[grc] Using a digital stream as STL to LPFM transmitter site

[Danny]

Our LPFM transmitter site is 6+ miles from our studio without a clean
line-of-sight because of hills. So, to save time and money, we've been
expecting to use a pair of Barix boxes to move a digital stream from our
studio to our transmitter.  But a couple of our key people think we can skip
using one or both Barix boxes.

 

Specifically, the person who maintains the Icecast server that hosts our
webcast feels confident he can create a second private stream of much higher
quality that can take the place of the need for a Barix box at the studio
end and another person thinks we can use a "headless internet radio player"
on a Raspberry Pi instead of a Barix box at the transmitter site. He's
looking at https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43108
especially noting this setup has auto-run upon reboot, which is what we
want. This is a key person of ours with lots of experience using the
Raspberry Pi.

 

Are one or both of them missing something with these suggestions? Will these
be viable and reliable ways to avoid paying $1,200 for a pair of Barix
boxes?

 

Thanks!

Danny

WSPJ-LP Syracuse NY