Also interesting that no mention of the switch from the 2CH side of things. Especially considering they push DAB+ so much.
Have they said anything on air?
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I tune in briefly nothing so far.
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NTS is still on air in Melbourne, so I assume they are planning to keep it.
SEN got some reshuffles - basically theyâve made the SEN stations sound worse, in order to move them to use the standard EEP 3A error coding. This improves reception in marginal signal areas - but has made SEN3 absolutely unlistenably bad.
1116 SEN - 56kbps / 3A 42CU
Niche Radio - 40kbps / 4A 20CU
Rhythmos - 40kbps / 4A 20CU (from 32kbps 16CU)
SEN Track - 32kbps / 3A 24CU (down from 40kbps 30CU)
SEN2 - 32kbps / 3A 24 CU (switched from 4A 32kbps 16CU)
SEN3 - 16kbps / 3A 12 CU (switched from 4A 32kbps 16CU)
3MP - 64kbps / 3A 48 CU
It also still leaves SEN using up parts of the 3MP allocation - as even the SEN branded stations use 102 CUs (vs the 96 CU = 128kbps @ EEP3A that is allocated to each station)
That also then leaves 3MP carrying both Rhythmos and Niche Radio.
ARN bought capacity on 9A in Melbourne that they have never used, I wonder if SEN could make a deal to purchase that off them, so they arenât trying to squeeze so much into their allocation, and can give ACE the ability to add channels.
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Indeed, surely 2CH shouldâve been mentioning on-air over the weekend that Digital Radio listeners will have to rescan on Monday?
Seems like the 9A multiplex changes have gone off OK (sure thereâs a lack of additional DLS/slideshow data at the moment, but Iâm sure most are fine waiting a day or two for that) while all the problems have been with 9B. Facebook commenters seem to think that 2UE has replaced 2CH!
EDIT: I think I briefly caught what Nine Radio are trying to do: 2GB and 2UE (the latter off air at time) at 96kbps! Could that and NTS at 64kbps be the new configuration for the Nine Radio stations on Sydney DAB+? I guess weâll eventually find out!
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I know most of you are wondering why the swap, I canât answer exactly why, but it would be likely for ease & separation of the program distribution & infrastructure.
2CH (historically) has used the same fibre & router as 2GB to get the programming to the DAB+ transmitter, which is connected to the same mux encoder at Artarmon.
2UE uses a different fibre & router connected to a different mux encoder at Artarmon.
This configuration was probably in agreement & OK with EON, but now itâs been sold to SEN, & they want to bring in extra programming from Melbourne & perhaps when they finally dump 2CH, they wonât have a studio in Sydney & just pipe programming up from Melbourne, it makes sense to seperate the companies & programming distribution.
2GB & 2UE can now share the distribution infrastructure coming from & to the same places, & 2CH/SEN can do whatever with there program distribution, from wherever to Artarmon to their own seperate from 2GB/2UE mux encoder.
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I have a Idea with SEN 2 and 3.
SEN 2 should become Bay 93.9
SEN 3 should become Krock 95.5
That finally allows Bay 93.9 and Krock Geelong to broadcast on DAB+
AT the moment its being wasted simulcasting SEN 1116
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Seems like 2CH is trying to get a slideshow up and running on their new DAB+ home:
I wonder if weâll eventually see one from SEN/SEN Track.
EDIT: Also heard a âTake 2UE with youâŚâ sweeper on whatâs supposed to be â2CH Classic Hitsâ! 
ANOTHER EDIT: Itâs currently 2UE on both multiplexes! 
YET ANOTHER EDIT: Flicked back over to â2CH Classic Hitsâ and heard the correct programming for about a second or two before going silent!
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Itâs always been a mystery to me why fringe Metro stations like Bay/Krock, River 94.9 even Hot Tomato have never managed to do a deal with the likes of SEN or Radio TAB to get their stations on DAB in the capitals. Seems like a no brainer.
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hahaha I had the same issue. But your post is much more neater. I still got Kayley Harris and Rob Duckworth on my text for breakfast look forward to hear it on 2ue 
.
It will be interesting to hear how bad 2CH will be on digital radio in coming months. Wow really 16k?
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While I can definitely understand why Pacific Star/CrocMedia want to have SEN & SENTrack available on Sydney DAB+ (for all the lamenting we can do about current 2CH sound quality - letâs not forget that there were seemingly plans for extra stations under EON ownership which never eventuated), personally I think it wouldâve been better to allocate 64kbps for 2CH and 32kbps for each of the sports stations.
Oh well, at least weâve now got 2UE in 128kbps. Not entirely convinced itâll be at those levels for long (even though Iâm reasonably confident it wonât fall below 80kbps again), but something to enjoy while it lasts I suppose.
I know weâve previously had a few of the Melbourne stations (mainly community ones) as DAB+ pop-ups here in the past, but itâs still rather odd hearing Melbourne-specific ads and news on SEN via Sydney Digital Radio especially with everything going on down there at the moment! Surely theyâll eventually flick SEN over to a Sydney/NSW feed?
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Iâd assume that it is already a NSW feed, but I think that will just swap out some of the live sport where their rights agreements differ and those differences in advertising rules. But canât imagine they can sell anyone on unique NSW only inventory.
Maybe a unique combined NSW/Qld breakfast show might eventually pop up, but thatâd be primarily on the SEN Track side of things where they have on band AM coverage so therefore a slight hope of some listeners.
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it does to me as well. iâve said a few times i find it odd vision is not on DAB as well.
I know with River when i upgraded to my i30 with DAB+ built in my wife stopped listening to them. if they were on DAB it would have made the favourites list but she moved to 97.3
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Believe the plan is to take the Joel and Jimmy show in simulcast with SEN Track.
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2UE is showing as 128 kbit/s for me, no slideshow or text.
I guess they werenât lying when promoting it as an improvement in sound.
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They would need to boost the power at the Mt Dandenong transmitter in order to transmit adequately to Geelong, in some parts you canât get DAB+ on a standard home radio with an indoor antenna, although you can get Melbourne DAB+ in the car.
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Itâs been posted before that DAB operators are seemingly reluctant to lease out DAB spectrum because they are ultimately responsible for the content.
Even if not that, I also wonder whether the likes of Grant Broadcasters are prepared to pay as much as what Pacific Star etc might be asking.
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Nice to get a response from 2CH. Although they didnât really answer my question RE keeping 2CH around 64 bits.
Thank you for taking the time to write to us regarding the Radio 2UE signal broadcasting on 2CH DAB+
Our technical team are working to resolve the problem.
In the meantime, if you are listening on a car radio or digital radio, simply re-scan to re-tune your radio to Classic Hits 2CH.
By doing this, you will receive 2CH Classic Hits on DAB+
If you are listening on your computer, streaming, or listening on our APP the problem will continue until such time as it can be fixed.
We here at Classic Hits sincerely apologise for the technical issues you are experiencing, and we will do everything possible to enable listen to your favourite Presenters and music.
Thank you for your patience.
Keep safe and healthy.
Cherie Romaro.
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I noticed ads on 2CH asking listeners to retune their DAB Radios
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Same with me actually on my last car. I stopped listening to River because I couldnât he bothered changing back to FM. Fortunately my current car lets me mix and match FM and DAB on the same set of presets. But Iâm sure River is losing listeners because of this reason.
Actually I think Grant are doing a poor job of promoting River in general across south east Queensland. The station used to have a much higher profile across Brisbane itself a few years back but nowadays they donât seem to bother.
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Didnât they get into trouble from the ACMA some years ago for conducting promotions outside their licence area?
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