FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

ROXAS CITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

AM RADIO BROADCASTING STATION

DESIGN

SUBMITTED BY:
REZIE D. DELLAVA

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. JOMAR DADOR

TABLE OF CONTETS

Introduction
Design Background
Design Concept
System Designing
Bill of Materials

Introduction
FM radio broadcast is one of the main types of radio broadcasting. FM usually denotes
frequency modulation. This frequency modulation usually takes place on VHF airwaves in a
frequency range of 88 to 108 around the world except Japan and Russia. This following article
shares precise information on FM radio broadcast. So, find out everything about FM radio
broadcast whether its advantages or disadvantages right here.
Sources have revealed that FM radio broadcasting is very popular especially in developed
areas including Europe and United States because higher sound fidelity as well as stereo
broadcasting certainly became quite familiar in this format. During 1930s, Edwin H Armstrong
invented FM radio. He invented it to overcome the interference problem associated with AM
radio broadcasting to which is relatively immune. Going further with the details on FM radio
broadcast, we come up with the point that for accommodating an audio signal in FM radio, it
does not require a bandwidth of 200 kHz. What is all required is 20 kHz to 30 kHz for a
narrowband FM radio broadcast or FM signal. The 200 kHz bandwidth enabled space for 75
kHz signal deviation from the appointed frequency.
Moreover, guard bands for minimizing or eliminating adjacent channel interference.
However, the greater or higher bandwidth enables to broadcast for a 15 kHz bandwidth audio
signal. Meanwhile the extra unused capacity is generally used for transmitting utility acts like
background music for public areas, as well as GPS auxiliary signals.
The problem of AM radio interference during nighttime was generally addressed in
different way. The time when FM was first set up, the available frequencies were far greater or
larger in comparison to those used for AM radio broadcast roughly around 100. Using these
frequencies meant that even at far larger power, the range of a given FM radio broadcast or FM
signal was much shorter, thus its market was more local than for AM radio. The reception range
at night is the same as in the daytime. However, all new radios included both AM and FM tuners,

FM became the dominant medium, especially in cities. Because of its greater range, AM
remained more common in rural environments.

Design Background
The to be established FM station, Rockstar Radio 94.7 MHz, is a music/news/talk radio
station serving mainly in Bo. Obrero, Davao City with a power of 20 000 watts. The
station's studio, as well as the transmitter, will be assembled in the fifth floor of the College of
Engineering building in the University of Southeastern Philippines. DXJC will operate 20 hours
a day, from 4 oclock in the morning until midnight, 7 days a week.
1. name
2. operating frequency
3. operating power
4. operating time
5. classes of fm broadcast stations-class a

Design Concept
a.) Frequency
For the project, a frequency of 94.7 MHz is used. A channel at the middle part of Very High
Frequency band is selected because it is commercially available and it is more convenient
for listeners to tune their radios.
b.) Type of Module
Since the coverage area is relatively small, Rockstar Radio will broadcast in stereo where
typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or (in the case of headphones and
multiple loudspeakers) channels are fed from a common signal path. In the case of multiple
microphones the paths are mixed into a single signal path at some stage. Aside from mono
being less expensive for recording and reproduction, recording is easy and only requires
basic equipment.
c.) Modulating Index
m=f/fm
where:
f=peak carrier frequency
fm=modulating frequency
for commercial FM,
f=75kHz
fm=15kHz
m=75/15
m=5

d.) Bandwidth
B=2(m+1)*fm
B=2(5+1)*15 kHz
B=180 kHz
Guard bands: 10 kHz at both ends, therefore
B=180 + 2(10)
B=200 kHz
e.) Power Amplifier
In this design, we used a Class D power amplifier. The voltage mode Class D amplifier is
defined as a switching circuit that results in the generation of a half-sinusoidal current
waveform and a square voltage waveform. A series-tuned output filter passes only the
fundamental frequency component to the load. Class D amplifiers suffers from losses due to
a number of reasons: non-zero saturating resistance, finite switching speed and output
capacitance of the devices. Class D power amplifiers are mainly used in the HF and VHF

bands, sometimes output levels up to 1 kW. They are not preferred at the frequencies in the
GHZ range, although this might change in the future, Class D operation with efficiency as
high as 80% at 1GHZ has been reported. A unique aspect of Class D is that efficiency is not
degraded by the presence of reactance in the load.
f.) Antenna Polarization
Vertical polarization provides the best possible coverage for frequency modulated radio
signals since most of the receivers utilize vertical antennas and the antenna design gives
maximum radiation efficiency. The implementation of vertical polarization is
implemented by using a half wave dipole antenna in an array system mounted on the
vertical length of the tower with a 1 wavelength spacing between each element for
maximum radiation efficiency.
g.) Station Location
The station, as well as the transmitter, will be located at the fifth floor of the College of
Engineering building in the University of Southeastern Philippines.
The area of coverage will be mainly Bo. Obrero, Davao City with a land area of
approximately 800,000 square meters. Below are the topographical map of Davao City and
the elevation profile of Obrero, Davao City.

System of Designing
a.) Block Diagram

i.

The exciter is the most important part of an FM Transmitter because the FM

signal is generated at this stage. It can operate as a low power standalone
transmitter. The exciter section contains carrier oscillator, buffer amplifier, and

ii.

reactance modulator.
After successful FM signal generation, the signal is split before being passed into
the amplifier bank. This helps us ensure a low noise amplification and improved

iii.

signal to noise ratio.

The various outputs from the splitter stage were directly coupled into an amplifier.
A 1 kW Class C amplifier was used for this purpose. This provides the effective
power boost needed for the transmission of the signal over a range.

iv.

The combiner unit is a reciprocal of the splitter unit. It is made up to three

combining stages. The first stage employs four sets of 6:1 combiners to yield four
6 kW signals. The second stage uses two sets of 2:1 combiners to two signals of
12 kW each while the third stage combines the two 12 kW signals to yield a 24
kW output.

b.) Antenna

The antenna used in this design is an omnidirectional transmitting antenna. The

antenna has a gain of 2.15 dB and an impedance of 50 ohms. Its grounding system is
composed of metal clamps. The physical height of the antenna is 143 cm. Shown below
are its vertical and horizontal patterns.

Frequency of
transmission, f =

94.7

MHz
=c/f
=3x108/94.7x106
=3.168m
Physical antenna length, l= /4
=3.168/4
=0.7191m
Therefore, length = 71.91 cm

Bill of Materials
Item

QT

#
1

Y
125

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

2
1
2
1
2
1
1
1

Pcs
Pcs
Pcs
Pcs
Pcs
Pcs
Pcs
Set

10

Pcs

11

Pcs

Unit

Description

Price

Amount

Feet

SAT-PAK COM RG 213 Coaxial Cable

LMR-400-75 type N male plugs and
grounding
Behringer Ultramizer Audio Processor
SHURE SM57
Altec Lansing VS2621 Speakers
Techno Tamashi TH-1049
ALTO Equalizer 31 band mono
MICKLE MT7-USB Mixing Console
BNC Connectors and Peripherals
Broadcom FM Broadcast Antenna 87108MHz
800 ft. 10-Gauge Bare Copper Grounding
Wire

15,266.08

15,266.08

6,600.00

6,600.00

4,400.00
4,356.00
2,350.00
599.00
4,500.00
4,999.00
20, 000.00

4,400.00
4,356.00
2,350.00
599.00
4,500.00
4,999.00
20, 000.00

11,450.00

11,450.00

8,404.00

16,808.00

250,000.0
12
13

1
1

Pcs
Pcs

Airman Welder 350 amp 9.9 Generator

HP Envy Recline 27xt
Axel Oxygen 5 Broadcast Mising

0
53,679.00
254,952.1

14

Pcs

Console
Armstrong FM20000T2 20 kW FM

4
2692582.0

15

1
12

Pcs
Transmitter
month
s

Building Rental, Power Consumption

7
50,000.00

250,000.00
53,679.00
254,952.14

2692582.07
600,000.00
3,922,541.2

TOTAL AMOUNT
FM Tower Construction and Materials
FM Station Studio Construction
6

Employee Salary
Labor Cost
TOTAL INVESTMENT

9
500000
150,000.0
0
12,500.00

500000
150,000.00
75 000.00
588,381.19
10,160,922.
48