Halfway through a four-week period of test transmissions there had been no reports of interference to other services, he said.

“We’re transmitting on 100W and the feedback we have is that with the exception of a couple of houses the signal is very clear around Dubbo,” he said.

Orana Community Broadcasters Inc, which has been years in the planning, reached a milestone on June 20 when it began a series of test broadcasts on the FM88.9 frequency.

The station was operating from a former child care centre on Cobbora Road that had been fitted with security and fire alarms.

There was not much inside apart from a computer, some broadcasting equipment and a card table, Mr Mutton said, but there were plans to install two studios, a reception area and meeting room.

Once the test broadcasts and broadcast pattern had been sorted out, Mr Mutton said, the organisation would contact community groups in the area to see who was interested in being a part of the station.

“We’re a small but passionate group of about 15 people at the moment,” Mr Mutton said.

“The plan is to involve community groups and train people to be broadcasters.”

He said the test broadcast consisted mostly of “musicals, jazz and 50s music”.

“We want to vary the signal and sound,” he said. “We’ll test transmit for a month or so then in the meantime we’re fundraising so that we can get better equipment.”

Mr Mutton said the community was invited to take out membership of the station.

“As a community station we can raise money through people taking out memberships, sponsorship is limited to five minutes in the hour.”

Mr Mutton said he was happy to speak with members of the community who wished to become members.