Gizmo Links
• Product Link: Gizmo
• Vendor Link: Vintage Components
• Contact Link: [email protected]
(Thanks to Part
15 Stations of North America for the tip at the Radio Info site on the Community Radio
USA page.)
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The GIZMO Transmitter
and Antenna
The radio Station in a Box
(Well, two
boxes, actually)
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Operational
Report
This is a top quality product, and an amazing value.
The PLL circuit is well designed and runs accurately across the
dial. This is a "set it and forget it" system with an external power
supply for improved reliability. Frequency is rock solid and modulation
is controlled at the source.
The equipment
used in the SCWIS application was used as a reference. The range was
exactly the same as my Panaxis, full part 15 power set-up with tuned capacitive
hat antenna and earth ground. The Gizmo is a great place for beginners
to start, and it's a simple way to add a new channel to an existing operation.
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With
the GIZMO Radio Station in a Box, all you do is plug in your power
supply, plug in your source, set up the antenna, select your frequency,
turn on the power, and fine tune the antenna match. That's all there
is to it, and you're on the air!
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Here's an example of a simple
set up used to broadcast Old Time Radio MP3s to the author's apartment
complex. This set up is running in the corner of a closet, with only
the base of the antenna and two ground radials used for transmitting.
Range covered 30 units.
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| Gizmo AM Antenna
• Shipped size 36" X 4"
• Well packed
(peanuts & heavy tube)
• Quick and easy set-up, on the air
in minutes.
Includes
• Three-section
aluminum 3 meter antenna tube with tuner & cable
• 18" Capacitance
hat and horizontal support
• Four 48" copper ground radials and guy ropes
• Please see
sketch and inventory below
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| Gizmo AM Broadcast
Transmitter
• Payment via Paypal
• Order placed
6/20
• Item received
7/3
• Well packed,
bubble wrap & box
Includes
• Transmitter
in plastic case
• Three meter wire antenna
• Mono patch
cord
• Twelve page
manual
NOTE - New USA Export full power version now available.
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Coming Soon:
LW Version and
Booster Amp
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Transmitter
Nice, clean layout inside. PLL circuit selector easy to
use, signal rock solid. Note the threaded brass inserts in the
case closure corners. Very nice touch. Includes the ubiquitous
adhesive rubber feet. Appears to
be a hand soldered, single sided PC board, clean and straight.
Antenna terminal is a rugged post, dip switches are easy to reach and
set. |
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The Gizmo Antenna
arrives in a shipping tube and contains:
One main tube with tuner attached.
One center tube.
One top tube, pre-drilled for hat support.
One hat & support
Four copper ground radials which attach to the base and fan out at the
bottom of the antenna.
Four support stakes which secure guy ropes and serve as terminals for
the ground radials.
Two guy rope sets, with two ropes and one tube ring per set, lime green
for safety. |
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Actual photos of the antenna
components, and a mock-up of a typical set-up.
Completed antenna is a full three meters in length, and very rugged when
guyed properly.
This is just an example of one the many ways this handy collection of technologies
can be easily used by even the most inexperienced novice.
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The Final Word
This product is entirely too much fun. Many hobbyists might
say "Gee, I could probably build that myself" and many of us could - the
point is, why bother?
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For a very reasonable price, and little more than 10 minutes set-up
time, you can be on the air RIGHT NOW!!!
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