About Station X Station X is located on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia. The loyal listeners of Station X tune in from around the globe to listen to "The happiest mix from yesterday and today" broadcast 24 hours a day on the internet. Station X uses Shoutcast technology and also has various radio outlets available to it. These will be added as funds permit. The concept for Station X was conceived by Peter Tate (A.K.A. Papa Smurf) an experienced community broadcaster and local resident. An idea which was born out of pure frustration in the early 90's. There was a need to have a radio station that wasn't scared to play those dance tracks that were spun in night clubs. But the Australian radio landscape in those days was very rock oriented. This meant it had to be done in a very subtle way. Station X enjoyed a short life as an aspirant Community Broadcaster and was found on the FM dial on 102.9FM prior to 2001. It has since been enjoying a more relaxing life as an internet broadcaster. For the foreseeable future Station X will remain a fully automated station playing a happy and up lifting mix of music from the last five decades. Since the final days on FM the radio landscape has changed quite a lot in Australia. This brings us to a point where there is more acceptance of commercial dance. Station X is dedicated to providing the best Internet listening experience possible for music listeners on the Internet. About Papa Smurf Peter is 39 years old and a pioneer in the convergence of radio broadcasting with the Internet, and is living his dream of being a broadcaster. Peter has over 15 years of experience in all aspects of radio including ownership, programming, operations and engineering. In addition to his expertise with broadcasting technology, Peter's love affair with radio began at the tender age of 12 when he was still at school and spinning records at school socials. After leaving high school he attended the local TAFE college, where he studied electrical engineering, broadcasting, repairing TV and HI FI equipment. It was there the true passion for radio was formed as he became involved in the campus radio station. At 19, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own mobile disco company, but the true passion was for getting a radio station on the air. He recalls, "My dream was to always have my own radio station." He adds "The word community was never in there!" After negotiations with the local TAFE college feel apart he returned to mobile disco's. It wasn't until about early 1994 until the flames of radio were reignited. There was a change in regulations and the birth of a Community Aspirant called 95.7 Hott FM was on the air. It was during this time that Peter's life radically changed along with the rules of temporary broadcasts. Some time later in 1997 (still on temporary broadcasts) Hott FM changed hands and he parted ways. Happy to start a fresh, he was back on the air about a year later as Station X with the whole team that started Hott FM.. In November of 2001, the long period of waiting was over for Station X (and former Hott FM crew) as it's attempts to obtain a permanent home on the FM dial had failed. It was around this time Peter discovered Shoutcast technology and was able to revive his original passion for being a broadcaster..
Today Peter (whilst the X is running) is back in the mobile disco & sound business. He finds it more enjoyable than the previous time around. He thinks this is because a variety of things are different these days. Mainly being due to advances in technology. Today you may even see him sitting behind a large sound mixing desk (with less hair also). Whilst smiling at how good his 15 000 watt PA sounds. Also you might be riding in a limo and listening to the base talk to the driver. Today Peter is also involved in the Communications Industry and has his own network of repeater sites around the Gold Coast. These are services offered by Peter to the Gold Coast Area. Thanks for supporting the X |