3 weeks in
Last weekend was a work weekend for the station at their new location.
I was working with volunteers cleaning up and repairing the facility.
I was also getting a feel for where a tower might go to microwave their signal. I advised them on sound proofing of the studio and offices. I worked with them on budget concerns for the build out, suggesting they use some of the existing doors just reconfigured.
I am doing additional research on sound proofing. I attended the Monday morning staff meeting and suggested they look at merging with the somewhat defunct sarasota.indymedia.org website. It could serve their purpose well for developing a citizen reporter corp. and expand their web presence.
Oh, I should mention I ran into a City Council member at a community meeting (citizens advocating for a city power utility company) and mentioned the opportunity of the station being the broadband provider for the downtown and the poorer barrios to the north and he said get me the proposal. Whoa.. now I get to get working.
Comment from David Beaton on August 23, 2010 - 11:18pm
Got first paycheck...yeah!!
Comment from Bill Brown on August 24, 2010 - 10:01am
For someone that doesn't know much about radio, what does "microwave their signal" mean?
Comment from David Beaton on August 24, 2010 - 2:30pm
Currently the station is dependent on getting their signal to their tower by using the local cable company, Comcast. Using a microwave signal (a focused beam of radiation) from their studio to the transmitter site would allow them to have a stable studio to transmitter link (STL). It would be a one time cost for equipment and installation vs a continual monthly charge from Comcast. The microwave signal could be FCC licensed or unlicensed depending on the budget and air traffic. The station would need a clear line of site from the new studio location to the transmitter.
We have one multistory building in our path. We are trying to contact the owner to see if he is sympathetic to a transfer point on the top of his building.
Comment from Gavin Dahl on August 24, 2010 - 8:40pm
Feel free to email todd [at] commonfrequency [dot] org with any questions, David. Cool stuff.
Comment from Megan Andrews on August 25, 2010 - 11:03am
We have two buildings on the University campus here that are blocking us from a microwave signal. You mentioned a transfer point on the building. How does that work? And would it work if there are two buildings in the way?
Comment from David Beaton on August 27, 2010 - 12:08pm
If one of the 2 buildings is higher than the other you may need only one transfer point. You need to get permission to put a microwave antenna on the highest building that is not blocked by others and a second antenna relaying it to the source location as I understand it.
Comment from Ericha Hager on August 27, 2010 - 5:54pm
Sounds like you are a mover and shaker Dave! Great!