2XL is saying goodbye to AM transmission.
This morning in one of the biggest changes in the 82-year history of the Snowy Mountains based station 2XL has moved to its new home on the Radio dial, FM96.1 and become XLFM 96.1.
XLFM 96.1 is a part of the Capital Radio Network and has been under the Blyton Group ownership for the past 40 years.
Chairman of XLFM, Kevin Blyton, says, ”Our loyal listeners are now able to access our music and programs that they know and love in FM Stereo quality.
“There are now more options than ever to listen to XLFM, on FM96.1, online at xlfm.com.au, via your smartphone or smart speaker.”
Today also sees the launch of a new dedicated translator for Bombala listeners on FM92.5.
The move to FM is part of the Blyton Group’s continuing investment to roll out FM across the network, providing listeners with improved reception and sound quality.
2XL was the station to listen to for many workers working during the construction of the Snowy Scheme as my late father. Believe it or not, my father learned English by listening to programs relayed from Sydney.
Though theoretically AM radio can rival FM radio in frequency response, unfortunately most AM receivers have the frequency response no better than a landline telephone. AM stereo is passe. That leaves FM and DAB+.
But the trend of rural AM stations is to convert to FM not DAB and not DRM. FM radios are ubiquitous compared to DAB+ and DRM receivers. Though the quality of FM will never match that of high bit rate DAB+ at least at 70kbs (Sydney's 2CH has the best bit rate at 128kbs), it is still reasonable at 15kHz per channel capturing most of a human's hearing range to about 20kHz.
Thank you,
Anthony of exciting Belfield