FM TX Range
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Radio signals go on and on forever until they encounter an obstacle. Theoretically, you can transmit radio signal infinitely, regardless of power used. It stands to reason that if you use more power, you will overcome any obstructions to your signal. A hard and fast rule to keep in mind is that every time you want to double your range, you have to use FOUR TIMES more output power. If your frequency is clear, your antenna is unobstructed, and a portable receiver of reasonable quality is used, you can consult the chart below to estimate your range and power needs:
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| Watt ERP |
Range (miles) |
| 1 |
5 |
| 4 |
10 |
| 16 |
20 |
| 64 |
40 |
| 128 |
60 |
| 256 |
80 |
| 512 |
120 |
NOTE Transmission range limitations:
Power of transmission
The "sight" that the transmitting antenna can "see" into the distance. Imagine standing at the antenna mount; looking out with binoculars, you will see that it is possible to transmit to wherever there are no obstructions. These distances, depending upon your transmission power, can be up to 20, 30, or even 40 miles if your transmitting antenna is on a mountaintop.
Stations operating on the same frequency, or other sources of interference can cause limits. For instance, say your antenna can "see" up to 20 miles, but if there is another station on the same frequency 20 miles away, they can interfere with or block your signal.
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