Narrowcast and AM Narrowband Radio

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1630

NOTE: This next post is very lengthy, and contains a bit of technical information about FM frequencies and the areas these stations serve, in addition to which areas I reckon should have some 3GL FM coverage. This is just an opinion, feel free to disagree with anything mentioned here in this post if you reckon the following areas should just stick with the 1341 AM frequency.

They were launched sometime last year on FM (before the 3GL test transmissions began) and were broadcasting as West Coast Oldies, which played 50s and 60s music. At the time, the 1341 AM frequency was still off-air. Turns out, following the launch of 3GL at the start of April this year, they’re now essentially just relay translators of the 1341 AM frequency, but in crisp clear FM stereo. And, 3GL have added some 70s tracks now too which is nice.

I will also point out that some areas of Geelong don’t have a 3GL operating on FM, like Waurn Ponds and Belmont, and not every household has an AM receiver. Cars are also another thing, with car manufacturers beginning to ditch the old AM option from newer cars they make, so maybe Geelong Broadcasters (the owner and operator of the station) should maybe install a 3GL (LPON) FM translator in those areas.

87.6 FM - Waurn Ponds
87.8 FM - Belmont

While parts of Belmont can get 87.6 FM from Geelong CBD with ease, most sections of the area won’t have a good amount of coverage, and even if you do, you get a mix of two 3GLs, one from Geelong CBD, and the other is from another surrounding area in Geelong, so there’s interference present, don’t know where the other one is coming from, but it is on a 5-10 second delay when I received it one time as a weak signal, possibly from near Moolap or Barwon Heads, though I’m not exactly sure. As for Waurn Ponds, there’s no 3GL FM presence in the area.

The 87.8 FM signal is very much vacant in the Belmont area, Faith FM operates a repeater in Norlane (14 mins away), and Kiss FM operates a repeater in Ceres (8 mins away), so there would be no interference if a transmitter is placed in the correct spot. Currently the Belmont area gets a mix of Faith FM (Norlane) and Kiss FM (Ceres) with a lot of interference, and at very weak levels. Those few minute away stations are very low on transmission power, Kiss FM from Ceres operates on 1 watt (just like all the 3GL LPON FM translators do), and as for the Faith FM translator in Norlane, not sure if they’re on 1 watt power either, maybe a bit more? Please confirm.

Please let me know the full list of areas that are served by 3GL on the FM band, so then I know what to list here if I forgot any townships.

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1631

Now that I can get a reliable signal of KIX Country Wollongong on 105.3 on the new TVCL3 TEF server, I note that they run local Illawarra ads. Do they have localisation in all their markets? Since it looks like some of the markets they serve are pretty small. Is it just ads that they localise?

I tried looking for a list of frequencies on their website but couldn’t find one. You’d think that’d be basic information to include on a radio station website :sweat_smile:.

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1632

I reckon it very much is just the ads that are localised.

Example: On 89.3 FM in Geelong, there is an ad for Geelong 4WD and Camping, but that was when I was listening to KIX there once in the hope for some advertising. Whether or not they still air that ad, I don’t know, but I’ll have to listen to KIX again and keep an ear out for what ads are on there now.

As for Geelong 4WD and Camping, their ad was played plenty of times in the first few weeks (possibly months) of 3GL’s official return to the air on 1341 AM. I don’t hear it on there anymore now. Nowadays it’s very much just the ad feed from bay93.9 and K-Rock 95.5 broadcast on 3GL.

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1633

3GL comes in reasonably well here into Sydney. From my SDR:

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1634

Also, just filling in the distance field for my non-RDS station list for my TVCL3 server – which transmitter is the River FM likely coming from? There’s a whole bunch of transmitters on 87.6 in Western Sydney so I’m not sure which one it’d be in. I’m in the southern suburbs.

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1635

KIX Country Frequencies: Our Network - Kix Country

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1636

Thamks for that. I was looking on the ‘Listen’ page but didn’t find it there.

Interesting on that page it says “Streaming in 22 regions nationally”. Shouldn’t it be “broadcasting” or “transmitting” rather than “streaming” since they’re talking about their AM/FM/DAB transmitters?

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1637

Nice! I’d have thought Newcastle would overpower it in Sydney but that’s excellent reception. Here in Brisbane it’s mostly Newcastle on 1341 with a bit of 3GL audible in the background at times.

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1638

Perhaps it means that divide the stations into 23 regions that can each have customised advertising?

Another thing I wondered about is why they have iHeart Country on DAB+ in some places (e.g. Melbourne) and online, despite already having KIX Country (including on DAB+ in Perth and Canberra)? Couldn’t they just leverage KIX Country?

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1639

It would appear that Sydney’s RAW FM has had a brand refresh with new imaging and the moniker of “The new RAW FM” and now announcing the frequency of 88.0 which they are still advertising as on air in Newcastle, the Central Coast & the Northern Beaches while 87.6 is being advertised on the website for Sydney’s North Shore with these being the only remaining licences after flogging the rest off.

It sounds like the lights are on and someone is home with comedy shorts interspersed amongst the usual ads for Finnegan’s hotel (although I do miss the ads for Canberra’s Mooseheads) which is a nice change from the previous iPod on shuffle.

More Urban songs have also been noted in the log.

Definitely an improvement since DJ Fuel left.

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1640

And the new website here:

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1642

AC 87.8 Fairfield (Sydney) is sounding very weak at the moment re signal strength. :thinking:

1643

just in case anyone wants to hear NC-3GL, my post from half-a-year ago:

No direct stream but you can listen here:

http://sdr-amradioantennas.com:8074/

Click to start, click on the frequency box and enter 1341 and hit enter. Click “AM” for the full bandwidth. These SDR radios are pretty slick.

Map for world SDR (receivers) (not all are broadcast Medium Wave):

https://rx-tx.info/map-sdr-points

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1644

Vintage FM is now back in Penrith & Hawkesbury on 87.8 as of December 1. Since 2021, it had only been available in the Macarthur region (Camden/Campbelltown) on 88.7.

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1645

I’m guessing this is in place of Noise FM from presumed Bowen Mt & Mount Riverview sites?

I wonder if Vintage FM is using RDS & stereo from the new transmitters? :thinking:

Someone closer may care to verify?

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1646

Is the 88.7 a HPON?

1647

No, it’s an LPON.

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1648

I drove through Penrith last night, they were playing The Reels “According To My Heart” (one for the Did They Really Play That thread :rofl:
) No RDS was coming through and from what I could tell, it was mono, although when listening online Vintage FM Listen Live - 87.8 MHz FM, Penrith, Australia | Online Radio Box they do stream in stereo.

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1649

MW HPONS can transmit 9khz audio just like a commercial AM service. (18K0A3E)

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1650

Can somewhat answer this question with some observations while driving up the Calder this morning.

87.8 Mount Macedon is active running a dance music format - can’t get any IDs, but I assume given Safi’s background it’s not related to Kiss FM? Ping @TheChase who may know more.

Vision 87.6 Woodend and 88.0 Kyneton were noted with stereo pilots - I suspect these may also have RDS but for the time being have no way of checking. Might need to splurge on a TEF? 88.0 Elphinstone, 87.6 Castlemaine and 87.8 Harcourt all on air, but mono only.

No sign of Faith FM’s 88.0 Woodend service on air, and neither was 87.6 Kyneton (licensed to the local Uniting Church)

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