Feeling Better
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 @ 08:21 EST
Quick update: The inspector has made a miraculous recovery and is at the site right now (11:15am, Aug 26th). Our transmitter is up and running through the antenna, broadcasting our signal to all of Montreal. Check out 1690AM to have a listen to our test programme. The inspector is taking readings at the site to make sure that everything is in good working order. I'll add to this post as the day got on.
Radio Inspector Delays
Monday, August 25, 2008 @ 09:44 EST
The Radio Inspector decided to be sick today, despite just finishing a 3-week vacation. He may be in tomorrow, I don't know yet. I'll keep you posted.
The Inspector Comes Today
Monday, August 25, 2008 @ 07:13 EST
Today is a big day for us. After months of planning and setup, the Industry Canada radio inspector will be coming by to check out our operation. I'm not yet certain if he'll be coming to the station as well as visiting the transmitter site, but I believe he may. If you're reading this on Monday the 25th, you might want to tune in to our online stream. For today only (probably), we're broadcasting the test programme both online and over-the-airwaves. If you're outside of Montreal, this will most likely be your only opportunity to hear it. Content-wise, it's nothing special, but it is a milestone in our evolution.
The process today should be fairly simple. The inspector comes, checks out the site, approves, and allows us to turn on the transmitter. We will then start broadcasting for an indefinite period of time, playing our testing programme on the air. There is one thing everyone must keep in mind: This is the first time our transmitter will have been on for an extended period in a few years. It's been in storage up until a month and a half ago and was kept in good shape. There are bound to be a few hiccups as it carries a constant charge, meaning that we may have to take it off the air on occasion. Fixing and finding any problems that crop up won't be difficult, but it is very important for our longevity to get it all running perfectly now.
The testing period should last 2-3 weeks and will likely progress in 3 phases. The first phase (Phase 1) will consist of early testing and tuning. Our AM guy has hand-picked a selection of music that he is familiar with which will be played on a loop. During this phase, he will make sure that there aren't any issues with the transmitter itself, and will tune it for optimal sound quality. Phase 2 will likely be similar, but will play musical selections chosen by CJLO staff. Phase 3 will likely have our regular programming broadcast, interspersed with messages informing our listeners of our testing period. Phases 2 and 3 will help gauge the public's response; ie. where any broadcast dead-zones might be, potential interference, etc. I don't know how long each phase will last, more on that will come as we proceed with testing.
