Hmm, I think I might put in a submission against this.
Whilst I’m all for making radio reception better, I think this will more benefit BOG rather than the listener, & it’ll just clog up the FM band more.
I don’t think it’s what it seems, & if they do what they should, & replace the ground radials around the mast that has deteriorated (not due to the highway passing through the site either), then they’d be in a better situation.
If they get this up, ACMA should also grant translators at the same site, for similar reasons for the ABC AM services & SBS AM.
The thing is though, around the Belmont North, Floraville, Jewels area, where this would serve the greatest, the FM’s from Mt Sugarloaf are far more difficult to receive, than the Newcastle AM services including 2HD.
The DTV translator at this proposed site was installed due to poor reception from Mt Sugarloaf, the FM’s are in the same boat as TV, so they should get a translator here too.
I drive Belmont to Sydney every day, & can say that while 2HD is reasonably poor from Blacksmiths, & South, it is receivable to a listenable standard all the way to Sydney, & even receivable in parts of Sydney during the daytime, because the deteriorated radials let the signal “float” over the local licence area, & land further afield.
When I’m traveling pre-dawn, 2HD gets hammered moderately by 4HI Emerald, from around Belmont South, but this is negated as I travel further South, & 2HD comes good again around the Sparks Rd interchange on the M1 (F3), which is outside the Newcastle licence area, & about where the Newcastle FM’s start to drift into obscurity.
The Port Stephens FM translator is easily received at the 2HD studios at Sandgate & up into Maitland, it’s also receivable in & around Newcastle city, this Southern translator would cover the Southern half of the RA1 area, meeting the Southern edge of the PS translator, giving 2HD a full coverage quasi FM service around Newcastle.
