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TECHNORAMA Your local Community Radio Station wants B roadcasting is a technology business. It needs people who can build things, fix things and solve problems. That would be someone like you, because if you’re reading SILICON CHIP you’re probably that person already. But did you know there’s a whole country full of radio stations, known as Community Radio Stations who would welcome your help – and give you an outlet for your passion for electronics? Hey, you could even have fun. Australia has arguably the strongest Community Broadcasting service in the world. There are over 440 Community Radio Stations spread across the country, some very big and supporting major cities, down to the smallest which serve remote communities of just a few thousand people. All of them rely on volunteers to present, manage and provide technical backup. It’s a lot of fun talking into a microphone, but if you want listeners it’s really important to have a studio, some wiring, a bit of a network, a server or two and some streaming or a transmitter. That’s where technologists come in. Well, they would if we could find by John Maizels President, Technorama Inc. Community radio station 3CR in Melbourne has over 400 volunteer programmers and last year celebrated their 40th anniversary on air. them. Like all volunteer processes, connections need to be made, and technologists need to come from somewhere. Some of us have the hobby urge, some from industry, quite a few from ham radio, many from SILICON CHIP reading and kit building… and quite a lot of folk from “well, I don’t know much but I’ll have a go”, which is how we are in Australia. Trust me – having a go in commu- Technorama 16 brought together volunteers from all over Australia to network, to learn from other Community Radio Stations and from industry leaders. siliconchip.com.au YOU! nity radio was how I found out about transmitters and got my ham licence. Made a lot of mates along the way too. Being part of a volunteer team is a great way to gain and hone skills. Many of us have moved from hobby into career, and employers know the value of technical skills picked up from the hobby. In 2008 a passionate group of techs formed “Technorama”, as a grass-roots experiment in bringing together – and growing – the technology skill base for community broadcasting. We exist to help stations, to encourage more people to engage in Broadcast technology, to facilitate training opportunities, get people talking, create the tech community, and do whatever it takes to make that happen easily. Technorama runs an annual get-together, and this year it’s in June. You can find all about this year’s Technorama – TR17 – at: www.technorama.org.au Intrigued? Find your local community station and offer your help. Tell them you have an interest in technology – if they don’t treat you like longlost family, let me know! Contact info<at> technorama.org.au There’s a gaggle of stations just waiting for your call. SC May 2017  17