Is Zinc’s studio still in Maroochydore co-located with Hot 91?
1 Like
Yep.
1 Like
At least Bill keeps 4GY focused on its true licence area, though I’m not sure how much local content he provides…
I agree- money talks and if you’re in a position to broadcast into a more lucrative licence area, you’re going to take it. It’s like leaving a packet of red frogs in front of a kid and expecting them to remain uneaten.
1 Like
The other commercial stations serving the Sunshine Coast, Hot FM, Sea FM and Mix FM, are also technically not Sunshine Coast stations, but licenced to Nambour. Their market does cover part of the Sunshine Coast though, just as the Gympie stations cover part of the Sunshine Coast.
2 Likes
Zinc’s licence area does include Noosa which is part of the Sunshine Coast. Anyway the area is starting to morph and Gympie is now almost considered the northern boundary to the Sunshine Coast. Put it this way, when you’re watching local TV in Gympie you’re watching “7 Sunshine Coast” etc.
Back in the 80s even 4GY’s slogan used to be “Wide Bay, Cooloola and Sunshine Coast”.
2 Likes
ABC Local Radio in Gympie is interesting.
AM (1566 4GM) is ABC Wide Bay, but 95.3 FM is ABC Sunshine Coast.
Can’t think of anywhere else that gets 2 different ABC Local Radio stations.
2 Likes
Off topic, sorry. But why is 4GY’s AM signal so weak around the Sunshine Coast? Even at the northern end closest to Gympie.
You’d think with an excellent low frequency and a tx site not far from the water it would be a lot better.
2 Likes
I’m actually not sure what’s going on with 4GY’s AM signal on 558. It used to have amazing reach back in the 80s and 90s from Maryborough right down to Nambour/Maroochydore. Now it’s complete rubbish even just outside Gympie itself. It seems like it’s only operating on very low power or something, but it’s really bad. 4GY used to be Maryborough’s alternative station back then but not any more.
3 Likes
Sadly AM radio has been thrown under the bus by regulators with electrical noise standards for things like plugpacks and consumer electronics. I live on the opposite side of Brisbane to the ABC AM site at Bald Hills and the 50kw ABC local radio service is unlistenable due to electrical noise. The offender near my place is likely many PV systems on peoples roofs. Unless 4GY is running on reduced power then electrical noise in suburbia is why it’s coverage has reduced.
5 Likes
It seems to be a problem out on the highway though as well, so not sure it’s all just electrical noise.
3 Likes
Which is why the FM conversions are so important in regional areas, as they don’t have the luxury of DAB as opposed to the capital cities.
2 Likes
4GY is a very hard catch here via nighttime skywave…it’s more common to hear 4AM Mareeba. That suggests to me that it’s running at low spec and/or there are issues with the transmitter; given that it’s a BC station possibly the latter…
Anyway this is all a bit off topic for this thread, probably better suited to ‘Random Radio’. Mods, feel free to b!tchslap.
4 Likes
The AM antennas in cars have been getting progressively worse over time as well making reception along the highway less reliable. I recall reading that the best AM antenna for a car is a vertical whip in the centre of the roof at the original length that car antennas used to be. They have been getting progressively shorter with a shark fin antenna now the norm. Also not the best for FM reception.
6 Likes
Just as a last note because it’s in the wrong topic, but I was noticing how bad its signal was on the beach in Noosa with a portable radio. So even though the electrical noise in suburbia is a killer, it should have been nice and strong on an open beach away from power lines and buildings.
3 Likes
This is the relative reception of Noosa stations and Zinc at my site in Brisbane.
Zinc is at clear signal with RDS.
Hot FM on 97.9 is variable and usually overpowered by Coffs Harbour as in this capture.
Zinc Noosa is a low level on 100.5
Noosa Community is a fairly good stereo signal.
5 Likes
Coffs Harbour gets three different versions. 92.3 ABC Coffs Coast, 684 ABC Mid North Coast and 738 ABC North Coast
2 Likes
That’s gold!!! 
1 Like
Interesting to hear that Coffs ABC services are getting that far north. Does the same thing happen with the Coffs commercials ( Hit105.5/106.3 TripleM)? When I went on a recent trip it seemed the Coffs commercials would start to fade between Grafton and Maclean ( could have been the quality of my hire cars aerial too).
I did get them quite clearly at the Byron Bay lighthouse though
2 Likes
THe Coffs commercials are just barely audible at my location. Slight troppo improves the signal but not a lot. The frequencies are also shared with Rockhampton ABCs that also come in when there is enhancement.
2 Likes