[HCDX] AUSTRALIAN X-BAND MW STATION LISTING

["Bob Padula" <bobpadula@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

AUSTRALIAN X-BAND MW STATION LISTING

Increasing use is being made of the Region 3 spectrum allocation of
1611-1701 kHz for Australian medium-wave broadcasters.

Australian operations in this spectrum are limited to 400 Watts
maximum antenna input power, and bandwidth must not exceed 6 kHz
(ie, double-sideband, AM, and up to 3 kHz deviation from the nominal
carrier frequency - technically known as "narrowband"). For Australian
stations operating in the spectrum 526.5 to 1606.5 kHz, total
bandwidth is 9 kHz.

This reduced audio bandwidth for the X-band stations is designed to
allow greater distrubution of transmitters in the same geographical
areas, similar to the manner in which mobile telephone cells are
positioned.

The Australian regulatory authorities impose strict conditions on
geographical locations of transmitters on the same or adjacent
channels, and these requirements must be fully satisfied prior to a
licence being issued. Generally, transmitters on the same channel must
be at least 160 km apart, which will allow interference-free
operations during daylight hours. Night-time operations are subject to
co-channel interference from stations across Australia, and from
multi-path ionospheric fading, particularly for listeners located 50
km or more from the transmitter. There is no reduction in output power
for night-time operations - many stations operate 24-hrs.

Most of the Australian X-banders are located on 1611, 1620 and 1629
kHz, as many "older" domestic/car radios will not tune above 1629 kHz.
There are no current operations on 1647 kHz, 1656 kHz, or 1674 kHz.
New-generation car radios are now appearing in Australia which will
tune to 1710 kHz.

These stations are intended to provide a reliable day and night
service only within a radius up to about 40 km, in supporting local
activities.

Unike the North American situation, there is no wholescale migration
to the X-band for existing stations. The Australian X-band is
considered by the licencing authorities as not being part of the
"standard" Mediumwave Band (526.5 - 1606.5 kHz inclusive) due to the
transitive and/or temporary nature of stations using it.

Some of the stations are networked using satellite feeds; several
provide specialized programming servicing particular ethnic or
community groups. In some cases, the actual licence holder may not
necessarily be the operator. Advertising is permitted and royalities
must be paid for musical titles broadcast. Audits are made of
technical and presentation standards on a random basis. Telephone
talk-back features must be delayed by the mandatory six seconds.

For these reasons, there is no "official" operational listing of
actual X-band stations, and many stations do not adhere to regular
schedules. There are about 250 licencees approved, most of which are
provisional, renewable, and many never become operational.

A detailed listing of all operational and imminent Australian
X-banders is to be made available shortly, free of charge, as a
service of the "Australian Mediumwave Radio Club" ("Mediumwave
Australia"). This will include frequencies, callsigns, slogans,
transmitter sites, primary service areas, studio addresses, addresses
for DX reports, QSL policies, languges, networks, powers, and program
formats. This information is not available anywhere else in such a
format!

There has been a lot of work undertaken in gathering this information.
It will also be published at a later time on the Club's Web site, and
incorporated in the Club's forthcoming print publication "Guide to
Mediumwave Stations in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea",
which will be offered to non-members for a nominal charge to cover
printing and mailing.

If you would like a FREE electronic copy of the "AUSTRALIAN X-BAND
GUIDE", when it becomes available, please send an e-mail requesting
this to:

MW.AUS@xxxxxxxxxxx

Your request should include your name, e-mail address, and postal
address, please.

The Australian Mediumwave Radio Club ("Mediumwave Australia") is part
of the Electronic DX Press, and a sister to the Australian Shortwave
Radio Club ("Shortwave Australia").

With kind regards

Bob Padula (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

Convenor,
THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIUMWAVE RADIO CLUB
http://welcome/mwaus
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Operational Support:
Robert Chester (Adelaide, SA)
Jeff Burford (Port Augusta, SA)
Clint Felmingham (Grafton, NSW)



























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