Moorabbin Ground Frequency Change
 

Tuesday 2 December and the Moorabbin Ground frequency got changed from 119.9 to 134.25.
It had been so easy to roll from ATIS of 120.9 to GRD 119.9.
Sure the change was tucked away there in the NOTAMS (which is being reworded in the USA) but there was no prior statement from Air Services Australia re the change and why.
CASA and ASA use the Web everyday to tell us pilots 'stuff' but they missed out on this one.
Or did I get something wrong?

They missed out in the latest version of the ERSA, so it’s Notam’ed for now.

Quite a change and has got me wondering if why they did it. Possibly easier and less of a safety risk to change that versus a CTAF. I guess they are running out of frequencies so are switching to the .25 increments.

On another note, I would love to know what the interference on 120.00 is. My radio squeals on it and they even had it notam’ed some time ago to use 135.3 as an alternative, however that was literally years ago and still no change.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f4c6ce9af7.jpg

Not a Fan to be honest, but the above was the only explanation I was given. Here's hoping Qantas mainline stop accidently contacting MB ground!

The frequency for FIA 120.0 SE of Melbourne was changed to 123.35 earlier this year, if that's the area you are referring to.

For MB Ground I don't know why they selected a frequency so far displaced. The usual convention for GA towers is to try and allocate frequencies in the low end of the aviation band e.g. 118 - 124MHz.

Sound like they didn't consult/alert whatever RAPAC is called these days.

Good point re 120.0, for the last months I’ve been able to fly I’ve only flown to the north! I need to get out more.

For what its worth there was ample discussion and repeated notifications for the Moorabbin based operators.

For everyone else, is this not what NOTAMs are specifically for? They've also got it on the ATIS tape. Some people might miss the NOTAM, but absolutely nobody should miss it on the ATIS.

Seems pretty adequate to me.

I'm so glad these 1960s-certified radios put out harmonics. (Hint: they don't have to)

Comms technology has progressed so much since then.

I have household $10 zigbee devices with more technology than this rubbish.

Store-and-forward systems / peer-to-peer with uplinks via larger aircraft with LEO satellite connectivty) + prioritisation of comms will do wonders + multiple transmit buttons (area broadcast or to designated receiver (eg ATC)) would do wonders.

Directed messages too - so I don't need to hear somebody modify a flight plan etc.

Radio has progressed, but in practice digital transmission isn't necessarily all you suggest, and BTW what protocol should we use (oh, just think of the headaches trying to work that standard out!).

There is still a place for simple analogue radio that has reasonable range, works everywhere around the world, and doesn't have multiple buttons for you to f*** up and miss making the area broadcast you should make...

However I agree some AM transmitters may be less than perfect. Perhaps when they're inspected it should be a requirement to put them on a SpecAn to check their harmonic levels are ok? Also properly checking antenna connections & bonding etc so something isn't rectifying, mixing, and re-transmitting (or receiving) on another frequency would surely be some steps to go through in order to resolve whatever issue is occurring here. :hmm:

Mobile telephony has improved in leaps and bounds so long as you don't fly too far away from a mobile tower. The problem with these kinds of radios is age-old, that is, the more power you add to them to get more range out of them then the more the nearby bits also start acting as an extension of your radio.