Here are some newspaper clips from 1981 (SMH).
One in June 81
This one from Feb 81
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Looking at the guide it was interesting 2ue had music overnight. It was interesting how Triple M had Album Rock 24 hrs. Did they have announcers? Similarly with 2day FM they did not list announcers.
2ka was more acknowledged as its own station.
They were saying there was so many stations on the dial back then. It was stated, people were less loyal back compared to the “old days”. How times have changed. Probably there was more expense into production back then compared with today. Did anyone remember John Singleton on 2ky?
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Great article. I love it when it says that all but three stations have “muddy images”. So many stations in 2020 also have a confused image. I would include Triple M, 2DayFM, Nova and 2SM on that list. 2GB has a more recently muddied image.
Smooth, 702, WS and KIIS have crystal clear images, even if WS (to me) means the same old tracks on repeat for decades.
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2CBA 103.5 is the station that is now Hope 103.2?
Any idea why it shifted 0.3 down the dial?
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I guess it would have been at the same time when 2SER moved from 107.5 to 107.3,
I do remember 2SER on 107.5 but not 2CBA on 103.5.
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I think it’s a typo, as the program guide underneath says 103.2.
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I’ve just found out that apparently it was initially on 103.5 but did shift to 103.2 “due to interference with ABC FM on 92.9”
Someone more technical might be able to explain how 92.9 would interfere with 103.5?
The date that the change happened is unclear.
https://hope1032.com.au/about-us/history/
It seems 2MBS also did a shift from its initial frequency of 92.1 MHz in 1974 to 102.5 MHz in 1977 to allow it to increase its signal strength. Would increasing signal strength on 92.1 have caused problems with NBN3 nearby?
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Yes, it most definitely would. Also, the shift in frequency for 2MBS was only made possible after ABHN in Newcastle shifted from VHF 5 to 5A.
In fact, on a related note, part of the reason on why the AM-FM conversions of two Sydney stations in the early 90s was delayed was because of WIN4 Wollongong occupying the middle part of the FM band. It vacated the VHF 4 frequency in March 1991 after the Ulladulla UHF TV translator had commenced service the month before.
This also prompted ABC FM to change frequency of its Illawarra service from 107.9 to 95.7, and for 2WN to convert to 97.3FM as ABC Illawarra. It also allowed 94.9 Power FM to commence broadcasting, as well as eventually allowing 2WL & 2OO to convert to FM.
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That makes sense. I believe ABHN moved to 5A in February 1977
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2CH in 1976. In my teens I listened mostly to 2SM and a bit of 2UW, so 2CH with a lot of Vegas crooners and instrumentals was of no interest to me.
Source: SMH Google archives
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According to the ABT Annual Report 1978-79, 2CBA shifted to 103.2 not long after they commenced broadcasting in 1979.
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This would make sense because they couldn’t have used 103.5 after 2DAY commenced in 1980. It would have violated the 800 kHz spacing rule, particularly important due to the poor selectivity of most consumer receivers in that era. I know that they were- and still are- only 700 kHz from 2MBS on 102.5, but there is a negligible difference to 800 kHz spacing in my experience. 600 kHz spacing can cause issues on crappy receivers.
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But why not 103.3?
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Apparently that caused issues with Channel 7 I believe?
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Yes; harmonic TV interference.
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They should move back to 103.3 to fit in with the 200 k spacing now that 7 analog is long gone.
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Actually on that subject: Melbourne has Plenty Valley FM on 88.6, plus the late 3WRB/Stereo 97.4. Bulla FM also started on 99.4 before moving to 99.3 as 3NRG (now Sunbury Radio). Wonder why so many stations broke the odd-numbered frequency rule for BSB stations
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That MAY potentially cause issues for 2GCR Goulburn who also uses 103.3.
But they could move to 103.1 - even though this has also been allocated for an SBS relay into Tuggeranong (not yet on air to my knowledge), there’s a few other co-channelled Goulburn/Tuggeranong stations that appear to be co-existing okay.
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Plus you can add the two Rebel Media Frequencies on Mt Tamborine 100.6 & 99.4 from memory
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I suspect having Melbourne metro stations (albeit low power) at 200kHz spacings was simply too close, hence the arrangement of 97.1 Dandenongs, 97.4 Western Suburbs, 97.7 South Eastern Suburbs. Although you do have 97.9 Melton (a bit further out and once probably not considered metro) next to the aforementioned 97.7 and 98.1 Radio Eastern
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