Who We Are

We are a community based low-powered FM station that is built for the community and by the community. Our programming is the alternative to what you will find on commercial radio stations. Additionally we offer the community the opportunity to have its voice heard with locally produced programming. We broadcast out of Fern Creek on 92.7 FM and stream on the web from wxbh.org.

How You Can Get Involved

There are many opportunities available for you to support WXBH. You can produce or learn to produce your own show. You can donate financially to the station through one time donations, memberships, and underwriting.

We Support Local and Independent Bands

Each month we highlight a local band or artist we really dig. Additionally we believe that good music extends well beyond the Top 40. Please contact us to get your music on the air.

We're on the air in Fern Creek at 92.7 mHz and on the Web at http://wxbh.org (and http://LouisvilleCommunityRadio.org). Listen to our stream at http://wxbh.org/pages/stream.m3u or http://wxbh.org:8000/stream.ogg. Join us and help build a DIY community-based radio station for SE Jeff Co.

First, thanks to the core group that are keeping things going right now, especially Matt Brier who is holding it all together. Our current program producers include:

• Matt Brier - Matman Radio Hour
• David Link - The David Link Show
• Whit Forrester - Pothos
• LB Martin - Street Music Movement
• Evan Burkhead - ChannelX
• and Richard Slawsky is keeping us on the air ... coordinating internet stream, streaming player, transmitter, and antenna

Take a look at our current schedule: http://studio.wxbh.org/ProgramGrid.php (Yes. It's messy looking, but it's there and it's current, generated directly out of our new operations database!)

Bad News / Good News Department:

We had a disk failure a couple of weeks ago and I had to quickly swap everything out to a laptop while I fixed it.

We have a new one terrabyte disk now. Plenty of room for more music!

Along the way, I tweaked the configuration and I believe we now have a significantly improved sound quality!

• The new system avoids using sound cards entirely! (We were using two sound cards and a very awkward digital-analog-digital conversion. We still have to use a sound card at the transmitter, of course.)
• We are now streaming at 160 kbps instead of 64 kbps
• The result is a clearer, crisper, louder sound on the stream!
• Bonus: The current track name is now embedded in the audio signal and shows up on some streaming audio players!

I've been swamped and I know most of you have been too, but ...

sometime soon, we need to:

• have a radio meeting. There just doesn't seem to be a good time when all or most of the above can make it. But we really need to start meeting, so watch for something soon. (Maybe Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving?)
• do the street solicitation thing. The neat thing about it does two things for us: we can give out flyers advertising the station, and we can collect a little money. Both are important.

We need to pick out some good intersections for this. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

John 213-0428 (call me anytime)

Check out our updated station web site at http://wxbh.org! (And thanks to Matt Brier for revamping it for us!)

Our current programming schedule is now posted at: http://studio.wxbh.org/ProgramGrid

Although there are still a few minor issues to be attended to, it looks like WXBH is back on the air for good. That being said, it’s time to meet and plan a course of action.

I’d like to have a radio meeting on Saturday, Jan. 17. Someone has proposed having it at the Douglass Loop Heine Bros. at 4 p.m. If someone can’t make that or they have a better suggestion I’m flexible, so email me and we can hash it out.

Here are some of the issues I think need to be addressed, but everyone is welcome to voice their own concerns:

Fundraising

WXBH needs to be a contributor to the Brick House mission. Developing a consistent revenue stream would go a long way to getting us off the path of stumbling from one financial crisis to the next. There are some technical upgrades we need to think about as well. Right now the station is broadcasting in mono, and converting to stereo requires the purchase of some additional equipment. Also, the station owes money to the Fern Creek Alumni Association, and taking care of that debt will go a long way to enhancing our credibility in the community.

I’ve worked in community radio before and I’ve done some research into how other LP stations operate. Everyone I’ve seen uses some form of membership system where one of the prerequisites to getting airtime is to become a financial contributor to the station. In short, people pay a membership fee, usually between $15-$40 a year, to be a part of the station. That’s something we probably need to consider.

Also, individuals or business can underwrite programming in exchange for a mention on the air. These aren’t commercials, though, and there are strict rules about what can and can not be said. There isn’t a definitive underwriting cost schedule, either, and we need to hammer that out.

Programming

Now that the station is back on the air, we need to look at the programming schedule. Although all of the programming isn’t going to appeal to everyone all of the time, but people will have their favorites, and we need to let them know when that is available, probably through a page on the Web site. I know a lot of people have ideas for shows, and we need to figure out the technical aspects of putting a show together and getting it on the air. Some of what’s currently being broadcast is a bit dated. And we need to figure out time slots for everything. Also, do we need to have a programming committee to make decisions about what goes on the schedule?

Housekeeping

The Web page needs to be updated. I put a notice up about our return to the airwaves, but the site needs an overhaul. There are some issues with on-the-air announcements and stuff that need to be addressed. We need on-the-air and off-the-air announcements, and we need a few more “if you’d like to contribute” announcements as well. Also, do we need a separate treasurer and secretary or are those roles held by the people currently doing it for the Brick House overall?

Anyway, these are some things to think about. Let me know about when everyone can meet next Saturday and we’ll finalize the time and place.

Richard