I briefly worked an early-morning shift at a college radio station in the late 90s. One of the first things I had to do was call a number, listen to an automated voice read out a series of numbers (which I vaguely remember as being related in some way to the transmitter), and write them down into a logbook. Three-part question: what was I doing, is this still done today, and where, if anywhere, can I hear that voice again?
posted by Mothra Pisces
on May 15, 2013 -
9 answers
I have two old Radio Shack handheld radios. They were purchased in the US, originally for communication on the ski slopes. On the back, there is a number "09A06" and it also says CAT NO 21-1936.
I was about to throw them away, but would rather repurpose them for something. I live in a large metropolitan area, in an apartment. I am good at programming and am comfortable using something like an Arduino, Rasberry Pi, BeagleBone, etc.
What interesting hack can I use these for?
posted by bangitliketmac
on May 1, 2013 -
3 answers
I heard a PSA on a local college radio station of a book being read, but remember too little about it to find either the ad or the book. Help?
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posted by CitrusFreak12
on Apr 21, 2013 -
5 answers
I just heard this rock song on the radio driving by Tacoma WA tonight. Supposedly it's by a band named Cruella (sp?) with a girl singing and some instrumental sections with heavy guitar. Would anyone have any idea what song this might be? I was going to google one line of the lyrics but forgot what it is already. Thanks!
posted by ditto75
on Apr 18, 2013 -
2 answers
Wanted: a device that places continuous sounds (music, random noise, mp3s) when it is plugged in. Most devices these days require you to plug it in to the wall AND push a button to turn it on.
Goal: I want to make my place less attractive to daytime burglars. I live in a small apartment in a complex where everyone (literally) is at work during the day, and
there are daytime burglars who use bump keys. I've already thought through door alarms, etc - but I'm looking for something passive and low effort by me. My idea is to buy a timer with random on/off, and connect a device to it that plays household-like noises.
But everything I can think of requires you to turn it on manually (probably for energy saving.) I'm not looking for a PC based solution - want an appliance like device. Like radios from the old days - but ideally with music I can preprogram.
Any ideas?
posted by StrictlyVague
on Apr 16, 2013 -
16 answers
I know that we have TV stations, actual buildings where the broadcast originates, and if you're not getting a clear signal on a radio frequency you might say "try another channel" on a walkie-talkie. But when it comes to the device in your home and you want to alter the signal coming in, you "change the channel" on the TV and you "change the station" on the radio. Why these terms for these devices?
posted by Pastor of Muppets
on Apr 11, 2013 -
9 answers
A few weeks ago, public radio aired a report about a relocation program for families from unsafe neighborhoods. The reporter focused on difficulties participants had adjusting to their new neighborhoods, like unspoken conventions about street parking.
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posted by roger ackroyd
on Mar 31, 2013 -
2 answers
¡Hola! I want to improve my Spanish listening-comprehension abilities before I go off to Spain this summer for a month by listening to some eclectic, non-chart-driven, at-least-partially, ideally-completely Spanish-language radio online. Perhaps something like BBC's
Radio 6, Radio France's
FIP or KCRW's
Eclectic 24.
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posted by mdonley
on Mar 7, 2013 -
7 answers
I'm involved with a college radio station, and we'd like to get presents for or do something for the graduating folks. The problem is, none of us have any ideas. What are some awesome music or radio-themed things we could buy or arrange? What sorts of things would you have loved to get or do as a graduating senior?
posted by topoisomerase
on Mar 6, 2013 -
6 answers
I figured out years ago how to change my Jeep's clock to 24-hour/military time. Recently the battery was disconnected and the clock reverted back to regular time, and I cannot figure out how to switch it back to 24-hour time. Does anyone know how to do this?
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posted by herzogbr
on Mar 6, 2013 -
5 answers
How many Sirius XM shows are prerecorded repeats? I'm a big fan of Sirius DJ Madison, for example, who has a show on First Wave weekdays
9 a.m.-3 p.m. but also is on Alt Nation
6 p.m.-midnight. While I heart Madison, I really hope she's not working 12-hour days. How much of that time is actually live radio?
posted by Shoggoth
on Feb 25, 2013 -
6 answers
What happens when you call a radio show like NPR's "Talk of the Nation?" What does the screener ask you? Do you give a summary of your statement? What if they don't like it - do they reject you? What do they say? Do you have to wait a long time? Is it hard to get through? How do they pick who gets on the show?
posted by roaring beast
on Feb 24, 2013 -
10 answers
I'm a writer who has two one-act plays on in a theatre. I am also directing them but this will be my first time working as a director. What do you think makes a good director? What positive and negative experiences have you have and what could I do to make this go brilliantly?
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posted by Nufkin
on Jan 27, 2013 -
10 answers
I need a solution to share a single iTunes library with two machines. Possibly.
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posted by terrapin
on Jan 26, 2013 -
7 answers
This ranks up there with "non-anonymous embarrassing questions." If you wanted to feel hipper than someone today, here's your big chance. The last time I really listened to newly-produced rock music of any kind was somewhere between Casey Kasem and Nine Inch Nails. I don't even own a radio right now. I have an iTunes account....I use for free podcasts.
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posted by availablelight
on Jan 17, 2013 -
47 answers
Where is Bill Crowley -- former WCBS, WINS, and Air America Radio news guy -- working these days? I always admired Bill Crowley's ability to keep his head in the midst of madness, but I've lost track of him since Air America Radio shut down its news division. Given his long career in radio, he's kind of an unheralded treasure. I'd really like to know what he's up to these days, and to find a way to hear his voice again if possible.
posted by TomBetz
on Jan 16, 2013 -
0 answers
USB malfunction on Kenwood KDC-x595 faceplate... google fu failure attempting to locate schematics... any mefites wanna try?
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posted by FauxScot
on Dec 30, 2012 -
5 answers
Help me find a small, loud, and possibly even stylish outdoor AM/FM radio for use in a tailgating situation. Preferably under or around $50.
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posted by dr handsome
on Dec 13, 2012 -
1 answer
I have an iPad 2, a Sandisk mp3 player and about three ipods floating around my house. I also have a Sony ICF-m1000 table radio. When I plug my iPad into the AUX input on the table radio, it's not nearly loud enough.
How can I cheaply amplify the audio from my I-devices so they sound good on the Sony radio?
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posted by craniac
on Dec 1, 2012 -
4 answers
I have an AM/FM/shortwave emergency radio... now what? How do I best use it during an impending or in-progress emergency situation? I know how to tune to my local AM emergency station, but beyond that I'm lost. Please share your resources and experience. Bonus: what fun stuff can I do with it right now that I can't do with a regular AM/FM radio?
posted by rhiannonstone
on Nov 25, 2012 -
5 answers
I just heard the most amazing song on a streaming radio station from France! The song was in English, but there was no identification, and googling the bits of lyrics I could understand got me nowhere. Can you help me figure it out?
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posted by ocherdraco
on Nov 15, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm trying to find an old radio short called "White Trash Airlines" that I heard online in the early 90's. It was a parody of a United commercial and had the "Fly the friendly skies" tagline in it but I don't know where it came from or who made it. It was, however, very funny if you like hillbilly jokes. YMMV.
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posted by ninazer0
on Nov 1, 2012 -
2 answers
I realized during Sandy that 1) we don't own any sort of radio; 2) I don't have a UPS for my desktop Mac; and 3) there are surely other things/tools/resources we probably should buy now to prepare for the next big storm. Can you make any recommendations?
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posted by Admiral Haddock
on Nov 1, 2012 -
48 answers
Mother-in-law loves AM radio...but... her new home in a retirement community is a mish-mash of fluorescent lights and steel beams so she only gets static on her trusty AM radio... I need a solution - perhaps a simple IP radio? Details after the jump...
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posted by brownrd
on Oct 8, 2012 -
14 answers
What are the German equivalents of the Savage Lovecast, This American Life or Judge John Hodgman? Doesn't have to be a podcast, but I do need to be able to listen online.
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posted by Acheman
on Oct 4, 2012 -
10 answers
Recommend some good Spanish language media (TV series, online radio, podcasts etc) for my girlfriend to immerse herself in while she learns Spanish.
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posted by knapah
on Oct 2, 2012 -
13 answers
What are your favorite non-American radio stations? Bonus points for stations that are available online, and mostly play music that I am unlikely to hear on American radio.
posted by ocherdraco
on Sep 28, 2012 -
44 answers
Romantic song sung by female singer, with lyrics like, "Why do I need stars when I have you"?
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posted by catburger
on Sep 28, 2012 -
4 answers
Received a old Ham Radio transceiver as a gift. Is what I'd like to do with it plausible?
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posted by werkzeuger
on Sep 15, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm looking for a song I heard on the radio a couple of times about 6 or 7 years ago. The music was interspersed with a Spanish language lesson in it that started out seeming normal and got kinkier as it went on. Ring any bells?
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posted by ninazer0
on Sep 11, 2012 -
2 answers
How do you set yourself up for maximum success when starting a creative project that requires consistent production? Or: I have to create multiple radio pieces a week! How do I best prepare myself to get out there and make them?
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posted by elephantsvanish
on Sep 10, 2012 -
3 answers
I'm looking for a Mac app that can play internet radio and has a nice looking and easy-to-use interface.
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posted by nevan
on Aug 31, 2012 -
6 answers
If I release a new album to CANADIAN campus/community radio stations for airplay, and it is played, can I potentially earn royalties if the album is registered with SOCAN?
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posted by CarrotAdventure
on Aug 30, 2012 -
2 answers
What is that radio commercial for Federal IT services that sounds like GLaDOS from Portal, and how can I find a copy of the ad? [Washington, D.C. area radio]
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posted by gemmy
on Aug 23, 2012 -
1 answer
I am looking for information on how people feel, like and want (or not) to be interviewed by TV, radio or newspaper reporters.
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posted by CollectiveMind
on Jul 29, 2012 -
4 answers
Where can I find accurate statistics regarding how many viewers/readers media organizations have?
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posted by eytanb
on Jul 17, 2012 -
5 answers
Need a voice coach in Toronto or some sort of DYI or online solution. For radio, not singing.
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posted by JPDD
on Jul 7, 2012 -
1 answer
How far underground would I have go to escape any man made signals?
posted by Query
on Jul 2, 2012 -
18 answers
I love KEXP's Swinging Doors, but the streaming archives no longer work on my Mac. What other radio shows or podcasts available on the Internet might I like?
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posted by david1230
on Jul 2, 2012 -
5 answers
I've just discovered the BBC 4 radio series
Cabin Pressure, which I'm enjoying a lot, and now I'm looking for some other good, contemporary, fictional radio shows. Do those exist nowadays? How do I find the good ones?
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posted by mekily
on Jun 21, 2012 -
16 answers
I am lost, I am interested in being a positive influence to other people by making them laugh or helping them out with life problems. Need some suggestions.
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posted by Trinergy
on Jun 19, 2012 -
15 answers
My family needs a new streaming music option for our Sunday night dinners. Semi-traditionalist snowflakes inside.
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posted by koucha
on Jun 5, 2012 -
13 answers
