Random Radio

[TV.Cynic]

Continuing this off topic conversation

@TV.Cynic

Of topic, but I sometimes wonder whether the power of Australian FM stations could be reduced especially in crowed markets and that might allow more stations on the band. Do the commercial stations in Sydney really need to be 150 Kw ERP. Do ABC stations in Coffs Harbour or Mt Dowe need to be so strong that they block stations using those frequencies in SEQ?

AFAIK the commercial stations in London are 4Kw ERP (could be wrong though). You also see similar things in some US cities. NYC stations are 6.7 kW etc from Empire State Bldg. Even the large LA market that is difficult to service because of all the canyons etc has KOST on 11.5 Kw, KCBS 27.5 Kw.

Question for those in the know.

How is it that the original KIIS FM manages to cover the huge city of Los Angeles with 8Kw ERP. Yet in Sydney KIIS has an ERP of 150kW.

The Los Angeles basin is quite difficult in some areas to reach with many narrow canyons but FM signals seem to manage to get to most areas. Is it all a matter of HAAT? Becasue Mt Wilson is such a good place to transmit from compared to the Sydney transmitters?

Also note in NYC that the Empire State Building seems a good location with WCBS FM for example with an ERP of 6.7KW when from that site (back up sites seem to have higher powers).

[Weeman88]

In 5 words or less, “You got it dude!” - very much HAAT factors from my experience around LA and the Inland Empire (i.e. San Bernardino and points east towards Palm Springs and west towards Riverside and LA). By the way Radio Discussions forums is your friend for an encyclopaedia of knowledge (going back some years) on these topics.

[Radiohead]

And an equally off-topic reply, I’m amazed there IS something the Yanks use metric for!

[Vidiot]

Mt Wilson is more than 5,000 feet high, whereas the site in Sydney is much lower. I think Artarmon is only about 100 to 120 metres elevation, or less than 400 feet.

That gets factored into the ERP permissible, except for some grandfathered stations that are allowed to run much higher ERPs.

But KIIS in LA has trouble getting a decent signal into places along the coast from Santa Monica to Malibu. And places inland like Santa Clarita. So not all good!

[Nicholas_Whitrod]

What are the most popular internet only radio stations in Melbourne?

[Nicholas_Whitrod]

How safe would it be to have the commercial FM stations in Melbourne 600kHz apart rather than 800kHz? I want to allocate space to allow for 3KND to convert to FM

[Brianc68]

@Nicholas_Whitrod

How safe would it be to have the commercial FM stations in Melbourne 600kHz apart rather than 800kHz? I want to allocate space to allow for 3KND to convert to FM

The ACMA won’t even entertain it, because it would mean work for them.

[Radiohead]

Now in Paris. Did an FM bandscan earlier, much better reception than in London, virtually all RDS, voiceovers, sweepers are in French, but a fair bit of English language music aired with RT info, example below

And they have their own Nova!

[ozbark]

Flow FM 2024 Coverage Map

I count 30 FM transmitters now on air.
Also there appears to be a frequency error on the map as according to ACMA, White Cliffs transmitter is registered as being on 105.1MHz.
I think White Cliffs would be the most remote NSW BCB listed FM station.

[ozbark]

The new September 2024 edition ACMA Radio & TV Station List is now available.

https://www.acma.gov.au/list-transmitters-licence-broadcast

[tvcl]

Still missing the various stations from last time :. Like 2RSR, 2PNN Gosford and 2BL/T Gosford. 2LIV’s back though.

[Nicholas_Whitrod]

So are there no more radio stations in Australia on 1368 AM?

[Nicholas_Whitrod]

What AM radio stations in Australia regularly play modern music (e.g. 2000-now)?
I have heard new music being played on 3KND in Melbourne on the AM band.
Are there any others?

[TV.Cynic]

ANother station regularly missing is 94.1 Cherbourg

[Radiohead]

4AK 1242 Toowoomba is the only one I can think of.

[Radiohead]

@ozbark

White Cliffs transmitter is registered as being on 105.1MHz

That used to be an SBS self help there.

[Brianc68]

@Radiohead

4AK 1242 Toowoomba is the only one I can think of.

Yep that’s about it I think. Maybe community station 1197 in Brisbane, not even sure what it’s called these days.

[AustralianAerial]

Has gone back to the Switch name.

[gordo92]

@Radiohead

4AK 1242 Toowoomba is the only one I can think of.

4AK is classed as been part of the SRN FM network, despite been on AM

[Brianc68]

@gordo92

@Radiohead

4AK 1242 Toowoomba is the only one I can think of.

4AK is classed as been part of the SRN FM network, despite been on AM

They do have an FM repeater in Warwick and Stanthorpe though?