Design and Implementation of a 20KW Hi-Fi FM Transmitter

ABSTRACT The Design and Construction of the 20KW Hi-Fi FM Radio Transmitter was aimed at achieving a broadcast coverage of the entire university community. Frequency modulation theory and basic information about amplifiers, splitters/combiners as well as antenna polarization were reviewed. A low power transmitter with two audio inputs was implemented using three-stage amplification to serve as a prototype for the 20KW FM transmitter. The output of the low power transmitter was coupled to a monopole antenna for transmission. Simulation of the prototype design was done using MULTISIM as the frequency response was obtained using MATLAB software and the power budget parameters calculated using the Maxim Link Budget Calculator. Design for the high power transmitter was approached using a block-byblock method and 24KW power output obtained. Subsequent test and measurement carried out on the implemented design shows the transmitter operates with a stable power of 41.1W at a receiving frequency of 106.8 MHz and an effective coverage area of 314m 2 . Comparing the results obtained, the measured and calculated parameters showed little variance in values thus implying that the 20kW transmitter design proposed will work with minimal variance.