I’m guessing the Sydney CBD skyline might provide some protection for 2RSR from 2RE.
Also appears that the 2RE FM 100.3 infill at Forster will be allowed to stay on air too. Same frequency as the new Hannam Vale infill.
I’m also surprised they are planning for a 3rd full time community licence. Even though 106.5 Rhema has been a TCBL for a while now. Will mean Taree has more community radio stations than almost every other regional centre.
It will probably be a different story in coastal Sydney. I wonder how well it will get into NW Sydney with ducting?
ACMA has today (7 August) amended its Consulation Paper for Taree, which can be found on pages 7, 8, 19 & 20 of the paper: https://www.acma.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Proposal%20to%20vary%20Taree%20LAP%20consultation%20paper%20(updated%207%20August%202020).docx
The closing date has been extended from 28th August to 4th September.
Now been fixed, with the inclusion of the 2MVB infill at Gloucester (and the backup site atop the studios)
https://twitter.com/acmadotgov/status/1298077666323525634?s=20
Include a new technical specification for the FM transmitter for the 2GF commercial radio broadcasting service with the same technical specifications (apart from frequency) as the existing 2CLR FM transmitter. The proposed technical specification will permit the new FM transmitter to operate on the frequency of 89.5 MHz at 40kW maximum effective radiated power (ERP), with a directional antenna pattern and a maximum antenna height of 60 m from the Broadcast Site Repeater Station Rd, Ilarwill
Interference predictions
The frequency 89.5 MHz for the 2GF FM service is predicted to cause mutual interference with the 2TLC community radio broadcasting service. To address this potential interference issue, it is proposed that the 2TLC community service will move to the frequency 93.5 MHz to allow the 2GF FM service to operate on 89.5 MHz .
Interesting, seems like TLC-FM (currently on 100.3) could change frequencies as a result of 2GF’s conversion to FM? Presumably the existing 103.9FM service would no longer be needed if 2GF converts to 89.5 as well?
Interesting that they think 100.3 is also currently causing interference to ABC RN on 99.5.
And that 93.5 is also predicted to suffer the same level of interference as 100.3? So why bother… Doesn’t quite make sense to me…?
There is also potential for interference from 93.5 Port Macquarie. Potentially more of an issue than interference from 100.3 Armidale.
I find this a bit strange to be honest, Why not just let 2GF just wind up the wick on 103.9 instead of doing all this other mucking around
The only possible reason I can think of would be 2CHY. They should have moved 2CHY to 89.5 (or 89.9).
I agree, but isn’t the Coffs Harbour radio market a more populated one than Grafton is?
Still plenty of space down the low end there. 89.9 would be the logical choice, 0.8 MHz away from 90.7. I guess 2CHY has a long heritage on 104.1 and they want to keep that going. In terms of population, Coffs is much larger than Grafton.
Yeah, that would make sense.
In contrast to CHY-FM which has been on 104.1 since at least the Early 1980s, 2GF has only been running its 103.9FM service since 2004 (at least going by old web pages on archive.org)?
Mind you, any major frequency change likely to come as a result of 2GF going FM-only would be a very good opportunity to refresh the station’s image with a completely new logo. The current one:
…is basically an updated version of this one from their AM-only days, which I’m pretty sure dates back to (at least) the 1990s:
While I suppose it’s an OK design for a regional station (considering how old the logo design of Sydney’s #1 rating radio station is, I’m hardly in a position to complain about 2GF’s), it is a dated look compared to the logo for sister station Optus FM FM 104.7 that was introduced last year.
Interesting fact: The above 2GF logo/s date back to before Caralis acquired the station (along with FM 104.7) in mid-1999, when it was locally-owned.
Notice it’s similar to the old Westlawn Investments logo, who were once the former owners.
I will miss the 1206 signal when it goes. Hope when they go FM full time they introduce more music shifts. Probably won’t happen.
Only other issue is that 89.7 has been set aside for a 2PQQ (Triple M Mid North Coast) repeater at Urunga… Odd choice of frequency too, I know.
On the books for years, never activated, use it or lose it.
Already thinking about the DX possibilities these changes might mean 
89.5 will be blocked by JJJ here but 93.5 should be good to check out.
89.5 is open in Sydney too, unless someone decides to hoist the Jolly Roger. That said, 104.7 is reasonably clear to the north in Sydney yet 2CLR has only been heard once or twice. A Bob (or maybe two) each way as to whether Taree pops up over the top, though.
I have got no chance of 89.5, 93.5 or 104.7 from here unfortunately.
2BOB FM Taree is on 104.7 and can be heard on elevated parts of Newcastle in normal conditions. Though it’s probably not going to get much further south than that even with tropo about.
