• Our live programming has been rescheduled to meet the new schedule.  Show times are now standardized according to the schedule available at http://klikradio.org/newschedule.html.
• We’re currently in the process of scheduling re-runs in our automation software.
• We need to go through old shows and edit them to make them ready for re-broadcast.
• We’re currently writing a PHP-based online SAM interface so volunteers can manage the music library from outside the studio and not interfere with live programming.
• The latest enhancements to the KLIK Podcaster will be:
  • Indicator lights showing whether or not the podcast is currently being recorded.
  • Timer indicating talk and music time.  (Will hopefully be useful for keeping DJ’s from rambling too much )
  • The ability to “knock out” the “0 viewers, peak of 0″ message that is constantly showing up in SAM Broadcaster using Win32 API calls.
• Our regular fundraising efforts are ongoing.
• We’re in the process of integrating a new KLIK logo and web site.
• The search for a new executive director is now commencing.

We especially need help with the podcasting and music library management.  If you’d be interested in helping categorize and rate music, please get in touch with us!  Thanks for reading, catch you again soon!

Version 2.0 of our in-house-developed Podcaster application was released today!  This new release features a few major upgrades:

• All configuration settings are XML-driven and are no longer hard coded
• The ability to update the configuration without exiting the application
• The ability to drag the button around the screen
• The “Start” button starts flashing when the mouse starts moving after a user-defined period of computer inactivity (to remind users to actually start recording their show)
• The iPod reminder and “recording” reminder screens now work correctly (reminders to turn off iPod-override and overall show recording)
• The ability to update now playing information on multiple servers, supporting both Icecast and Shoutcast
• Simplification of the podcast process so that the back-end upload process is only one step, not two
• Better documented source code

A few other minor releases will be made over the next coming days, which will include a user guide for configuring the application, as well as a potential release of the source code (it is a very simple application, after all).

This is what goes on behind closed doors at KLIK!  Minor enhancements in the upcoming releases include:

• Disabling buttons while their associated events are processing to avoid “clicked twice syndrome”
• A user guide explaining how to write the XML configuration files
• Released source code!

Since there’s very little chance for profit on this kind of application, we figure we’ll release the PAL script (for SAM Broadcaster) as well as the C# source code that’s used to the public.  The only thing that will not be released is our station’s configuration file since that would obviously jeopardize the security of our servers.

Update: for a graphical view of this new schedule, please visit http://klikradio.org/newschedule.html

• Monday thru Thursday
  • Show re-runs at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM
  • Original programming at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM
  • Re-runs at 10:00 PM.
• Friday
  • Show re-runs at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM
  • Original programming at 4:00, 7:00, and 10:00 PM.
• Saturday
  • Original programming at 7:00AM , 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 10:00 PM.
• Sunday
  • Original programming at 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM.
  • Re-runs at 10:00 PM.

Our goal is to get as many people listening to KLIK at all times of day as possible.  By re-running shows during standard business hours, parents and other supporters in the community can listen to KLIK while at work or on-the-go special thanks to our new iPhone/Android/mobile web site.  We also hope that, by standardizing show hours, we can keep a consistent, professional schedule and attract more volunteers and listeners!  Overall, I say YAY for KLIK.

The new schedule won’t be fully implemented until we can get all of our current volunteers to pick their time slot.  Progress will be reported as we make headway with this grand idea.

I’m going to be updating some of the pages around the blog, and to keep some things up to date.

As the update below says, we have postponed the Glow Golf Fundraiser due to lack of sponsors, and hopefully we will be having it in mid-August or so.

For an update on our summer pledge drive, it’s still going! We only have two pledges out of 60, so we definitely need more!

For more information on the pledge, please view http://www.fcyb.org/2010/07/02/summer-2010-pledge-drive/

That’s it for updates for now; and I’ll be updating some things around the site.

Nathan Bobb
nathan@fcyb.org

On July 17th, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, KLIK Radio will be setup right outside Glow Golf selling tickets!  We’re going to be having a glow-in-the-dark outfit contest, a dark-in-the-dark outfit contest, hole-in-one prizes, door prizes, cool music, and much more!  Plus, it doesn’t cost any extra to get in – but additional donations are greatly appreciated.

In case you don’t know, Glow Golf is located in some awkward corner of the Foothills Fashion Mall, located at the corner-ish of College and Foothills.  Just follow the noise, and I’ll bet you can find us.

Adults and teens are $7, kids are $5, little kids are $3, seniors are $3, a 3-pack of tix is $20, and a 4-pack is $27.

See you there!

So here’s how our summer pledge drive is working.  It’s pretty substantial, so please bare with us – $20/month for 3 months.  That’s like $20/month over the course of the summer.  We hope to get 60 people to commit to this, which will raise a whooping $3,600 for us!  That’s like 3,600 hours of airtime!

In total, all 60 people will be donating $60.  Over the course of 3 months, though, we’re hoping it’ll be a bit more bearable.

Interested in pledging?  Visit the aforementioned link and click on “Make a Pledge.”  You can then make your pledges automatically deduct from your bank account or credit card with PayPal, or you can mail us a check every month.

Thank you for your support!

Unfortunately, Qwest then decided to increase our rate from $51.45/month to some $75/month.  YIKES!  While that may not seem like much at first glance, that’s a $240/year increase – a pretty significant amount to our tiny non-profit.  (That’s like a 3% increase in our annual budget).  So much for upgrading to the 7 mbps DSL.

If you participate on our pledge drive, though (next post), maybe we can still upgrade!

In all fairness, we do not spend that much money in the local community.  In fact, virtually all of our major equipment purchases are made from specialized, out-of-state vendors such as Broadcast Supply Warehouse.  That being said, we’re not losing too much money by not having this license, and the city isn’t losing much, either.  Our largest expense, rent, isn’t taxed – and who knows if there are any city taxes in our phone bill.

Overall, we don’t consider it to be a significant loss.  Best of luck to any other non-profits who are hoping to receive an exemption!

As such…we decided to implement our own IP-PBX in the studio and transfer our number to a wholesale provider.  The carrier transfer was officially completed today, and calls will ring to our VoIP.ms account.

This now means that we have to finalize the settings in both our PBX software, as well as our carrier’s account settings.  Depending on the circumstances, we may actually decide to drop our PBX software and strictly use carrier-provided systems.  For example, our PBX software (3CX) does not have call queues enabled unless you purchase a commercial subscription.  Since call queues are included with our VoIP.ms account, we may simply have our ATA’s connect directly to VoIP.ms and use built-in call queuing.  But we shall see how things work out!

All of this, of course, is dependent on the studio’s Internet connection being restored.

• The modem is not sustaining a connection to the network
• The modem is not assigning IP addresses to local computers
• The modem will connect to the Qwest network, but will not receive an IP address
• The modem is inaccessible via web browser
• The modem cannot be pinged

Here are some possibilities that we’re thinking may be happening:

• The modem is overheating
• The modem has already overheated to the point that it’s now damaged
• Firmware issues

And…lastly…here are our options for recovery:

• Cool the modem down, then…
• Performing a hard, factory reset of the modem
• Still not working?  Purchase a new one.

Since we’re volunteer-based, the recovery process is significantly slower than usual.  But…we’re going to get started with the general process around 5:45.  Wish us luck