The nickel tour concluded... |  |
Unless you plan to use one audio source to feed your transmitter you need a decent mixer. This is an Audio-Technica AM300 5-pot 10-input board with separate EQ for left and right channels. It was designed to drive high-powered amplifiers in dance clubs so it's more than you'll probably ever need. It will even accept two turntable inputs for your antique vinyl collection. I don't use the mike anymore. The music should speak for itself; why interrupt the flow? |
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At low power, tuning the antenna is not critical because reflected power isn't going to damage your transmitter's final amplifier. By the same token, if you are low power, you might as well make the most of every milliwatt. This Vectronics SWR Analyzer, available through RadioShack.com, measures both SWR and antenna impedance, and has a frequency counter to boot. Once you have tuned the transmitter output to a 50-ohm dummy load, use this to get as close a match as possible. Though you may not get your antenna to resonate at 50 ohms, a 1:1.5 match will mean losing just 4% of your power at the antenna connection. Click the technical link below to check out how to tune your antenna. |
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Once everything is in place and the testing is done, turn it on and enjoy your own Personalized Entertainment System. Relax on the patio, do your gardening, even walk the dog or drive to the corner store to test the limits of your signal (on this Walkman, mine begins fading about a half mile, or .8 km, out). Everything you hear will be what you want to hear, with not one annoying interruption. A true music lover's feast! Bon appetit! |