I think that’s what 2MG are doing. If you look on the website they have a statement to this effect.
The GN FM test was by the book, though, and quite creative (‘please excuse the construction’).
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But if there is an issue and they have to switch off or whatever, that’s going to look a bit embarrassing for them since it’s not really a proper test as such, as their FB post above is making 7 am Monday sound like the launch date.
Kind of a bit like buying a car without a test drive.
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Yes but remember, this is the SRN we’re dealing with. Embarrassment is their middle (and first, last) name.
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Has there been any test at all… or have none of us picked it up.
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No, 2MG FB screenshot posted by hatdj says “nothing to hear on there as yet”.
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Interesting… so no rule following, not paying rent on sites… how does SRN stay in business!
When 3PBS (a community station) changed frequency in late 1987 to go from a low power transmitter in the suburbs to a high power transmitter on Mt. Dandenong, they just started simulcasting on the new frequency, and it started off on low power. I don’t know what happened between then and when they went full power on the new frequency as I went overseas.
When 3KZ converted to FM on new year’s day 1990, they only did a main test transmission the evening before for a few hours, and a few other short ones in the weeks before at different times of the day. I only ever heard two of them and only heard test tones. I don’t know if there were any more test transmissions.
BAY FM started around in December 1989, but at most they would have only had a few days test transmission between Monday before and the day they went to air, as I went interstate on that Monday and didn’t hear anything in the days before. However, I remember a test transmission around July 1989 but this was just test tones.
K-Rock did more proper test transmissions before they started in January 1990. During the six weeks or so before they converted to FM, they had sporadic test transmissions in which they’d play music and make an announcement of who to call about interference etc. Rather than saying 3GL, they said something like Geelong Broadcasters Pty Ltd.
When 3TT converted to FM, I also only had two short test transmissions before finally converting to FM. One was around 11NM one Tuesday night and other was on the Saturday night just before they converted to FM at midnight.
Nova 100 and Vega 91.5 which were new stations in the early 2000’s, had lots of test transmissions prior to going on air.
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I haven’t dug deep yet, but maybe this is the only startup condition that needs to be met now, here is an extract from the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Broadcasting Licence) Determination 2015.
Part 2 Conditions for every licence
2.1 Conditions
- For paragraph 107 (1) (f) of the Act, every licence is subject to the conditions in this Part relating to the operation of any broadcasting station under the licence by the licensee.*
2.2 Licensee to advertise before commencing service
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Not later than 7 days before commencing to transmit a broadcasting service from a broadcasting station, the licensee must make the following statements and information available to the public:*
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(a) a statement about the licensee’s intention to transmit a broadcasting service from the station in the licence area that relates to the broadcasting service;*
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(b) the date and time of the commencement of transmission;*
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(c) the frequency the station will use;*
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(d) a statement that members of the public should contact the licensee if the transmission causes interference to services provided by other stations;*
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(e) the address and telephone number of the licensee.*
Example The licensee may make these statements and this information available to the public by publishing the statements and information on its website or on an industry website.
2MG have actually fulfilled that requirement if the notification on their web site has been there for at least 7 days? And that notification is claiming they are doing test transmissions from tomorrow, not actually converting to & broadcasting on FM from then on, now whether they use a simulcast period as this test transmission or not guess we’ll find out tomorrow?
Here is a copy of the notification on the 2MG web site:
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97.1 is a chance here in SEQ in an opening. Biggest competition is RN Taree and Kix Bundaberg.
Tried for 2MG 97.1 tonight.
Nothing.
RN Taree unable to be nulled out sufficiently, even though conditions are flat tonight.
Real 93.1 was weak too, just above the noise floor.
I had been wondering if anyone heard the opening.
2ABCRN Taree at very weak level here in flat conditions.
I’ll try for reception with some aircraft scatter later.
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Not a sausage here. I went up the hill at 0700 yesterday; conditions were rock bottom with no sign of even Real FM or KRR 98.7. So it was a day you had to be in Mudvegas and surrounds to hear anything.
This week isn’t promising for tropo (warm westerlies today, rain tomorrow and cold southerlies after that) so I’ll be waiting a while to get 2MG FM I suspect.
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Same here just weak ABC RN Middle Brother on 97.1 l, and your typical morning enhancement of Eagle fm, otherwise very flat.
102.9 2ST is the weakest I have received since the power increase.
No hint of Real fm on the car radio.
Probably best place to try for 97.1 2MG would be Porters Lookout Dural.
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Similar results here, nice to finally hear reasonable reception from them after the power increase. RDS subcarrier of 102.9 2ST is a good 5-6dB above the noise floor, (can be 10dB above when there’s a little lift), sufficient for good decoding, whilst Highland FM 107.1 is just below the RDS decoding threshold at the moment.
I don’t expect to be hearing 97.1 2MG for a good while, unless I find a high spot similar to your recommendation.
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The closest spot to Sydney where Mudgee, Kandos et. al are permanent strong reception is probably Bell in the Blue Mountains. Perhaps someone could make a trip up there and report on RDS, PI’s and such? Autumn weather is establishing itself and so tropo opportunities may be limited.
According to the 2MG Farcebook page, 97.1 has switched on RDS. 101.5 Kandos is on air and will add RDS soon.
I’m planning to visit Sydney and the Blue Mountains over the April holidays, though my mission in the mountains will be trying for signs of Braidwood FM at the southern facing lookouts.
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I plan on doing a trip to the Central West including Mudgee in late May/early June, after my Tassie trip in April.
It’s been a while since I’ve been out that way and am keen to see if anyone else other than Triple M is running RDS in Dubbo etc
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A good spot for picking up radio signals is the 3 sisters lookout at Katoomba.
You can easily pick up 14 FM commercial stations on a typical wireless radio.
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There are far better (and less crowded) spots in the upper BMs. You wouldn’t want to go to Echo Point/Three Sisters lookout with a TEF and a large antenna 
The secluded Blackheath Lookout on the Shipley Plateau is where I intend to go, unless raining (it’s a gravel road). Cahills Lookout on the western side of Katoomba is also good for the southern signals.
Bell/Clarence/Dargan is your best bet towards Newcastle/MNC and Mudgee. There’s a particular spot near the old Monkey Creek cafe in Dargan (appears to be closed now, pity) where you can receive 102.3 Port Macquarie on a near permanent basis.
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Agree with Cahills Lookout, I’ve had ABC SW Slopes on the car radio in the car park near there.
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Better conditions tonight, got to hear a bit of 2MG on 97.1 in a very tight null of Radio National Taree.
Luckily it faded up at the time well enough to hear a test transmission announcement, which was something like this
“2MG… now on 97.1 FM and 101.5 FM… if you think this transmission is causing any interference please contact …(phone number and email contact provided)… 1449am will be switched off on Monday April 15”.
I heard the usual programming and ads, so sounded very much like an AM simulcast with that announcement going out on both AM and FM.
Stereo indicator flashed up briefly but no RDS sadly. I didn’t have Real FM with RDS tonight either, but I have had in the past, but opportunities to see if there is any are fading this tropo season.
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