[cma-l] FW: Contents of cma-l Digest, Vol 70, Issue 79
Canalside's The Thread
office at thethread.org.uk
Fri Feb 27 15:06:09 GMT 2015
We've got a good broadcast both daytime and night-time (I think ?)... it's
just a problem that 70% of our Community can't hear it ..... ! so I'm not
sure really which one is lesser ? possibly ours
Is our Community the Community that we tell Ofcom is our Community, or is
our Community that which Ofcom tells us is our Community ? I like to think
I know what is our Community as I have lived here for 55 years. As I have
said, we were kinda getting away with it until 2011/12 'just' then Ofcom
licensed Real Radio ... that's fine, everyone has an entitlement to do what
we do, we have no intentions of hogging the airwaves and blowing everyone
else into oblivion ... but, when a problem arises and there is a solution
surely a process of brushing under the carpet and ignoring it isn't in the
rule book is it ? if it is, could someone point me to where please.
Perhaps we should call our fraternity the Part Community Radio or
Only Certain People can hear it in the Community Radio or Not
really Community Radio Sort of Community Radio or words to that effect.
Where it can't be fixed then trundle on or find an alternative ie:- the
DAB discussions .... where it CAN be fixed ....... basically, just fix it.
It's not difficult, it's just made difficult, hence the frustration.
A couple of our tecky guys, moi' plus a couple of chimps hired for the day
from Chester Zoo could move it, secure it, plug it in, try it ... then the
day after the nice gentlemen from Ofcom comes along with his O-Meter ... hey
presto, job done before someone says ''ah, it's not quite as easy as
that'' YES IT IS !
If Mr Ofcom says ''you can't do this because you are now causing a problem
to ??? whoever?'' then that is our own fault for not doing our homework
correctly, we only have ourselves to blame. We then pull it down again and
go back to square one. Surely though, anyone in the right frame of mind
isn't going to waste Ofcoms time or for that matter their own ...
Have a good weekend everyone
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Admin
Sent: 27 February 2015 14:19
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Contents of cma-l Digest, Vol 70, Issue 79
Hi Darren,
We are currently without an efficient system - myriad is installed but
training issues for staff at present, just wanted to pick up on the fact you
say that it can be accessed by mobile if need be. How can this be put into
place, is this information you can share? We are struggling to get a good
overnight broadcast at the moment.
Hillz FM.
-----Original Message-----
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of
cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Sent: 27 February 2015 14:03
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Subject: cma-l Digest, Vol 70, Issue 79
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Automation (Darren Cullum)
2. (no subject) (Canalside's The Thread)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 12:38:51 -0000
From: "Darren Cullum" <d.cullum at tonefm.co.uk>
To: "'Ian Hickling'" <transplanfm at hotmail.com>, "'Geoff Rogers'"
<geoff at susyradio.com>, <radio at bayfm.co.uk>, "'cma-l'"
<cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Automation
Message-ID: <03ac01d0528a$58427820$08c76860$@tonefm.co.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Can I just back Ian up with this . . .
Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, I have used pretty much ALL
the big playout systems on the big stations I have worked on and there has
been NOTHING to compare with flexibility, ease of use and support etc The
way we have set everything up means we can do an OB from our mobile devices
if need be!
Yes, there is a cost, BUT would you rather live on knife edge wondering when
and if your cheaper option is going to let you down OR would you prefer
peace of mind . . . This cost should be swallowed up with a sponsorship so
theoretically, it shouldn't be a problem.
Listeners are very 'fickle' and there are so many options these days you
need to make sure they trust your output otherwise, if the perception is
that you keep going off air, you will have a poor reputation and lose
credibility within the community.
Please Note: Tone FM is a 'Not for Profit' Community Radio Station which is
run by volunteers so we may not respond to your email straight away so
please be patient with us. You can help support us by placing a donation
<http://donate.tonefm.co.uk/> HERE
Kind regards.
Darren Cullum
Station Manager
T: 01823 284045
M: 07970 521201
90/91 East Reach, Taunton, TA1 3HF
W: <http://www.tonefm.co.uk/> www.tonefm.co.uk
F: <http://www.facebook.com/tonefm> www.facebook.com/tonefm
T: <http://www.twitter.com/tauntonstonefm> www.twitter.com/tauntonstonefm
Tauntons 107.8 Tone FM is on air now in Somerset's County Town!
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Ian Hickling
Sent: 26 February 2015 18:03
To: Geoff Rogers; radio at bayfm.co.uk; cma-l
Subject: [cma-l] Automation
I hesitated before posting exactly the same recommendation.
We've been working hard in this business for 16 years now - and have seen
all sorts of play-out systems.
We've never found anything to beat Myriad.
We've never installed anything other than Myriad OK - it's not cheap - and
there are loads of free systems out there.
But it's British - it's very well engineered - it's rock solid if you follow
the simple rules - and the support from the guys in Hull is first class.
If you've never experienced it, you can get a 1-month free trial.
If you want to borrow a complete system, we can arrange that too.
Like Geoff says - provide your own hardware - to the right specification -
and the cost can come way down.
And yes - shame on us - we do get a small "thank you" for every one we
install.
_____
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:29:49 +0000
From: geoff at susyradio.com <mailto:geoff at susyradio.com>
To: radio at bayfm.co.uk <mailto:radio at bayfm.co.uk> ; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Automation
You gets what you pays for...
Myriad is the system we use and I've got no hesitation in recommending it.
If you buy rather than lease, it is well worth while. And being a
professional system may tick any training boxes you have in your key
commitments.
The discounts for Community radio are huge, especially if you just buy the
licences and supply your own hardware.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Geoff
On 26 February 2015 at 15:40, Bay Fm Radio <radio at bayfm.co.uk
<mailto:radio at bayfm.co.uk> > wrote:
Hi All,
We're considering changing our play-out system.
We're currently using OTS which is great and extremely reliable but,
limited. I'd like the ability to be able to program different spots at
different days and times etc.
I've been looking at Jazler Radiostar2. Are there any stations using this
automation?
Myriad (P-Squared) is too expensive and we're not prepared to pay for it
monthly either.
Thanks in advance,
Bay FM.
Andy.
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--
Geoff Rogers
Programme Director
Susy Radio, Local Community Radio for Redhill and Reigate On-air across
Sussex and Surrey on 103.4FM NOW
Web: susyradio.com <http://susyradio.com> <http://www.susyradio.com>
Susy Radio Ltd. A company registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: 54 Nutfield Road, Merstham, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 3EP.
Registered Number: 06748586
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:01:36 -0000
From: "Canalside's The Thread" <office at thethread.org.uk>
To: "'The Community Media Association Discussion List'"
<cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
Subject: [cma-l] (no subject)
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Dear All
I know we have been discussing coverage indirectly now for quite a while.
Folk have been coming at the discussion from various different angles and
mine has been a bit technical but at the same time a bit Political.
The FM 5km 25 watts, licensed areas, requested license areas, DAB, 100w erp
... new possibilities ... they are all relevant when put in the mix
together.
I would like if I may to prove a point. Once I have proved the point I will
leave it up for discussion. If people think it is trivial, then fine just
say so, I don't mind .... I personally do not think it is trivial, it is
very important and most definitely important to both Canalside and myself,
hence why I parrot fashion 'bang the drum about it' (for 3-4 years)
Last night we ran a broadcast that we recorded five weeks ago with the
children of Ash Grove school. To cut a long story short it was music that
they picked but more importantly it revolved around Poetry, favourite Books,
Short Stories and children read the books and pieces out loud ... some of it
very comical indeed in more ways than one LOL
We feel proud as I am sure you guys do that we offer this type of thing on
the airwaves of this Country. Commercial Radio do it, but they do it for a
different reason AND they only pay lips service to it. Where in one week we
will dedicate 3 hours training and 3 hours on-air ... the commercial Station
may offer about ten minutes, more to do as a publicity stunt .... I don't
require comments from any of our commercial boys on the message board as you
would be insulting everyones intelligence if you tried to convince us of
anything different.
Anyway, that aside the crux of the matter is five fold :-
1) Doing this type of broadcast (hopefully on a regular basis if funding
permits (which it doesn't)) is NO threat whatsoever to the Commercial
viability of any Commercial Station ... nor is a writers group, and arts
show, a movie show, stories by youngsters with disabilities, council
discussions, world music etc etc etc but we are still arguing
about this after 12 years ? mmm ?
2) Where signals are not good, SPEECH Programmes can prove to be even more
of an issue than music based progs (for obvious reasons) interference is
audible easier as there is nothing to drown it out
3) The area that we are based in has NO disadvantaged areas as such
(Bollington), but the area (1 mile) just outside our 5km - 7km does. These
do include Wilmslow (surprisingly) Macclesfield most definitely including
the Upton / Weston / Moss Estates.
WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THESE AREAS once again for obvious reasons. The
children at these schools are poorer and outside of school hours have less
access to Books, encouragement for reading etc etc we have done our
homework (pardon the pun) and this is reality.
4) The reason we wanted Macclesfield on our licence in the first place is
for this VERY reason. We were not allowed to have Macclesfield on our
licence because of the local commercial Station whinging ... but they don't
do what we do, so the people of the community fall short apart from
lips-service
[are you following it thus far?] hopefully.
5) Finally, and most importantly the Programme aired last night at 7:15pm
and ran till 8:45pm.
Between 8:45am and 2pm today we have received 16 observations (or call them
complaints) about our signal. Most of the families live on the Moss Estate
(a deprived area locally) with a few on the Weston Estate and others
slightly out of Town heading off towards Bosley. At most, some of these
residents are 4 miles outside the broadcast radius, at the least sometimes
only half a mile tops. Two of the families are about 1000 yards outside and
listened to the broadcast with the added value of snap crackle and pop, must
have thought they were rice krispies.
I knew it was going to happen, but we still had to do the job in hand. Of
the 16, 6 families missed the broadcast completely because they couldn't
pick us up at all on FM ..... 3 tried to get us on the Internet but couldn't
find the website ??????? 1 family went outside and sat in the car
listening to it as they can pick us up in the car but not in the House (we
know this though) 5 listened, but said the interference was terrible with 3
having to turn off after ten minutes and 4 families couldn't pick us up on
FM and couldn't listen to us on the internet because they DO NOT have a
computer and the kids don't have aps and phones either (whether this is lack
of finance ? I didn't ask)
There were about 40 youngsters taking part aged between 6 - 11 ... not
everyone rang in and some out of the remaining 20 or so may have heard it or
may not but couldn't be bothered ringing up.
The Headmistress and some of the Teachers have passed comment also when we
have done this before with them (2 occasions) we did explain that we can
be picked up on the internet, but it has clearly gone over the heads of some
people.
Hopefully I do not have to spell out where I am heading with this
discussion, if I do then that in itself proves a problem.
I would be grateful if we could discuss this by simply saying
1) Do we think this situation is acceptable or not ??
2) plus what can we do about it ?
3) We have a solution, the solution could have been applied 3 years ago but
sadly the brick wall and deaf ears are in the way (hence my frustration)
please please please I don't want lectures from people who either don't
understand or don't care
Over to you chaps it is this type of thing which unfortunately
gives me the tendency to 'rant' as some people put it.
I'm not ranting really, I'm just basically extremely frustrated with the
system, the bureaucracy, the hypocrisy, the moving of goalposts and the
failure / inability to solve issues that are very easy to solve.
In this / our case, the solution is simple :-
1) Don't har* omt abot things that have gone on before
2) Put the whole of Macclesfield officially on our licence so that replying
with ''it's not on your licence becomes consigned to the history bin)
3) Move the transmitter 1 mile only to fix the problem .... homework
tells us we will not interfere with or cause a problem to anyone apart from
pushing Radio Real in Wales back by about 3 miles ... they broadcast out of
Welshpool and have nothing to do with this area whatsoever.
Thoughts ?
Obviously I could have just sent an e-mail saying ''We did a broadcast
last night chaps ... of the 40 or so families and children who took part
directly 60% couldn't hear it, 25% could but it sounded awful and the rest
????? dunno ?
I have written a long e-mail to see if I can explain myself a little better.
Nick
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End of cma-l Digest, Vol 70, Issue 79
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