GLOSS FM: Difference between revisions

GLOSS FM
	GLOSS FM logo
Broadcast area	South Gloucestershire, UK
Frequency	87.7 MHz
Programming
Format	Talk, Music, Local Community interest
Ownership
Owner	Severvale Media CIC
Links
Website	www.glossfm.org

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Revision as of 19:52, 25 October 2010

GLOSS FM is a local radio station in the United Kingdom, which started broadcasting to the South Gloucestershire area on 1 April 2010. It originally started as a smaller station broadcasting to the market town of Thornbury in November 2005. In November 2009 the station relocated its transmitter which dramatically increased its coverage area. It was therefore decided to re-brand the station to GLOSS FM in order to be more relevant to all listeners. GLOSS FM is a legal radio station, broadcasting under the terms of Ofcom's Restricted Service Licence regime. This currently restricts the station to a maximum of two 28 day broadcasts per year in addition to its webcasts which operate 365 days per year, 24 hours a day.

About the Station

GLOSS FM's claims to be "Radio for the Whole Community" in South Gloucestershire - linking both geographical communities and communities of interest in our area. It broadcasts on 87.7 from studios in Thornbury, and is owned by Severnvale Media CIC.

GLOSS FM adopted the Community Radio Charter for Europe, and included it in its constitution, but has yet to enact those provisions.

Technical

FM Transmission

GLOSS FM transmits its signal on 87.7.

Studio

The studio was handbuilt by local volunteers to offer an extremely good acoustic environment through application of sound deadening materials on the walls and ceiling. Three AGK AT4033 microphones are provided for the presenter and guests. These are connected to an Airmate mixer from D&R. The TBU is also provided by D&R. Music may be played from Numark twin CD players, and also from various software on the playout PC which is equipped with a professional M-Audio sound card. The main "live assist" audio software is delivered via a custom developed GUI on software called mAirlist. In the past we have also used an excellent free player called Jazler Show, and a paid-for software called OTS-DJ which has since been replaced with another excellent (and free!) station automation package called Zara Radio. The station uses the latter for automated programming between the hours of 12 midnight and 7am, and extensively on webcasts in between RSL broadcasts. News on the hour is provided by IRN via a satellite receiver.

Studio to Transmitter Link (STL)

GLOSS FM uses a kind of high power licenced WiFi to link between its studio and its transmission site. Audio output from the studio is encoded into an IP stream using a Barix Instreamer device which offers extremely low latency compared to using a PC. At the far end a Barix Exstreamer device converts the IP stream back into audio.

Webstream

As well as FM broadcasts, GLOSS FM also broadcasts its output 356 days a year, 24 hours a day on its webstream. Unfortunately the complexity of music royalty licencing means that between broadcasts we must restrict our webcasts to UK only, however we are worldwide during broadcasts. The webstream is generated by Windows Media Encoder. Prior to encoding, the audio is processed using a free software audio processor called MBL4 which ensures a consistent audio level to prevent distortion. In order to route the audio signal within the PC from the soundcard input to this processor and then to the media encoder a software called Virtual Audio Cable is used which provides kind of virtual audio patch cables.

Webcam

GLOSS FM also has an in-studio webcam where listeners can check out what the presenters are up to during the show.

Suppliers

The studio equipment was originally supplied by Eastern Electronics. Since the station's launch in 2005 the studio and transmission facilities have been maintained, upgraded and extended by Associated Broadcast Consultants

Licences

GLOSS FM is a legal radio station which pays for all necessary licences. These include music royalty payments to Performing Rights Society, Phonographic Performance Ltd and Mechanical Copyright Protection Society. In addition, for each FM broadcast we purchase a Broadcasting Act and a Wireless Telegraphy Act licence from the UK Government regulator Ofcom. News on the hour is played under licence from Independent Radio News.

GLOSS FM in the News

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 ==Technical==
 ===FM Transmission===
+GLOSS FM transmits its signal on 87.7.
-GLOSS FM transmits its signal on 87.7&nbsp;MHz FM with a power of 25 watts [[Effective radiated power|ERP]], which is the maximum permissible for RSL broadcasters in the UK. To help audibility within its coverage area compex audio processing is undertaken using a BW Broadcast [http://www.audio-processor.com/dspx-fm DSP-X.] To put it simply this device reduces the dynamic range of the programme material which is a technique virtually all radio broadcasters use worldwide in order to deliver a loud, clear audio with no unintended distortion. The DSP-X also performs the function of [[Stereo generator|stereo encoding.]] The transmission site was moved in the Summer of 2009 from a low site in Thornbury town centre to a high site overlooking the Severn Vale. The resulting coverage area has been approximately doubled with this move, meaning that the station now covers a potential audience of over 100,000 people in South Gloucestershire from Bradley Stoke in the south, to Berkeley in the north, and from Yate in the East to Chepstow in Wales.
 ===Studio===