BLR minutes from the 3rd Thursday meeting

BLR minutes from the 3rd Thursday meeting on May 17, 2007
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As promised, the following information was posted to the email list last night after the meeting
To check the status of the stream go to:
http://radio.indybay.org:8000/
To reconnect our computer to the stream all you have to do is make sure the computer is on and Winamp is open.
If anyone has questions, please ask.
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DJs who do not have all the printed materials you need - hopefully you can print what you need at
http://www.berkeleyliberationradio.org/orientation.html
That's the most recent (top) link on the DJ BULLETINS link from our homepage
The username and password to access password-protected content is username "BLR", password "blrdj"
And yes, case specific, if you have problems, let someone know!
A productive meeting with a lot of long-tabled issues resolved.
Here are the topics discussed that I recall, not chronologically listed, plus my disclaimer

Stream / Computer
Communication
Procedure / Quality
Scheduling
Location
Internet
Transmitter
Equipment
Disclaimer

Stream / Computer
There continue to be reports of the stream going down or unavailable.
A reason for this is that the streaming (2nd) computer has been freezing. This is because the hard drive is just too old and the motherboard doesn’t have enough RAM.
After some discussion, it was agreed that the station does need the proposed 200 gb hard drive for our desktop (1st) . The difficulty of maintaining a 500 gb as a primary hard drive was heard and validated, thanks.
We were reminded that mp3 files and wav files and other media files cannot be defragmented which comes up when maintaining a hard drive.
This new hard drive will go into the 1st, freeing up that 80 gb for use in the 2nd.
Additionally, the current router was installed only as a stop gap to allow our stream to be set up. It is not appropriate for our purpose. BLR will need to replace it.
The proposal to purchase a router, 2 sticks of 256 mb RAM, and the 200 gb hard drive was unopposed. The prices quoted in a recent email were not recalled at the meeting but here they are: $40 for the router, $32 for 2 sticks of 256 mb PC100 RAM, and $50 for the 200 gb hard drive. $122 total.

Communication
It was announced again that we so easily could set up berkeleyliberationradio.org email addresses for every one of us, multiple if so desired. Please let us know if you want a berkeleyliberationradio.org email address, it is no trouble. For some DJs, computer access is difficult so we can easily set up a login with the desired email address on the desktop.
Questions? There are no bad questions, only bad people!
Email your Show descriptions or ask someone to email your show description, for promotional purposes.
So far collected or stolen by hook and crook,
http://www.berkeleyliberationradio.org/whowe
That's the SHOWS link from our homepage
Web content was discussed with no major issues, lucky so far.
Please bring designs for buttons and stickers to the next meeting, suggestion made to look for local vendors, there may be a button maker available for us to use nearby, report back at next meeting. Bring design ideas!

Procedure / Quality
There was no serious proposal to continue trying to make work the 5-cd tray system currently not working for us because of skipping. That is such a beautifully awkward statement, I'm gonna leave it.
We continue to hear skipping CDs on air. It turns people off the station, we get turned off, its worse than dead air.
We heard proposals to discontinue the use of unattended CDs by creating mp3 playlists to maintain the broadcast whenever no physical dj is present. This can be accomplished easily with WinAmp or iTunes. Most media players can open and play playlists. My understanding is that this proposal was agreed to.
Using the “rip” button on JetAudio is one way DJs can convert their CDs into mp3s allowing us to maintain our desired content.
DJs who want to continue using CDs in the trays when no one is in the studio need to propose a way to make that work.
So set mp3 playlists running from the desktop (1st) computer overnight and whenever there is no dj in the studio.
Yes, the only limitation which prevents a secondary hard drive, for example, a 500 gb, from being added to the desktop (1st) computer, is that we would also need to upgrade the power supply. If memory serves, currently we use one with less than 200 watts, really not enough to boot properly the minimum quantity of 2 drives as some have noted when drive-find errors come up during boot.
For DJs interested in procurement of upgrade, it is a little pricey for an adequate power supply, but there is time to shop around so think 350 watt probably, 500 watt to be safe. Maybe one of the various offers of donated computer parts will result in a nice new power supply and hard drive.
If someone wants to propose we buy a 500 gb as an additional drive, they need to price it and a power supply.

Scheduling
We welcomed a new dj who has been DJing some already, see the schedule for changes.

Location
The meeting, all 13 DJs present, agreed to continue the rule to have no noise after midnight.
Also, the continuing personality conflict between 2 djs, which has been a concern, will be addressed outside the meeting. Beyond putting up a new sign replacing the old one to say turn down the monitor after midnight, no further action was proposed. If BLR does end up being asked specifically to expand this rule, then it should be discussed further.
The various possibilities of a new location were discussed. There will be a report back from one of the new djs next, 6/7, meeting. Again, the previously discussed desired qualities are at
http://www.berkeleyliberationradio.org/BLRhome
That's the LOCATION link from our home page
We do like that there are people in and around the studio, we like to feel safe out on the street, there is lighting out on the street, and there are other things we like about our current spot. It is good. There was concern raised that perhaps not all the djs feel safe, also there have been muggings in the neighborhood. What safety we do feel, we appreciate. And there was an offer by a house resident to provide protection to whomever might feel in need of it. If you need help finding that house member, email us or ask someone at the house.

Internet
The 2nd person doing web work (male dj for disambiguation) wants to encourage every dj to post to the site - also if they need technical help in doing so, he is available.
http://pdxmedia.mahost.org/pdxmp
That's the RADIO NEWS link from our homepage
The person who updates the schedule wants to keep it a simple text format rather than adding links, claiming it would be too much work since the schedule gets updated so often.
If someone else wants to tackle linking the schedule, hey go for it, no argument, that would be kick ass.

Transmitter
There was a report of bleeding onto the other stations near us on the dial. Please test this and report back to BLR. Bleeding is an issue for our neighbors and a potential obstacle to our continued existence. It has been known to cause complaints to the FCC which is bad. There was a concern that the limiter is no longer functional. We have to ask our tech person to help us on this. We asked someone to address that issue with the tech person. Thanks in advance. The limiter was discussed following a report that the antenna has to be adjusted, which the tech person reportedly has noticed and will handle. Thanks.

Equipment
We are pleased to report and celebrate that we will have full redundancy in the area of studio start up. Our DJs tirelessly have collected and safe-guarded these precious components and there is no gratitude great enough to encompass our thanks. Maybe someday when the state crumbles (ATR) heh heh we won't worry about our current setup getting collared and incarcerated. But for the foreseeable near future, it is part of our operation to have a backup setup ready to go.
My understanding is that extra equipment should be stored with this in mind, perhaps in the same location, perhaps that DJ may feel up to moving the extra equipment after his next show.
We can expect the new cd player Friday, 5/18, and a rack is supposed to get built soon as well. Hopefully, we can get our friendly neighborhood carpenter to also build us that lockable box we have been dreaming of. If so, we will furnish it with a combination lock of which DJs will be notified.

Disclaimer: I decided to go ahead and write these minutes even though I lost my notebook tonight. I felt it necessary to write up from fresh memory what I remember. I now have the feeling I may be mistaken on some of these points. To keep agreed upon ideas documented in a practical manner, minutes are never approved by the collective, remain only one person's perception of the varied and fluid meeting. If the assertions posted are not accurate, speak up at the studio, through email, leave phone messages, post comments, broach in person, however. This blog will be corrected or abolished according to the desires of our project.