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I'm working on a project in which I must send audio over RF such that remote speakers can pick up the signal around a house/apartment. The goal is to broadcast music from a single device somewhere in the house to multiple speakers without the overhead/limitations/tedium of Bluetooth/WiFi. My current approach is as follows:

  1. Input mono audio from 3.5mm barrel audio jack to transmitter
  2. Create 200KHz triangle wave using ADA4851 op amps
  3. Modulate audio using triangle wave, resulting in 200kHz PWM
  4. Transmit PWM using FS1000A 433MHz RF transmitter module
  5. On one or more remote devices, receive RF signal using MX-RM-5V receiver module
  6. Use BU4S584G2 inverter to produce complementary PWM signal
  7. Use 2x FAN73932 gate drivers to drive MOSFET H-bridge using the complementary PWM signals
  8. Filter the H-bridge output using LC low-pass and connect speaker to its output

Receiver/Speaker Driver Schematic

My main issue at the moment is that I didn't realize the RF modules have such a slow datarate: only around 4-10kbps. So, I need a new RF module with the following characteristics:

  • Cheap (can't justify using xBees, plus I don't know if xBees can emulate a wire, or if they must use a serial protocol)
  • Data rate at least 2Mbps (minimum pulse width must allow for wide PWM range)
  • Range of at least 100ft indoors to reach a whole house
  • Only need one-way broadcast in a star network

I'm open to other options, too. I chose PWM so I could use the digital RF modules without needing to encode/decode a binary audio stream. I would rather avoid the hassle of programming microcontrollers at either end. Please offer any suggestions you may have, but my particular interest is finding an equivalent (but faster) RF link.

Thank you, all!

Collin
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  • This is at its core an *impractical idea*. Although at present it takes the form of a disallowed *shopping question*, the bigger issue is that PWM modulated audio is extremely inefficient in a task where efficiency is a key challenge, especially when regulation limits *continuous transmission* to even lower power than permitted for bursts, and that without *buffering* to bridge across interference, you will have very low quality. You either need to buy a complete solution, go analog (ie, FM), or build something far more complex with buffers and efficient codecs. – Chris Stratton Mar 17 '19 at 19:11
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    Good ol' broadcast-band FM, and pick an unoccupied channel? As long as the neighbors don't complain, your local regulatory agency probably won't care (but don't blame me if they fine you into oblivion). – TimWescott Mar 17 '19 at 19:13
  • @TimWescott there are a lot of products that do this e.g. Tunecast – pjc50 Mar 17 '19 at 19:48
  • What is the "overhead/limitations/tedium of Bluetooth/WiFi" that requires you to create your own design? – Kevin White Mar 17 '19 at 22:51
  • @TimWescott It might even be legal so long as you identify yourself every X number of minutes. Check your local regulations. – user253751 Mar 17 '19 at 23:19
  • Bluetooth doesn't have the range to reach through walls in my apartment, so I need something more powerful or on a frequency that attenuates less. Also, am I correct in stating that Bluetooth can only connect between two devices? I need a broadcast mode that allows multiple receivers to play from a single transmitter. An FM or AM solution would work, but I'm having a hard time finding things equivalent to the basic 433MHz modules I have on hand. I could potentially integrate a solution myself, but I would prefer to avoid that given my limited experience designing RF circuitry. – Collin Mar 18 '19 at 03:07
  • If you live in a city, 433MHz is going to be troublesome. It is as much a crap band as 2.4GHz, but 2.4GHz modules take care of frequency hopping automatically - it is a _far_ bigger band. On 433 you have to handle this yourself. Good luck doing that with ebay crap modules. – Lundin Mar 18 '19 at 09:04
  • Sounds good- thanks for the input all. I'll have to look around at smarter 2.4GHz-band modules it seems. I've seen plenty of Pi-powered DIY multiroom speaker systems, but the engineer in me is facepalming at the overkill of using a computer for each speaker, despite the added benefits. – Collin Mar 18 '19 at 23:56

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