1 Watt FM transmitter: need help with buzz
 

I bought a one watt Ramsey FM transmitter to distribute whole house
audio .... it's overkill, I admit, but better too much power than to
little.

I don't don't know a ton about radio tech, so I thought I'd ask you
geniuses for advice.

I am getting a wicked buzz from the transmitter. You can hear it
plainly when I tune an FM receiver to the broadcast frequency when
there is no music being broadast. I called Ramsey, but they weren't the
most helpful (maybe because I'm so non-proficient in radio stuff).

Since my audio source was a computer, I considered the possibility that
there was RF coming out of the PC, or that there was a PC related
ground problem. So I tried using an iPod as the source, powered by
battery.

And to get even more anal about it, I powered the transmitter itself
from a car battery with the iPod attached.

Still the buzz. Arghhh.

Could it be my cabling? what is the absolute best way to insulate the
cables? Where can I buy such superinsulated beasts? I need a stereo
mini plug on one end and left/right rca jacks on the other.

I would be so grateful for advicce!

wrote in message
oups.com...
I bought a one watt Ramsey FM transmitter to distribute whole house
audio .... it's overkill, I admit, but better too much power than to
little.

I don't don't know a ton about radio tech, so I thought I'd ask you
geniuses for advice.

I am getting a wicked buzz from the transmitter. You can hear it
plainly when I tune an FM receiver to the broadcast frequency when
there is no music being broadast. I called Ramsey, but they weren't the
most helpful (maybe because I'm so non-proficient in radio stuff).

Since my audio source was a computer, I considered the possibility that
there was RF coming out of the PC, or that there was a PC related
ground problem. So I tried using an iPod as the source, powered by
battery.

And to get even more anal about it, I powered the transmitter itself
from a car battery with the iPod attached.

Still the buzz. Arghhh.

Could it be my cabling? what is the absolute best way to insulate the
cables? Where can I buy such superinsulated beasts? I need a stereo
mini plug on one end and left/right rca jacks on the other.

I would be so grateful for advicce!


Not sure what the transmitter is - is it a kit you put together or was it a
'black box' you just connect up and play with? Does it buzz with no input?
Or with just, say, a battery-powered transistor radio hooked up to the
input? How hard are you driving it - are you possibly over-driving the
input?

Frankly, it's over-kill to the extent of probably being illegal, but what
the heck, you're not near me. But if it wasn't a kit, take it back and make
them make it work.

Cheers.

Ken

Since the buzz is still there when you power it from a battery,
try removing all cables except power. Does it still buzz?
Is the battery connected to a charger?

--

... Hank

http://home.earthlink.net/~horedson
http://home.earthlink.net/~w0rli
wrote in message
oups.com...
I bought a one watt Ramsey FM transmitter to distribute whole house
audio .... it's overkill, I admit, but better too much power than to
little.

I don't don't know a ton about radio tech, so I thought I'd ask you
geniuses for advice.

I am getting a wicked buzz from the transmitter. You can hear it
plainly when I tune an FM receiver to the broadcast frequency when
there is no music being broadast. I called Ramsey, but they weren't the
most helpful (maybe because I'm so non-proficient in radio stuff).

Since my audio source was a computer, I considered the possibility that
there was RF coming out of the PC, or that there was a PC related
ground problem. So I tried using an iPod as the source, powered by
battery.

And to get even more anal about it, I powered the transmitter itself
from a car battery with the iPod attached.

Still the buzz. Arghhh.

Could it be my cabling? what is the absolute best way to insulate the
cables? Where can I buy such superinsulated beasts? I need a stereo
mini plug on one end and left/right rca jacks on the other.

I would be so grateful for advicce!