Radyo Akdeniz FM Music » Radio Music

College Radio on the Internet Offers More Advantages for Listeners

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:51:56 +0000

The future of radio is at stake. As we quickly move into the 21st Century, our consumers are changing their listening mediums and we must stay abreast of those listening needs and modes.

Traditional college radio broadcasts may be lost in translation if they cannot keep up with technological changes. Some radio broadcast owners are ignoring these trends, which may hurt their ratings if listeners increasingly move away from traditional college radio to college radio on the Internet. Still others perceive college radio on the Internet as a dead medium, however it can be revived if colleges continue to research listener audiences and trends.

Benefits of Having College Radio on the Internet

1. More formats are available than traditional FM college radio stations. Hundreds are available from jazz and blues to Broadway and opera, to Indie rock and adult alternative and many more.

2. Ability to listen while in multiple places such as home, work, college, library or wherever you have available broadband access.

3. With college radio on the Internet, there is no “dead air”. Some college and traditional radio stations have their last broadcast ending at midnight, and the next one starts between five and seven in the morning. However, utilizing college radio on the Internet and the growing demand from students and consumers, this has the potential to increase funding and the listening audience base.

4. Set and leave it on one station without having to remember station call letters or numbers. No longer do listeners have to remember where they heard their favorite tunes on the dial. Having a college radio on the Internet can be easily bookmarked in your Favorites’ list or even set as your homepage.

5. Colleges are able to increase their fan base among alumni and exchange students because with having college radio on the Internet, it can be accessed worldwide.

6. Many college radio stations on the Internet tout commercial-free listening or at least minimal interruptions. This is an important advantage for listeners who do not like all the interruptions between songs or song sets with station breaks and commercials which can last two minutes or longer.

7. Allows more opportunities for unsigned bands and musical talent to be heard on the radio. With additional opportunities for more format types, bands of all styles will have a medium in which to play their music for a specific audience. As with MySpace, unsigned or lesser known musicians and bands are trying to gain an audience base and frequently release a couple of their songs so members can upload them to their homepages. College radio on the Internet can increase that audience base by featuring the group or musician on its station and have listeners send their comments via email, blog, online poll or phone call.

8. Unlike a traditional radio station, college radio on the Internet enables listeners to skip a song. If the listener does not care for the song, he or she can merely select “skip” and move onto the next song. Only college radio on the Internet and satellite stations have this advantage.

There are many benefits to keeping college radio on the Internet. Although some college stations have abandoned this medium because it did not reap the rewards as quickly as was expected, now it has listeners’ ears and they have more invested interest with this medium.

The top online radio networks include Shoutcast, Radio@AOL, and MSN Music as reported by MeasureCast, a company which provides next day audience size and demographic reports for online media networks. Only the top college radio stations online have made the top 10 list, which include a few Ohio college radio station programs too.

The top college radio broadcasts include KALX, Berkeley, CA; WNYU, New York, NY; and KTRU, Houston, TX, which was reported by Radio-Locator.com. Furthermore, a notable Ohio college radio station has a list of eight college radio on the Internet stations that are broadcasted from various locations across the U.S., especially where a broadcasting school is located. Colleges and universities who have the ability and interest to support college radio on the Internet stations are able to employ its own students to undertake all tasks and responsibilities of running the online radio station. Student listeners create an instant audience base because their music interests vary and they are attracted by a variety of formats.

Because Internet based college radio stations can literally reach listeners from all corners of the world, we would think radio station owners would want to continue college radio on the Internet. Futhermore, college radio stations on the Internet, as well as traditional AM/FM formats, can run in tandem with one another without radio tower interference. However, many smaller universities and community colleges are not able to afford to keep such options on the Internet due to failing sponsorship, decreased student population, or fees required to both license music and the radio station.

Check with your local broadcasting school to find out if they continually accept students to become professional radio DJs. If you are interested in learning to become a radio DJ, video or audio producer, or in other radio and TV broadcast careers, then you will want a broadcasting school that is both credible and credentialed. Technology continues to grow and expand, so to keep up with the industry they should have the latest equipment for those wanting to learn how to become a radio DJ on a college radio station on the Internet and other radio broadcast careers.

Which Two-way Radio is Best for My Business?

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:01:06 +0000

Today’s businesses have discovered an easy and inexpensive method for increasing their bottom line. They’ve added two-way radios to their communication systems. Decreased operational costs and increased productivity are two big reasons for those additional profits.

Two-way radios are cost-effective tools. They’re used to communicate between departments or out in the field, decreasing the time spent on many tasks. Response time is quicker and projects can be tracked more efficiently using 2-way radios. They’re practical, reliable, durable, and less expensive than cellular phones.

But Which Two-Way Radio To Choose…

There are many 2-way radio models to choose from, depending on the needs and requirements of your business. Before purchasing any walkie-talkies, consider these four features: frequency, power, channels, and the durability of the handsets.

Frequency—UHF or VHF?

Consider your environment when choosing which frequency you’ll need. If you’re communicating inside a building or where there are obstructions between radios, then a UHF 2-way radio is best. These radios work well for businesses such as restaurants, hotels, health care facilities and schools.

VHF two-way radios work well when used outside on open land or rolling hills with few trees. Businesses such as farms and ranches, golf courses, and survey crews appreciate the reliability of VHF radios.

Power—How Much Do I Need?

Business radios vary in power from 1 watt to 5 watts. While the more powerful radios will communicate at the higher distances, often that power isn’t necessary. If your business communication area is under 200,000 square feet or less than one mile in distance, then a 1-watt radio will work well for you.

If the range is among multiple buildings, up to 250,000 square feet in an area, or up to 2 miles in distance, then a 2-watt radio will work. When communicating up to 300,000 square feet and up to a 3-mile distance, a 3-watt radio will do the job. Always consider the range or distance you’ll be using the radios to determine the power you actually need.

Channels—How Many Are Really Necessary?

The number of channels available on 2-way radios varies with each model. If all your employees need to communicate with each other, then one channel works well. However, if you operate a business such as a hotel, you’ll want multiple channels. Then your kitchen/wait staff, housekeeping, and valet service each can stay in touch on their own channel.

Determine how many different departments will be communicating among themselves and across departments when deciding how many channels your radios need.

Durability—How Sturdy Must My 2-Way Radio Handsets Be?

How and where the two-way radios will be used determines the ruggedness needed in handsets. If you’ll be using the radios outside where they could get knocked around a bit, then you’ll need a sturdy model. If the two-way radios will be used inside an office building to communicate from floor to floor, then a less rugged model will work well.

Assess your needs—determine which features you must have in your walkie-talkie. Then check the specifications of each model to decide which set will work best for you.

Create your Very Own In-house Micro Radio Station in 5 Easy Steps

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:05:02 +0000

Imagine …

You’re lying on your favorite sun lounger in your garden.

There isn’t a cloud in the sky.

You can feel the sun’s rays on your skin and there is a gentle breeze blowing through your hair.

There is a wooden table to your right. On the table is a tall glass. Inside the glass is your favorite ice-cool drink.

Next to the glass is a radio. From the radio you can hear your favorite music, old time radio shows, audiobooks, or whatever it is that tickles your fancy. When whatever you are listening to finishes another one of your favorites will start without you ever having to move a muscle.

Life is good!

Okay, you can stop imagining now and get back down to reality. The reason I asked you to imagine that particular scenario is that I wanted you to feel just how wonderful it is to have a little device called an FM transmitter. Some of you reading this will know what I’m talking about, but for those who don’t let me explain.

An FM transmitter is a rather clever gadget that allows you to transmit sound directly from your computer to any radio in your house. It’s completely wireless and works just like a normal radio station, but on a much smaller scale.

Here’s what happens. It’s really easy.

Step 1 – You plug the device into your sound card.

Step 2 – You select a frequency on the device that you want to broadcast at. For example you might select 92.5 FM.

Step 3 – You pick a radio show you’d like to listen to and start it playing on your computer.

Step 4 – You go to any FM radio in your house and tune it in to 92.5 FM.

Step 5 – You sit down and enjoy

The radio needs to be within a certain range, which will vary between 50 feet and 300 feet depending on the strength of the FM transmitter you are using and the number of walls and other obstructions the signal need to pass through to get to you.

The wonderful thing about FM transmitters is it allows you to listen to all the MP3 files you have stored on your computer or one of the online music services, whilst at the same time giving you the freedom to move around your house.

Luckily, the price of FM transmitters has dropped over the past few years and you should be able to pick up a decent FM transmitter that will work throughout a typical house for less than $100.

When purchasing an FM transmitter there are several things you need to consider before you make your decision to buy. Most important of all is the distance the signal covers. If you live in a tiny apartment there’s no need to spend the extra money on a powerful unit that will transmit 1000 feet, unless of course you want the whole neighborhood to be able to tune in to your broadcast. On the other hand, don’t buy one that will only transmit 10 feet if you want to listen at the bottom of the garden which is 150 feet from your computer.

A second thing to look out for is a digital display. Some units have no digital display telling you what frequency you are tuned into and require you to turn a screw on the back to adjust the frequency. This procedure can take quite some time as it requires a bit of trial and error. The end result is exactly the same, but with a digital display it is easy to set the FM transmitter to a specific frequency by reading the numbers on the display and then set the radio to exactly the same frequency.

Finally, some units require batteries whereas others run from the mains power supply. If the unit you buy runs off batteries make sure that it has an auto-off facility that will allow you to set a period after which the unit will automatically turn itself off. If you don’t have this you’ll find yourself wasting a lot of batteries.

FM transmitters are ideal for transmitting around your house, but the same technology can also provide an ideal way of listening to your MP3 player in your car without having to invest in an in-car MP3 unit. Just plug a battery powered FM transmitter into your MP3 player and then tune your car stereo into the same frequency.

So, now you know just how easy it is to set-up your very own micro radio station for your very own listening pleasure. It doesn’t matter whether you are a music fan, an old time radio aficionado, or an audiobook lover, this is one little gadget that can really add to the overall enjoyment.