Open Source w/ Low Power FM Stations

deacon brown asks: "My employer has just acquired the license to operate a low power FM station in the area (on a tight budget, of course). Because of our location, I'm the only local tech guy, so they might need my help setting this thing up. I can't do it at the job, but I'd LOVE to make Open Source work for this radio station, so I can keep the costs as low as possible. Does anyone have experience setting up, or operating, Radio stations? How should I go about getting information together, to have a go at this? I know they're some areas where I'll need to buy some hardware to do a job (mixers, etc), but are there software solutions like (e.g. the Linux phone switch) for other parts?" While there have been a few helpful articles on this subject, I think they more dealt with the hardware side, rather than the software side of the equation. What operations and infrastructure can you see Open Source handling in a small radio station?

Comments

Solution looking for Problem?

[Gothmolly]

Why do you need software of any kind at your home-brew radio station? A simple hardware mixer, a microphone, and 2 cheap console CD players will suffice. Hell, you could even pre-record your shows to giant low-bitrate MP3s, and with a MP3-capable CD players, have a 4 hour show on 1 CD.
I guess you could use a PC to store the audio... but why??

Open Source for WHAT?

[DynaSoar]

It would help to know what about it is presently automated via computers so that open source alternatives for the specific apps you have in mind can be explored. I put in 4 years at a medium sized college station (WUVT; Virginia Tech), and until the transmitter monitor broke down and got replaced with a custom IC board and software (because it was cheaper than buying a replacement) nothing at all about the broadcasting was automated. Without knowing what to replace with open source software, the question appears based more in loyalty than logic.