W0KIE
Encyclopedia
The W0KIE Satellite Radio Network (icon like wookiee
) was a mostly talk radio network, listenable via C-band satellite
. It operated, almost continuously, from 1996 to 2007. (It was named after the amateur radio
callsign of its owner.)
The programming was of a less structured nature than traditional talk radio
. There was special emphasis on programming for amateur radio operators, satellite TV enthusiasts and the sight impaired.
Although not the primary focus of the network, some show hosts did play music—a lot of which was not heard on traditional radio. Comedy
and plays
—old and new—were also often featured.
The format was reminiscent of free-form programming heard during the formative years of FM radio.
Right now, the shows are interent only. The provider who used to sell satellite time bailed at the beginning of 2011 leaving the Radio Free Dishnuts show's stranded & without a home in the sky.
Wookiee
Wookiees are a species of bipeds in the Star Wars universe. The most notable Wookiee is Chewbacca, a companion to Han Solo.-Inspiration:...
) was a mostly talk radio network, listenable via C-band satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
. It operated, almost continuously, from 1996 to 2007. (It was named after the amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
callsign of its owner.)
The programming was of a less structured nature than traditional talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
. There was special emphasis on programming for amateur radio operators, satellite TV enthusiasts and the sight impaired.
Although not the primary focus of the network, some show hosts did play music—a lot of which was not heard on traditional radio. Comedy
Radio comedy
Radio comedy, or comedic radio programming, is a radio broadcast that may involve sitcom elements, sketches and various types of comedy found on other media. It may also include more surreal or fantastic elements, as these can be conveyed on a small budget with just a few sound effects or some...
and plays
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
—old and new—were also often featured.
The format was reminiscent of free-form programming heard during the formative years of FM radio.
History
- 5 April 1996
W0KIE was born on SBS6 Ku-band transponderTransponderIn telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
13b (12031 MHz) originating via POTS extended fidelity audio feed to the Creek Nation Bingo uplink in Tulsa, Oklahoma. W0KIE uplinked nightly during a 1 hour window (2 bingo games on the video carrier) and a 1/2 hour window (1 bingo game on the video carrier.) - 18 June 1996
Houston AMSAT Net http://www.amsatnet.com joins the W0KIE Network. - Summer 1998
W0KIE uplink moves to Indian bingo uplink in Concho, Oklahoma north of El Reno, Oklahoma. The uplink signal quality would vary at times when the Oklahoma wind rocked the uplink dish. - 7 December 1998
W0KIE moves to GE-1 (W1) on the Wisdom Network video carrier, Transponder 12B, 5.7 MHz audio. Uplinking starts around the clock from Bluefield, WV. Audio to uplink using RealAudio encoding via POTS dialup greatly improving audio fidelity. W0KIE retransmitted in FM band spectrum on TCI cable in Tulsa. Satellite air permit obtained from BMI and ASCAP and several Tulsa FM stations. - 7 November 2000
W0KIE moves to Satcom C3, Transponder 24, 7.5 MHz audio at a TCI/AT&T uplink in Denver on the Oxygen Network video carrier. Audio to uplink using a Gentner frequency extender via POTS dialup. W0KIE begins airing a barker advertising feed for the Oxygen Network on 6.8 MHz using a Sony rack mounted mini disc player. - 15 October 2001
W0KIE moves to GE7 (now known as AMC7), C-band transponder 5, 7.5 MHz wide audio on the Denver FOX video carrier. - Spring 2004
POTSPlain old telephone servicePlain old telephone service is the voice-grade telephone service that remains the basic form of residential and small business service connection to the telephone network in many parts of the world....
line digital codecCodecA codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
units are obtained, bringing a further improvement in fidelityFidelity"Fidelity" is the quality of being faithful or loyal. Its original meaning regarded duty to a lord or a king, in a broader sense than the related concept of fealty. Both derive from the Latin word fidēlis, meaning "faithful or loyal"....
and reliability over the aging and ailing frequency extenderFrequency extenderIn broadcast engineering, a frequency extender is an electronic device that allows high-fidelity analogue audio to be sent over regular POTS telephone lines, without the loss of higher audio frequencies . It is an extended concept of a telephone hybrid.The concept uses frequency shifting, in order... - Spring 2005
The uplink feed is moved to Vyvx (now Level 3) in Denver. Policy at the new location allows internetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
access via DSL. A computer is installed to carry even higher fidelity audio to the subcarrierSubcarrierA subcarrier is a separate analog or digital signal carried on a main radio transmission, which carries extra information such as voice or data. More technically, it is an already-modulated signal, which is then modulated into another signal of higher frequency and bandwidth...
. - Summer 2005
Another subcarrier becomes available. W0KIE is now stereoStereophonic soundThe term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
! - 8 December 2005
W0KIE moves to Intelsat AmericasIntelsat AmericasIntelsat Americas, was the re-designation given to the several Telstar satellites serving North America following their sale to Intelsat by Loral Space & Communications in 2003...
6 (IA6, aka T6) 93°W, C-band analog, transponder 1, 6.2 and 6.8 MHz wide band audio on an encrypted adult channel video carrier. IA6 is now known as Galaxy 26. - 13 December 2006
W0KIE begins Digicipher feed on AMC 3 (W3) at 87 deg. W. C band, Transponder 7, virtual channel 958 in stereo on a digital ABC - New York and CBS - Erie video carrier. - 31 October 2007 at 23:12 CDT
The television service on T6 tr 1 ceases—W0KIE's analogue audio channels move to transponder 7 on the same satellite for the month of November 2007. - November 2007
Digicipher feed on AMC 3, is dropped. - 1 December 2007 at 10:11 CST
The television service on T6 tr 7 ceases—leaving W0KIE Radio absent from satellite.
Demise
In the wake of the decline of C band listeners in general and personal considerations, the owner of W0KIE chose to put the network to rest, and return his callsign to exclusive ham radio use. With two DJ's dead and the chat crew becoming more and more incestuous it was time to leave before the FCC opened an investigation. As of 1 December 2007, W0KIE Satellite Radio Network is off the air, permanently.Right now, the shows are interent only. The provider who used to sell satellite time bailed at the beginning of 2011 leaving the Radio Free Dishnuts show's stranded & without a home in the sky.