Very remote speaker.

Davesnave

Here’s a challenge for you. What is the simplest/cheapest way to get an mp3 signal to a battery-powered speaker about 100 metres distant?

I’m happy to use wires, but I imagine that there would be a considerable fall off in signal, meaning none at t’other end. So, perhaps some kind of battery powered amp would be needed, as there’s no mains within 100m of the place where the player would be.

I have mains 200m from where I want the speaker, but that’s a hell of a way!

So, if I’ve got this right, could some kind person guide me regarding:

• The best wire to use. I already have lots of three strand lighting cable and the quality of sound isn’t a huge consideration.

• What kind of battery-powered amp to get.

Or maybe I haven’t got a clue. In that case perhaps someone could suggest an easier, slicker, non-wired way.

Norman_Castle

Have you tried moving the mp3 player 100 meters nearer.

Davesnave

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Have you tried moving the mp3 player 100 meters nearer.

Strangely enough, I have considered it.

However, that isn't what I have chosen to do.

benje302

Qucik Question

Where are your MP3's being stored ?

If you have a smart phone, place them on there and then get a blue tooth speaker - many of these can be used on mains or battery power.

Ben

Davesnave

Thanks Ben.

My phone is nowhere near smart, but I'd be perfectly prepared to buy another if it could solve this problem.

However, although I'm not very tech-smart either, I understand that the very best one can hope for when streaming music from a bluetooth device to a powered speaker is a range of about 30m. As that's under ideal conditions, I think bluetooth would leave me 70m short.

Cisco001

So why can't you move the mp3 player?

Davesnave

Cisco001 wrote: »

So why can't you move the mp3 player?

I can, but I want the facility to switch on and off remotely without walking so far each time.

The speaker will play some nice trance music every time my neighbour's dogs bark, but I'm happy enough to turn the music off again when they stop, if I don't have to walk all the way down my field.

Think of it as aversion training.... dogs bark....trance music....dogs stop....music stops...everyone happy.

The speaker has to be near the neighbour. That way the music won't need to be very loud, which might disturb other rural neighbours. Otherwise, I would just set up a 500watt PA in my barn. :rotfl:

A Minirig, or similar, should do it

benje302

Hi
I think we have our wires crossed a little.
I meant if the source of the MP3's was 100m away and you had a smart phone then you could get the music closer to the speaker.
Bluetooth is only really good for 10m.
Can you explain in more detail what you need.
ie, music centre sat in house and speaker in childs playhouse at bottom of garden.
That sort of thing would explain why you having a new smart phone would not make any difference.
Ben

Davesnave

benje302 wrote: »

Can you explain in more detail what you need.
ie, music centre sat in house and speaker in childs playhouse at bottom of garden.
Ben

O.K. I work outdoors a lot, so I'm mostly out of the house. I have a Sansa mp3 player, which I can upload music/podcasts to, and then play via headphones.

If I bought a Minirig speaker, I could attach the Sansa directly to it with a 1m cable and get up to 15watts, which would be fine , but I'd have to switch it on and off in response to the neighbour's dogs barking.

Two problems with that:

• neighbour will probably see me and give abuse as I shall have to go close to their boundary
• I will have to walk up & down my field, which is not always convenient when in the middle of something else

Of course, I could just respond by leaving the thing running all day, but I want, if possible, to make my response more immediate and interactive, as I believe that might have greater effect.



PS. We have explored verbal communication on this matter already, and reached as far as we're likely to go!

Moneymaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyCTYVu6Ecw
Open it up. Connect 100m twin flex to the push button.

or http://www.eurobarkcontrol.co.uk/a/ultrasonic-dog.htm
https://startpage.com/do/search?q=ultrasonic+dog+deterrent+uk

bluesnake

Davesnave wrote: »

• The best wire to use. I already have lots of three strand lighting cable and the quality of sound isn’t a huge consideration.

• What kind of battery-powered amp to get.

I would think 2 transformers. one to step up the exiting amplifier output voltage so that the resistance if the wire is negligible and the other on the other end to step it down to normal voltage.

Do not think normal iron electric door bell transformers will do the job due to hysteresis and frequency as it will kill higher frequencies. Think a ferrite does not do so well at the lower frequencies, but may also work well enough.

another way with power is by using two wires: send dc down the wire to power an amp at the other end and superimposing a small audio signal on the dc.

3 wire way: say the left wire is power, the middle is a common power and signal, and the right is signal

Then there are radio waves.

Also do not forget pulsed light