Community Media/Radio/LPAM Handbook
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Work in progress, expect frequent changes. Help and feedback is welcome. See discussion page. |
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Contents
Welcome Message from Kyle Drake
I am proud to announce the release of The Low Power AM Broadcasters Handbook (2004 - soon to be updated008) - 2, the first ever comprehensive guide to LPAM broadcasting. The book is full of the data, schematics, and guides needed to put together a fully functional LPAM station, with an important emphasis on the problems that affect LPAM broadcasters, such as cost and property constraints. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned expert, this book is the perfect reference and HOWTO for LPAM broadcasting! http://www.lpam.info
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: While waiting for the revised content, you may download the 2006 PDF version here.)
Information in the book is provided to help you with every aspect of running a modern LPAM station, including:
Station Planning
Information that you need to set up and plan for a new station, including basic information needed to choose the right equipment.
Audio Planning
Information on configuring the audio chain for maximum quality and usefulness, including tuning information optimized for LPAM stations.
Regulations
Concise, simple guide to the FCC's regulations for LPAM broadcasters, licensed or not. Includes analysis of special exceptions for College Campus, TIS, and Carrier Current broadcasting that could increase your legal broadcast distance by miles.
Antenna Design and Calculation
The most comprehensive guide on shortened AM Broadcast Antennas (and perhaps shortened antennas in general) ever written! Contains all the information you need to understand and design working LPAM antennas, with an emphasis on practical limitations. Antenna efficiency and propagation theory are discussed in detail, which can help you tune your antenna for maximum range. Loading Coils are discussed in detail, including an easy and quick design guide and advanced formulas for doing more precise design (including variometers). Contains information on how to tune your antenna, which is important since many SWR meters fail to work at AM frequencies. Includes safety and lightning information, and much more.
Interference suppression
A chapter on how to eliminate interference from your broadcast. Interference can get you into trouble, so it's important that you understand how to eliminate it. This chapter contains multiple tables for quickly and easily designing Harmonics Interference Filters, namely the Low Pass Filter, all pre-configured for AM broadcasting.
Schematics
Some schematics for homebrewers who want to design their own equipment for broadcasting. Contains some transmitter schematics, audio schematics, and a basic power supply schematic.
Transmitter Design
For people looking to design their own Low Power AM transmitters, some design tips and theory are included. Has several working component schematics, and information on how to maximize efficiency.
Matching Network Design
Useful for converting the output impedance of transmitters, which can be useful for adapting to amplifiers or for Lowpass Filters. Covers L-C and Transformer Networks, including efficiency information.
Equipment Sources
a large list of transmitter and component sellers. Also has links to useful software and other LPAM broadcasting information.
Quick References
Includes a formula reference for quick access to formulas.
Revised 2008 Version
Coming soon! This is the location for the 2008 revision.
