Yes, KIIS went back to the main antenna overnight.
I’m not sure how they’ll work it, will depend on reception complaints mainly I’d say, it’ll be much cheaper for them to run on the side-mount antenna electricity wise at lower power, but don’t know how they’re going to play it at this stage?
So, I did a trip up to the Gold Coast (For the first time) and did a bit of a listen to the offerings.
I have to say there is a good variety of music stations to catch folks from all persuasions.
You have your old gen stations like, 89.3 4CRB (which I heard in a few shops) and 94.1FM.
A good mix with 102.9 Hot Tomato, Juice 107.3 (Which was also on in a couple of shops) and The Breeze.
Then your rock stations Rebel 99.4 and 92.5 Triple M*, plus Top40 with Sea FM.
*Rock music not guaranteed.
105.7 Radio Metro does a good job catering for the youth community and is unique being a dance format.
The only stations doing local advertising that I saw was Hot Tomato (On bus shelters) and Rebel 99.4 (On a side of a bus).
I also liked how Hot Tomato was promoting their drive show as the “Only Live and Local drive show” which I’m sure 4CRB, Juice and Radio Metro would contest 
.
I was able to pop in and say hi to the Radio Metro guys who were quite friendly, No-one was at home at Juice 107.3 which I thought wasn’t good for a community station, and Hot Tomato where happy to give out some merch, I missed SCA and the others as I ran out of time.
I thought the mix on Hot Tomato was quite good, and Rebel is what I would wish Triple M to be more like, and Radio Metro reminds me of what Switch 1197 could have been/was.
Photos:
Radio Metro:
Hot Tomato:
This Hot Tomato art work in the lobby:
Juice 107.3:
I don’t think Juice even has any presenters (Besides the programs produced by CMAA)?
If so, I wonder how on earth they managed to get a licence serving a population of that size with no local presenters?
They used to be live and local, but it’s been downhill for some time now.
Downhill? Running out of juice perhaps?
As an aside, I picked up all of the above stations incl Juice 107.3 OTT of 2BBB from my west Dorrigo spot.
It doesn’t take much to get something over 2BBB on 107.3… their signal is very local… at least before the new TX with RDS was installed last year. I was amazed last year when I picked it up with RDS in Coffs Harbour South . Could never get it on the highway before that.
Also that MAX FM Taree has a weak signal north (where it is only 1kw)… it is gone by the Oxley Hwy turnoff west of Port Macquarie.
Yes, but still neat to observe within 2BBB’s coverage area. I tried to get 4SBS Toad City over the main 2BBB on 93.3 but couldn’t do it.
2BBB on 93.3 has a much better signal… with RDS into Port Macquarie is permanent.
Yep, clear even at my friend’s place down in a gully on the southern side of Port. Though my car radio can’t decode the FFFF PI code from 2BBB…
At least you got a 2WAY suitcase!
Yes the Gold Coast does have a good selection of formats on radio for the size of its market.
It’s easily the best radio market for music outside the capitals.
I wonder if Jazz FM or Station X might make a comeback if Juice were to fold. That would be interesting!
In Melbourne at the moment, Fox 101.9 & Triple M 105.1 back to full/normal signal. KIIS 101.1 still on the alternative site by the looks of it. 3RRR 102.7 appears to be on reduced power, and 3PBS 106.7 appears to be on VERY reduced power, would be interesting to know just how low.
Actually looking at their (3PBS) standby transmitter antenna height being only 45m, that could explain it.
Yes I believe Fox & Triple M are back at Ornata Rd site, works on the main FM antenna are half finished but work has been halted temporarily as SCA want full availability over the weekend for football coverage. ARN probably are still at Observatory Rd, no reason for them to go back to Ornata. As for the others, yes I think they are quite low power as there’s some major works going on with them too.
@dxnerd send them an email or phone call & explain to them the problem with their RDS PI code. I’m sure they would appreciate the feedback & I’m sure they won’t bite… It’s a wonder @Mechsta hasn’t alerted them of that issue by now, even if it’s only a smaller % of vehicles that wont decode PI with FFFF
FWIW 98.1 in Melbourne also uses FFFF, and 92.3 uses 0000.
Yes, that’s one station ‘we’ or someone still needs to get time to notify them (3ECB) of that problem.
Great observation. 
That’s obviously 3ZZZ you’re referring too. That’s new news for me that they are back on air with RDS as I’ve never had RDS from 92.3 at the times I’ve visited Melbourne. Years ago it was reported on air with RDS with a PI of 84DC.
BTW @melb_mateyy0 is there any other RDS data such as the PS, PTY, RT info being output from 92.3?
I was just looking at the ACMA RRF & I can see that there are Main & Standby transmitters at BAI TX site that 3ZZZ transmit from on 92.3MHz.
I might postulate, given your earlier posting, that they are currently using a RDS capable standby transmitter now or alternatively have a new transmitter with either having a default RDS PI code of 0000.
If it was a TXA maintained site @anon71206228 might have been able to enlighten us further.
It does look indeed like a very minimal output of only PS & RT. I would assume that regardless of transmitter, RDS would be accessible from the studio/building, but I could be wrong and you could be onto something. I know who does all the work for ZZZ in regards to the studios but I haven’t bumped into him for a while, if it’s not resolved by the next time I do, I’ll have to remember to mention it, as well as ask about 3ECB.
