UKC Radio

Last updated

UKCR logo from the 999kHz days Ukcradio.jpg
UKCR logo from the 999kHz days

UKC Radio was the student radio station for the University of Kent at Canterbury (UKC). it began life in 1967 as an audio distribution system through the central heating radiators before obtaining a broadcast licence in 1968, at which point it was operated as a student service by the University of Kent Students' Union.

Contents

It was replaced by CSR 97.4FM [1] on 15 January 2007, an FM radio station broadcasting to the city which is a joint venture between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.

History

The broadcasting station that became UKC Radio had its origins in the autumn term of 1967 as an audio feed through the radiator system. This was inspired by an article in the magazine Practical Wireless entitled ‘Communications through the Ground’. [2] The article explained how an audio signal injected into two separate earthing points could be detected by connecting an amplifier to two more earthing points nearby. Budding electronics students decided to test this out in Eliot College by connecting the loudspeaker output of a HiFi amplifier between the mains earth and the central heating radiator system. The signal could be heard loud and clear in study bedrooms throughout the college by connecting a modified transistor radio, used as an audio amplifier, between the radiator and the metal table lamp, which provided a connection to the mains earth.

UKC Radiator Radio UKC Radiator Radio MD.jpg
UKC Radiator Radio
UKC Radio Reception via radiator and lamp UKC Radio Reception via radiator and lamp.jpg
UKC Radio Reception via radiator and lamp

An impromptu broadcasting station was soon formed and Rutherford College swiftly followed suit. A surprising number of students were willing to have their radios modified. This involved soldering two wires across the volume control – the other ends being connected to the radiator and table lamp with small crocodile clips. The broadcasts were legal because they were an audio feed, not a radio broadcast. The stations became known as Audio Eliot and Audio Rutherford and soon achieved fame in the national press. [3] The stations combined forces under the name Audio Rutherford and overcame safety issues raised by the University Surveyor which had threatened closure. [4]

The station provided a full broadcasting schedule of music, university news and chat. This spurred on attempts to obtain a broadcasting licence to operate an inductive loop medium wave transmission system. Initial applications to the GPO were rejected but a licence was eventually granted several months later and UKC Radio was born. There were some short-lived attempts by other students to set up pirate radio stations, but these were never affiliated to the official UKC Radio predecessors, who were always legal. There is a long-standing controversy between UKC and University Radio York as to who ran the first university radio station. York was making radio broadcasts in 1967, having been granted a test licence, at about the same time as UKC started audio broadcasts.

When UKC Radio was granted a licence the chance was taken to build a full studios complex on the lowest floor of Eliot College. These studios were designed around a typical BBC layout, with the emphasis on Drama and Live Music, so this was given the biggest space (studio B), and the best sound proofing. However, there was also a small self op studio for news bulletins - and the occasional music programme (studio A). Linking between, with a view of both studios was a Master Control Room (called "Continuity" until late in 1996), where a continuity announcer linked between programmes - the desk here had just 3 faders - one for each studio, and one for the microphone. There was considerable debate as to this studio layout, because the small self op studio (Studio A) was in use pretty much all the time, so it was slowly upgraded, and eventually boasted a big home-made 10 channel mixing desk, with NAB cartridge jingle machines.

UKC Radio carried an overnight sustaining service from 1984, using LBC (which was taken off air via a huge aerial on the roof of Eliot). This was also used for IRN news on the hour.

Studio A was rebuilt in 1989, with the arrival of the first Alice Series A desk. By 1991 the first satellite tuner had arrived, which gave a much cleaner IRN feed and occasional news stories from MTV. In 1993 this also provided a sustaining service, in the form of first QEFM, then MTV's soundtrack overnight. Virgin Radio was taken as a sustainer in 1992, and then Capital Radio from 1993 to 1997. Ironically when QEFM (Quality Europe FM Radio, based in Camberley) closed in 1994 the cartridge jingle machines were purchased and used for nearly a decade at UKC Radio - nearly five times as long as QEFM lasted.

The studios were swapped over in a summer long operation in 1995, and a considerably revamped thanks in part to a donation of some redundant equipment from Winchester Hospital Radio. The station started using the brand name UKCR at the time of the first FM broadcast. The studios continued to be revamped with new equipment and a window was knocked through to the reception area in 1999.

In 2000 the first song played on LPAM (1350 AM) was Re-Rewind by The Artful Dodger featuring Craig David.

In 2002 digital output was introduced for the first time, with an output system using Myriad software, and new Alice Series A desk in Studio A.

Transmission

For most of its history, UKC Radio was available on 300m Medium Wave (officially 998 kHz AM, though it apparently used a 1 MHz crystal as these were far cheaper) via induction loops which were on the top of the college buildings - meaning you could only hear the station in limited parts of the campus. The inductive loops used a figure-of-eight configuration to prevent off-campus radiation in accordance with the licence conditions. These loops actually operated as a kind of leaky feeder, with a single strand of cable draped around the roof of the buildings, connected to a coax cable that linked via the central boiler room to the original transmitter (called Amanda by the engineers) in Eliot. This was replaced with a Wireless Workshop transmitter in 1995 (called Fred).

Various short term broadcasts on FM were carried out, using Restricted Service Licences. The first of these was in 1992, with a further one month in 1994, two in the academic year of 1994/5, one month in February/March 1996, and the last in 1998. Initially the transmitters were sited on the roof of Eliot, however by 1996 the transmission site was moved to the roof of the library. With 20 watts output power at 20 meters transmission height (on a location that is one of the highest in Kent) fringe reception was possible in London.

However, UKC Radio was heard unofficially throughout the city at least once during Rag Week in the early 1970s when a T-aerial appeared overnight slung between two corners of the cross-shaped Eliot College.

The studios were used for one of Invicta FM's breakfast shows in 1997, when a dedicated ISDN line was installed.

During the late 90s Low Powered AM (LPAM) was introduced, allowing the station to broadcast to the whole campus. The station moved frequency to 1350AM in 2000, with a transmission mast sited to the west of the new student union building, between The Venue and behind the old bus stops. The mast was painted brown as this was one of the conditions from the City council in order for planning consent to be given. The mast still stands today, however is not in use.

Former UKC Radio people

Related Research Articles

Low-power broadcasting Radio or TV service, 100w or less

Low-power broadcasting is broadcasting by a broadcast station at a low transmitter power output to a smaller service area than "full power" stations within the same region. It is often distinguished from "micropower broadcasting" and broadcast translators. LPAM, LPFM and LPTV are in various levels of use across the world, varying widely based on the laws and their enforcement.

University Radio Nottingham Student radio station at the University of Nottingham

University Radio Nottingham is the university radio station of the University of Nottingham, England, where it is part of the Students' Union. During term-time it broadcasts locally on University Park Campus on 1350 AM and worldwide via its website. It is a multi-award winning station run by the student volunteers from the University of Nottingham.

Cam FM Student-run radio station at the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University

Cam FM is a student-run radio station at the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University. The station broadcasts on an FM frequency of 97.2 MHz and online. It currently broadcasts from Fitzwilliam College and Anglia Ruskin University after spending its first 32 years located in Churchill College. Cam FM used to hold the world record for the longest team broadcast marathon, at 76 hours.

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Part 15 is an oft-quoted part of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations regarding unlicensed transmissions. It is a part of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and regulates everything from spurious emissions to unlicensed low-power broadcasting. Nearly every electronics device sold inside the United States radiates unintentional emissions, and must be reviewed to comply with Part 15 before it can be advertised or sold in the US market.

Tuner (radio)

A tuner is a subsystem that receives radio frequency (RF) transmissions and converts the selected carrier frequency and its associated bandwidth into a fixed frequency that is suitable for further processing, usually because a lower frequency is used on the output. Broadcast FM/AM transmissions usually feed this intermediate frequency (IF) directly into a demodulator that converts the radio signal into audio-frequency signals that can be fed into an amplifier to drive a loudspeaker.

Channel M Television station based in Manchester, England

Channel M was a regional television station, serving Greater Manchester. The station, originally known as Manchester Student Television, was owned and operated by the GMG Regional Media division of Guardian Media Group.

RAW 1251AM Student radio station at the University of Warwick

RAW 1251AM is the student radio station at the University of Warwick and winner of the 2000 and 2003 BBC Radio 1 Student Radio Association Best Station awards.

Carrier current transmission, originally called wired wireless, employs guided low-power radio-frequency signals, which are transmitted along electrical conductors. The transmissions are picked up by receivers that are either connected to the conductors, or a short distance from them. Carrier current transmission is used to send audio and telemetry to selected locations, and also for low-power broadcasting that covers a small geographical area, such as a college campus. The most common form of carrier current uses longwave or medium wave AM radio signals that are sent through existing electrical wiring, although other conductors can be used, such as telephone lines.

TUNE! FM Radio station

TUNE!FM is the University of New England’s (UNE) campus radio station, a high power open narrowcasting service operated by UNELife. Founded in 1970, the station is Australia’s oldest university broadcaster, serving UNE’s students, staff, and the broader Armidale community.

FM broadcasting Transmission of audio through frequency modulation

FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting using frequency modulation (FM). Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to provide high fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting is capable of higher fidelity—that is, more accurate reproduction of the original program sound—than other broadcasting technologies, such as AM broadcasting. It is also less susceptible to common forms of interference, reducing static and popping sounds often heard on AM. Therefore, FM is used for most broadcasts of music or general audio. FM radio stations use the very high frequency range of radio frequencies.

A television transmitter is a transmitter that is used for terrestrial (over-the-air) television broadcasting. It is an electronic device that radiates radio waves that carry a video signal representing moving images, along with a synchronized audio channel, which is received by television receivers belonging to a public audience, which display the image on a screen. A television transmitter, together with the broadcast studio which originates the content, is called a television station. Television transmitters must be licensed by governments, and are restricted to a certain frequency channel and power level. They transmit on frequency channels in the VHF and UHF bands. Since radio waves of these frequencies travel by line of sight, they are limited by the horizon to reception distances of 40–60 miles depending on the height of transmitter station.

Bailrigg FM is a student radio station at Lancaster University. It operates in a music format predominantly featuring pop, but also broadcasts news, drama, comedy, and entertainment. During evening and weekend hours, programming moves to specialist content where presenters are free to play whatever they wish.

WLSO Radio station in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Laker Radio is an internet radio station in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States. Broadcasting a college radio format, The 46th Parallel Radio is the campus radio station of the city's Lake Superior State University, and also provides mobile DJ services for on-campus and Sault Ste. Marie events. From 1993–2017, the station broadcast at 90.1 on the FM dial with the call sign WLSO, before becoming solely an internet radio station during the 2016–2017 school year.

Media in Aberdeen have long been published or broadcast. The main newspaper of the city and the surrounding area, the Press and Journal, has been made and printed in the city since 1748, making it Scotland's oldest newspaper.

University Radio Essex is a campus radio station at the University of Essex serving Wivenhoe Park in Colchester. It was one of the original university radio stations in the United Kingdom and with the other pioneering campus radio stations at York, Brunel, Loughborough, Sussex, Surrey the door was opened in the UK for campus radio.

Insanity Radio 103.2FM Radio station

Insanity Radio 103.2FM is a community radio station broadcasting to north Surrey, England from Royal Holloway, University of London on 103.2FM and online. It targets young people in the 15-25 age bracket, broadcasting a varied schedule of locally produced programming for up to 18 hours per day during term time, and is run by members of the local community.

CSR 97.4FM Radio station in Canterbury, United Kingdom

CSR 97.4FM is a community radio station based in Canterbury, England. It was funded by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, as well as their associated Student Unions. The radio station broadcasts from studios at both universities 24 hours a day, with live broadcasting from 0700 to 23:59. Despite being primarily aimed at students, it is not purely a student radio station. CSRfm was the first student-led community radio station in the country to acquire a licence.

Media in Manchester

Media in Manchester has been an integral part of Manchester's culture and economy for many generations and has been described as the only other British city to rival to London in terms of television broadcasting. Today, Manchester is the second largest centre of the creative and digital industries in Europe.

RamAir is a radio station run by Students Union at the University of Bradford, England. It broadcasts locally on 1350AM and also online through its web site. The name comes from the old students union logo of a Ram.

References

  1. ↑ CSR 97.4FM : Canterbury Student & Community Radio || Home
  2. ↑ 'Communications through the Ground’, C.R Bradley. Practical Wireless, May 1964
  3. ↑ ‘Radio Radiator is on the Air’, Daily Mirror, 11 November 1967, page 12. http://www.ukpressonline.co.uk
  4. ↑ ‘Worrying weekend for Audio Rutherford’, Incant (UKC student newspaper) 21 November 1967
  5. ↑ "Annual Report 2000/01 - University of Kent". www.kent.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 4 November 2003.
  6. ↑ "BBC Radio Derby - Ian Skye". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ "Jamie Angus | School of Computing, Science & Engineering | University of Salford, Manchester". www.salford.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.