In particular, the plans to broadcast Rebel on 97.3 on Fraser Island, and 102.9 in Kilcoy, Idk if a broadcast on the island would work, must been attempting to get the most of their remote license?
The one in Kilcoy interested me, this would have gotten into Caboolture (and most of Moreton Bay) easily, Brisbane would be difficult (due to the DāAguilar Range) also difficult for Sunny Coast (due to the various National Parks and maybe Bald Knob). This would have possibly caused an issue with 102.9 Hot T and DXers attempting to pick it up.
Also, the 100.5 repeater of Zinc is/has been off air, possibly for a fair while (did just notice), while the 97.9 repeater of Hot91.1 is still on air.
100.5 is just buzzing noises, I would love to know what these are tho.
I believe it might have even got as far as a licence being granted for a Rebel service from Eurong on the eastern side of Kāgari, but it would most likely be flea-powered and given the lack of a permanent population there, it might be difficult to make work.
I agree, the Kilcoy one is of real interest, especially if it had the right power and elevation. I wonder if it might ever come to pass?
Kilcoy (likely) got cancelled with no exact reason (maybe overlap?), the list I linked is stated to be no longer updated. It does say a REBEL on 100.5 exists in Kilcoy, but was likely shut down, or never existed in the first place.
As for Fraser (Kāgari), It would have likely just been a very low power repeater of 106.7 REBEL Wide Bay (Childers), there was also an attempt to broadcast The Breeze, also would have likely just been a very low powered TX of what is now 102.5 The Breeze Wide Bay.
The Kilcoy REBEL would be more leagues more feasible compared to on Fraser. IIRC it doesnāt have a main commercial station (too small of a market) but River94.9 gets into town and the region very well. (goes as far as Yarraman from my drives down there).
If it was broadcast from the DāAguilar Range, it would get into Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast quite easily. This could also be why it was cancelled, as they are metro markets, REBEL only being allowed a Remote license.
EDIT: It turns out (as I stated above) Rebel did transmit into Kilcoy (on 100.5), Low power most likely as it would have clashed with 100.5 Zinc retransmitter. Would have shut down a while ago. Most of the sites that said it existed are about 16 years old tho, and one is a road website.
I have picked up 2QN on 106.1 (Deniliquin) which is supposed to be for Hot Country or similarā¦are they doing it in The Chuke as well?
Nice to see someone using Randsyās āExpresswayā site, too
Rebel and Breeze have heaps of transmitters planned that arenāt actually on air. Iām waiting for them to activate those cheeky transmitters on the Mid North Coast; it would make the drive up there much more interesting.
Has anyone been out to Bourke recently? Bourke is in a unique position: in an overlap between Remote NE and Remote Central, hence they get Rebel, Breeze and Flow FM. Iām not sure which of these (if any?) are on air. 2WEB is very much the main player in that part of the world.
Maybe they are waiting for Beechwood to be finalised?
That might give them enough sites to warrant a Mid North Coast feed with Great Lakes, Barrington, Kendall and Beechwood to be fully up and running.
Warrumbungles, Nyngan, Coolah and Coonamble is another one that is interesting. That could be its own Central West feed.
Warrumbungles is 9kw, that would provide good coverage too.
Beechwood is literally right on the doorstep of Wauchope! I think I remember this site being discussed before; the licence was originally at Comboyne which is more āremoteā. Theyād get a nice rimshot into the affluent Port Macquarie market from Beechwood. Ditto for the Great Lakes transmitter and Forster/Tuncurry, and the Camden Haven market for Kendall.
I should be up in that part of the world next month to explore the oft overlooked Comboyne Plateau. Iām sure the Port Macquarie/Taree commercials boom in up there on the elevated plateau.
Correct. 92.5 Moama was also rebroadcasting 2MOR/Edge, as pointed out in the 2022 LAP variation.
The planned Moama HPON service has not been operating as planned for long. Instead, the frequency planned for that HPON service ā 92.5 MHz ā has been utilised to transmit the 2MOR service to Echuca.
Rebel pulled out of Kilcoy because the council initially offered them free to be at their sites.
It was based at the old water tank site near the sale yards heading out of town towards woodford.
However after it was on air and agreements expired the council wanted commercial rates.
As Rebel pulled zero dollars out of Kilcoy and the council turned on them it was easier to just shut it down and pull out of town.
Kilcoy could probably benefit from a community stationā¦ Doubt that will happen.
Sadly for the community the āself helpā Breeze 107.3 & Rebel 104.9 services were closed about a year ago. With the population drop over the 17 years, ageing equipment/infrastructure at the site, and a reducing council rate base to contend with, it was understandably a difficult position for council.
Flow 102.5 never started. The economics for them & council are equally challenging today, especially with two local community stations that receive state/federal government funding.
