"The purpose of this guide is to share the basics of installing a solar-powered HF radio station. For some years now, Rhizomatica has been working to “modernize” HF technology, allowing the transmission and reception of digital information. HF technology offers many advantages for autonomous com
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munication in remote areas, and from our experience, it is possible and feasible to train people without much previous technical experience in the installation and use of solar-powered HF communication systems. This guide is an attempt to share the learnings from on-the-ground experiences and interactions with communities, and to facilitate and support further training processes for the use and installation of HF-based communication networks. The guide is aimed primarily at facilitators of training processes in HF radio and as reference material for people who have at least some prior knowledge of HF radio. In other words, it is not aimed at novices or people who are completely new to the subject." (Introduction)
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"In the first section, a set of tools for content production, recording and transmission is introduced. Beyond simply providing a list of software already used by radios—such as audio editing and broadcast automation software—this manual’s aim is to develop a comprehensive proposal for decentr
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alized and collaborative forms of working. Nearly all of the software presented here is free software, because only free software guarantees radios’ autonomy, privacy and security, and allows them to freely adapt it to the needs of specific contexts. Moreover, while (financially) supporting developers is recommended, most of the software programs presented here are available for free. In the manual’s second part, we then go on to discuss ten strategies that radios can use in their communication practices to guarantee freedom of opinion and access to information and that should allow them to establish a relevant position in the post-pandemic media panorama. These strategies were identified and systematized based on experiences that have already been creatively making inroads into radio communication, allowing us to tackle numerous challenges related to the dissemination of information. The lessons learned are invaluable and we aim to build upon them." (Introduction)
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"La primera parte presenta una serie de herramientas disponibles para producir, grabar y transmitir. No se trata de un compilado de software ya conocido por las radios –como editores de audio o automatizadores– sino de una propuesta integral de trabajo colaborativo descentralizado. Son, práctic
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amente en su totalidad, tecnologías libres ya que son las únicas que pueden garantizar la autonomía de las radios, su privacidad y seguridad, y la capacidad de adaptarlas a las necesidades de cada contexto. Además, muchas de ellas son gratuitas, aunque es recomendable apoyar a las personas que las desarrollan. La segunda parte plantea diez estrategias que las radios pueden incorporar a su práctica comunicativa para garantizar la libertad de opinión y el acceso a la información, y que les permitirán posicionarse en un lugar de relevancia en el panorama informativo pospandemia. Estas estrategias fueron identificadas y sistematizadas a partir de experiencias que ya están incursionando en maneras creativas de abordar diversos desafíos informativos y cuyos aprendizajes hemos puesto en valor." (Presentación)
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"This article examines the current environment of audio transmission services in the UK with particular regard to the community radio sector. Community radio stations in the UK are having to consider the extent to which their audiences choose to listen on an FM analogue signal and whether this is su
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stainable for them. The number of new platforms that a listener is using to access audio programming now includes DAB, SSDAB, TV carriers and online services. There are also developments to the actual receivers that may be used, in particular the use of smartphones to listen via online Wi-Fi or 4G. Currently there are no plans for an FM turn off in the UK and a hybrid system of transmission and reception is the most likely outcome for the foreseeable future. The consequences of this environment for the broadcasters, the listeners and the audio content are discussed in turn. A sample group of twelve community radio stations have been studied to assess current practices. This group are the remaining stations from the original Access Pilot community radio stations that went on air in 2002 and so are the oldest and most established of the UK stations. This article provides baseline definitions where relevant and uses recent data from national audience research, regulatory and other bodies to assess what people are listening to and how, along with examples from public service and commercial radio, as well as community radio." (Abstract)
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"Pocket FM is developed by Media in Cooperation and Transition (MICT) and IXDS as an development platform for the production of modular FM transmitters. In the following we give you an overview of the Pocket FM Story, the first Version, (up and running in Syria right now), a preview of what is plann
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ed for the next iteration and the scope of possible use cases." (Page 2)
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"Este manual para "analfabetos técnicos" está dirigido al personal de radio no ingeniero que necesita comprender las bases tecnológicas de la producción y difusión radiofónica. El libro consta de cuatro capítulos: tecnología de sonido y transmisión; equipos de estudio; programas informátic
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os y de radio; nuevas tecnologías y radio. Escrita en formato de preguntas y respuestas, la publicación aborda cuestiones bastante prácticas como "¿Qué micrófono debo comprar?"; "¿Cómo puedo transmitir desde la calle?"; "¿Cómo producir un podcast?". Este excelente recurso está lleno de ejemplos concretos, contiene muchas ilustraciones y está escrito en un lenguaje sencillo y no técnico." (CAMECO Update 1-2011)
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"This guidebook offers instructions for strengthening the organisation of community radio stations, in order to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. The all-embracing essentials of community radio station management, ie, governance and programme/financial/technical management, are discussed i
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n detail. Aspects of these organisational tasks are human resource plans, resource mobilisation, fundraising, accounting, maintenance of equipment and the determination of a clear broadcasting policy. But not only advice for practical matters is given: The publication further discusses the underlying mission, vision and goals of organisations, which are viewed as not sufficiently thought through by many community radio stations, yet crucial for their survival. The guidebooks' step-by-step lists, tables and forms, in part taken from existing community radio stations like Radio Sagarmatha in Nepal, are particularly useful, as they show how theoretical and abstract manuals can be turned into practice." (commbox)
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"Radio stations have performed ‘Outside (away from the studio) Broadcasts' for decades using various telecommunications and antenna technology. Many of these resources are expensive, require a high level of technical expertise, and access to special telecommunications services. New mobile broadcas
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ting systems take a different approach. They harness Australia‘s wireless Internet and 3G mobile telecommunications networks to transmit an Outside Broadcast (OB) to your station through the Internet. This guide shows you how to create a broadcast connection with commonly used mobile phone and Internet plans. If you don‘t think you have the equipment for this think again! Many mobile phones have the capacity to act as modems these days, and a staff member or volunteer may be carrying one of these devices in their pocket!" (Page 4)
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"According to the foreword, 'this manual is designed to accompany you in the demystification of each piece of equipment usually found in community radio stations'. This is exactly what the guide does. The first section provides an overview of all relevant technical questions to non-technicians, incl
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uding the functioning of radio waves, the setting up of a studio space, studio equipment, field recording equipment, transmission equipment, telecommunications and maintenance. The second section offers insights into the technical details of any kind of equipment by explaining the technical terms and concepts in an easy-to-understand language. Originally conceived for the specific context of India, this publication nevertheless serves as a helpful primer for local radio stations elsewhere." (CAMECO Update 2-2008)
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"[This book] gives you ideas for building an emergency radio network (ERN) for your community. An ERN uses small Family Radio Service (FRS) radios or combined FRS/General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios for members of the community. The community relay station can be (1) a basic or "fancy" ham st
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ation, (2) a GMRS station, (3) a basic amplitude modulation (AM) or "fancy" single sideband (SSB) Citizens Band (CB) station, or (4) a ham station using near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS). 'Community Eergency Radio Networks' makes planning your community ERN easy. It has easy-to-use tables (known as coverage planning tables) for your suburban or rural community depending on wether you're located on a smooth plain, in a hilly area, or in a mountainous area. The book also has guidelines to help you set up an effective ERN in a city." (Back cover)
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"An easy-to-read introduction for non-technical people. It contains concrete suggestions for the necessary equipment according to the planned range of the radio station. The cost of technical equipment for the "Micro Radio Station" (15 watts, up to 5 km range) is only US-$ 1,100 (as of 2004). For th
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e "Village Radio Station" (30 watts), the cost is US-$ 7,800. The "Community Radio Station" (1 kilowatt, range normally up to 30 kilometers) costs US-$ 18,000. The technical equipment of the "Regional Radio Station" (two kilowatts, range up to 100 kilometers with a favorable location and a high transmission tower), on the other hand, already costs US-$ 100,000." (commbox).
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