It’s not often said that the worldwide web is limiting, but it can be in the realm of radio.
Bay of Islands Radio, which came into being in 2009 using the Internet as its medium to reach the ears of its listeners, is soon going to be broadcast via the more traditional method of an FM radio signal.
The plan to allow listeners access to Bay of Islands Radio beyond their online digital devices has been in the works for about two years now, but the station has had trouble finding the right location to transmit on an FM frequency.
The station is now set to commence its FM signal broadcast Nov. 5.
“It’s a turning point for the station,” said Kody Gardner, the station’s co-chairperson and technical director. “I’ve been involved with this for six years and I never thought this day would come.”
While the station’s operations are on Brook Street, which is essentially at the bottom of the bowl that is Corner Brook’s geography, the FM signal will be transmitted form a different location at a higher elevation.
The broadcast antenna is located atop the Bay of Islands Ground Search and Rescue building on the Humber Heights. From that higher vantage point, the FM signal should be able to reach most of Corner Brook and at least as far out the Bay of Islands as Meadows Point to the north and Benoit’s Cove to the south.
Gardner said the signal may be strong enough to go a little beyond those locations in clear sight of the antenna, but whether it will or not won’t be known until the broadcast starts early next month.
Bay of Islands Radio will be found by tuning into 100.1 on the FM dial.
