Restricted Service Licences - Community Stations
The RSL Page.
A Record of Restricted Licence or Community Broadcast Stations in the East Midlands (and further).
Restricted Broadcast Licences (RSLs) are issued to groups, societies etc to Broadcast for a short length of time. The RSL is usually issued as a trial period with a view to obtaining a full time licence or the RSL is set up to celebrate or support an event.
RSLs can be set up to cover Religious Holidays and Local Festivals, Sporting Events such as Grand Prix, Motor Racing Events, Football matches and similar.
Ofcom's List of Current RSLs Link
Boundary Sound
Ran a very successfull first trial Broadcast from 06/09/04-03/10/04 on 87.7FM supported by internet streaming.
Several further RSL's followed testing various transmitter locations, and also introducing a wide variety of programming and presenters.
1st January 2009 - Boundary Sound launched with a full time Community Licence broadcasting on 102.6MHz.
Steve Boundary Sound's Technical Manager very kindly let Holly Loose on the desk over the christmas holidays, as can be seen she thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
Presenter Charlie Roberts in action during his Saturday Night 80's show. (From the first RSL)
Siren FM
Heard on 28th April 06 in the Newark Area on 87.7Mhz. The Ofcom pages list
Lincolns Best Choice as the only likely candidate.
Ashfield Community Radio
Heard in the Ashfield Area on April 4th 2006 on 97.5Mhz. Quite co-incidently
playing Liza Lamour's version of "New Day" when I found the station.
Lisa L'amour is one of the websites
I am involved with. This station has a history of successfull RSLs over
the years. More information
Here
Priory FM / Gravity FM
Priory FM started transmission on 102.5 from Wednesday 3rd May 2005 for
the beginning of their 28
days RSL. Good coverage expected as usual from their excellent TX site on
St Catherine's Hill in Grantham. 25Watts ERP has been awarded to this Broadcast.
Reception Reports: Priory FM can be heard in Newark with some reasonable clarity. Personally speaking I find that reception is better in the car, I have heard Priory as far as Markham Moor on the A1, North Hykeham and Bingham. 17/11/04 Reception usable along A617 from Newark until A614 Roundabout, Signal drops off fast also Pulse FM starts to appear.
Previous RSL's from this site have also used the name Gravity FM. Priory / Gravity have many RSL's under their belt. Priory FM Website
In the autumn of 2008 Gravity were awarded a Full Time Community Licence and can now be heard on 97.2MHz. At the time of writing (01/01/09) I have yet to hear any regular programming but an audio stream is present playing music and jingles promoting the station.
Website can be found here
Mansfield Community Radio
87.7Mhz First heard on 7th December 05 while crossing the M1 at Junction 29. Good Reception right along the A617 to Kirklington, the signal becomes "scratchy" in places but still workable up to Newark Town Center and Balderton. Still stereo in places but prone to interference. RDS display shows "MANRADFM".
The website for the station can be found here.
The Station was on-air until 1st January 2006 and is an inititive for the
Oak Tree Lane and Bellamy Road Estates.
TWC / The Eye
87.9Mhz Local Radio for the Vale of Belvoir. I heard this station for the first time on 1/12/04 travelling along the A46 towards Radcliffe on Trent. Quite a novelty to have 2 Local RSL's active at the moment (at time of writing 1/12/04 Priory FM is also active) especially as both stations were running a show called "Power Breakfast". Spooky eh ? RDS was displaying "TWC FM". Never heard this station before but often try the frequency due to the large number of "I love 87.9" stickers that proliferate sign posts around the A46 and West Bridgford area.
June 2005: TWC were awarded a Community Radio Licence. TWC went on the
Air in late 2006 on 103Mhz rebranded as "The Eye". The
Eye Website
New Wine Radio
Station to celebrate the New Wine Christian Coference in Newark
First heard 25/07/06 on air 21/07/6 to 29/07/06
Erewash Sound
Ilkeston Community On air from: 16/07/05 to 12/08/05 On 87.9MHz. Weak signal
on car radio in Newark, but clear enough to identify. Steve 2E0FKH reports
hearing Erewash Sound in Newark on 19th July 2005 @ 23:30. I have since
heard Erewash Sound on 01/08/05 while driving between West Bridgford and
the National Water Sports Centre.
GameFair Radio
Grantham
On air from: 20/07/05 to 24/07/05
Steve 2E0FKH has reported hearing Gamefair FM on 87.7MHz and commented "
Very good reception from Balderton". I also heard Gamefair around the
Newark area. On 25th July the signal was very strong in Mansfield, just
a blank carrier with RDS at the time.
Lincolnshire Show Radio
First heard on 20th June 06 - Surprisingly I was in Mansfield at the time!
Ponies UK
Ponies UK: On air from: 16/08/05 to 20/08/05 87.7Mhz. Broadcasting for the annual Pony Event (Camp?) from the Newark Showground. Steve M3FKH reports reception during the weekend 20-21 August, thought to be using very low output power as the station was only audible up to about 3/4 mile from the show ground
19th August 2006 Heard while driving past the Newark Showground, RDS displaying
"PUK FM". As with last year coverage difficult past the showground
boundaries.
Historical RSL's, Other RSL's and Access Radio Stations
Lush FM
Lush FM: A station set up by the Leicester Students Union. Heard on 107.5Mhz
while in Leicester on 9th December 2005. Very strong in the Belgrave area
and along London Road. Workable going out of the City north on the A6 to
around Wanlip.
LCR FM
LCR FM: Heard on 87.7Mhz while in Loughborough on 13th February 2006. Very
strong in the sorrounding area. Workable going out of the town south on
the A6 to around Wanlip A46 Junction. Would have probably been heard further
in to Leicester but another station displaying "URBAN" on the
RDS pops up. Also good signals north on the M1 to junction 25 but audible
to well beyond J26. Also heard on 107.5mhz around Leicester was a station
playing Asian Music, no RDS display though.
Max FM
Max FM: I heard this one quite a bit during May and June 1993. Max FM was
a trial which mainly featured Dance Music. I think that the TX site was
probably around Mapperley as reception could be made as far as East Stoke
on the A46.
Horizon
Horizon: I heard this station around February 1995. Again I think the main
programming was Dance orientated.
YMCA Digital
Heard in Mansfield on 11 June 2010 87.7Mhz RDS Display "YMCA DIG"
URN
URN: (University Radio Nottingham). Was first aware of this station during
their late 93 broadcast. Good coverage around Nottingham from memory ok
out to about Saxondale. I did hear the station all the way along the A52
to Grantham and then in bursts out the outher side along the A52 until around
Osbourney Roundabout. I think URN has appeared over many years quite often
at beginning of a new Educational Year. I think they possibly scooped an
interview with Chris Evans one morning when he happened to be visiting the
University either in his Radio One Capacity or maybe TV role.
Airshow
Airshow: First heard a few years back for the Waddington Airshow. Good
reception this year (2004) along the A46 from Lincoln to Brough. Also reasonably
good in Balderton using a colinear aerial designed for 2mtr Ham Band. Heard
on 102.5? June 23rd 2005.
Derwent FM
Derwent FM 87.9Mhz. Heard this station on 14th September 2004 around 12:30
while driving over Mapperley Top. Resonable reception stereo with some noise,
however I was a long way from the intended reception area. Also no RDS display
was received. Presenter played a good selection of music (In my opinion)
and gave out local news and information. Sounded very slick.
SNC Student Radio
87.9 heard for the first time on 3/4/06 on 87.9 whilst driving through
West Bridgford.
FIZA
An Access Radio Pilot Scheme Station from Nottingham to be found on 97.1Mhz. Started broadcasting in March 2002. I think this station is run by the Asian Women's Project.
Reception Reports: I have heard this station quite widely over the Nottingham
Area. Particularly Strong on the M1 around junction 26. Also very strong
in West Bridgford Area.
Dawn FM
Dawn FM run by:
Karminia Institue on 107.6 in Nottingham. Previously shared airtime with
the Asian Womens Project .
Kemet Radio
Launched on 25th January 2007 to serve the African Caribbean Community
in the Nottingham and wider area. Broadcasting on 97.5Mhz I have found coverage
in the Nottingham area to be very good. Website can be found here
ICE FM
87.7Mhz - No RDS heard in West Bridgford on 17th April 2007
Amber Sound FM
Amber Sound FM
87.9 FM - Ripley, Derby RDS "AMBERSND" heard in Ravenshead -
Coxmoor Area on 19th April 2007
Takeover Radio
Takeover Radio: An Access Radio Pilot Scheme Station from Leicester on 103.2Mhz. Started off by streaming over the net Takeover took to the air in early 2002. The Station is themed towards children.
Reception Reports: Usually reaches out of Leicester on the A46 to about Thrussington Crossroads. Can be heard further out but competes with Mansfield 103.2 the further north you go. Leaving Leicester travelling north west by the A50 reception suddenly disapears at Bradgate Hill. Takeover Website
Tulip Radio
87.9 FM - To celebrate the Spalding Flower festival and Parade
On air from: 09/04/06 to 06/05/06. First heard in April 05 while visiting
the event, also heard on 2/05/06 while attending the event.
Radio Ikhlas
Radio Ikhlas: 87.9Mhz. An RSL set up for the Holy Month of Ramadan. I think the station is Broadcasting from Derby. Reception Reports: Heard from the M1 between Junc 23-28 around end of October 2004. Heard again in October 2005 at Hathern and Ashby De La Zouch
A List of Stations for Ramadan can be found here
Peniston FM
06/09/06 Heard on 87.7Mhz while on the M1 around Sheffield area. Official
website
Please let us know of other RSLs you have heard even if they are out of area. Email
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