What Happened to the Old 4WK Transmitter in Toowoomba? I’m Sure Brisbane would use it as a HPON Service?
It was converted to FM, 95.5 last year I think?
Not sure what will happen with the old 1359 frequency, or the transmitter itself. I imagine it’s old, and be pulled down and scrapped.
It occurred in August 2017, which is nearly 3 years ago now.
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That Means 1359 may become Brisbane’s 2nd HPON?
The old 1359 Frequency, one of the staff was going to try to launch a MF-HPON on it with classic hits but sadly ACMA said it will not be reassigned and it is put aside for DRM apparently?? , As for the old BE AM500 transmitter… Well it was changed to 1242khz put into a portable with wheels 19inch rack and is currently sitting at the 4AK site as the the spare transmitter for 4AK as the old STC has had its day and is no longer worth fixing
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There was also a video on the 4WK Facebook page I think that has the old 1359 tower at Willowburn coming down. Land I’m guessing will be developed.
That 1359 transmitter had some throw for 500w.
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Yes, all vacated, or already vacant AM/MW frequencies are reserved for future DRM use, & have been this way for at least the last 5-10 years, probably much longer though.
ACMA started reserving unused AM band frequencies for DRM use, back prior to DAB+ starting in Australia.
ACMA always planned & recommended using DRM for digital radio in Australia, but CRA convinced the Federal Communications minister & Government at the time, to use DAB+ & ACMA had to quickly change tack, & re-plan the VHF Band III spectrum for DAB+ rollout in the 5 capital cities.
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I’ve been listening to 2GN today & heard on the news, that local car dealers & locksmiths are having about 30 inquiries per day from people around the center of town, being unable to unlock their cars via the remote, & it’s thought to be from RF overload due to the recent upgrading of the nearby towers (News report words not mine).
So I’m wondering if the 2GN FM move is in the works, & they’ve changed antennas & things in prep, & that RF mess around Goulburn has moved into the center of town?
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I can report that 95.1 is still a mess in Goulburn. It even triggered Eagle FMs RDS when I last went through.
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So it’s possible the install of the directional antenna for 2GN, which is not yet in operation could be causing further mixing of Eagle and Sky Sports, and changing the patterns of RF interference?
What is it with Capital Radio’s engineering?
All of their major sites seem to be poorly engineered, Goulburn severe mixing around Mt Gray on 95.1 and now it looks like it is worse in town from reports.
My Roberts between Bredbo and Cooma 98.5mhz, has 2XL on 96.1 made the mixing on 98.5 worse?
Jinderboine Hill between East Jindabyne and Kalkite mixing of Snow fm, Sky Sports and XL fm on multiple frequencies.
None of these sites are overly powerful with Mt Roberts the highest at 50kw (directional to the south) Goulburn 40kw (omnidirectional) and Jindabyne only 2kW (Omnidirectional) and there are mixing problems at each.
Maybe with all these complaints in Goulburn might get ACMA involved and the issue might finally get addressed.
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Looking at the ABC Reception page for Crookwell just now, the Wades Hill TX is scheduled to be off-air on Thursday 2nd July, with TV off from 11am to 12pm, ABC Central West 106.9 off from 1:06 to 2pm & RN off from 2:15 to 3pm.
I’ve been proven wrong over the past year on whenever Wades Hill goes off air, it involves a frequency change for RN to accommodate 2GN’s FM conversion. However, given what’s currently happening in Goulburn as per above post, maybe it will finally happen? 
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Mixing is even bad in Crookwell, and these are flea powered transmitters. The mixing only occurs between the 2GN/Eagle repeaters and not with the Wades Hill ABCs.
Since I am the new Johnny on the spot when it comes to the Southern Tablelands, I can always take a trip to drizzly Crookwell one day.
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Wow that is really bad,
What are they doing wrong?
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Skimping out on $$$ spent on cavity filters on the output of their FM TXers could be one cause - I’m speculating here of course.
These FM installations of Capital Radio really do need to be investigated by ACMA.
No fun for travellers doing band scans & having their tuners land on these spurious emissions.
And what FM DXer would want to live in one of these regions?
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That’s why I ruled out Goulburn as a place to live.
I made a video of the Crookwell mixing products a while ago:
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I was in Crookwell last year, only 101.3 appeared to have bad mixing (of 2GN 106.1 and Eagle FM 103.7).
Compare that to Goulburn where I found mixing on 7 different frequencies!
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Yes, it’s mainly on 101.3- but still shouldn’t occur at all considering the low power (100w) of these transmissions.
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Exactly. Likely they’re making the same mistake across all sites.
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The Nowra LAP Variation has been finalised: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00670
That means ACMA has given 2ST’s FM conversion (as well as adding its Kiama translator at Saddleback Mountain) the green light.
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I know it has been mentioned before but only 5w I wonder how well it will cover Kiama. I wonder how well will 91.7 FM go into Ulladulla as well as Kangaroo Valley, Robertson, Bundanoon.