Transmitting a vlf signal

Thread Starter

Dimbil000

Joined Jan 10, 2026
8
I want to transmit a sine wave signal at the frequency of 5KHZ to a distance of 1 kilometer or maybe a little less.

Can someone tell me if this is possible and if it is possible can you suggest me the required amplifier and antenna?
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
22,058
I want to transmit a sine wave signal at the frequency of 5KHZ to a distance of 1 kilometer or maybe a little less.

Can someone tell me if this is possible and if it is possible can you suggest me the required amplifier and antenna?
The half wavelength antenna would need to be 30 kilometers of wire. Hardly a practical proposition.

\( \lambda\;=\;\cfrac{c}{f} \)

\( \cfrac{3\times10^{8}\text{ meters/sec}}{5,000\text{ Hz}}\;=\;60\times 10^3\text {meters} \)

On top of that it would be illegal in most jurisdictions to transmit a pure tone like that.
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
38,322
Does it need to be omni-directional or point-to-point?

If point-to point, would it meet your requirements if it's line-of-sight using a modulated laser beam?
It should only require a few mW of laser power to reliably go that distance.
Of course, such communication could be interrupted by rain/snow/fog, etc.

Edit: Alternately, for omni-directional, a low power FM transmitter might also be used to send the 5kHz signal.
If point-to-point, directional antennas can be use to increase the range of the low-power FM transmitters allowed for unlicensed transmission.
 
Last edited:

Thread Starter

Dimbil000

Joined Jan 10, 2026
8
Would it meet your requirements if it's line-of-sight using a modulated laser beam?
It should only require a few mW of laser power to reliably go that distance.
Of course, such communication could be interrupted by rain/snow/fog, etc.

Edit: Alternately a low power FM transmitter might also be used to send the 5kHz signal.
Can you please give more information about your both suggestions?
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
38,322
Can you please give more information about your both suggestions?
The laser approach is more difficult and expensive, and requires accurate alignment between transmitter and receiver.
It also may require some custom components.

The FM approach can use off-the-shelf transmitters and receivers, without any accurate antenna alignment required, so that would be the easiest and likely cheapest approach.

What will you do with the received 5kHz signal?
 

Thread Starter

Dimbil000

Joined Jan 10, 2026
8
Can you please suggest me some off-the-shelf transmitters and receivers and antennas for this?

I just want to send a signal.
 

Thread Starter

Dimbil000

Joined Jan 10, 2026
8
Can you please give more information about your both suggestions?
The laser approach is more difficult and expensive, and requires accurate alignment between transmitter and receiver.
It also may require some custom components.

The FM approach can use off-the-shelf transmitters and receivers, without any accurate antenna alignment required, so that would be the easiest and likely cheapest approach.

What will you do with the received 5kHz signal?
Can you please suggest me some off-the-shelf transmitters and receivers and antennas for this?

I just want to send a signal.
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
32,706
@Dimbil000 : There is no need to say the same thing in multiple posts. Everyone sees all replies.

What you are trying to do is illegal in almost all places. It also makes no sense.

What is the underlying problem you are trying to solve? Transmitting a pure sine wave at 5 kHz is almost certainly not the only or best way to solve it.

Have you done ANY reading on the subject? Even just looking at what Wikipedia has to say about it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
38,322
Can you please suggest me some off-the-shelf transmitters and receivers and antennas for this?
Here's an example FM transmitter.
The receiver can be any good off-the-shelf FM radio/receiver.

If you need more sensitivity to reach 1km, you can add a high gain antenna, such as this, to both the transmitter and receiver.
 

Thread Starter

Dimbil000

Joined Jan 10, 2026
8
Here's an example FM transmitter.
The receiver can be any good off-the-shelf FM radio/receiver.

If you need more sensitivity to reach 1km, you can add a high gain antenna, such as this, to both the transmitter and receiver.
Here's an example FM transmitter.
The receiver can be any good off-the-shelf FM radio/receiver.

If you need more sensitivity to reach 1km, you can add a high gain antenna, such as this, to both the transmitter and receiver.
Thank you very much!
 
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