150MHz+ community radio?

[VK2GOM]

I was sat in the Aldi car park this morning waiting for my XYL to do her shopping thing, so amused myself by having a scan on my /M radio.

Starting at just above 150MHz, FM, are a whole bunch of what sounds like community radio stations with music, interviews etc. all in various languages. I would guess Mandarin, Punjab, and what sounded like Russian or something similar.

This is in downtown Penrith, and most of the stations were S9+ so quite local.

Are these legal radio stations, or some sort of community pirate radio stations to cater for the immigrant minorities?

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK4OX]

Hi Rob,

I've had Arabic droning on for ages on abt 152MHz and another station on abt 151.6MHz Sounds Chinese but not sure, maybe Vietnamese or Tai..

73, Adrian. VK4OX.

[VK3HY]

Hi Rob & Adrian

They will almost certainly be licensed Broadcasting Narrowband Area Service stations. There are a number of these stations in the 150MHz band. They are 16k0F3E 83W EIRP Vertical pol. stations usually owned and operated by various ethnic groups. Most of these broadcasters in the Melbourne area operate from two-way radio comm sites with program fed by VOIP or radio links.

Some of the operators sell special receivers to their customers. I once asked the operator of a Greek NB broadcast service how it was going - he saaid that the old people were very interested but the younger Greeks were more lilkely to be listening to Triple M or similar so I guess these stations might 'fade' away eventually.

Gavin, VK3HY

[VK3YE]

Some of the operators sell special receivers to their customers. I once asked the operator of a Greek NB broadcast service how it was going - he saaid that the old people were very interested but the younger Greeks were more lilkely to be listening to Triple M or similar so I guess these stations might 'fade' away eventually.

This is probably due to the Greeks in Australia being an ageing community. Many of the original migrants who came after WWII are now in their senior years and many of their grandchildren know life in no other country.

The future of 150 MHz narrowcasting depends on the extent to which younger groups like Somalis, Afghans, Chinese, Indians etc take it up; satellite TV or internet radio may be more appealing.

The ACMA database can be useful.

[VK6ZFG]

There is a number of channels around 151MHz that can be licenced for narrowcasting.

Some years ago I set up a transmitter at PMH fo Children for Radio Lollipop to be able to transmit their program content to childrens wards to a number of other Perth hospitals. FM828 RX boards, modified for better frequency response, were used for the receivers.

The world has now moved on and the Internet is now a better means of distributing the program.

[VK2GOM]

I don't hear these from home, but we had another ride out this morning. Whilst parked waiting for my XYL, I had another scan around.

I listened to one station, not understanding a word of it, bar two - "Sharia" and "Jihad", used in the same sentence.

Now it may be all innocent conversation on there, but it does make you wonder I am guessing when the riots in Hyde Park happened, it was orchestrated somehow...

I would be surprised if the stations were allowed to broadcast what they want, since prominent legal cases have since shown that free speech on air (or in the press) no longer exists in Australia.

That aside, I am surprised how many stations there are in the Penrith area. I had never heard them from home before - just when parked up in the centre of town. Tempted to take my Spec An out and get a snapshot!

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK2JDH]

- just when parked up in the centre of town. Tempted to take my Spec An out and get a snapshot!

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

Easier to just look up the ACMA website.

[VK2JDH]

I would be surprised if the stations were allowed to broadcast what they want, since prominent legal cases have since shown that free speech on air (or in the press) no longer exists in Australia.


73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

If it is substantly true , you can in general can say what you like. Those cases you are refering to the broadcasts, or stories , where substantialy BS.

[VK3YE]

- just when parked up in the centre of town. Tempted to take my Spec An out and get a snapshot!

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

Easier to just look up the ACMA website.

Definitely worth going out and scanning the band. Like amateur repeaters some that are licensed may not be on air. Or just transmitting a carrier. The signal quality can vary.

[ZL3MF]

Here in New Zealand we have what is called LPFM and is great for schools, local communities and ethnic groups more here: http://www.low-power-fm-radio.spacejunk.co.nz/ or http://www.lpfm.org.nz/
RSM website http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/licensees/ty ... oadcasting

Cheers Mike ZL3MF

[VK2FEAE]

Myself and a couple of other local enthusiasts (Bathurst) have been chasing the Sydney 150 MHz NAS stations from here in recent weeks. Approx. half a dozen of them make it over the range at poor to fair level most days, which is pretty good going considering the low output power.

From the car last week I was able to trace a bunch of them on an Icom R3 and pretty basic broadband antenna whilst driving from Penrith, all dropping out by Blackheath.

73


Craig.