Are any of these allocated frequencies shared with the Goulburn Nationals ABC’s?
I can’t remember what these frequencies were.
If ACMA imposed the use it or loose rule like for LPON’s then these frequencies could be used either In Tuggeranong or Black Mountain provided no CC with Goulburn.
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The allocated frequencies for the following stations intended for its Tuggeranong repeater services were as follows:
1CMS: 107.9 (currently used by Sky Sports Radio, Yass)
1SBS: 103.1 (currently used by Hit Tumut)
1XXR: 95.1 (nearest station to use the frequency is 2BS Bathurst)
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Perhaps ACMA will explore 0.4 spacing - like they do in London for example.
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Or better still, move Tuggeranong 0.4 spacing from Black Mountain, and you will have the extra frequencies for the conversions.
The best frequencies for 20KW commercial services from Black Mountain Canberra would be 95.9 and 96.7
For this to happen 95.9 Triple J would need to be moved, and the cancellation of the TCL licences of 2QBN.
Under the Tuggeranong at 0.4 spacing you could use 99.9 and 100.7 at Black Mountain, but there is potential for CCI with strong inland tropo between Canberra and the Sydney local area community stations.
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I do wonder whether, as part of a potential future restack, there would be value in using the even numbered frequencies as well (like the UK and NZ among others) in order to increase capacity and reduce co-channel interference in fringe areas and areas prone to regular tropo interference. As part of that, even 0.5 spacing would be worth consideration (providing that little bit more of a buffer for lower-end receivers).
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A couple of the Tuggeranong (or Queanbeyan) stations could go to 104.3 and 105.9…. which are 0.4 offset from Black Mountain… they would then co-channel with Batemans Bay commercials but I’m thinking that shouldn’t be an issue.
Unfortunately these frequencies could not be used for other reason too-
1CMS 107.9 Sky Spirts Radio Yass,
If Sky Sports was to be moved, potential for CCI from Move Fm around the northern fringes with inland Tropo.
1SBS 103.1 would most likely require Hit and potentially 2GCR to be moved too
1XXR 95.1 CCI issues with 2BS around the northern fringes.
On my trip back from the snow on the 20th August a day when strong inland Tropo occurred I had 2BS and Brock on the car radio at Eagle Hawk Sutton, they were quite strong along Lake George with this ducting.
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That could work, as the Tuggeranong’s are at low power.
The Queanbeyan service on the Batemans Bay frequency would have to be highly directional to the west, with similar specs to Rebel at Mt Tamborine, limiting signal to the East.
This would allow 2CA and 2CC to convert on 95.9 / 96.7
The only places where CCI would occur would be Mt Ainslie, and the Tinderry Ranges where CCI could be more significant.
All of these locations are outside of the Tuggeranong licence area.
A second thought could 96.7 at 20KW from Black Mountain work next to 96.9 2KY at Mt Roberts??
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I’d assume that given Radio 97 is listed, then there’s a chance it is BOG and not Triple M converting. Even if they only converted 4AK as part of the FM super network and left 4WK on AM it would be good.
BOG have been fairly active in trying to get those pseudo conversions of trying to get an inner city FM repeater and pushing the limits on power, so I’d be surprised if they didn’t try in all markets they could.
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Technically 4WK is already on FM in Toowoomba with AM at Warwick. So it would be with 4AK or 4GR looking for conversion.
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SCA actively wants out of AM - I’d be surprised if they didn’t try to convert Toowoomba.
Bunbury is definitely Triple M, given that SEN are seemingly keeping the AM band alive.
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It’ll be interesting to see if the B92 LAP variation request approach speeds up the process in Bunbury. I believe competitive market conversions where to come after solus market conversions have been completed, and possibly after the Perth AM - FM conversion - 5+ years at a guess.
I would think they would mirror the 6BUN license spec and request high power for Bunbury and low power at Collie and Margaret River. Retire 3 AM sites. Plenty of frequencies available over here.
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Within Canberra, Orange is more of an issue than Batemans Bay. 104.3 RN in particular is quite strong with only a little ducting. Batemans Bay is really only received at the top of Mount Ainslie where there is a bit of a ‘snow line’ effect: once you get above a certain altitude, Batemans Bay booms in clearly (no reception at the bottom).
Even in Bungendore, it’s Orange that occupies 104.3 and 105.9 at most locations. I have to aim directly at Mount Wandera to get BB.
@TV-Expert posted this a while back. Here’s a draft LAP from 1998 which is interesting reading. It was proposed that certain Tuggeranong repeaters use the ‘Brisbane’ spacing (91.7, 92.5…) !
Canberra_DraftLAP+DSC_Oct1998.pdf (492.3 KB)
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Yes, I’m surprised that Wagga Wagga still isn’t in that list from the ACMA. You’d think that would be a no brainer for them.
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Now the conversion has been opened to competitive markets what are people’s thoughts about dropping the “in solo markets” from the thread title?
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Yes good point. Also 4WK is already on FM in Toowoomba city.
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If used in Tuggeranong would Orange with Tropo get strong enough to wipe out the local if it is at 66dbuV or stronger?
Maybe if the Canberra fm’s from Black Mountain got a power increase to 150KW Tuggeranong might not be required? There will still be areas under Mt Taylor that are shaded that will have poor reception. Also locals can get all the Canberra radio stations off Tuggeranong Hill on dab+ anyway.
From what I understand, only the ABC/SBS stations are broadcasting on DAB+ off Tuggeranong Hill.
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I would of thought the 4CA, 4MK, 4RO, 4CC and 4BU would of applied for a FM conversion. I remembered years back they were really trying to push for 4CC to be converted to FM.
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Yes I’m quite surprised they haven’t put their hand up. Also 4GY and 4SB. Even 4FC - wouldn’t it be cheaper than trying to maintain and run an AM transmitter?
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