Searching for Vastelec on ebay

[jcizek]

I have spent considerable time searching ebay for one of the Vastelec transmitters... I come up with 15 other brands of transmitters from Hong Kong, but never seem to find any of the Vastelec. Since so many here on the forum have had good luck with them, I'd like to find one of those, but they never seem to turn up no matter how I search... anyone got any suggestions for search terms I am missing? Thanks!! -James

[LabRat]

Did you try adding your name to the list of people waiting to buy one, as advertised in these forums??

(call me crazy.. but it seems a good starting point)

:rolleyes:

[jcizek]

ah no, but i also haven't seen any other posts about anyone waiting... There sure is a lot of info on these forums 8-)

I always search the forum before posting but didn't see anything like you mention come up. I'll try a few more searches...

[jcizek]

On another note, since I seem to be in the dark about Vastelec... has anyone tried any of the transmitters that seller 'happyshop1982' is selling on ebay? It's a hong kong seller that seems to have about 10 or so different models of transmitters for sale in the 500mw to 10w range... They seem to vary in complexity and price. Anyone bought anything from this seller? -James

[LabRat]

Umm... you're going to kick yourself:

Forum -> DIY Store -> Buy/Sell/Trade

First entry in the list (if you are ordering newest to oldest)

Latest Vastelec Transmitters are here ! (http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7564)

Those of us on the list are waiting for an opportunity to buy these (any day now (or so we hope)).

[ukewarrior]

Yep, we are all hoping that I haven't spent all this time getting this list together in vain :eek:

I'll ask the vendor again this coming Tuesday about his stocking position.

[dirknerkle]

On another note, since I seem to be in the dark about Vastelec... has anyone tried any of the transmitters that seller 'happyshop1982' is selling on ebay? It's a hong kong seller that seems to have about 10 or so different models of transmitters for sale in the 500mw to 10w range... They seem to vary in complexity and price. Anyone bought anything from this seller? -James

I bought one of their 50mw jobs as a backup to my Vastelec 30mw. It was only about $50 including shipping. I was so pleased that it came inside a beautifully finished metal case, a short bnc-mount antenna, a 3' stereo audio cable and a power supply. It works beautifully!

-d

[ppohlman]

It works beautifully!

What kind of range do you get with it?

Where is it located in your house and how far down the street do you get a clear signal?

[dirknerkle]

What kind of range do you get with it?

Where is it located in your house and how far down the street do you get a clear signal?

Well, the Vastelec gets easily 1/4 mile at 30mw and this is 50mw. I don't know how much further than 1/4 mile it will go, but it doesn't matter to me -- I know the signal is certainly strong enough for what I need, and actually, it probably violates FCC regulations anyway... If I decide to use it, I may have to attenuate it a bit to cut its distance down.

[budude]

and actually, it probably violates FCC regulations anyway...

Oh Reallllyyy? Hmmmmm - what's your home address again? :twisted:

[LabRat]

Which brings up a good question. What's the easiest/best way to "attenuate" the signal? (Lookin' fer sum edukashuns from you raydio gooroo's out thar)

;)

[budude]

Found this:
http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/circuits/resistor_attenuator/resistor_attenuator.php

Now if you had the EDM-LCD transmitter, you just adjust the little knobby thing from 1 to 100mW - but that would be a different thread.... :rolleyes:

[LabRat]

Found this:
http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/circuits/resistor_attenuator/resistor_attenuator.php

Now if you had the EDM-LCD transmitter, you just adjust the little knobby thing from 1 to 100mW - but that would be a different thread.... :rolleyes:

Yeah.. but I'd also have a larger balance owing on my credit card. ;)

Thanks for the link. I think this will come in handy as I don't want to do the 1/4 mile signal. 4 Houses will be just fine. (as long as it's a "clean" signal)

[dirknerkle]

Where is it located in your house and how far down the street do you get a clear signal?

Sorry -- forgot to answer your other question. The Vastelec transmitter is in the basement in my computer room. The antenna is outside attached to a side of the garage. A 50' coax cable connects the two (which probably cuts the signal down a couple dbs on its own...).

The 50mw transmitter is just a backup -- in case I blow out the Vastelec. I've tested it from my basement workbench and using the short telescoping antenna it came with instead of the outdoor antenna, it covers a half-dozen houses up or down the street. So if I have to put it into service, I'd probably use it that way instead of connecting it to the outside antenna -- which I'd guess would cover the whole neighborhood and is something I really don't want to mess with...


BTW... for those who are searching eBay for "vastelec" you won't find it. Instead, do a search for 30mw fm transmitter and you'll find them.

[jcizek]

Thanks to all for the info on searching and the other seller.

For those true geeks out there, here is a webpage explaining resistor attenuators,
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/basics/attenuators.htm
Very simple to build, just some math involved in keeping impedence in check!

Also mentioned in this thread was loss of coax... a lot of people probably
don't realize how bad it actually can be! Assuming you are using RG-58/u
(probably the most common, looks a lot like TV coax but it's 50 ohm)
the loss at 100 MHZ per 100 feet is 3.8 db!!
That means that if you put in 30mw at the transmitter end, you are getting roughly
10mw at the antenna! Of course RG/8 helps this, but it's rather bulky and more
expensive cable. It's always best to keep your coax run short as possible.

-James

[Aurbo99]

http://cgi.ebay.com/30mW-FM-RADIO-STATION-TRANSMITTER-Circuit-Board_W0QQitemZ400064068385QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item5d25ad3b21&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14


Looks like HLLY is the only one currently offering the Vastelec units.

[christmas-light]

http://cgi.ebay.com/30mW-FM-RADIO-STATION-TRANSMITTER-Circuit-Board_W0QQitemZ400064068385QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item5d25ad3b21&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14



Looks like HLLY is the only one currently offering the Vastelec units.

Is it the same as this:

http://www.hllyelectronics.com/html/fm_transmitter_1_55.html

[ukewarrior]

yes, these are the same!

I looked at Hilly when I was finding a supplier and their price used to be $39 !
After conversion, this is now $34.

Looks like competition is driving down the price! I'll have to see if Hilly has the quantity we need or if this is bogus. I have found several sellers of the VASTelec units, but when you go to order, they never seem to be in stock.



Is it the same as this:

http://www.hllyelectronics.com/html/fm_transmitter_1_55.html

[christmas-light]

Youst brought then from ebay :p

[ukewarrior]

Well, if I did, I sure lost a lot of money buying them for $39 and selling them for $29 !:-o

I've been accused of having just fallen off the turnip truck before. Maybe it's true!:rolleyes:


Youst brought then from ebay :p

[christmas-light]

Yes, con notwait to I get my transmitter ;)

[christmas-light]

Hi

got my fm transmitter today :p

now I am only missing the antenna :-)

C - L

[gocats7]

Looking for a transmitter myself, so I found what I think is the one being bought, but I guess I would like confirmation if you guys wouldnt mind. Also, I am curious what case, antenna, cable, etc is needed. I am new to this type of thing, I can do what needs to be done, just need direction.

[christmas-light]

Hi

I have brought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Portable-FM-Transmitter-GP-ANTENNA-High-Quality_W0QQitemZ330354342192QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4ceaa73930&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

C - L ;)

[dmcole]

Looking for a transmitter myself, so I found what I think is the one being bought, but I guess I would like confirmation if you guys wouldnt mind.

Yes, but *we* don't know what you found, so it's difficult to confirm. Please provide URL.


Also, I am curious what case, antenna, cable, etc is needed. I am new to this type of thing, I can do what needs to be done, just need direction.

A metal case is good. Personally, I used an old external disc drive case, which was not only metal, but also had a really good power supply. (You can read about it ad naseum on my site at http://www.pacificalights.info/index.php/tech/11-fm-radio-transmitter.html)

For an antenna, I just calculated the appropriate length of wire for a dipole and then stapled it to the wall (again, see my web page).

What kind of connectors and cable is determined by the type of transmitter you've found.

Best o' luck.

\dmc