Countdown to the launch of
full-time Christian broadcasting in Scotland
August 2006
The new transmitter for Revival FM was tested by Ofcom on 31st August, passed with flying colours, and is now broadcasting test transmissions. Listen in on 100.8 FM if you are in range.
July 2006
It may be the lazy hazy daysof summer, but work has continued in preparation for the Launch of Revival FM on 3rd September.
Most of the equipment for our new transmitter site has now arrived and is presently being assembled and tested.
Ofcom testing of our new transmitter is scheduled for 31st August, so if you're in range, listen out on 100.8 FM on and after that day for test broadcasts.
During July presenter training sessions commenced as did work on developing our administrative systems and music library.
June 2006
 It
will soon be time to commence installation of the new Revival FM transmitter
site and an essential part of the equipment for that - the aerial (or
antenna) system - has just arrived.
Specially made in Italy for Revival FM, this very sophisticated and sturdy
unit arrived in a large crate which proved to be just as sturdy. We realise
that a hammer is sometimes an essential tool for working on delicate equipment,
but we hadn't thought about the need for a mallet !!
 Peter
McGhie, our broadcasting consult from Phase
Broadcast, is shown holding half of the new antenna system. The system
will radiate in both vertical and horizontal planes with the signal directed
towards the Revival FM target area. (And we'll forgive Peter for wearing
his Q96 t-shirt when he posed for this picture !)
May 2006
 With
construction work on the new studios for Revival FM moving onwards and
new equipment installation soon to commence, the first interview in the
new premises was carried out on Tuesday 23rd May during a visit from George
Hamilton IV while touring Scotland as part of his 50th year in the Country
Music business.
Revival FM listeners
will be able to hear the interview with George later in the year.
 Revival
Pledge Day
Visitors to the Revival Radio
Pledge Day on Saturday 6th May 2006 were able to witness the progress
on the newly decorated complex.
 For
the first time in the new complex, the "sound" of Revival was
heard (through loudspeakers only so far!) and the first audio editing
has been carried out.
Some remaining electrical and decoration work should be completed in
the very near future, leaving the way for the technical team to commence
permanent installation of the broadcast systems.
April 2006
 The
start of April reveals the rapid progress that has been made in construction
of the new Revival Radio studio complex.
Revival presenters were able to have their first preview of the new complex
in a "hard hat" visit during a Revival training event held in
Cumbernauld. As they watched workmen installing the suspended ceiling,
presenters were able to witness the quality of the build being employed
in what we trust will prove to be a God honouring project.
 In
the following week the Revival technical sub-group held their planning
meeting in new complex for the first time, although torches and temporary
lighting were required!. Studio 1 now has equipment positions marked on
the floor! Construction is well on target to allow techincal fit-out to
commence at the end of April.
Clearance of the frequency for Revival FM is expected towards the end
of May and plans are in hand to have the new transmitter site commissioned
in time to allow a test signal to be radiated from early June.
 On
the last day of March, with the general office area now fully lit, the
Directors of Revival Radio were able to hold their regular planning meeting
in the new studio complex for the first time.
By the end of the first week in April the joiners should have completed
their work. Electrical installations are also at an advanced stage. Soon
we should see the paint brushes coming out !!
March 2006
 As
with any construction project - and indeed with life - the work that goes
into foundations is very important but not always immediately visible!
The picture on the right, taken from the General Office area looking towards
Studio 1, shows the progress of construction.
A great deal of more "invisible" work has been undertaken in
the past two weeks. Taping and filling work has been carried out, leaving
the newly constructed walls in a state of readiness for decoration in
the future.
 This
view shows the general office area looking towards the Station Manager's
office, training studio and studio 2.
A very simple, but extensive and essential hidden task, was the removal
of a large amount of construction debris from the area depicted before
this tidy picture could be taken!
 Another
area of "hidden" work has been the commencement of cabling for
electrical, data and audio purposes.
Of course the one thing technology has failed to do is find a completely
hidden method of hiding the spaghetti of cables which is involved in projects
such as this, so the evidence of the cable ends is now clearly visible
in the principle broadcast and technical areas.
 Completion
of this essential foundation work prepares the way for the next highly
visible stage of the studio project which will be the installation of
a suspended ceiling covering the entire general office area.
Alongside this construction work, other preparatory work is being carried
out, all heading towards the launch of the station full time. This has
included the first stages in a new broadcast operations website at the
new web address of revival.fm
February 2006
Construction - Week 3
Most remaining construction of walls has been completed and what little
is outstanding should finished by Tuesday of Week 4.
Acoustic ceilings are now in place in each of the studios and work has
commenced in running electrical and data cabling along with certain audio
and video distribution cables.
It is anticipated that the suspended ceiling over the general office
area will be completed at the beginning of week 5 which will allow electrical
installation to proceed to it's next stage.
 Construction
- Week 2
After two weeks of construction work the new studio vision for Revival
FM is beginning to take place.
Our group of studio "inspectors" are standing in the general
office area outside studio 1, which will become the main broadcast studio.
 Next
to studio 1 will be a studio for live broadcast and recording of news
and current affairs - the door to this studio is just visible on the right
hand edge of this photograph.
At the left hand edge of the photograph can be seen the entrace areas
for studio 2, which will be primarily for recording and voice tracking,
and studio 3 which will be a dedicated training studio.
 The
Revival Radio broadcasting complex will, of course, include all essential
facilities. The accessibility friendly staff toilet facilities (the blue
door visible in the photograph) is strategically positioned to offer minimal
distance of travel for the "live" presenter, a facility not
always enjoyed in past broadcast locations!
 Studio
walls, all built to high soundprooing specifications, are well on the
way to completion, as is the partitioning for the rest room and technical
areas. Cladding of other wall areas is expected to be completed in the
coming week with work on the acoustic ceilings expected to commence the
following week.
 The
entrance ways to each studio have been formed as have the windows which
will allow all broadcast and news studios to have visual contact with
each other, as this view from the News Studio through Studio 1 towards
Studio 2 shows.
To ensure maximum sound isolation in each studio, windows will be formed
of three separate glazing units and maintain the isolation of the double
wall construction.
 Construction
- Week 1
Week 1 of construction of the new broadcast complex for Revival Radio
concentrated on the essential insulated and heavily soundproofed external
walls for the studio area of the building.
External walling of the non-studio areas will also be insulated with
soundproofing to an appropriate standard.
 New
Studio Building
Directors of Revival Radio Ltd stood as a team in the new studio building
on Saturday February 4th and gave God thanks for the facility He has provided.
The concrete floor still has chalked lines to help us imagine the positions
of the new studios but surrounding us were building materials which will
soon be employed constructing a sound-proofed outer skin to the studio
complex, work which is scheduled to commence on 6th February.
 An
opportunity also presented itself to obtain some furniture suitable for
use in the training studio and general office areas of the Revival FM
studio complex. Ron Bernard certainly looks happy as he helps unload the
first of three van loads! It was good to be doing something practical
and to begin to see some physical results emerging from months of planning.
 Of
course stamina will be needed to keep the pace up - and the strain appears
to be showing on a couple of our team already !!!
One thing we have learned is that, when we are doing something right,
Satan will attack those close to us. There is evidence that this is happening
already - so please uphold the families of all those involved in Revival
Radio in your prayers.
Training
At the end of January the Directors of Revival Radio travelled to the
studios of UCB for four days of intensive training and discovery - after
the first afternoon our heads were bursting with knowledge of the things
we didn't know we didn't know !.
We are indebted to all of those at UCB for their provision of knowledge
of essential issues related to the management and operation of a full-time
radio station.
Transmitter Location and Specification
Details of our formal proposal for an alternative location, together
with system specifications presented to commercial standards, have been
submitted to Ofcom.
Frequency and Launch Date
The launch date for Revival FM will be dictated by the time required
to install and commission the new transmitter site, construct the new
studio complex and install and commission the new broadcasting equipment,
together with a time for training and practice broadcasting.
However, the key factor in being able to declare a formal launch date
for Revival FM will probably be the Ofcom approval process for the new
transmitter site. This is moving ahead but until full licence approval
is received from Ofcom, it is unlikely that we will learn our allocated
transmitting frequency or be able to announce a definite launch date.
January 2006
 New
Studio Building
We now have access to the property which will become the new home for
Revival Radio.
Presently we're looking at grey walls and a concrete floor with chalked
lines to help us imagine the positions of the new studio complex.
Early in February the first building materials are expected to arrive
on site and we expect construction to commence.
Training
At the end of January the Directors of Revival Radio will be travelling
to the studios of UCB for four days of intensive training.
This training will provide knowledge of essential issues related to the
management and operation of a full-time radio station, some of which will
become incorporated in training to be passed on to those who will work
in the Revival FM broadcast environment in the future.
Transmitter Location and Specification
Under the terms of the Community Radio Licence to be awarded to Revival
Radio, we were required to find an alternative transmitter location.
Details of our formal proposal for an alternative location, together
with system specifications presented to commercial standards, have now
been submitted to Ofcom.
The Ofcom approval routine requires notification to a number of external
bodies which may have radio installations in proximity. This process therefore
takes time.
Frequency and Launch Date
Until full licence approval is received from Ofcom, it is unlikely that
we will learn our allocated transmitting frequency.
Until this approval is received, it will not be possible for us to declare
a formal launch date for Revival FM.
Launch date will also be dictated by requirements for time to install
and commission the transmitter site, contruct the new studio complex and
install and commission the new broadcasting equipment, together with a
time for training and practice broadcasting.
The first half of 2006 looks like being a very busy time !!
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