WHAT IS COMMUNITY RADIO - amarc

Appendix three - EQUIPMENT INFORMATION FOR SETTING UP
These guidelines were prepared by Kodjo Nyamaku, a Togolese radio-broadcasting engineer, for the
NCRF and the African community radio movement.
The technical development of a Community Radio Station usually follows a series of consecutive
steps.
Procedure 1
Carry out a survey to assess potential listenership and calculate feasibility.
The following points should be clarified:
� How big is the locality radius you attended to cover, this would help to define the power of the
transmitter needed. The average coverage radius for difference effective heights is as follows:
Effective height above average terrain 75 m
Stereo Service
10 W approx. 5 km
100 W approx. 11 km
1000 W approx. 18 km
Effective height above average terrain 150 m
10 W approx. 8 km
100 W approx. 15 km
1000 W approx. 25 km
These figures depend very much on the terrain of the coverage area. There might be bad reception
within these areas if there are hills, mountains or sea. There is a good reception within a flat area.
� Where the station will be located to facilitate community access.
� Obtaining a topologic map of the area showing hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, etc., to determine
the best position for the antenna. This should be close to the station to avoid the need of a link up
system from the studio to the antenna.
� Looking for radio broadcast equipment suppliers to get different quotations. The choice of the
supplier should be made by taking a particular attention on the technical performance of the
suppliers described above. It is helpful to choose a local or regional supplier.
� Deciding, according to the nature of the programmes format, whether the studio should be divided
or not by a glass partition between the controller’s and presenters’ areas.
A technician, who should pay a visit to the locality, should help clarify those points.
Procedure 2
� The supplier produces a report for radio broadcasting/production studio equipment (including
transmitter) by taking into account the available skills involving in the project.
� The supplier produces a suitable, comfortable and ergonomically studio layout plan, taking into
accounts the size of the room and the needs of in-house training and potentially large production
teams (e.g. spatial arrangement of equipment, workspace, ventilation, etc.).
� Draw the budget
Procedure 3
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What is Community Radio? A Resource Guide
Published by AMARC Africa and Panos Southern Africa in collaboration with IBIS/Interfund and WACC