Open Source Radio Automation for a Community Station
Wallingford Radio - Oxfordshire, UK
Client
Wallingford Radio (WFR)
A volunteer-run community radio station based in Oxfordshire, UK. wallingfordradio.co.uk
The Challenge
Wallingford Radio had originally been set up by another engineer who had since moved on, leaving behind a mix of undocumented Windows and Linux systems. When TINCS became involved, there was little documentation, several fragile automation scripts, and no disaster-recovery plan - all running on aging hardware.
Shortly after, WFR secured its FM broadcast licence and needed a radio automation platform that was reliable, maintainable, and cost-effective. The priorities were clear: keep running costs minimal, enable future growth, and simplify operation for volunteers with limited technical background.
The Solution
TINCS began by reverse-engineering the existing infrastructure, mapping both Windows and Linux environments to understand how each component contributed to broadcast operations.
- Legacy remediation: replaced a set of brittle automation scripts with standardised Linux services for improved reliability and maintainability.
- Backup & recovery: introduced a comprehensive backup and restore process to protect legacy data and reduce risk of loss.
- Virtualisation: deployed a three-node virtualisation stack, consolidating workloads and maximising use of existing hardware.
- Audio pipeline & studio automation: built the station's audio chain around GStreamer, JACK, and Icecast. On top of that we wrote custom Python scripts that take input from the studio mixers to drive automations such as the on-air studio lights, and further Python software to control JACK routing so the station can switch automatically between its sustaining (automated) programming and a live studio feed.
- Central authentication & security: implemented unified login systems and a secure VPN for remote access and volunteer management.
- Outside broadcasting: developed a portable OB deployment, allowing live community events to be broadcast securely over VPN back to the main studio.
The Outcome
- WFR has been broadcasting on FM since 2022, having run online prior to that, with zero software licences for its automation.
- The platform supports 24/7 programming and over 20 active volunteers.
- The open-source virtualised stack offers flexibility and resilience while reducing long-term operating costs.
- A professional-grade automation and studio control system, built entirely on open-source tools, with no ongoing licence fees.