Setting up a local radio station
A low power FM radio station is a very useful and cheap way for community groups to get their message across. A few years ago, the Government opened up a number of frequencies on the FM band to low power, local broadcasting. With a maximum power of 1 watt, these radio stations have a range of up to 20 kilometres, depending on terrain. On the Kapiti Coast, for example, Green party members are about to start broadcasting as Radio Whareroa on 107.5MHz.
Among the 60 heavy rock, Christian, Hindi language and other minority interest radio stations some interesting political broadcasters can be found: Radio Chomsky in Auckland, Hamilton's The Station, Matrix in central Wellington and Radio Free Aotearoa in Island Bay.
It's easy. It's cheap. It's effective. The necessary equipment can be up and running in a couple of hours and one person is able to run a station easily. With assistance from existing radio stations, you'll find enough material to broadcast and there are plenty of programmes available for free download and that can be broadcast without a fee. Apart from electricity, they need not cost anything to run.
Broadcasting music and talks
Broadcasting mainstream music from major labels will generally require paying yearly fees to APRA, the Australasian Performing Rights Association and RIANZ. However, there is a wealth of music available under creative commons licenses, all of which can be shared and broadcast freely by non-commercial stations. There is no fee payable if you broadcast only talks.
You can download talks from websites such as www.radio4all.net on topics such as peak oil, climate change and the seeking of community solutions.
Make your own programmes
Individuals and groups with a community perspective could be encouraged to make programmes. It is not hard to put together your own programmes: simply speak into a microphone, record your talk. Find your favourite documents and books and get the information you think is important to other people in your community via radio by making shows using that information. Then upload it to www.radio4all.net for others to broadcast.
Getting on air
Here is the basic technical information needed to start and run a low power FM radio station.
28.03.2008 - This link has been removed as this site is no longer active
www.air.enzyme.org.nz
To find out more, contact the central Wellington station Matrix (matrix1075fm@yahoo.com).
Sources of programmes
As a source of programmes, take a look at www.radio4all.net which has a huge assortment of programmes available for download. Also check out Democracy Now www.democracynow.org, Flashpoints Radio at www.flashpoints.net and Global Public Media at www.globalpublicmedia.com who have a lot of peak oil talks on their website.
Low power FM frequencies
The frequencies available for low power FM broadcasting are 88.1 to 88.7 MHz and 106.7 to 107.7 MHz. A radio station should be no closer than 0.2 MHz away from than another station, so that the maximum number of stations can be heard in any locale.
To find out what frequencies are available in your area, drive to the highest point in the area you intend broadcasting in and, using the car radio, scan the frequencies mentioned above. If you find an available frequency, stake your claim, or choose the frequency with the weakest signal.
Transmitter and aerial
Buy a transmitter and aerial from NRG Kits in Britain, specifying the frequency you intend to broadcast on. They will set up the transmitter, match the aerial and test it before shipping it to New Zealand. Alternatively, you can save some money by buying it as a kit. If you need help, someone from one of the existing stations may be willing to assist you.
Total costs
What kind of costs are we looking at? Around $700 for the transmitter and aerial, plus an old computer to play the programmes and some money for a microphone and speakers.
Radio, remember, is about word of mouth. Let listeners in your area hear what you have to say.
by Ramsey Margolis