It has come to my realization that I am well equipped to do an "FM Transmitter Shootout". I have owned and operated a Potomac FIM-71 unit for more than 20 years, and just this week through a fluke of being in the right place at the right time scored a ZTechnology R-506 complete with the GPS interface and many other fine accessories. These two devices are those actually used by the FCC when checking for illegal FM stations. I don't own a vintage PC to run the software for the R-506 so I couldn't do on screen mapping like the FCC does when they're busting a perp, but I'm actually quite over equipped to take precise field intensity measurements from FM transmitters. Would be quite simple to set up a few and do the measurements at 3 meters and see what they actually generate.
I have zero experience with FM Part 15 transmitters. However it appears most of them look pretty much like a small transistor radio and have small supplied antennas that are required for their certification. I don't know that any of them talk about grounding systems or any other complex and varied installation quirks so a test should be pretty straightforward. Unlike the AM transmitters where there are a lot of variables and modulation ability can have an effect on coverage.
Two problems I see. I don't HAVE any of these, and doing an accurate test would require new, stock units purchased (not provided) for the test. If you ask for one they just may tweak it before sending it out. And the other issue is once I get setup, I'd probably waste a lot of time doing audio tests, etc to see which ones sound best in stock configuration.
Hmm. I just get these thoughts when I buy new toys.
Damn my curiosity.
So, if I were to do this, which certified FM Part 15 transmitters would be the choices for testing? Nothing that's a kit, as that certainly would be a unit with variables just by the nature of assembly.
I might even publish actual numbers.
Tim in Bovey