R_QRP wrote:Have you tried to build in a PC inside the transmitter
instead of building a transmitter inside the PC ...?
![:roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
LOL. check out 'SBC' on google. An SBC or 'Single Board Computer' is exactly what it sounds like... An entire computer built on a single tiny board. They can easily run your choice of linux or windows CE.
SBC's vary in size but I've seen fully-featured ones as small as 5x5 inches... you can probably get them smaller. Certainly small enough to house inside a 2U rack transmitter with a VGA output and a PS keyboard running the show : )
Better still, you could install an apache webserver and control the playlists via ethernet, WiFi or the other side of the world. you could upload MP3's, Create playlists with advertising breaks and even schedule your transmission times remotely... Whats more, you could use RTP protocol to stream live sessions from your DJ's who could be located anywhere in the world. Most of this is possible with stock studio-automation software already - if not, just login remotely and use it as a remote desktop.
Hell, your listeners could be encouraged to interract by visiting your webpage and voting for songs from the current playlist. A text-to-speech request system could be funny too (From Freaky HAL, your robotic DJ) ... for that, install microsofts text-to-speech API and let it read out the requests submitted via a web form : )
Yes, a PC in the transmitter could be fun.
The main concern would be preventing the transmitters RF from interfering with the SBC... You'd probably have to be pretty careful when shielding everything in order to prevent the RF from causing random hiccups.
And, of course, if you don't have a license you're just risking losing more when they come to take your rig : )
-Medus