Same here! I think ABC Illawarra was stereo with local programming but anything network it was mono (last I checked). Similar to 2SM, local broadcasting is in stereo but 2HD is mono (or I think just one channel of the stereo feed) which is “crap”. 2GB feed is mono outside of DAB in Sydney. Seems that the old legacy AM radio stations only send out “mono” feeds outside the local studios, where your Triple Ms are stereo everywhere.
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I reckon anything through Nine Syndication (formerly Macquarie Syndication - https://www.mmsyndication.com.au) is mono.
But I think 2GB programs on 3AW and vice versa are now stereo. Internally Nine Radio might be doing stereo but not via their separate Syndication service.
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Anyone in Melbourne notice the changes that were supposed to happen overnight to all the ABC stations?
Due to COVID restrictions, they’ve been postponed until the 15th I think.
It was going to be swapped with Sydney, but decided to keep Sydney as planned & postpone Melbourne.
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Thanks RFB!
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I was referring to no standardisaion of aggregating streaming apps, although RadioApp and TuneIn do a good job, but only TuneIn is available more widely because it has been around a long time, but I don’t think the iHeartRadio channels feature on TuneIn?
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Is this a crusade (against FM) from RadioInfo on the virtues of DAB+ (you will know what I mean if you look at the Perth FM replanning thread):
“The commercial/ community DAB+ transmitters are carrying up to 32 programs each, makes it the cheapest and least polluting means of moving sound from a microphone to the listeners speaker.”
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But isn’t this choice of multiple streaming apps an advantage?
Also the Sonos app for example features federated search so for example when searching for a station or even a music genre it will search across all the services setup for use with that Sonos system so in my case C91.3 will appear under Sonos Radio, TuneIn and RadioApp.
You are correct regarding TuneIn but it is without doubt the most widely supported radio platform amongst smart speakers, Hi-Fi systems etc.
yeah I agree. But they would never switch of FM radio (even if it is more “polluting”) . DAB just can’t cover the same territory unless extra repeaters are installed and that would cause more pollution? Anyway if they did switch off AM and FM it may be the end of radio as we know it.
Also DAB radio receivers generally use more battery power and my personal experience don’t last as long (bad for the environment) , I find myself needing to buy a new radio more often (even expensive desktop versions that don’t move around) , the buttons die and the screens go bung, (although new analog radios might be similar). This is bad for the environment too.
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Yes electrical items aren’t built to last these days.
Cheaper to make them irreparable and also to make people buy a new one.
It’s not just radios, almost everything else too.
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yeah it is true… As per the quote above from article its a reflection on today when one is trying to push a product. Companies being more conscious of looking after the environment is a good thing but the problem is the end to end supply chain is not always green. When the actually radio itself is almost disposable then, it isn’t as compelling the green argument. This is a can of worms 
.
I don’t think the green argument switching off AM/FM transmitters will help save the planet. It might save on transmission costs, but the cost of replacing radios is a hidden environment cost not really considered (in the less “polluting argument”).
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What is the total capacity (used or unused) of ARN in Brisbane? Is it all on the 9A multiplex?
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512 kbs. Not sure which multiplex.
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I believe the ABC’s (Sydney) DAB+ multiplex is scheduled to be changed overnight tonight according to ‘ABC Sydney’ announcements.
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Thanks @lovemusic
As for what multiplex, will dig through for the ACCC auction doc, just remembered.
@Moe do you know?
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Here’s the auction doc: https://mediaspy-org-s3.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/7/2/729aee80dca37355281bc2d3cd16c739e03bc0b6.pdf
In the auction doc, 4KQ is “ARN Communications Pty Ltd” and 97.3FM is Brisbane FM Radio Pty Ltd. Between them they bought 128kbps on each multiplex. So 384kbps on 9A and 128kbps on 9B.
No ARN stations are on 9B (as is tradition, they also don’t use their 64kbps on Melbourne 9A), so that leaves just their 384 on 9A, which they use in full.
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Better late than never.
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Last I checked, Mt Dandenong is the main transmission site for Melbourne. Artarmon/Gore Hill would be the main source of DAB+ transmissions in Sydney. Also not sure you’d be able to receive “ABC HOB” here.
Good pick-up!
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On the Sony Portable, 100KM from the Transmitter site, the stations scanned in Automatically when a station on 9C is tuned in.
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