Excellent news, thanks @Informer
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Test transmissions normally last for around 7 days I wonder If all converted ABC Radio services will be conducting testing & going to air at the same time.
Test transmission times can vary greatly. The only experience I have is in and around Melbourne from 1989-2005.
Generally new stations (like Nova) had continuous test transmissions for a few weeks before launch.
Existing stations converting to FM (like 3KZ/Gold 104) had irregular short test transmissions over a 4-6 week period, then went on-air permanently the evening before, and started simulcasting around midnight. Test transmissions could consist of recorded music with or without announcements, different test tones or just a single test tone.
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So what will the ACMA and its master the CRA now do about the 91.3 MHz and 104.9 MHz which were supposed to be filled by 6PR and 6iX? Surely there needs to be a plan to plug these up before new management at the ACMA has the bright idea of a new commercial FM station for Perth? There are just so many HPON and Community Stations you can sustain, just look at what happened to 6EBAFM.
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Could probably let the existing stations continue to broadcast on them Iād say
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The ABC reception help website has been updatedā¦. 720am and 810am will be closed on April 6, after a 6 week AM and FM simulcast. 585am will continue.
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Oooh, Iām heading to Perth on 10th Aprilā¦ I wonder if thereāll still be a retune loop after 6thā¦ eg. ā720 ABC Perth is now 102.5ā¦ ā etc or if that will be it.
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Possibly! The 720am licence assignment states -
āStation 2 ceases to be available for a national broadcasting service 8 weeks after the first day on which a national broadcasting service is transmitted Station 1.ā
So maybe a 2 week retune loop.
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6IX canāt increase in power due to the close proximity to 6WB Katanning on 1071AM. Any increase would have forced WB to move frequencies.
Just came across this:
Some interesting comments. The FM coverage map (in solid blue) is smaller than the AM coverage map (in red outline). This is surprising (or is it)?. The main concern are those east of Perth Hills losing access to ABC Perth on AM when that is used as the emergency radio network. Isnāt there a local ABC in those areas for that purpose? Otherwise shades of 3G shutdown and 000 calls failing in the regions.
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Whatās the coverage of 585kHz like around Perth and surrounds? Would that suffice as a backup in times of emergency (ie shift the local radio program onto that when needed)?
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I would have thought thereād be enough distance between the 2 to minimise any issues (250 km) as here in Newcastle we have a 10kw omni directional 1233 ABC less than 150 km from 2RPH in Western Sydney
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Yes that came to mind as the obvious replacement for emergency servicess access, and more important for that than keeping 585 kHz just for parliamentary broadcasts. And wide reach fo 6PB beyond Perth also makes more sense (than 6WF) as a truly national station. Maybe they can get 6PB to use the transmitter facilities (and frequency) of 6WF?
In my experience, 684 from Busselton has a good signal into coastal suburbs, whilst 531 Dalwallinu might be okay for the Swan Valley?
It does the job but if you are driving up the freeway where there are overhead powerlines for the train network itās just shithouse.
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More ABC Perth FM details released yesterday morning by Mark Gibson.
Frequency - 102.5FM 
When - February 23 at 7.20AM
New phone number TBA
New SMS number TBA
Outside broadcast from Perth City on the day.
Albo said last time he was in Perth, heāll be back on the 23rd to open the station.
First song on FM requests where taken on SMS. Most of the 102.5 KCR retune loop tracks where mentioned! A top 5 listener vote will happen closer to the date.
On that note, 102.5 KCR has gone dark last week, along with 103.3 MAC FM. 102.3 and 102.9 Lancelin are also off.
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Surprised the opening time isnāt 10.25am 
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The old analogue TV audio carrier noise between GWN and ABC South West used to be on 102.25
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720 is am band great choice IMO
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Gone 13 years ago nowā¦time flies! 102.5 KCR used to be the hardest to hear in Bunbury through the analogue TV buzz.
I wonder what happens next? Maybe the Triple M regional WA AM network might be next to get frequencies allocated. Then Bunbury can finally be a beneficiary of all this vacated analogue TV spectrum.
10.20am eastern time! 
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