They are not much better south.
They fade north of Port Macquarie on the highway and are pretty much gone by Kew.
On the coastline, they are better, they can be received in elevated parts of Forster still.
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Though technically, 684 is Kempsey based and 738 is Grafton based; each market is distinct in commercial radio terms. Itās true that all three are pretty much local signals in Coffs, though.
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Late to this and wrong thread I know, but Iām sure itās been discussed here before (maybe by one of the BOG techs) that 4GYās TX is very sick and running on well below licenced power. I sat with a portable on Mooloolaba beach a while back and it was faint even there, and at night here in Brisbane I can receive ABC Wagin WA over it.
To get back to topic, the frequency allocations of the Noosa translators are all over the shop and need a tidy up for sure. I donāt think sharing 102.5 between Mt Goonaneman and Doonan is a feasible outcome.
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Absolutely agree.
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I donāt know whatās going to Happen with the Spectrum, But if the FM Band ever Expands, Every Single AM Transmitter thatās not used for DRM will shut down.
I really donāt think that will ever happen. With radio already on the decline there would just be far too many issues with getting enough compatible receivers into the population. Weād end up with worse coverage options than we have with AM and DAB+. And thatās assuming it were to happen now, but in reality it would take close attention years and years for ACMA/Government to consult/decide/implement, plus then years to even try to get some sort of take up.
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Iām not really sure what you are basing this on, but itās certainly not based on fact.
Radio is evolving from AM/FM to digital and streaming, and audiences are fragmenting however radio still remains strong.
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Well that will throw a spanner in the works for Perth FM replanning since there are no slots allowed for that. Hmm, but if I recall didnāt Melbourne already run of available FM slots? So where will this Double J FM station find space?
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The ACMA has to Replan the Former VHF Channels 0-2 and 5A for maybe an Expansion of FM Radio in order for Double J to move to FM.
As I said back in the Triple J thread. In regional areas, use the frequencies already occupied by ABC Classic and convert them into Double J with the exception of 101.9 Batemans Bay which should be converted to Triple J due to that area having a lack of Triple J frequency (unless you count reception of 98.9 Illawarra or even 100.1 Brown Mountain)
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i think a number of markets are already struggling to find more FM slots. I think the opposition should maybe focus more on increasing DAB penetration and extending access to digital radio across regional markets rather than add further congestion to the FM band.
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I feel as though the costs of expanding Double J to FM, along with the challenges that come from our woefully planned FM band, mean that ACMA would be much better served from using those funds to expand ABC/SBS DAB+ into larger regional areas.
That would achieve the goal of further widespread terrestrial coverage and provide more options for regional radio listeners across a diverse range of tastes as well as serving those listeners who want Double J to have wider coverage.
Edit: I see Iām not the only one with the same thoughts 
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I agree, especially extending FM to the regions and providing more choice for listeners. Mandurah on the outskirts of Perth has two local commercial FM stations, Bunbury which is a true regional areas only has the one (and that is the nationalised Hit network). Quite unfair really.
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If you were going to expand the FM band you would start with the space occupied by Channel 3 thatās not already part of the FM band (85-87.5 MHz) Then you would look at 76-85 MHz. The reason is that Japan already uses this band (they use 76-95 MHz), and other countries (e.g. Brazil) have expanded their FM band to include 76-88 MHz while Japan has expanded into the FM band that most other countries use (was 76-90 MHz in the past). However, there are currently users of 76-85 MHz in Australia who would have to move elsewhere.
Channel 2 (63-70 MHz) covers part of the OIRT FM band (65.9-74 MHz) used in much of Eastern Europe and Mongolia before the collapse of the soviet union. But those countries have adopted the 87.5-108 MHz band although some stations still remain in this band in some countries.
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I agree that they should focus on bringing DAB+ into regional areas. Although there is only one commercial broadcaster in many areas (albeit with two licences), maybe they donāt have to fund the rollout by themselves. What if they leased out capacity to narrowcasters such as racing, country music and religious narrowcasters to help fund such a rollout? Thus there could be three or four commercial users of regional DAB+ multiplexes plus community radio, just like in the state capitals.
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Definitely, would also reckon as an interim first step you could have just the one multiplex (with say 80% for ABC/SBS and the remaining 20% for the commercial services) with that 20% or so capacity being carved out by putting some of the more niche services (especially from SBS) on a bandwidth diet (such as going from say 80kbps to 64kbps).
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It wonāt be on FM in the Metroās as itās on DAB and there are no available FM spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane for high powered FM stations. If a few others were moved around, there could be space for 1-2 in each city but it would be highly unlikely.
I think the artists are wanting Double J to be available on FM in the regions where DAB is not available.
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Thatās also true. Labor, if they win, needs to provide funding in conjunction with CRA, ABC, SBS and the commercial networks to roll out DAB to the large regional centres such as Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Sunshine coast, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Wollongong, Newcastle, Central Coast, Albury-Wodonga, Lismore, Wagga Wagga, Launceston.
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I still think thereās a chance Double J could replace Classic FM in metro areas with Classic continuing on DAB only.
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