Community Net

From Freeradio

Community Net was a short-lived FM Relay service for the Clowne and North Derbyshire area.

It was started by Al Capone in July 1995.

Stations to have been broadcast via Community Net include:

Radio Ability from Clowne, Angel FM from Waterlooville in Hantshire, Jolly Roger Radio from Eire, KING Radio from Portsmouth, Radio Ozone International from Eire, Phase 42 FM from Clowne

Community Net was dogged by technical problems with its Antenna, leading to a very poor signal which was only receivable about 3 miles away. These problems were gradually solved, and by October the signal was reaching as far as Chesterfield and Worksop.

In addition, the station's initial mail address - a PO Box number - had severe reliability problems. By autumn, this was discontinued, and replaced with a Mail drop in Wuppertal, Germany (which was also used by several Pirates across Europe, especially Short Wave pirates, at the time).

The above problems, however, harmed the credibility of Community Net as a relay service. By the end of 1995, Phase 42 FM had become the dominant station on Community Net.

In December 1995, Community Net closed down for a month while the Sheffield RSL Meadowhall Radio was on-air, on Community Net's frequency. On the evening of 1st January 2006, Community Net returned - the broadcast ending with Not Meadowhall Radio, a 'blazing' 45 minute programme which slagged off the system and several companies and organisations which had annoyed Al Capone in the past.

This was the official end of Community Net. From then on, the station simply became known as Phase 42.

Radio Ability continued to broadcast for 45 minutes per week, via Phase 42, until it closed due to lack of interest locally.