Broadcasting too far

[colelini00]

So I have just been informed by a friend that my radio station for my Christmas lights is going as far as their house, almost a mile away. I know I need to buy an attenuator as my transmitter is already on the lowest power setting. Does anyone have any recommendations on good attenuators to buy? Any help is much appreciated.

[Jefffrompawpaw]

No help on the attenuator, but my signal is going over 2 miles.  I haven't figured out how to make is not as strong.  But has anyoneone here actually had any

reprcussions from too powerful of a signal?   I have mostly seen members here having problems with the oppsite problem of weak signal.

[aesl1982]

What kind of transmitters are you using

[colelini00]

It is the CZE-05B model that has been pretty reliable according to most everyone here on the forums. 

[sticks4legs]

It is the CZE-05B model that has been pretty reliable according to most everyone here on the forums.

Have you set the output to low power? I have the same transmitter, made a big difference

[kzaas]

No help on the attenuator, but my signal is going over 2 miles.  I haven't figured out how to make is not as strong.  But has anyoneone here actually had any

reprcussions from too powerful of a signal?   I have mostly seen members here having problems with the oppsite problem of weak signal.

The FCC may have a big problem with that.

[colelini00]

It is set on the lowest power setting. I have moved it down to the basement which has helped reduce the signal a tad but I still think it's going too far for what I need. 

[Ebuechner]

I once had a neighbor who had an overpowered CB. Every time he keyed up I could hear him over my phone alarm clock stereo and pretty much every other electric piece of equipment I had. I talked to him in person and he didn't care. I called the FCC and they did absolutely nothing. I wouldn't sweat it too much. That rule seems to only be there for when somebody at the FCC wants to act important

[viennaxmas]

http://www.americanradiosupply.com/10-db-fixed-coaxial-attenuator-bnc-connectors-50-ohm/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA7rmzBRDezri2r6bz1qYBEiQAg-YEtjsMr_3yXWLnQPjTQA9goigvZseFhvHqnDv-EuULNG0aAnaG8P8HAQ

You need to find one which matches your connections. I have two in my antenna line...

[viennaxmas]

These are actually the ones I use: they also have different DB values so you can try:

http://www.mpja.com/mobile/10db-Feed-Through-Attennuator-Terminator/productinfo/16547+TE/

[aesl1982]

My czh-05b goes like three houses lol

[Jaynee]

Mine can be heard throughout the neighborhood, but once you leave the 'hood the signal is 50% static.  I tried to reduce the signal by putting a toilet paper tube covered in foil over the antenna and it didn't do a thing.

[jerry72]

I once had a neighbor who had an overpowered CB. Every time he keyed up I could hear him over my phone alarm clock stereo and pretty much every other electric piece of equipment I had. I talked to him in person and he didn't care. I called the FCC and they did absolutely nothing. I wouldn't sweat it too much. That rule seems to only be there for when somebody at the FCC wants to act important

You did not hear this from me, but a jumper cable from a batter to his coax will solve that issue. I can not confirm nor deny that i had to do that once thanks to a neighbor like yours.

Mine gets maybe 3 blocks away, thats it, but i am only running a Vast FM02

[Ebuechner]

You did not hear this from me, but a jumper cable from a batter to his coax will solve that issue. I can not confirm nor deny that i had to do that once thanks to a neighbor like yours.

Mine gets maybe 3 blocks away, thats it, but i am only running a Vast FM02

I shoved several small pins through the coax and cut them off flush so they couldn't be seen. Then in the fall I tied a rope to his coax and hid it under the leaves and tied the other end to his car.( He was the type that always had to rev the motor and race everywhere) most of the neighborhood could hear everything he was saying if you tried to listen to the radio talk on the phone he would even come over the alarm clock while you were sleeping.

[jerry72]

I shoved several small pins through the coax and cut them off flush so they couldn't be seen. Then in the fall I tied a rope to his coax and hid it under the leaves and tied the other end to his car.( He was the type that always had to rev the motor and race everywhere) most of the neighborhood could hear everything he was saying if you tried to listen to the radio talk on the phone he would even come over the alarm clock while you were sleeping.

That will do the trick. We had a punk kid that had a car just like that, thought it was funny to race down the street at 2am waking people up. Used to brag about doing it to. Crossed the line with me though, dont mess with a mechanic who knows how to, lets say, make sure yer car dont run right.

Edited December 15, 2015 by jerry72

[Ebuechner]

I've been a mechanic for most of my life. 1978 I started pumping gas at a gas station now I own it.

[Ineedmorelights]

I wish I had this problem... I can barely get the signal across the street with mine.

[viennaxmas]

In the end it all boils down to the antenna. When I got my first TX the antenna was broken out of the box so I rigged up a wifi antenna. Could not even get a cross the street. Second year I got a quarter wave ground plane antenna and mounted it in the attic. Same TX settings and I hit the 2 mile mark during testing. Then had to scramble to get it down to acceptable distance (hence two attenuators).

I always went for fully adjustable output power so I could fine tune the power level.

Nevertheless- having a good antenna is the most important puzzle piece.

And last my usual warning - so far it seems the FCC does not worry too much about what we do. However it only takes one or two overdoing it and we all may lose the ability to broadcast the music. So please - know the limits and try to stay close to them.

[jerry72]

I wish I had this problem... I can barely get the signal across the street with mine.

What are you using as a transmitter? I had to build a dipole antenna because the small antenna that came with my FM02 would barely get the signal 5 feet out.

[jerry72]

In the end it all boils down to the antenna. When I got my first TX the antenna was broken out of the box so I rigged up a wifi antenna. Could not even get a cross the street. Second year I got a quarter wave ground plane antenna and mounted it in the attic. Same TX settings and I hit the 2 mile mark during testing. Then had to scramble to get it down to acceptable distance (hence two attenuators). I always went for fully adjustable output power so I could fine tune the power level. Nevertheless- having a good antenna is the most important puzzle piece. And last my usual warning - so far it seems the FCC does not worry too much about what we do. However it only takes one or two overdoing it and we all may lose the ability to broadcast the music. So please - know the limits and try to stay close to them.

Next year i am going to upgrade to a new transmitter that i can adjust as well. I have a lot of people that love tuning in and listening the Christmas music during the day here. But my signal barely gets 2 blocks in one direction, maybe 3 in another.