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It is interesting that BAI Communications have installed a temporary ABC local radio transmitter on Mt Stuart, Townsville and that it is FM. All other broadcasters in Townsville are on FM because the lightning, common just prior to the yearly monsoon season. Lightning causes crackling sound, but not from an FM radio. All other major centres along the Queensland coast except Brisbane have high powered ABC Local Radio FM transmitters except Townsville.
The Brandon site was also used to transmit high frequency (SW) to New Guinea including the use of crystal clear DRM but as Radio Australia has stopped HF broadcasting it was closed down. Since BAI Communications is upgrading 4QN they should add Digital Radio Mondiale to the transmitter. This would allow FM quality sound over the very large areas covered such a low frequency.
It is very timely that someone with a video camera could capture from start to end the collapse of the radio mast, especially from the beginning. Seems like a matter of luck.
The ABC's Brandon's mast reminds me in the early 2000s of a severe storm in the Sydney Metropolitan Area causing the collapse of 2GB's main mast when it was located at the tip of Wentworth Point, Homebush Bay. The mast at Homebush Bay was finally demolished in 2015 where it was filmed from all angles at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvWLYDBw5Ek .
I must agree with Mr St. John about the lack of SW transmissions. From a soft power point of view, it is where the ABC's SW services need to be restored to our Pacific Island neighbours, even if the Federal Parliament needs to allocate extra funding for transmission facilities even to send DRM receivers to our Pacific Island citizens. DRM is clearer compared to AM SW and the decoded signal is not subject to ionospheric effects. For a demonstration of reception of RNZI in Spain comparing DRM and AM SW, I refer to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkD01FuXOsg.
Thank you,
Anthony of exciting Belfield