ABC Radio move to FM signals the end of an era for Perth listeners
The ABC AM radio transmission mast in Hamersley, in Perth's north. (ABC News: Glyn Jones)
With the ABC's three Perth radio stations switching from AM over to the FM band, it is the end of an era for the 94-year-old transmitter in Hamersley.
While it is a well-known landmark in Perth's northern suburbs, Trevor Kelly has had a view of the Hamersley transmitter few others have.
He started working as a radio technician for the ABC in 1959, as a trainee with the Postmaster General (PMG), which then handled all the ABC's technical broadcasting requirements.
Trevor Kelly, retired ABC radio technician. (ABC News: Pip Waller)
"We were taken out to 6WF, Hamersley — out in the sticks — and we were shown the transmitters," he said
"The ABC 6WF transmitter was one built in about 1932 by the PMG itself.
"Then we were taken out to this great big mast and asked, 'Would you like to climb it?'"
When Mr Kelly and the other trainees said yes, they were given permission but also instructions on how to do it without electrocuting themselves.
"They said, 'Just be very careful when you get on; you've got to jump on, not touch the ground and the mast at the same time, otherwise you'll be electrified,' that was the word that was used then," he said.
"So we all jumped on, and as you jumped on, there was a zip as you touched on there.
"Eleven of us managed to get up to the top, but you couldn't go right to the top because again, you got electrified there.
"Anyhow, we all got down and it was a memorable day."
The Hamersley transmitter is 94 years old. (ABC News: Pip Waller)
It has been many decades since ABC staff were allowed to risk electrocution at work, and now, the site's days providing AM broadcasting are drawing to a close.
ABC AM stations move to FM
ABC Radio Perth, NewsRadio and Radio National will all move to frequencies on the FM band on February 23.
The move will mean "many more people can tune into the station" as well as hear a clearer sound, radio futurologist James Cridland said.
Mr Cridland, who also edits a daily podcast newsletter, said he thought the switch for ABC Radio Perth from AM to FM would be really good for the ABC.
"It's really important to make sure that the primary emergency broadcaster is available in a way that people can actually pick it up, and that, for the most people, is FM radio,"he said.
Perth is the first capital city in Australia to move all stations to FM, a move that matches global trends.
James Cridland says moving to FM will boost listening in cars. (Supplied)
"If you look into Europe, most of the big broadcasters have now left the AM band," he said.
"Japan is just turning off AM for one of its national broadcasters. In much of the US, they are trying, as quickly as they can, to shift over to FM."
Crucially, moving to FM will boost listening in cars, a key audience for all radio stations.
"New electric cars have no AM [receiver] in them. They're pulling AM out of some hybrid cars as well," Mr Cridland said.
"We here in Australia get the European version of cars in terms of the in-car entertainment, and AM is not a thing in most of Europe, in much of the UK, so car manufacturers have no reason really to put it into their cars anymore."
Switching towers
For BAI Communications area manager Tim Gray, who has been involved with ABC broadcasting for 40 years, it has meant preparing an FM mast at Bickley, in the Perth Hills, for the new services.
"The transmitters are all being installed, all ready to go, ready for switch on, and we've had a significant project to upgrade the antenna system and the combiner system to combine all the new frequencies into the system," Mr Gray said.
"It's quite exciting. The team have put in a lot of work."
Tim Gray says it is an exciting milestone. (ABC News: Pip Waller)
Although he admits there is a small part of him that is sad to see the ABC depart the Hamersley site.
"This tower has been very significant in broadcasting ABC Radio Perth AM. It's part of the skyline, of Perth,"he said
Due to legislation that stipulates NewsRadio must broadcast parliament on AM radio, that station will be simulcast on both bands until the law can be amended.
Equipment inside the plant room at Hamersley transmission tower. (ABC News: Pip Waller)
Mr Cridland said while AM still had a crucial place in regional Australia, where it can reach vast distances and is less susceptible to interference than it is in the city, FM made much more sense in the city.
"[In cities] we live in suburbs. We commute into the CBD. You don't need a large transmitter to do that," he said.
"What you need is a transmitter that people can actually pick up the signals from in their car and in their house. And more and more these days, that's FM and not AM.
"It's something that, frankly, the ABC should be doing in all of the capital cities."
ABC Radio Perth will be on 102.5 FM, Radio National to 103.3 FM and ABC NewsRadio to 104.1 FM from February 23.