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Wednesday May 2, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B1 C R E M A T I O N ^ "Get the Facts. Find out about 4§ the choices it provides. " Glen Oaks M em orial G ardens 3164 9th Line, Oakville Call 257-1100 OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL Focus 4 . O cC k» iR e/ y ja te r fr x n r it F e a ttv o i/ FOURTH LINE AUTO G O O D YEAR For Aii Your Car's Needs Drive Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection Tune-Ups · Brakes · Exhaust · Cooling Systems C A A A pproved Shop Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: W ILM A BLO KHUIS 8 4 5 - 3 8 2 4 Ext: 250 559 Speers Road (905) 842-3001 Tuning into the1 'Net Radio buff broadcasts from desktop computer By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR n a good day, Ridge Radio's tiny one milliwatt transmitter will send its signal a distance of about half a block. On the Internet, the station's reach is worldwide. Ridge Radio is a micro broadcaster, so weak it doesn't require a licence from the Canadian RadioTelevision and Telecommunications Commission. For the record, the CRTC, Canada's federal broad cast regulator, has opted not to regu late the Internet. Ridge Radio's creator John McKay - it's almost a one-man operation - is happy to broadcast a mixture of contemporary and eclectic Top 40 music and com munity announcements, to Oakville's wired audience from "my computer in the comer of the living room." For McKay, it's a labour of love. "Ridge Radio was inspired by one of the greatest AM stations of all time... LASER558," states McKay on his Ridge Radio website. The station "takes some if its style, including some o f the music, and the signature `laser shot' sound from LASER558. The Laser shot mimics a Morse Code letter `K' which in old marine commu O nications stands for `I want to commu nicate with you,' a concept that forms an integral part of community radio." LASER558 was an American style Top 40 AM station broadcasting from a ship anchored in the North Sea, since the spring of 1984 to the fall of 1985. McKay discovered it while on a trip to Europe and France in 1984. (More information about the LASER558, is available by visiting www.laser558.org.) Hence, Ridge Radio's music is Top 40 with a healthy smattering of the 1980s hits played on LASER558. "And, we play more Canadian artists and more female entertain ers, plus contemporary music that is not yet getting regular air play." He cited as an example, Thank You by Dido, now receiving widespread airplay. And, all the music Ridge Radio plays comes from M cKay's personal collection, purchased from local retailBetween the musical selections one can hear 30 and 60-second breaks, 5very three to four hours, for community announcements read by "myself, my wife and one or two other volun teers. There are no announcers." Just go to the sta tion's website, Photo by Peter C. McCusker John McKay, a radio buff, launched Ridge Radio, an Internet radio station, at his home computer more than six months ago. Tune into www.ridgeradio.com for music and community announcements. www.ridgeradio.com and `click here to listen.' It's easy if you have, or down load, Real Player software. Or, if you're not wired to the Internet, drive close to Iroquois Ridge High School and tune to 100.3 Mhz on the FM dial. Despite the name Ridge Radio, the station is not connected to Iroquois Ridge High School. It takes its name from a prominent Oakville geographical feature, the old Lake Iroquois shoreline, from which the high school and surrounding com munity also take their name. McKay, who works at LeBlanc, manufacturer of radio transmission towers in Oakville, and designs web pages for the broadcast industry, did not plan on becoming an Internet broadcaster. "I got started after I got an email from a guy in Orangeville asking me for information about starting a radio station on the Internet," said McKay, "so I started experimenting." Ridge Radio went on the air last October, broadcasting 24 hours a day. "This email really sparked my can listen - but all of the messages interest. He wanted to know the will be aimed at Oakville only." cheapest and simplest way to start a These messages include upcoming station on the net." McKay uses available software and community events such as blood donor clinics. Announcements are an Internet service provider, and a updated weekly, and to get a message small bandwidth, "allowing the sta on Ridge Radio, email: tion to play in the background while you're doing other things on the com- · stnmgr@ridgeradio.com. If you send your message in an puter. MP3 format, "w e'll broadcast it for "I'm experimenting with automa you," says McKay. tion software used by commercial Right now, Ridge Radio is a non radio - most stations use automation profit venture. However, as it grows in and I was able to find a $99 system popularity, he'll be looking for adver made in Australia." tising and sponsorships. McKay believes Ridge Radio is With the increasing availability of different from all of the other "tens of MP3 players, designed to play MP3 thousands of Internet radio stations in operation," plus the thousands of com files (music) downloaded from the Internet, and the new crop of cell mercial stations that send their on-air phones with FM radio capability, broadcasts over the Internet. McKay is convinced Internet radio It is the only local community stations will increase in number and Internet radio station currently broad popularity. casting in Canada, perhaps North McKay has spent 17 years in the America. broadcast industry. While at the "We're targeting the local commu University of Toronto, he got involved nity of Oakville," says McKay. "No with CIUT 89.5 FM, starting as an one else on the Internet is broadcast engineer and moved up through the ing to one town on the Internet. ranks as producer, newscaster, However, anyone around the world The Body Shaping Fitness Studio For Women. Dirk Gebhardt Maria Kinlough FUR STORAGE · COMPETITIVE RATES & EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE Is there a special lady in your life who is always giving to everyone and doesn't take any time for herself? Here is the perfect opportunity to show her how much you love her by giving her the gift o f health and time. T h e S tudio is a beautifully appointed fitness and health facility exclusively designed for a woman's needs and com fort. 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