New 100 m/w 1580 AM School Radio In Vermont

[BTN BRI]

Just wanted to ask...
We are only getting about 100 yards with our ramsey am transmitter, Any suggestions for placement in an old school building?

This is a pilot project of our local non profit station WBTN AM 1370 1000 watts,
The students in the 6th grade have been producing their own show for the past month at our studios and we are going "LIVE" on Dec 11th with a 1 hour cd loop.

We have tried a few places in the school and can reach both sides where the parrents pick up the students. We would like another 100 yards but I think the ground may help?

We are at the highest point in the school, we are near a window, we have the standard legal antenna, created by our local ham club thanks to Randy Gates.
Just need idea's for better distance. Another 100 yards and we can reach many, many of the local businesses and this would help very much?

Just from reading the boards I can see the the ramsey was not the right choice, Our local amature radio president has suggested carrier current and we are looking into that.

Anyways, The project has been very exciting for the sixth graders and we will also play their show on WBTN AM 1370 on Mondays at 3 p.m.

Any dx cards or notes to the kids would be greatly appreciated,

WNBGS 1580 AM
North Bennington Graded School
Church St
N Bennington, Vermont 05257

P.S. We had to stay with AM as we are pushing people to stay with the Live & Local Source AM 1370 WBTN...Yes, FM would have been easier but not an option. Visit our web site www.wbtnam.org

Thanks,
BTN BRI

[Bill DeFelice]

Not knowing the particulars with your installation I've hard to say where your potential problem may be. I've installed a Hamilton Rangemaster for a high school station in the district I work at and the range covers the entire campus (which is the size of a small college) without difficulty.

If you have exhausted all the available options in improving the efficiency to the antenna you may have to move up in transmitter class to get something more effective. I don't know what you have for a budget for your pilot project, but the popular standards for Part 15 AM cost quite a bit more than the Ramsey, but may be worth saving up for.

I'd love to do a profile on the school station for my web site. Feel free to contact me either via PM here of via my site (links below in my signature).

[LibertyNT]

The SSTran would have been a much better choice.
http://www.sstran.com
for only $99 you get a rock solid transmitter
also there's places you can get it pre-built

[druidhillsradio]

We spent the bucks for a Rangemaster at Saint Leo University.  It covers the campus like the dew!

[BTN BRI]

I just got off the phone with Keith Hamilton , Looks as though this will be the next purchase. We have 6 more schools that want their own station and we will NOT be using the ramsey am25!
Thanks to all, And we will keep you updated on the school broadcast program.