There is a throwaway line in this document, where the ABA made the frequencies available including 1341 as a HPON.
It notes in there that “[In Geelong the ABA has] made open narrowcasting licences available in Geelong on 1341 kHz and 89.3 MHz. The service on 1341 kHz can be made to serve Geelong or Melbourne/Geelong.”
So maybe it’s still following the original 3GL spec, but in theory it was allocated with an intent to service Melbourne from the Geelong transmitter site.
The cynic in me thinks that with 1341 no longer a commercial licence, the fact that decent reception back then could be had both in western Melbourne and across the other side of Port Philip Bay meant the ABA could “promote” the benefits of potentially more choice.
Its ironic that today all commercial licences and HPON licences in Geelong are owned by one company…lucky I’m not Minister for Communications - Geelong is big enough to support another commercial station. I’d be reclassifying 1341 to a commercial licence thereby forcing to Grant’s to divest.
Yeah my understanding was it was the same transmitter site and specs as 3GL had. I was a little young to have listened to 3GL back in the day but I understood it covered metro Melbourne fairly well? A site right on Corio Bay with nothing but a water path to Melbourne should do quite well, except for maybe out north or to the east.
The use as a commercial licence is an interesting though, like 2AY or 4MK have done. But in 2021 do we really think there’d be a strong appetite for a new regional AM licence? I guess maybe one that has fortuitous coverage of Melbourne could be attractive, although for that reason alone it’d be strongly opposed by the existing players, hence why it was probably turned into a narrowcast.
I’ll never understand why a narrowcast license doesn’t count towards the 2 station rule, that not only can a station block out commercial competitors - it can ensure that a narrowcaster is a niche far enough away from something that might even vaguely put them at risk, hence the glut of country music and horse racing stations.
Agreed. I think the original intent of re-auctioning narrowcast licences every 5 years was smart. I would’ve added that the incumbent (or a related party of the incumbent) couldn’t rebid so that there would be a turnover in the operator of narrowcast stations and bringing new energy and freshness.
Does anyone in the Brisbane area know much about Indian radio station Radio Rhythm currently broadcasting on 1638 (new) as well as the usual 1656kHz. Is this a test transmission or a new supplementary parallel outlet?
A quick peek at ACMA licence registrations reveals possible site at Meiers Rd., Long Pocket. Or could the 1638 transmission also be from the 1656kHz site. Any ideas?
I’m not sure about that. 3GL’s transmitter was originally in Grovedale, a southern suburb of Geelong. The signal was okay into Melbourne but nothing special once you got away from the bay.
The current site may have been used by 3GL towards the end before the jump to FM. But it wouldn’t have been for long. It’s a good site for getting across to Melbourne. Would have been even better if it was further towards Portarlington.
Interesting. I had heard many years ago that they broadcast from Grovedale but just presumed the information to be incorrect - you are right that the signal wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good into Melbourne from out there. Do you know more about where abouts they were located? I had been told it might have been somewhere near the library off Heyers Road.
Seems odd that a high-power AM TX site such as that would have been newly constructed for a narrowcaster after 3GL went off-air. But then, it also seems odd that 3GL would have invested in a new TX site knowing an FM conversion was likely imminent. Would love to get to the bottom of that.
Based on signal at my location here in the western suburbs, it would seem 1638 is marginally stronger than 1656 and carrying the same program. So I’d suspect the information is right - 1638 is from Long Pocket and 1656 is from that site near Oxley Creek. No idea about the licence arrangement sorry.
I forgot to check 1341 but as others confirmed, it’s definitely not on air. It wouldn’t surprise me if Vision are interested in it as it would beam into Melbourne well but it would make two natrowcast Christian stations in Geelong with Faith FM on 88.0
That’s right. Heyers Road. But I don’t know exactly where.
I agree! When I have time I’ll go digging around the interwebs to see what is out there. Also when 3GL was at Grovedale it was only a 2kW station and non directional. I think the current location may be 5kW and possibly directional. Been a while since I went past the site but I think it had two sticks.
Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into yet another SEN outlet!
Update: It is 5kW (nice) and directional.
The AMCA licensing DB shows 1638Khz as being from the old 4EB(Now switch 1197) site at Meier Rd Long Pocket and 1656Khz being at Bowhill Rd Willawong, which is just south of Archerfield in the low lying area near Oxley Creek. I don’t have any info on Bowhill Rd but it would have to be small mast being so close to Archerfield airport.
The Long Pocket site was originally 4EB on 1053Khz which later changed to FM and last I listened was a mob called Switch 1197. The transmitter was a Harris MW1 into an old rectangular mast that was originally at the old 4BH site at Banyo which is now 4BC but soon to be 4BH again on 1116Khz.
The Long Pocket tower has a Hill’s clothes hoist on top of it and that dates back to when vandals cut down the 4BH towers at Wondall Rd Wynnum and 4BH temporarily moved to Meiers Rd and went on 882Khz from there. The Hill’s hoist was needed because the mast was too short for 882Khz and need a top hat to make it look like a 1/4 wave length.
AM radio is a dog’s breakfast so its no wonder a lot of listeners have given up on it.
I’m on the east in Brisbane and the 1638 signal is quite good. Can get a clear static free signal with a bit of careful positioning of the radio. 1656 is only about half the strength. Both are listed as 400w.
3GL transmitter is shown in the 1982 melways as being on the corner of Heyers Road and Bieske Road, the site became a library and is now a community centre after the library moved to Waurn Ponds.
There’s RSN in Ballarat on 1314 which I know get on my Transistor Radio
Very impressed of this @Brettski_1234 . Is that from your own Melways?
Online through the uni Melbourne library, most melways are there for free
1638 kHz Brisbane is no longer Radio Rhythm. Simulcasting Switch until another operator is signed.
New LPON on air 87.8 2KA very strong here in Stanhope Gardens. It is more vintage then Vintage fm.
Also River fm is much stronger then usually with full RDS. I wonder if they have started up additional translators between here and Kurrajong Heights.
Website:
They mention 87.6 Lithgow as well. I know 87.6 was vacant in Lithgovia for a long time.
They are apparently testing with all Christmas music ahead of a launch on New Years Day 2022.
