4 ms·

Do you have a write up somewhere? Building that stuff from scratch sounds like a hell of a project. I've toyed with the idea, but the technical barrier and resp

Do you have a write up somewhere? Building that stuff from scratch sounds like a hell of a project. I've toyed with the idea, but the technical barrier and responsibility is a steep obstacle that I'm not 100℅ ready to commit to at the moment. My community (and my property) are all perfect candidates for this though, and I have the time and money for it if I decide to commit. Out of curiosity, if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?

hilbert42 4y ago
"Do you have a write up somewhere?" No, we've been notoriously inept at documenting our own history (and without pushing our barrow too far, I'd say some of it is milestone stuff that ought to rate higher in the history books on broadcasting). A number of our people have tried and there is lots documentation of sorts but nothing by way of a 'how-to' book. As is often usual with founders (especially techie ones), documentation is usually disorganized and rates a poor second to everything else. And we're no exception. Not sure what you'd need exactly (I'd roughly have to know your expertise, resources, human and otherwise and so on). BTW, there are many groups who've done this before so my group isn't unique by any stretch. I've no objection to providing you with some info from time to time if I can so long as it doesn't bog me down in too much work. "...if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?" No it's not Alaska, in fact Alaska would have already had FM services by the time we'd started (at least I think it did). I'd prefer not to divulge specific details here - not because of any secrecy or such but because it'd only further improve Google's indexing of me which I find irksome. I've no objection to contacting you by other ways if possible. I'll say this much I'm not in the US (however I'm familiar with and have visited the stations mentioned immediately below). In the meantime/for starters try these links, our listener-supported radio is similar to these services, albeit somewhat smaller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation First, note the age of these stations, this is quite relevant. It's unlikely you'll get any help from them directly as by now their founders will have either retired or have died (my experience is that the second generation of people is much more interested in talking on the radio than creating a radio station (in fact, there is a stark difference in attitude). Moreover, this later generation usually has little interest in the station's history so they actually know very little about how it started or came into existence. Nevertheless, you should get the flavor of things if you chase down rabbit holes and crevices in these or related links. Good luck.
- yeetsfromhellL2 4y ago
  Thanks for the reply, I like hearing about some of the more novel radio stuff being done. Modern consumer electronics really did spoil people for understanding a lot of this stuff, it's a shame. I'd like to one day build some of this stuff myself from scratch, but I think the level of my technical ability right now would be a spark gap transmitter and a foxhole receiver, lol. As an aside, the stories of radio and amateur radio seems like a folklore of its own. It's not all written down, but you hear some interesting stories by word of mouth every once in a while.

hilbert42 4y ago

"Do you have a write up somewhere?" No, we've been notoriously inept at documenting our own history (and without pushing our barrow too far, I'd say some of it is milestone stuff that ought to rate higher in the history books on broadcasting). A number of our people have tried and there is lots documentation of sorts but nothing by way of a 'how-to' book. As is often usual with founders (especially techie ones), documentation is usually disorganized and rates a poor second to everything else. And we're no exception. Not sure what you'd need exactly (I'd roughly have to know your expertise, resources, human and otherwise and so on). BTW, there are many groups who've done this before so my group isn't unique by any stretch. I've no objection to providing you with some info from time to time if I can so long as it doesn't bog me down in too much work. "...if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?" No it's not Alaska, in fact Alaska would have already had FM services by the time we'd started (at least I think it did). I'd prefer not to divulge specific details here - not because of any secrecy or such but because it'd only further improve Google's indexing of me which I find irksome. I've no objection to contacting you by other ways if possible. I'll say this much I'm not in the US (however I'm familiar with and have visited the stations mentioned immediately below). In the meantime/for starters try these links, our listener-supported radio is similar to these services, albeit somewhat smaller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation First, note the age of these stations, this is quite relevant. It's unlikely you'll get any help from them directly as by now their founders will have either retired or have died (my experience is that the second generation of people is much more interested in talking on the radio than creating a radio station (in fact, there is a stark difference in attitude). Moreover, this later generation usually has little interest in the station's history so they actually know very little about how it started or came into existence. Nevertheless, you should get the flavor of things if you chase down rabbit holes and crevices in these or related links. Good luck.

yeetsfromhellL2 4y ago
Thanks for the reply, I like hearing about some of the more novel radio stuff being done. Modern consumer electronics really did spoil people for understanding a lot of this stuff, it's a shame. I'd like to one day build some of this stuff myself from scratch, but I think the level of my technical ability right now would be a spark gap transmitter and a foxhole receiver, lol. As an aside, the stories of radio and amateur radio seems like a folklore of its own. It's not all written down, but you hear some interesting stories by word of mouth every once in a while.