Jamming hits Napier all-volunteer radio station

A radio war has erupted in Napier over the sudden arrival of a tiny community station where no one gets paid.

The Nui 106.8FM, an enterprise of the Maraenui Youth Resource Centre, began broadcasting last weekend, but within hours found another station jamming the signal.

Station management say they know who is responsible but with the radio waves police, Radio Spectrum Management, unable to intervene, can only appeal to the apparently disgruntled opposition to give them a break.

Spokesmen Tom Ngapera and Dave Jellyman, the latter a regular jock on the 24-hour station which is on an eight-week trial with gear hired from Radio Kidnappers broadcaster Rex Lythgoe, say its not a "commercial thing" because neither station is in it for money.

The Nui simply wants to communicate within its community. The opposition apparently wants to do no more than broadcast the operator's favourite music.

Mr Ngapera said: "It has cost us over $1000 to do this, so it's sad that this guy is jamming us."

The Nui received at least one call from disgruntled opposition soon after its broadcasts began, apparently cutting across the range of the opposition broadcast, and the intermittent jamming started soon after.

The Nui management hope they can meet the rival and reach an agreement to enable the new station to continue unhindered.

Radio Spectrum Napier manager Peter Farrell said The Nui operated under a General User Radio Licence for Low-Power FM Broadcasting Short Range Service, for which there were no licence fees. He said if they had the gear licence-holders could broadcast anywhere in two bands, between 88.1FM and 88.4FM, and between 106.7FM and 107.3FM.

The Nui's equipment is understood to limit it to 106.8FM.

The frequencies are specifically for short-range broadcasts. The Nui can be heard as far as Taradale and Awatoto, with scratchy reception reported in parts of Hastings.

Mr Farrell said the frequency ranges for the small broadcaster were the same anywhere in the country, and those holding licences for them had to accept any interference.

The Nui continued today with a morning sports show, and its usual range of music and services from a range of DJs with such names as Dr Kaz, Jak-Fu, G-Shock, The Ice Man, and Brutus.

A special weekly feature is Pete's Patch, the hour given to Maraenui community constable Pete Gimblett.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY