Village Radio's old music gets new grunt

The end of an era has rolled around for Tauranga's purveyor of old-time music, Village Radio.

In a giant technological leap forward, the station that catered for the city's older listeners has switched over its 1960s valve-powered transmitter to a new but more sterile looking replacement.

Village Radio chairman Steve Lambie said the $30,000 solid state Nautel transmitter represented the single biggest capital investment since the station hit the airwaves in 1984.

"It is a big deal and a big spend. It's a vote of confidence in the station's future."

The apparatus inside the new American-built transmitter scarcely filled a beer fridge and was dwarfed by the massive Toshiba valve transmitter donated by Radio Gisborne in the early 1990s.

Mr Lambie said the purchase price of the Nautel would be recovered by big power savings, with the station also no longer having to fork out thousands of dollars to replace valves. The bonus for listeners was a clearer signal.

Village Radio was able to afford the Nautel through grants from Lion Foundation, Pub Charity and the generosity of listeners.

Running costs were not the only reason for the upgrade. Village Radio had growing concerns about the reliability of the Toshiba.

"We had a problem 18 months ago - we didn't know how long it was going to last."

The village's library of 15,000 vinyl records provided much of the material broadcast every day, playing music from the 1940s to the 1990s - the era dependent on the tastes of the presenter behind the microphone.

Mr Lambie said the station was reputed to have the fourth biggest record collection in New Zealand.

He said the station had overcome its financial problems of several years ago and was now a very steady ship.

"The spirit is brilliant - we all get on well together."

Village Radio had more than 100 signed up Friends from among its many listeners.

"We are very community orientated. I play 50s and 60s music and get lots of calls."

Mr Lambie said Village Radio was a greater healer.

"When someone rings up and hears their favourite song, it relieves their aches and pains for three minutes."

Village Radio
Where: Tauranga Historic Village
When: Broadcasts 10am-5pm weekdays and 9am-5pm weekends
What: 1368kh on the AM band