5NPY BRACS History

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In the 1970's and 80's, the "Pitjantjatjara Bush Radio" was an incredible network of two-way radios located in remote Aboriginal communities throughout the central western desert regions of Australia. Conversations on this network would often be seven deep with Pitjantjatjara speakers able to decipher their own discussions from amongst the cacophony of other conversations and the ever present static which grew with the sun's ascent.

Peter Nyanangu, Public Officer of 5NPY
at a training workshop at Radio 5UV, Adelaide

Sadly, the "Pitjanjatjara Bush Radio Network" fell away with the coming of satellite communications (broadcast TV and radio) and the introduction of a microwave linked telephone system.

In May 1998 we witnessed the rebirth of this famous network - but in a different form than earlier times." 5NPY - Anangu Winkiku Radio" (people's radio) retained the interconnected features of the former 2-way radio service but also features broadcast on-air studios at Umuwa and at a series of mini-studios installed at every community throughout the region. These mini-studios will be linked to the central on-air studio via telephone lines using "scoop reporters" which effectively double the bandwidth of the connection.

Joseph Tapaya, 5NPY Station Manager
Radio 5UV Studios, Adelaide

The route of transmission is from Umuwa to IMPARJA TV in Alice Springs via a dedicated 10 khz telephone connection where the signal is encoded and up-linked to the satellite. The BMAC signal is then narrowcast throughout the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands utilising downlink dishes and BMAC decoders at which point the signal is rebroadcast to a localised area in FM (utilising existing low powered FM transmitters).

Programming centres on local language broadcasting with an emphasis on local news and information, talkback programs, and music. We provide a 24 hour service utilising the satellite feeds of the NIRS system (National Indigenous Radio Service) and CAAMA radio (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association).

Michael Lang, Trainee Announcer
Radio 5UV Studios, Adelaide

Our radio station is unique in that it is the first radio programming that is produced entirely within remote Aboriginal communities. It is also unique in that the target audience has every opportunity to participate in broadcasts via the network of small radio booths located throughout the region. Radio 5NPY was launched on the 8th of May 1998.