In June 2009 Vic & Maree Blackwood were granted a Low Power Open Narrowcast Licence for Tocumwal.
The station commenced a limited service on the day that the Licence was issued, the 10th of June 2009. The program was very limited and the transmitter was sitting on the bench in our shed, but the response was great, so were the problems created by Television Interference, close to the Transmitter.
As the weeks went by we found Xavier from Xtelik TV antenna service in Finley, he and Vic followed up many TV problems and finally got on top of them, with a mixture of Set Top Boxes and New Mast Head Amplifiers fitted to local TV sets.
During the next few months a large number of New Country Music songs were added to the play list and in November we installed our New Simian Computerised Radio Automation System in the studio along with a new desk and furniture made in Tocumwal, as we set out to keep as much of the station as possible local. Our Transmitters are designed and built in Orange NSW.
The Radio project would not be as advanced without the help of Dennis Sutton at FAD Steel who has provided us with the broadcast facility in Finley and lots of technical help and advice along the way.
As the feedback increased and the funds allowed we started looking further away in the local area, we now (as at February 2010) have Licences in place in Tocumwal, Cobram, Strathmerton and Finley and we have reached an agreement with the owners of many Higher Powered Licences in the area.
Despite having on-going Chemotherapy Treatment each month in Melbourne, Vic is determined to get the project up and running this year
The new footprint now covers the Berrigan Shire and parts of the Murray Valley Highway and the Newell Highway , including the towns of Strathmerton and Cobram, the sites will be commissioned over the next few months.
On Wednesday the 10th February 2010, Our transmitter in Finley went from 88.0 FM to 104.5 FM with a significant increase in power, to give Finley people a stronger clearer signal.
The stronger transmitter for Tocumwal has been installed, on 92.5 FM.
The new frequencies will be as follows: |
