The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Big changes are in store for CFAR-590 as Flin Flon's radio station works to switch from AM to FM. Following recent CRTC approval, CFAR and its sister stations, CJ-1240 in The Pas and 610-CHTM in Thompson, will broadcast crisper sounds on FM. CFAR is currently available at 590 on the AM dial. It will remain on AM but will also soon be available at 102.9 FM. 'It brings our radio station service in northern Manitoba into the '90s,' said Tom O'Brien, president of the three stations _ collectively known as the Arctic Radio Network _ with a bit of a laugh. O'Brien hopes to see all three radio stations on the FM dial for July 1. 'It just all depends on when we can do the technical ...installation,' he said. 'But, we're hoping before...it is too busy in the summer.' The stations in Thompson and The Pas will make complete transitions to FM, while CFAR will become an AM and FM station. 'Bottom line is anyone able to listen to CFAR now will continue to,' said O'Brien. 'The coverage area of FM will be a better experience,' he said. While FM will provide a better listening experience, he says, the signal will not reach the northernmost locations as does AM. '...once you get a certain (distance) from the transmitter, the signal (gets) lost,' O'Brien said. The AM signal will 'bounce and travel from clouds and other objects,' said O'Brien, offering broader coverage. O'Brien says if the AM stations were to be turned off there would be no radio service to the northernmost points of the province. 'Ninety-nine days out of 100 that doesn't matter, but for forest fires...and other (emergencies) we want to reach people in danger,' he said. Broadcasting in both AM and FM hasn't been the norm in radio for more than two decades, O'Brien said. '(But) we think it's the right move for us to make,' said O'Brien, who is based in Thompson. All three Arctic Radio Network stations will be available at 102.9 FM. O'Brien says there could be an overlap of signals in areas like the stretch between Wanless and The Pas, but there should be clear signals. 'If you're listening in Flin Flon (it) might get garbled up (near) The Pas, but we won't know until it's up and running,' said the president. Crisp and clear The switch to FM will give the stations stereo sound rather than mono. 'The music will sound better,' said O'Brien. As well, the current AM signal can lost near things like metal buildings, florescent lights and other conductors. 'The FM (station) should eliminate all that,' O'Brien said. 'That should be an advantage, benefit and an improvement. 'We're hoping more people will be able to pick us up more and will be better sounding.' Parts of songs sometimes cut out due to the frequency at AM and O'Brien says some listeners will be pleased to see that problem disappear. Switching to FM will be a big transition for some listeners, but O'Brien said those 35 and under are less likely to listen to AM. 'They don't like the...fact that you don't hear certain parts (of the broadcast),' he said. O'Brien said he looks forward to the stations getting on 'equal footing' with iPods and other audio devices with which radio stations now compete. 'We're catching up to what's happening in the past 20 years,' he said.
