** February 1983 |
The idea of launching a new English language offshore radio station is explored by British, Irish and American businessmen |
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27th August 1983 |
An ex- |
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28th September 1983 |
The ship, now renamed Communicator arrived in Port Everglade, Florida |
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17th November 1983 |
The Communicator left Florida and sailed for Ireland, with a full team of American DJs on board |
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8th December 1983 |
The Communicator docked in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland to have work undertaken on her anchoring system. |
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17th December 1983 |
With a temporary wire aerial slung between her masts, a test transmission was carried out from the Communicator in New Ross Harbour during the early hours. |
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20th December 1983 |
In the early hours, the Communicator left New Ross Harbour and sailed towards the Thames Estuary |
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22nd December 1983 |
The Communicator dropped anchor, one mile off Margate, Kent |
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29th December 1983 |
After lying at anchor during the Christmas holiday period the Communicator sailed northwards two and a half miles south of Radio Caroline's vessel, Ross Revenge. |
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19th January 1984 |
The first test transmission from the Communicator was planned using a helium balloon aerial tethered to the ship, but when the transmitter was switched on high voltages melted through the nylon rope and the balloon floated away. |
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21st January 1984 |
Test transmissions successfully broadcast using a second balloon aerial with the call sign Laser 730. |
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22nd January 1984 |
During the early hours of the morning the second helium balloon broke from its tethering rope and floated away, putting Laser 730 off the air. |
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12th February 1984 |
Weak test signals were transmitted intermittently for about two hours using a new hastily built temporary T aerial strung between the Communicator’s masts |
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14th February 1984 |
Test transmissions started once again shortly before 1.00pm |
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19th February 1984 |
Test transmission using the temporary aerial system stopped and it was decided to commission a permanent aerial structure for the Communicator. |
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16th March 1984 |
A new telescopic aerial system being built in Queensborough, Essex was seized by British authorities in a raid |
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6th May 1984 |
Test broadcasts using the newly installed aerial system started again at 12 noon on 558kHz (537m). |
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24th May 1984 |
Official programming for the new offshore radio station - |
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October 1984 |
An audience survey showed Laser 558 having five million listeners in the UK - |
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23rd - |
Laser 558 was off the air for two days after the aerial mast had been damaged. |
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December 1984 |
Generator and fuel shortage problems affected Laser 558 resulting in various periods off the air. |
