106.8 Ace FM

Running the local radio station for the inland areas of Andalucia is a 24 hour, 7-days- a-week task for the guys at 106.8 Ace FM.

Ensuring that the radio is broadcasting constantly is of great importance to both the listeners and the advertisers.

Most technical problems can be blamed on either operator error or computer glitches and can be rectified pretty quickly, but the one thing we can't control is good old Spanish electricity.

The wonderful and reliable (!) Sevillana are a continuous source of frustration and expense for us. Most of the time, our radio manages to stay on during little losses of power thanks to a large bank of UPS units (Uninterrupted Power Sources) which have been purchased at some considerable expense, but these only keep us going for 15-20 minutes before the battery gives up. Any longer power-cut and we're off air until, miracle of miracles, it comes back on.

Power cuts in Spain usually happen when it rains or if the houses in your street all turn on the kettle at the same time - around 7pm in our experience.

The big problem we are now having is the transmitter, which has been moved to the top of a big hill between Alhaurin el Grande and Coin to increase our coverage. Although we now attract more than double the amount of listeners, "Campo" electric is notoriously bad and we seem to be forever up and down the mountain with bits of electrical equipment replacing ones that have exploded overnight!

But, as they say, "we are in Spain" so I guess we just have to put up with it.

So next time your radio’s tuned to 106.8FM and goes a bit quiet, don't blame us - blame Sevillana!!