[cr-india] Community radio stations... and equipment options (Katherine Wagner)

Mon Apr 7 04:46:36 IST 2008

http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:58B4cZNuh1AJ:www.tv4d.org/assets/pdfs/4.pdf+India+community+radio+acquiring+equipment&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=firefox

Setting up Community Radio Stations
Community Radio Satellite (ComRadSat)
(http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/207.html) is a service for community radio
stations - allowing you to access a wide range of national programming to
complement your own local programs.
To receive this service the equipment needed is:
1. A solid dish (costs between $400-$800 depending on size and quality).
2. An LNB (a down converter at the focal point of the dish, costing
between $100-
$400)
3. A digital receiver (around $1,000).
4. Smart card ($100)
5. Balancing equipment (around $300)
6. Installation (between nothing and $500)
7. A device for recording your program onto - many use a VHS recorder, but you
could use a computer, mini-disc or another system.
Some stations have lost money trying to use other cheaper satellite reception
equipment which does not work satisfactorily.
Weaver Street Market
PTFP (Public Telecommunications Facilities Program) provides matching grants
for equipment purchases for public radio and TV stations. Weaver Street Market
community radio (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-
8&q=TV+Broadcasting+equipment+costs&spell=1) requested a grant for 75% of
the cost of the needed equipment, or about $33,000. The PTFP will provide 75
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Katherine Wagner
Gamos Ltd.
percent of the roughly $44,000 in equipment costs to build a low-power radio
station in Carrboro, said Ruffin Slater, the group's president and general
manager of Weaver Street Market.
Chapel Hill Herald April 10, 2003
KFOK 95.1 FM - Community Radio, GEORGETOWN
According to http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-
8&q=TV+Broadcasting+equipment+costs&spell=1 , the capital cost for putting
together the equipment for the station was estimated to be between $18,000 and
$20,000, however, thanks to the efforts of everyone involved we have managed
to get on air by acquiring used and donated equipment on a budget of only
$7,000. There are many needed equipment upgrades and the yearly cost to run
the station is estimated at $8,000 which includes rent, utilities,
insurance, office
supplies and BMI and ASCAP licenses.
The micro-power radio movement
According to http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/gallup/, since 1978 the FCC
(Federal Communications Commission) no longer offers licences for stations
under 100 watts ("micro-power" or "low-power" fm ) so that all such licensed
stations disappeared by the mid-1980s. This left the regulation of
unlicensed low-
power stations up to the decentralised responsibility of the local stations
themselves.
Micro-power Broadcasting
The Micro-power Broadcasting, Free Radio Movement
(http://www.radio4all.org/how-to.html) has shown that an FM broadcast station
does not have to consist of rooms full of equipment costing tens of thousands of
dollars.
Micro-power broadcasting uses FM transmitters whose power output is in the
range of 1/2 to 40 watts. These transmitters combined with other equipment
including inexpensive audio mixers, consumer audio gear, a power supply, filter
and antenna enable any community to put its own voice on the air at an average
cost of $1000-$1500. This is far more affordable than the tens or hundreds of
thousands required by the current FCC regulatory structure.
The main argument the FCC uses against micro-power broadcasting is the issue
of interference with other broadcast services. Interference is a valid
concern. By
using equipment that is frequency stable and properly fitted with harmonic
suppression filters along with good operating procedures and standards, the
FCC's argument can be effectively neutralised.
The technical aspects of micro-power broadcasting require some basic
knowledge in the areas of electronics and broadcast practices. It is
hoped that as
this movement grows a network of people with the required technical
skills will be
formed to assist in the process of empowering every community with its own
voice.
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Katherine Wagner
Gamos Ltd.
This website also gives information on setting up a community radio station.
Setting up Community Radio in the UK
A document (How To Set Up A Community WLAN) has been prepared to provide
a guide to setting up a community based not-for-profit Broadband Wireless Local
Area Network in the U.K.
The community self-help co-operative alternative as a new concept originated in
the U.K. and has been promoted since 1998 via the World Wide amateur radio
community and the original website: - www.wlan.org.uk.
In its simplest manifestation a Community WLAN starts with a "HUB" - a single
strategically placed, shared wireless "Access Point" (AP) connected to an omni-
directional community antenna located at some common vantage point. This
allows at any one time up to 128 computer users with "wireless LAN
transceivers" at any "line-of-sight" visible distance of over 10 miles, to
interconnect free of charge to an 11Mb/sec local area network "hub".
All facilities normally available to users of a "wired" network and especially
broadband internet gateways to the outside world; neighbouring community
networks, multiple video conferencing nodes, independent community TV &
Radio webcasting and file servers may be added in due course on an ad hoc and
possibly commercial sponsored or subscription paying basis from ANY point on a
newly created alternative network.
A Community Wireless Local Area Network differs from commercial alternatives,
in its primacy of core consumer values. Traditional Co-operative structures
preserve a neighbourly community sharing ethos, fair disposal of
collective profits
and long-term strategic benefits.
Adaption to Digital Radio Transmitters
NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration)
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/ptfp/Application/equipcost_Radio.html)
anticipates funding digital-compatible transmitters to replace analog
transmitters,
if requested by applicants and justified as urgent replacement. Recipients may
add HD Radio (IBOC) exciters to PTFP-funded digital-compatible transmitters or
use grant funds awarded for an analog or digital-compatible radio transmitter
towards the purchase of a transmitter with an IBOC exciter.
This website includes a list of pricings, according to different power levels of
transmission.
International Amateur Radio Union
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Katherine Wagner
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The International Amateur Radio Union (http://www.iaru.org/iaru-soc.html) puts
forward the view that Amateur Radio must organise nationally and
internationally.
This is to achieve better mutual use of the radio spectrum among radio amateurs
throughout the world, to develop Amateur Radio worldwide, and to successfully
interact with the agencies responsible for regulating and allocating radio
frequencies.
The website also includes addresses for unions worldwide.

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Frederick 'FN' Noronha   | Ym/Gmailtalk: fredericknoronha
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Independent Journalist   | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9970157402
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