Community Radio: Technology options
Visakhapatnam consultancy of MIB, March 2013
R.Narasimha Swamy
General Manager, BECIL,
Bangalore
r n . s w a my @ b e c i l . c o m
BECIL
Contents
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Radio broadcasting in general
Radio broadcasting in India
Technology
Cost implication and different models
About BECIL
Radio broadcasting
• Effective and low cost mass media communication
tool.
• Economical production and communication processes.
• Matured, well established and free-to-air technology.
• Full potential of radio is yet to be realized in our
country.
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Policy on Radio broadcasting in India
• Public service broadcasting
• Prasar Bharati - All India Radio.
• Catering to all segments, interests and tastes
• Broadcasting in MW/SW/FM/DRM bands
• FM Commercial broadcasting
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Entertainment channel. No news and current affairs.
FM band only with 5 to 20 kW power with tower of 150 to 100 meter
Coverage restricted to within 30 to 90 KM of radius of the station
License obtained on competitive bidding ranging from 0.50 crores to 35
crores as one time entrée fees plus annual license fees.
• Educational Radio
• Gyanvani
• Community Radio broadcasting
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VHF (FM )propagation
Line of sight propagation
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AM propagation
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FM broadcasting, advantages
• CD quality audio
• Unaffected by ambient and man made noise
• Needs small power for covering relatively large
area compared with AM
• Matured and established technology
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FM broadcasting, limitations
• Coverage restricted to line of sight
• Affected by multi path, diffraction and
scattering due to high rise buildings and
natural objects.
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Site selection
• Select the site situated at the highest altitude
for the best coverage.
• Keep away from high rise buildings, steel
towers and natural objects like hills etc
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Broadcast technology of community radio
• Propagation in VHF band II i.e. 88 MHz to 108 MHz
• Vertical polarization is advised to conserve the
power and provide enhanced coverage.
• Can be received on any standard consumer grade FM
receivers or mobile set with Radio.
• Coverage limited to approximately 6-15 KM radius
(subjected to topographical conditions).
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CRS policy
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Technical parameters and regulation
 Need to obtain Letter of Intent and sign agreement with MIB.
 Frequency, SACFA and Wireless Operating License from DOT.
 No license fees charged by MIB, spectrum fee of Rs 19,000/90,000 per
annum to be paid to DOT
 It will be in FM band with effective radiated power of 100 Watt
authorization and tower height is limited to 100’ from the ground level.
 Can cover around 8 to 15 KM radius depending on the geography
 Only THREE stations at any given geographical location
 To preserve a copy of the broadcast for at least three months.
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Components of a typical CRS
• Suitable building with sufficient open space for tower/mast
• Recording and Transmission booth
• Visitors room with toilet etc
• On-air mixer console with microphones etc
• Production and playback hardware and software
• RF hardware
• Auxiliary facilities like power supply arrangement, UPS, acoustic
and sound proof treatment, ventilation, monitoring etc
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Technical infrastructure and
tools for CRS.
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ON AIR STUDIO
PRODUCTION STUDIO
PLAY BACK
EQUIPMENT
PRODUCTION
MIXER
MIKE
WITH H/P
OBSERVATION
WINDOW
ON AIR MIXING
CONSOLE
OBSERVATION
WINDOW
MIKE
WITH H/P
N.
MO
SOUND
PROOF
DOOR
SOUND
PROOF
DOOR
Typical CRS setup
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MO
N.
PLAY BACK
EQUIPMENT
VOICE OVER BOOTH
SOUND
PROOF
DOOR
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AGN School
Konganapuram
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BV Bhoomaraddi
College of Engineering, Hubli
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Transmission Studio of CRS Neladhani, Nelmangala
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Studio hardware
• Recording/on-air mixer
• Digital Telephone hybrid
• Microphones, headphones, warning lamp etc
• Workstation and application software for production
and Playback
• Studio acoustics
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Mixer options
• Live sound mixer normally used for
production
• Broadcast mixer for on-air deployment
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Functionalities of mixer
 Takes microphone or line level audio signals
 Amplifies the microphone signal
 Gain can be set for each channel using fader
 Mixes all the channel to obtain desired blend.
 Outputs one or more channels for recording,
broadcast etc.
 Provides monitoring using display or over head
phone.
 Optional facilities include equalization, talk back,
telephone interface, channel grouping etc
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Soundcraft EPM12 live mixer
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Broadcast mixer
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Recording Studio of AGN School CRS
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Production and playback
• General purpose, desktop computers can be used for
this purpose.
• Built in sound devices can be used. However, it is
advisable to use plug in sound cards for better quality.
• For production, freeware like Audacity or licensed one
like Adobe audition is available.
• For playlist and transmission, freeware like Winamp,
Zara Radio, Window media player or licensed ones can
be used.
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RF Hardware
• FM transmitter with redundancy
• Coaxial cable and the vertically polarized antenna
• Self supported Transmission tower
• Monitoring setup
• Broadcast processor
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BECIL make 50 Watt, FM Transmitter
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BECIL make
Two bay VHF antenna
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CRS of AGN School, Konganapuram, Tamil Nadu
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Cost implications and different models.
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Equipment grading
• Professional
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Durable
Reliable
Well documented and supported
Expensive
• Consumer
– Will lost for couple of years.
– Inexpensive
• Amateurish/hobbyist
– ?
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How to select the hardware?
Seek following information from Consultants/suppliers
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Detailed specification
Report from all the users/clients
Support centers
Company background
Experience in manufacturing
Technology adopted
Warranty and guarantee terms
Cost
• Assess the reliability from the above data
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Estimated capital cost
MODULE Transmission
Studios
Acoustics,
HVAC, Power
etc
Integration
charges
Total
BASIC
5.00
2.00
0.50
2.00
9.50
Medium
8.00
4.00
2.00
2.00
16.00
Good
8.00
6.00
7.00
2.00
23.00
INR in lakhs
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How to maintain CRS setup
• Maintenance requirement depends on the configuration
• Reputed OEM Hardware is provided with the warranty
• Breakdown maintenance on call
• Basic preventive maintenance can be carried out by a
semi skilled and trained person
• No need to employ regular technical personnel for
operation and maintenance
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ABOUT BECIL
 Government opens up the broadcast sector for private participation in 90s
 Ministry of I&B sets up BECIL in 1995 as a public sector enterprise for
providing consultancy and turn key solutions in the field of broadcast
engineering comprising of Acoustics, Radio, Television, audio/video and
Satellite broadcasting.
 Provides specialized services in the fields of
 Acoustics
 High end Audio Visual Systems
 Audio, visual and animation production Studios
 FM, Television and satellite broadcasting
 Specialized communication for defense forces
 ISO certified and profit making company.
 Regional office [South] of BECIL is setup in April 2010 at Bangalore
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Projects of BECIL
 BECIL has successfully developed and manufactures all RF Transmission
equipment like Transmitter, Transfer switch, antenna and Tower required for
CRS with in-house efforts.
 Associated with more than 60+ CRS projects for Universities, private
educational institutions and NGOs throughout India.
 Official partner of Government of Karnataka for their CRS initiative.
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First private FM radio station in Bangalore
 16 out of 22 FM channels under phase#1 and 232 FM channels under phase#2
in 84 cities for private operators.
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TV Studios for Loksabha, Rajyasabha, Rasthrapathi Bhavan, Malayala
Manorama, Eenadu TV, Ministry of Education, EMMRCs etc
 First HDTV Studios in India.
 Overseas projects in Middle east, Afghanistan, Africa, Maldives and Bangladesh
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BECIL services
• BECIL can set up the CRS on turn key basis or provide
consultancy and project execution services.
• BECIL consultancy and project execution services include:
– Advising the promoters briefing on the policy, in filing up
and submission of applications, conducting the base line
survey, obtaining clearances etc
– Helping the clients in site selection and its preparation.
– Integration, installation, commissioning, testing, coverage
survey of the station.
– BECIL has setup 5 CRS under Corporate social
responsibility of the company.
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CR clients of BECIL in south India
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Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, T.Nagar, Chennai
AGN School, Apputhottam, Konganapuram, Salem district, Tamil Nadu
DC Institute of Management and Technology, Vagamon, Kerala
Thirumala Trust, Cherthala, Kerala
Kings College of Engineering, Punalkulam, Puthukottai Dist, Tamil Nadu
Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Hesaraghatta Road, Bangalore.
Divya Jyoti Vidya Kendra, Nelamangala, Karnataka.
Ahilia Eye Foundation, Palakkad, Kerala
Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur district, AP
Maha College of Engineering, Salem, Tamil Nadu
BV Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli, Karnataka
Viveka School of Excellence, Saragur, HD Kote Taluk, Mysore District
Rathinam College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karur
St Aloysius College, Mangalore
Sarathi, NGO, Anugondanahalli, Karnataka
University of Hyderabad
Women’s welfare society, Belgaum
Global Education Net, Ambalpuzha, Kerala
ATED Society, Mahe
SRM University, Chennai
Jain Management Institute, Bangalore
MCT Trust, Kakinada
Sri Ramana academy of Blind, JP Nagar, Bangalore
Khushu Bhau Thakre University of Journalism and Media, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
GMR Institute of Technology, Rajam, Sri Kakulam District, AP
Deccan Radio, Hyderabad
Conclusion
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Sufficient care to be taken while selecting the site and
equipments.
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The setup can cost from 9.50 lakh to 23 lakh.
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A typical CRS can have carpet coverage in 6-10 KM radius
amounting to an area of 110- 300 square KM.
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The quality of the signal can be as good as AIR/private FM station
signal within the coverage area, in static reception modes
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Thank you
BECIL