This 7 Watt FM Transmitter was originally a 200mW unit, without the universal power stage added. Together with the power amp 2SC1971 / MRF237 / NTE342 it then became a 7W unit.
I used this transmitter with a half-wave open-end dipole in a vertical position 50 feet above ground. Together with about 70 feet of coax, this transmitter delivered great audio at a distance of 10 miles … overall distance was 17 miles, but the audio signal was weak.
I had no equipment, other than a watt meter to measure it’s power and a digital FM tuner with a 5-LED Signal Strength Bargraph display to use as capturing the main oscillating frequency, which was right at 87.5 MHz.
This circuit worked well for me, as I had experimented with it for nearly a year. Of course, one would be better off with more equipment than I have had to capture the main oscillating frequency. That was, by far, one of the hardest things to capture.
It was thru trial and error, with the FM tuner, in finally finding out how to grab the right frequency. When I finally did get used to find out where my ‘main’ frequency was, the unit performed extremely well. Like I had said above, right at 10 miles, the unit was at its best giving clear audible audio into the speakers of my car. With the transmitting antenna at 50 feet above ground, I decided to see how well I could receive the transmitter signal from an overpass than is exactly 15 miles from the transmitter.
When I got to the top of the overpass in my car, the audio signal came in as ‘clear as a bell’. I now understand what is meant when one says FM signal travels best in a line of sight. Well, being on that overpass, if I had a strong telescope with me, I am sure I could see the 50 foot antenna in my oak tree. So with the overpass being right around 50 feet in height also, the transmitter surpassed my judgement call on its signal.
I surrender this circuit to anyone who likes to experiment in things like this. Enjoy!
