4.1 Results The project aimed to solve the issues presented to the IQP team by WICN. The proposed solutions at the beginning of the project included expansion of the radio broadcast signal, opening of a new booster station, purchasing of an existing radio tower or the development a prototype internet booster station. After researching each of these potential solutions, the team focused on the development of the prototype internet booster station. The team divided the development of the internet booster station into two main parts to the prototype: the hardware and software. The hardware consisted of the AM modulation and RF modulator and transmitter. The software was an android app that would obtain WICN online station, synchronize the clock through GPS, and output the audio at precise times based on the distance between the two booster stations. When developing the prototype the team was able to successfully obtain the GPS location and stream online station. The prototype would output the stream to audio jack to the AM WICN’s transmitter. The AM transmitter was then able transmit the signal to an AM radio receiver on the other side of the room. Unfortunately the team was unable to properly synchronize the clocks down to a microsecond due to the precision of the on board GPS. 4.2 Errors As the project moved forward the team encountered several problems that prevented the team from truly finish building either of the possible solutions. The team ran into issues with both the hardware and with the software. For the hardware, there were some problems with the circuit including that the team had to design an AM modulation circuit, not a FM modulation because of the difficulty the team
4.1 Results The project aimed to solve the issues presented to the IQP team by WICN. The proposed solutions at the beginning of the project included expansion of the radio broadcast signal, opening of a new booster station, purchasing of an existing radio tower or the development a prototype internet booster station. After researching each of these potential solutions, the team focused on the development of the prototype internet booster station. The team divided the development of the internet booster station into two main parts to the prototype: the hardware and software. The hardware consisted of the AM modulation and RF modulator and transmitter. The software was an android app that would obtain WICN online station, synchronize the clock through GPS, and output the audio at precise times based on the distance between the two booster stations. When developing the prototype the team was able to successfully obtain the GPS location and stream WICN’s online station. The prototype would output the stream to audio jack to the AM transmitter. The AM transmitter was then able transmit the signal to an AM radio receiver on the other side of the room. Unfortunately the team was unable to properly synchronize the clocks down to a microsecond due to the precision of the on board GPS. 4.2 Errors As the project moved forward the team encountered several problems that prevented the team from truly finish building either of the possible solutions. The team ran into issues with both the hardware and with the software. For the hardware, there were some problems with the circuit including that the team had to design an AM modulation circuit, not a FM modulation because of the difficulty the team
WICN_Tower_Expansion_Final_Draft.docx