2WAY FM & Rhema (Australia)

[David Onley]

Found this on the aus.radio.broadcast newsgroup
Dave
..............................

Community Radio In the Hastings Hits Full Power!!! Thanks to the
assistance of many!

Hastings Community Radio 2WAY FM and Mid Coast Christian Broadcasters
Rhema FM are celebrating the installation of the new transmission
array on Mt Caincross. The new system is over 36 months in the
planning and was finally installed on Saturday being energised at
approximately 5.58pm. The new equipment is expected to increase the
quality of the transmission by a further 85% above what it was
recently. The two community radio stations having identical
technical specifications on their licences decided to combine there
technical and financial resources to purchase the new equipment some
18 months to improve the coverage of both the community radio stations
to the Hastings Area.

The new transmitter aerial is located much higher up than first
planned, after the owners of the Caincross Communications Tower, Crown
castle Australia expressed a desire to have the stations locate at a
much higher level, it was both in the best interests of the stations
financially and broadcast area wise to comply with Crown castles
wishes and try to ask permission from the Australian Broadcasting
Authority to change the licence from a 20metre elevation to 35 metres
This was granted last week and negotiations were completed with Crown
and the new system was prepared for last Saturdays installation. The
new arial broadcasts both 2WAY FM 103.9 and Rhema FM 99.9 in clear
stereo through a combining system. Both 2way fm and Rhema Fm had
purchased or updated transmitters in the last 36 months and purchasing
this new equipment and workining together to install it was the next
logical step.

Both 2WAY FM and Rhema have done some serious fundraising for this
project and at an estimated cost of over 10,000 dollars spent on the
project between the two stations over the past 36 months, the project
has been well worth it. Thank you to the dedicated members who have
and continue to raise funds for the community stations operations in
the Hastings.

Saturday's installation was a team effort from all the broadcasting
stations in the Hastings. We would like to thank AMI radio's Easy
Listening 531 for putting of scheduled work to their transmitters at
Kempsey, so that both 531, 2WAY FM and Rhema Fm could use the same
rigging company to reduce the costs to all the stations. Also to 2MC
and Star FM's Darrel Woolnough for technical assistance on the day and
powering down the transmitters so that our riggers could climb the
tower. A big thank you to the guys from Radio Communications
Services who were our riggers and Jason Garland from Rhema Fm as well
as Peter Saville and Stuart from 2WAY FM. Both Rhema FM and 2WAY
FM would like to thank our Technical Guru Stuart who's idea it was to
get both stations working together and see it through, Former 2way Fm
and radio Rhema Presidents Malcolm Gurd and Ian Worby for starting the
negotiations, 2WAY FM Technical Director Peter Saville and former
Rhema Fm Station Manager Nicole Newburry for continuing and finalising
the negotiations and current 2WAY FM president Chuck Murray and Rhema
Fm General Manager Alan Sharpham for assisting in the closing of the
deal and making sure the funds were at call when needed.

Both Rhema and 2WAY FM according to feedback are being received much
clearer in areas of the Hastings and Camden Haven that were having
some difficulties receiving both the stations. Both stations would
like to hear feedback from there respective listeners according the
stations technical directors Peter Saville (2WAY FM) and Jason Garland
(Rhema FM) on how the new signal pattern is being received feel free
to rign 2WAY FM 0265852233 or Rhema FM 65841246.

For further information about the installation or any enquiries
contact Peter Saville on 0417851627