC regs ? Why would a buyer in Uganda care about the FCC regs? Or New Zealand, or in Syria ?

The buyer in Uganda then would be upset that they didn't mention the Uganda regulations.

Then people in other countries would want the regs for operating a transmitter in their country listed.

People need to use some common sense and know what they are buying and how to use it.

Because it says they are in AMISH, INDIANA USA! That's why!

[Guest guest]

gso125 wrote:

Got a reply by the seller they are going to exchange it for the basic 100 to 500 milli watt one with the small rubber antenna. Just had to let them know that was what I wanted and will see how it goes.

Thanks guys for the info maybe someone else new reads this they will have the extra knowledge needed to by a FM transmitter.

Very happy they are willing to work it out with you. I've had only one issue off ebay that I had to get them and paypal involved in. Fortunately I won the battle.

So am really glad to see a seller willing to make a compromise with you!