Republic of the Philippines

University of Southeastern Philippines

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Obrero Campus, Davao City

ECE523
Broadcast Engineering and Applied Accoustics
Commercial AM Station
Project Proposal

Submitted by:
Lorilla, Franch Maverick A.
Altivo, Jan Rey R.

Submitted to:
Engr. Joey dela Cruz

January 20

Objectives:
a. To propose an AM broadcasting station with the following specifications:
Has an operating power of 10kW
Performing a Class II-A operation
With Service area requisites of 4.47 mV/m and 100uV/m for primary and
secondary respectively.
b. To recognize different factors to be considered in selecting a feasible location for
an AM Broadcasting Station.
c. To Distinguish and pursue the NTCs rules, regulations and requirements in the
construction of an AM Broadcast Station.
d. To establish different parameters in the construction of AM Station acoustic rooms.
e. To choose and classify the different equipment to be used in the operation of an
f.

AM Broadcasting Station.
To provide and establish a feasible AM broadcasting a feasible AM broadcasting

system in Davao city.

g. To provide Am in delivering the latest news and traffic to public
h. To design an AM broadcast system operating at 777 kHz with the call sign DXAL
i. To set up an efficient and cost effective broadcasting system with an overall system
reliability of 99.999%

Scope and Limitations

a. This proposal is only limited to the AM broadcast design located in Davao city.
Hence, the company will be responsible in propagating of signals for AM.
b. The cost analysis of the materials to be used in this study covers the only the main
equipment required in setting up the broadcast antenna such as the tower,
transmitter, receiver, transmission line and generators.
c. Hence, the budget considerations for miscellaneous equipment such as furniture,
office supplies and other devices are not part of this study.
d. The distribution of the services to the subscribers are outside the scope of this
study.

INTRODUCTION
Radio is one of the best means of communication today. Radio broadcasting has
enabled distant communication. Today, there are a vast number of radio stations around the
globe broadcasting by means of transmission. Today, the process of broadcasting is not

complicated at all since all the essential equipments are easily available. Radio broadcast or
broadcasting is just an audio form of communication. Broadcasting encompasses many
technologies which combine to create a method of transmitting content and/or data. One of the
traditional radio broadcasting still used today is AM.
Amplitude Modulation (AM) is a way of broadcasting radio signals. It transmits the
information in the form of electromagnetic waves. AM works by modulating (varying)
the amplitude of the signal or carrier transmitted according to the information being sent, while
the frequency remains constant.
The Radio Broadcasting Industry in the Philippines has gone through numerous
deviations throughout its nearly eight decades of history. From its fetal stages of pure
entertainment, to its adoption of its role as a tool for information in the late 40s.
Today, Davao City has five AM Radio Stations: 576 AM- Bombo Radyo Davao, 621 AMRMN Davao, 1125 AM- Super Radyo Davao, 1296 AM- Radyo Patrol Davao, 1404 AMKingdom Radio.
DESIGN BACKGROUND
The to be established AM station, DXJC 1287 kHz, is a Japanese alternative/variety
serving mainly in Damosa Gateway, Lanang, Davao City, Davao del Sur with a power of 2500
watts. The station's studio, as well as the transmitter, will be assembled in the fifth floor of the
MKD- Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku-Mindanao International College building in the PNJK
Compound Mamay Road, Lanang, Davao City. DXJC will operate 16 hours a day, from 8 oclock
in the morning until midnight, 7 days a week.

Design Concept
Proposed AM Station:
Station Logo

Company
DXAL Japan Broadcasting Network
Owners
Engr. Franch Maverick A. Lorilla
Engr. Jan Rey Altivo
Call Sign
DXAL
Frequency Allocation
1777 kHz
Type
Japanese
Alternatives/ Variety
Power
2500 W
Transmitter Tower
Monopole Type
Tower Height:
100 m
Equipment Brand
Broadcast Electronics and etc.

Station Specifications
Station Name: Radyo Hapon
Station Parameters
Frequency

777 kHz is used which is within the high end of the standard medium wave band
frequency parameters (530 1605 kHz) to provide shorter antenna height. (Antenna height is
inversely proportional to frequency)
Transmitter Power
A 2500 watts transmitter is used to cover a 100 km area of coverage which is from the
PNJK Compound Mamay Road to the boundaries of Davao del sur.
Tower
Tower height is calculated using the formula {(c/f)/4} x 98%. Thus getting a height of 100
m. A mast radiator (or 'radiating tower') is a radio mast or tower in which the entire structure
functions as an antenna. This design is commonly used for transmitting antennas operating at
low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in particular those used for AM broadcasting.
The metal mast is electrically connected to the transmitter. Its base is usually mounted on a
nonconductive support to insulate it from the ground. A mast radiator is a form of monopole
antenna.
Antenna
The station uses a monopole antenna which is a class of radio antenna consisting of a
straight rod-shaped conductor, often mounted perpendicularly over some type of conductive
surface, called a ground plane. A monopole has an omnidirectional radiation pattern. That is it
radiates equal power in all azimuthal directions perpendicular to the antenna, but the radiated
power varies with elevation angle, with the radiation dropping off to zero at the zenith, on the
antenna axis. It radiates vertically polarized radio waves. Thus a quarter-wave monopole, the
most common type, will have a gain of 5.19 dBi and a radiation resistance of about 36.8 ohms if
it is mounted above a good ground plane.
Station Location
The station, as well as the transmitter, will be located at the fifth floor of the MKDMindanao Kokusai Daigaku-Mindanao International College in the University of PNJK
Compound Mamay Road, Lanang, and Davao City.
The area of coverage will be mainly Bo. Obrero, Davao City with a land area of
approximately 100 km.
Area of Coverage:

AM Tower Calculator
Centre Site
MKD- Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku-Mindanao International College

Antenna Height (m)

100

Antenna Type
Omni

Mobile Antenna Height

(m)
Mobile Antenna Gain

(dBi)
Description

MKD- Mindanao Kokusai Da

Frequency (kHz)

777

Required reliability (%)

99.999

System of Designing

i.

Equipment Configuration

ANTENNA

ANTENNA
TUNER

SWR/POWER
METER

TRANSMITTER

STUDIOTRANSMITTER
LINK
AUDIO
MIXING
CONSOLE

LOUD
SPEAKER

ii.

TELEPHONE
HYBRID

Transmitter Design

MICROPHONE

CD PLAYER

TURNTABLE

a.) RF Oscillator stage

-

This stage produces the carrier frequency of the AM Station. The oscillator is a
Crystal oscillator made of resonant quartz crystal.

b.) Buffer
-

Buffer amplifier is used to match the output impedance of the oscillator to the input
impedance of the frequency multiplier.

c.) Frequency Multiplier

-

This generates higher harmonics of the oscillator carrier frequency, it is a tune circuit
that can be tuned to the requisite carrier frequency that is to be transmitted, which is
777 kHz.

d.) Power Amplifier

It is a class C amplifier that gives high power current pulses of the carrier signal at its
output. It is a high-level transmitter.

e.) Audio driver and Audio power amplifiers

-

The audio driver amplifier amplifies the audio produced at the station, it is then power
amplified by a class A or B power amplifier.

f.) Modulated Power Amplifier

-

This is the output stage of the transmitter. The class C amplifier amplifies the power
of the AM signal to the reacquired transmitting power, which is 2.5 kilowatts. This
signal is finally passed to the antenna, which radiates the signal into space of
transmission.

iii.

Sound Reproduction
Our station will be using monaural sound reproduction, often referred to as

monophonic sound or simply mono, which is practical since we use voice frequencies
most of the time. Monaural sound reproduction typically has only one microphone or
speaker, in the case of multiple sound sources, a common signal path will be used
where all the sound sources are fed.
iv.

The Antenna
a. Radiating Element

The radiating element should be constructed vertically and made as tall and "fat" as
possible. If the length of the radiating element falls short of being a full quarter
wavelength at the operating frequency, a capacitive "hat" should be added. This makes
the antenna look longer electrically and thus improves radiation efficiency.

Output Power = 2.5 kilowatts (ERP)

Operating Frequency = 1287 kHz

Field Strength at 100 km =

( 1.64 ERP ) 377

d 2

=2.025/106.347
=0.019 mV/m

This is the radiation pattern for a 20dBi omnidirectional antenna, the most practical one for our
application. This makes the shape of a donut. As long as you are inside of the red lines you
have a 20 dBi gain, but if you get outside of the line you have no reception. This means that you
can fly twice as far away from yourself as long as you dont fly outside of the reception field.
b. Grounding System

Eight evenly-spaced radial wires 43 meters in length

Buried 6-8 inches below ground

Grounding is another important factor that will give the station a better coverage. In this design,
we will use a large number of radial wires, defined as 120 radials, 90 electrical degrees in
length, composed of #10 soft-drawn bare copper wire buried at least six to eight inches
underground.

Studio Design

MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS

Radio Advertising Rates:

a.) Blocktime rates

Per Hour- 1,500/ broadcast
Package price: Monday- Friday, 15,000/month
Per Half Hour- 750/ broadcast
Package price: Monday- Friday, 7,500/month
b.) Tape Ads (Recorded Materials)
30 Seconds- 500/ Spot
Package Price: 10, 000/month (4 Spots/Day)

COSTS AND BUDGETING

Listed in the table are the components used in the installation process which also includes the
System Commissioning and Labor Cost. The total landed cost is inclusive of the Value Added
Tax (VAT).
Item

Description

Unit

No.
1

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10

11

Qua

Price

Amount

ntity
HAR DAX 5- 1PH AM 5kw Digital
transmitter Single Phase
LDF4 -50A, Andrew HELIAX Low
Density Foam Coaxial Cable,
Corrugated Copper, in. black PE
Jacket
Isotron ISO-AMB-225 Low Power AM
Broadcast Band Antenna
Behringer SX3040 Sonic Exciter Sound
Enhancement Processor
Behringer EuroCom SPL3220
Multiband Processor/ Limiter
Behringer HPS5000 Closed-Type HighPerformance Studio Headphones
Behringer DDX3216 Digital Mixing
Console
TFT PACKAGE 5200 Composite/Mono
STL Transmitter/Receiver System
LMR-400-75 type N male plugs and
grounding
Yamaha HS8 Active Studio Monitor
Speaker System 2Way Black Powered
Pro Audio
Electro Voice RE320 Dynamic
Microphone

12

4 AWG Solid Bare Copper Wire

13

Honda EB10000 Generator

Building Rent
AM Station outer and inner Construction
Labor
TOTAL COST

1,643,219.0

Pcs.

Feet

172

131.50

22,619.90

Pcs.

20,061.00

20,061.00

Pcs.

9,458.10

9458.10

Pcs.

8,916.00

8916.00

Pcs.

1,337.50

2675.00

Pcs.

23,270.75

23,270.75

Pcs.

168,334.00

168,334.00

Pcs.

6,600.00

13,200.00

Pcs.

14,221.00

14,221.00

Pcs.

13,329.50

26,659.00

11,124.80

44,499.20

1
(1)

240,729.80
27000.00
750,000.00
452,229.00

240,729.80
27000
750,000.00
452,229.00
3,467,091.75

200ft.
Spool
Pcs.
Months

1,643,219.00

RETURN ON INVESTMENT
I, Overall Investment = Php 3,467,091.75
G, Gain from investment:
Average gain from radio advertising approximately = t*a
Where: t = advertising airtime in s
a= average radio advertising rate
G=t*a = 6hrs(3600s/hr) * 1000/60s
G = 360,000
ROI=-{[(I-G)/I] -1}
= (3,467,091.75 360,000)/ 3,467,091.75)
= -(0.8961 -1) x 100%
= 10.38% on daily basis
ROI=-{[(I-G)/I] -1}
= ((3,467,091.75 360,000*30)/ 3,467,091.75)
= -(-2.11 -1)
= 3.11 monthly basis