So what happens to Rete Italia on 1593 in Melbourne and 1539 in Sydney come 6.00pm on Friday?
They just vanish from the airwaves in Australia’s two largest cities? Are they hoping that everyone will find them online or on the app?
The licence was only approved last week (22 June). It will broadcast from Mount Nebo which is the big hill west of Figtree. It will probably only cover Wollongong and its immediate surrounds as a result. The need to minimise co-channel interference with 2GLF would have been a prime consideration here.
Il Globo/Rete Italia must have a bit of clout to be able to request a new HPON allocation seemingly at will, a’la Lion FM in Melbourne which is going back a fair while now.
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Yes I thought that. I looked at the topography northward earlier & thought that only parts of SE Sydney, eg Kurnell & South Coogee would have any chance of weak reception.
Yes I thought that West Brunswick suburb name looked familiar re Gumnut Nominees. Same address, just different company name.
Really surprised me too that a HPON licence could be created, as you say; ‘seemingly at will’
Rete Italia must be expecting to get the station on air very soon if it’s already listed on their website.
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That’s a seriously smart move from them if that’s the case - sell the expensive AM site/frequency to the Melbourne upstarts then get back on air quickly through a cheap, low-powered FM HPON.
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Vision Christian Radio is now on air in Brisbane 1620kHz. (ex Rete Italia)
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@ozbark, when was the first day/night you noticed this?
1620 in Brisbane from a commercial nursery in Chandler has been silent what seems like a few months.
On air with Italian programming on the weekend and Monday.
Back in Bris Thu morn and flicking through the hire car radio, the Italian programming has been replaced by Vision.
The signal is significantly lower. The 1620 program is at least one sentence ahead of 1053.
Vision invested heavily in 1053, city wide letterbox flyers when it began, along with the AM costs. If it’s technically possible to combine a third TX at the BA Tingalpa site, Vision should pay to remain there as the Tinxhbourne Street 1620 site isn’t anywhere near replicating the 1053 signal. A tough ask with ERP 100w less and the ex BK mast at Tingalpa may not be suitable for 1620.
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Yeah there always was a massive difference in signal between the 2 when I lived in Brisbane, couldn’t even hear 1620 in most parts of Brisbane on my receiver, but 1053 was always strong… but then again 1053 is much closer to the city and a much much better engineered site
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Hi @crankymedia I didn’t get to try 1620 on July 1st unfortunately. First noticed VCR on July 2nd mid morning. I guess July 1st would be an obvious start date…?
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the notificiation i got form vsiion was 1620 was planned “early july”
With SEN Track now on in Melbourne seeming the Signal on 1593 is Stronger than the Mornington Peninsula Targeted 1377, How will Crocmedia feel now they’ve moved SEN Track to 1593?
I’d say Crocmedia/PSN has done well out of this deal.
Both sites are licensed for 5kw. 1593 is still based at the Italian club in O’Herns Road, Epping which should, at least in theory, have better coverage over much of metropolitan Melbourne than the 3MP site has. I’d be curious to know how far east/south-east the 1593 signal gets; unsurprisingly, it does much better out west than 3MP ever did
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having said that, one can receive 3MP in Cairns but not 1593khz (I could receive Asia on 1593 in the clear with no co-channel QRM.
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Still very much the same, particularly if you’re not east of the city. 1053 covers most of metro Brisbane fairly well, 1620 gets quite weak out west or north, but is still there on a good radio.
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I feel for the poor nonnas who now can’t listen to Rete Italia 
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Yes my grandpa (nonna) use to listen all the time. His hearing is not so good now being 98 so unfortunately he may not notice when SEN takes over. My other 98 yo grandma (other side of the family) regularly listens to 2ch , she can still hear a bit. Hopefully 2ch can keep on going.
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It’s easier to receive here in South Gippsland, and that’s on a crappy Kmart radio sitting on the window.
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@NDY 1593 is easier to receive in South Gippy than 1377? Wow.
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Yeah I know right, crazy.
3MP & Magic have became scratchy in the towns around here since I was last ever tuning into them about 3 years ago. Just driving around town today I couldn’t get 3MP very clearly. 3NE still as clear as ever, though.
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Driving between Wonthaggi and Inverloch yesterday, 3MP was definitely better than Magic1278 and clear enough. The signal was however dropping as I headed towards Fish Creek.
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Seams like 1656 Radio Rhythm Brisbane off air.
Has anybody heard any gossip re the disappearance.
I note their Bris Facebook page has changed their frequency from 1665 to the new 1656.
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