Complete easy-to-setup radio station in a box 

Procaster vs Rangemaster
Many of you have asked us how our Procaster compares to the competition Rangemaster, so we have compiled the following table listing the main features so that you can judge performance and value for yourself...

 

Features	Procaster	Rangemaster
Frequency channels	42 channel PLL included.	2 crystals included PLL module -  extra $75.
Antenna tuning	Field strength meter – built in Simple trimmer capacitor adjustment.	Requires multimeter, moving taps and trimmer capacitor adjustment. Technical knowledge required.
Input power control	Self-regulating. Automatically adjusts for changing environmental conditions for optimal performance. Maintains input power just within 100mW for 100% guaranteed legality.	Manual adjust standard - assist module -  extra $. Requires calculator, multimeter and technical knowledge. Input power adjustment may be accidently exceeded in violation of FCC rules.
Audio Processor	Included. Effectively increases loudness and range. Features: Compression adjust Modulation depth adjust Music/voice settings choice Treble boost choice Processor defeat if an external processor is used.	Not included. External unit required costing about $850.
Hi-Fi frequency response	Yes – true full range with excellent low frequency response.	No – inadequate limited bandwidth coupling and modulation transformers alter the sound with diminished low frequency response.
Balanced, transformerless audio chain	Yes – having no transformers results in a more natural, cleaner sound.	No – small,  consumer-grade transformers affect the sound quality especially in the bass region.
Certification	FCC Part 15.219 Industry Canada RSS-210	FCC Part 15.219
Range	1 – 2 miles	1 – 2 miles
Modulation Capability	+100%, -100% Built in audio processor effectively increases modulation capability without introducing changes to the sound quality.	+125%, -100% High positive modulation can introduce detrimental effects to the sound quality. Special additional processing equipment required - extra $.
Synchronizable	No – avoids a lot of technical support.	Yes – requires a lot of technical support.
Networked Transmitter	Being a complete self-contained transmitter, the Procaster is ideal for use as an Internet over-the-air device.	Requires extra equipment (and install space) to achieve the same results.
Antenna	Included – large diameter lightweight aluminum sectional design with dual mounts for durability. Easy to install in areas of limited access such as attics. Certified with unit.	Extra - $40. Uses single piece smaller diameter antenna with single mount that over time can cause stress on the casing. Hard or impossible to install in areas of limited access.
Transmitter casing	14 gauge powder-coated steel NEMA case with stainless hardware. Waterproof and durable.	Fiberglass case can develop cracks over time especially at the single antenna mounting point.
Connecting cable	Uses CAT3 twin unshielded twisted pair. 50ft included.	Uses shielded cable – not included - $50 for 100ft.
Shipping	Entire system including antenna ships in a single carton 36” x6” x 6,”  weight 8lbs accepted by every shipper.	Long antenna – costly and awkward to ship.
Lightning Protection	Yes – on antenna, power and audio lines.	Yes – on antenna only.
Ease of setup	Simple – no technical knowledge required.	Longer process - technical knowledge required.
Audio comparison	Full, rich balanced sound exceeds performance of high quality AM receivers.	Requires bass boost to compensate for poor low frequency performance.
List price comparison	$695 for complete system.	$1034 + cost of additional audio processing equipment.

Procaster Features

Fully Certified
This complete broadcasting system is FCC 15.219 and Industry Canada RSS-210 certified with the included antenna for use anywhere in North America. Certification with the authorities assures you that your radio station is fully legal in the eyes of the law which provides you peace of mind and credibility in business.

Flexible
A 42 channel PLL synthesizer allows you to choose the clearest channel in your area as well as setting up multiple transmitters. Also included is a frequency trimmer that allows transmitters with identical frequencies to be matched as close as possible making transmitter arrays perform better. True 12VDC operation - may be powered from a small solar panel. Total system consumption only 12VDC @ 60mA!

Great Performance
Using the most efficient MOSFET output circuitry and a custom-wound air coil for antenna matching results in the maximum range achieveable within the limited scope of the Part 15 rules.  Low distortion, hi-fi audio frequency response and transformerless architecture guarantee a sweet, uncolored sound with no strange artifacts. A pleasure to listen to - sounding just like big commercial stations.

Auto Power Input
Built-in auto power manager maintains input power levels within the 100mW FCC specification at all times. This system ensures that maximum power is always available even if the environment around the transmitter changes due to weather, humidity etc. Eliminates potential errors made in setting up the transmitter and is more consistant than manual adjustment.

Built-in Audio Processor
This is what sets the Procaster™ AM transmitter apart from the competitors by providing superb sound dynamics which can be easily adjusted to your listening preference. Make your station sound the way you want!

• Compression:  light to heavy 
• Modulation Depth:  light to aggressive
• Dynamic characteristics:  fast release (music), slow release (voice)
• Limiting:  never allows negative overmodulation (sideband splatter)
• Treble boost switchable

The built-in audio processor saves you money on unecessary, bulky and complex additional audio equipment,making this 'radio station in a box' an outstanding value. Often, when setting up multiple transmitters for example: over-the-Internet streaming, there simply is no room for additional audio processing equipment when site space is limited - so having it built-in is a tremendous advantage.

Reliable
Built-in lightning protection on the antenna and transient protection on power and audio lines on both the transmitter and studio interface.

Quality Construction
Only the best -  made of the highest quality components using a corrosion-resistant, certified NEMA 4X enclosure, sectional aluminum antenna, stainless steel hardware and advanced SMT electronics for years of trouble-free use.

Tough
Lightweight, tapered antenna mounting to the side of the transmitter enclosure using dual mounts instead of a single mount insures that the entire structure remains rigid even when buffeted by strong winds over long periods of time.

Super Easy Installation
Two part system - outdoor transmitter and studio interface module. Comes complete with 50 ft of connecting cable - all you provide is a mounting location and a ground. Very straightforward - no multimeters or technical knowlwedge required to get on the air!  Includes built-in signal strength meter to instantly see what's happening. Transmitter may be flat or pole mounted with optional U-bolts.

Affordable!
Best of all, the Procaster™ is affordable! 

Did you know?... 

Multiple Transmitters - Synchronization
Many people ask if the Procaster can be synchronized such that larger areas can be covered using multiple transmitters. The answer is no - the Procaster was designed to be a "standalone" unit which can be installed by the novice. Synchronizing is a difficult and complex process requiring specialized knowledge -  here is basically what is involved:

• A master transmitter is setup with the desired channel frequency
• This frequency is fed to the slave transmitters by several methods - here are some common ones:
  • a wired connection (often not possible due to distances/obstructions)
  • a radio connection (microwave - line of sight)
  • a special dedicated telephone line (recurring rental costs)
• Due to differing distances, the propagation of the signal takes different times to arrive at the slave units. This causes the signal to be out of phase and must be corrected to prevent one transmitter from "fighting" against another with the possibility of reducing the overall signal strength. This requires walking around the site with a field strength meter and making adjustments to each individual slave transmitter.
• Similarly, the audio takes differing times to propagate to each transmitter, and if not delayed may result in an undesirable echo effect to the listener.

Internet Streaming
Many radio broadcasters already stream their programs over the Internet. Connecting a Procaster to the audio output of a PC receiving the program stream is quite straightforward and easy to do. Using a device called an Exstreamer from www.barix.com ,this little box will connect to the Internet and "pull" an audio file from a server with a fixed IP address and convert that stream to high quality audio which can be fed directly to the Procaster. The Exstreamer is very reliable and will "re-try" the connection to maintain service.  If the Procasters are spaced far apart, then each installation operates independently and there is no interference. If you want to cover a continuous area, then you would set up the transmitters such that their fringes meet.

Listeners in that fringe area may witness some unusual events:

•  "beating" - this can be minimized by adjusting the Procaster clocks using the trimmer capacitor
•  "echoes" - caused by differing delays of the streaming packets as they traverse the Internet

We think this is an excellent solution to create a large reliable broadcast area. In fact the coverage area can be national - a cluster in one city/town another cluster somewhere else. For example: a chain of supermarkets might have a Procaster/Exstreamer setup all over the country to service their parking lots with program audio content controlled from a single location.