ADSL vs AM Radio

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willnz

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#101613 24-Dec-2007 00:18

You're right, there doesn't seem to be an FM frequency for Wellington. It shouldn't be much longer though before your exchange is changed to ADSL2+ which from what I understand operates on 2.2Mhz instead of 1.1, so hopefully won't cause any more interference once that happens

grant_k

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#101614 24-Dec-2007 00:25

willnz: You're right, there doesn't seem to be an FM frequency for Wellington. It shouldn't be much longer though before your exchange is changed to ADSL2+ which from what I understand operates on 2.2Mhz instead of 1.1, so hopefully won't cause any more interference once that happens

This will just mean that the interference is spread from 25kHz all the way up to 2.2MHz instead of 25kHz to 1.1MHz. So the interference covers a wider band that's all; it doesn't mean that interference with Newstalk ZB will cease

I just tried listening online and it works perfectly:

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/streaming/newstalkzb-streaming.asp

Has to be a better option than grotty AM radio

willnz

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#101615 24-Dec-2007 00:27

Ahhh. That sucks! Change stations ?

grant_k

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#101616 24-Dec-2007 00:37

willnz: You're right, there doesn't seem to be an FM frequency for Wellington.

@Willnz: Are you actually in Wellington and did you try tuning to 89.4MHz?

It's strange that the ClearChannel web site here:

http://www.clearchannel.com/IntRadio/New_Zealand.aspx

lists the coverage of that station as being "Wellington/Upper Hutt" if in fact it doesn't cover Wellington.

Other stations are listed as "Wellington/Kapiti Coast" which would explain the OP's earlier comment about it possibly being a Kapiti Coast station, but in this case, the transmitter must be somewhere different or they wouldn't have said Wellington/Upper Hutt.

Any Wellingtonians out there: Can you try tuning in to 89.4MHz and see if Newstalk ZB is audible on that frequency?

Cheers,
Grant.

willnz

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#101617 24-Dec-2007 00:41

Nah, I'm in Auckland - sorry should've been clearer, I meant there doesn't seem to be an FM frequency listed on the Radio Network site (Auckland for example has an AM and FM frequency listed, and Wellington only has the AM, while Kapiti only has the FM):

http://www.radionetwork.co.nz/Stations/ContactList/

grant_k

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#101618 24-Dec-2007 00:49

Yeah, I see what you mean...

Obviously one of the web sites must be wrong, and I'm picking it is more likely to be ClearChannel's web site that is wrong, rather than The Radio Network's site.

Which probably means that 89.4MHz is obliterated by other nearby stations in Wellington City itself

Listening Online may be the best option then.

bmoses

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#101643 24-Dec-2007 12:51

There's a static hiss on 89.4 (I'm in Karori); no other stations around that freq.

Internet radio is an option, but its an expense I'm not really keen on, as switching off the modem is miles cheaper :D

Thanks for your help though - the information has been stored, and I'll try and put some pressure on the Radio network to broadcast in FM. Although didn't I read a while back that frequencies are a little hard to come by?

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Fraktul

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#101644 24-Dec-2007 13:23

You could potentially disable the bit bucket frequencies around the frequency of the AM station you are listening to, I know of no such consumer level device which has this level of PHY layer configuration however.

grant_k

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#101645 24-Dec-2007 13:25

bmoses: Internet radio is an option, but its an expense I'm not really keen on, as switching off the modem is miles cheaper :D

The bit rate of Newstalk ZB's stream is 32kbps.

If you listened for 24 hours solid, it would consume 345.6MB.

If you listened for 30 days solid it would consume 10.37GB.

Or with a more typical listening pattern of say 4 hours per night you would use 1.73GB per month.

Which would cost $1.73 per month if you use Xnet as your ISP. Not exactly a huge expense I wouldn't have thought

bmoses

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#101694 24-Dec-2007 17:46

Hey Grant - your thought processes have gone down a different route to mine.

I was actually thinking hardware (e.g. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/881&cl=nz,en).

I've never really been keen to keep a computer running 24/7 (although the new Mac Mini I've got is super quiet).

Its been a long time since I've worried about the cost of bandwidth - I suppose the new ADSL2 plans will change that.

richms

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#101854 26-Dec-2007 21:42

Have you tried moving the radio away from the telephone in the bedroom. the AM noise from a phone cable is pretty localised to it, and drops off quickly as you move away from the cable.

If you have a phone extension cable bunched up near the radio it will be even worse.

Richard rich.ms

grant_k

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#101855 26-Dec-2007 21:58

bmoses: Hey Grant - your thought processes have gone down a different route to mine.

I was actually thinking hardware (e.g. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/881&cl=nz,en).

I've never really been keen to keep a computer running 24/7 (although the new Mac Mini I've got is super quiet).

Oh OK, now I see where you're coming from

I listen to a bit of internet radio from time to time and find that the most convenient way is to use my laptop via a WiFi connection, as it works anywhere in the house without needing a network cable. Depending on the circumstances, either I plug in some headphones, or plug a headphone extender cable into the stereo system.

Presumably you wouldn't be listening to Newstalk ZB 24/7 so likewise there is no need to leave a computer running 24/7 either. My laptop is completely silent (no fans running) unless I'm doing something processor-intensive like ripping a CD etc.

Just put your laptop into Standby or Hibernate, and then it will start up and be ready to act as a radio in next to no time

bmoses

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#101921 27-Dec-2007 18:03

My wife understands the need for technology, and I have to say is quite tolerant about my addiction. However most of it needs to be hidden from sight, and a laptop in the master bedroom might be the 'straw' I don't need at the moment.

I'm going to look at the internet radio option though - they can't be all that expensive...

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