The official launch of Sea FM & Mix Noosa appeared to have been today at or likely before 10am this morning August 1st according to the Tech Guy’s FB page post this morning with video of the launch.
3 Likes
Wow. Are they branding it this way on-air? Or are they just using generic, “MixFM” and “SeaFM” on-air imaging?
And what is the reason for this additional frequency? I thought 92.7FM and 91.1FM were rather clear in Noosa.
On their websites & socials, I noticed they’ve dropped any mention of their frequencies in their logos.
3 Likes
In car reception is fine, but I think you’d struggle with indoor reception, particularly given how built up is there now and there are a few moderate hills too… It’s 47 km straight line from the main Bald Knob TX site and only 10 kw, so I think the need for relays is understandable…
I’m just surprised they’ve taken them so long to get them on air, since both SEA and MIX have been on air for over 30 years now.
4 Likes
If you want to listen, check my webserver http://1.156.163.5:8080/ and tap on the play button
2 Likes
I imagine it was in the too hard/expensive basket for a long time, but with new owners (although it’s been a just over 2 years now) they figured it was worth the effort and expense to be able to sell Noosa specific ads.
Interesting to note that based on @Rob2144’s SDR the Noosa signals are a few seconds ahead of the main signals from Bald Knob.
3 Likes
Yes in my experience Noosa struggled a little bit with the main signals, particularly indoors. In fact driving up the Sunshine Motorway (as opposed to the Bruce Hwy) they’d start to get a little bit patchy approaching Noosa even in the car.
5 Likes
It’s a great development for the Sunshine Coast and especially Noosa. 5 relays for Noosa is pretty darn good. If GSL Media and ARN or ABC bring DAB to the Sunny Coast, it will be even better.
2 Likes
Worth mentioning that 4GY’s relay is unlistenable - it’s direct off AM with a terrible whistle that cuts out every few seconds.
7 Likes
Finally fixed!
1 Like
How does it sound now? Clear mono, or do they have a proper stereo feed with separation on left/right channels?
1 Like
Question for those in the know. Whats the power output of the main commercial FM transmitters in Sydney? I know the ERP is 150kw but that’s the result of antenna gain. Essentially I’m after the transmitter power and the antenna gain in dB to get to the desired ERP. I’m trying to do some more accurate computer generated coverage maps with the information. Thanks in advance.
2 Likes
Spoke too soon - has gone back to AM relay.
3 Likes
What is it with that 4GY relay? So many technical issues. And rebroadcasting the AM off air signal? Bet it’s a KMart clock radio plugged into bad audio processor.
4 Likes
I think I recall @anon71206228 stating that ARN and SCA use a 20kw TX at Artarmon, So that must be 7.5 kw into the TX.
Nope it’s a ELAN Off-air receiver and uses the built in processing on their TX
2 Likes
Correct, both ARN and SCA at Artarmon have 20kw TX’s for each service
4 Likes
Artarmon commercial FM’s each run at 20kW transmitter power for 150kW ERP, antenna gain varies across the band & also across Vertical & Horizontal polarisation, rough antenna gain averaging it all is 12dBd with approx. 1.5dB losses in cable & combiners.
Work it out at that & you’ll be close but not entirely accurate, it’s a directional array too, but in reality you could say it’s almost Omni-directional.
4 Likes
Not sure how or where you came up with the 7.5kW figure, the 4 commercial stations at Artarmon run 20kW into the antenna each, for 150kW ERP each.
There’s 80kW of transmitter power goes into the main FM antenna at Artarmon.
1 Like
Agree, even towards the Central Coast where I think the specs are only 25kw ERP, there never seems to be any real variation in reception anywhere north of Sydney.
Not like with Newcastle towards the Central Coast, where there is a sharp drop off in reception near the Doyalson interchange on the M1, or at Forresters Beach, where 20kw becones 2kw.
2 Likes
Thanks for that. Do you happen to know the transmitter specs for the DTV and DAB as well (TX Power and antenna gain/loss)?
1 Like