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If you’ve ever wondered what Lancer Radio plays and how it  functions, it may be simpler and more surprising than you imagined.

Lancer Radio is one of the only community college-based, student-operated radio stations in California. Despite technological advancements in satellite and digital sound equipment, most of the equipment in the campus radio station is the same that was used in the 50s. That isn’t to say the equipment doesn’t function or work at its best capacity, said Will Wilkerson, broadcasting.

Wilkerson, who came to PCC specifically for its broadcasting program, said Lancer Radio incorporates vintage technology with the latest to stream to its listeners for free while letting its own radio and broadcasting students develop their own programs. It has managed to make old consoles send signals to other equipment in different rooms via Wi-Fi. The station itself broadcasts through USTREAM.com, a live interactive broadcasting platform.

According to Wilkerson, the station currently has roughly 10 programs that range from news and public affairs at the local, school or national level, to sports and music programs featuring live bands—anything that strikes a student’s interest.

Wilkerson’s program consists of early sound recordings, jazz, big band swing, Edison cylinders of historical speakers and other music between the 20s and 40s.

Wilkerson said PCC’s TV and radio broadcasting program is one of the most unique and in-depth programs compared to others in the nation.

“There’s a lot you can learn from the quality of educators [at PCC] and the quality of the equipment,” Wilkerson said. “It’s for what people want to get out of it.”

Wilkerson said the program provides the opportunity to learn the trade without experiencing real world consequences.

“You can make mistakes and still learn all these things. In the professional world, you could make a mistake and lose your job over it,” said Wilkerson.

Jessie Lopez, radio operations, said the program isn’t just for those who are comfortable with being on a microphone. It has a plethora of options for those with even slight interest in broadcasting: producing, editing, line up, records, operations, journalism and programming.

Lopez has dipped his feet in several of these areas.

“I’ve learned how to operate the board, signal flow, produce, mic techniques, produce live radio shows and how to prepare a program,” Lopez said.

Mic technique is the practice of producing the best sound quality over the airwaves.

“It’s how you talk on the mic—so you don’t sound too far or too close, or you don’t pop your P’s,” Lopez said.

Lancer Radio was helped set up by KPCC, a public radio station originally broadcasting from the PCC campus that is now broadcasting from a studio on Raymond Avenue.

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