Currently BFM broadcasts on FM 89.9MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali in Klang Valley, Selangor, South Perak, West Pahang and parts of Negeri Sembilan/Melaka.
Penang and Johor are the most important states to them for broadcast, I totally agree with them.
Here are the transmitter sites where BFM can expand its coverage:
1. Bukit Penara for Penang
2. Gunung Ledang for Melaka/Johor
3. Gunung Kledang for Perak
4. Gunung Pulai for South Johor
5. Bukit Gun for Seremban
6. Alor Setar Tower for Central Kedah
7. Bukit Pelindung for Kuantan
==Phase1==
- Bukit Penara Penang 93.1MHz
- Gunung Ledang 100.9MHz
- Gunung Kledang 93.3MHz
- Alor Setar Tower 103.1MHz
==Phase2==
- Johor Bahru Metropolis Tower 90.9MHz
- Bukit Gun Seremban 90.1MHz
- Bukit Pelindung 102.2MHz
==Penang==
Why do I suggest Bukit Penara, not Gunung Jerai?
The main reason is Gunung Jerai is full of frequency, but Bukit Penara doesn't. Gunung Jerai can cover Penang, Kedah, Perlis, North Perak and some Southern Thailand provinces, but there is no available frequencies anymore, but Bukit Penara has only 1 empty frequency can be used, there is 93.1MHz with 1kW power. FM 93.1MHz has 300kHz spacing with Hitz FM Gunung Jerai, so BFM must add high pass filter to prevent any interference.
Previously I attempted to suggest BFM to operate in Bukit Palong to cover Penang and Kedah, but it showed that result failed. Why? This is because Bukit Palong coverage is limited for Baling, Sik, Kulim, Sungai Petani, Betong Thailand and Pengkalan Hulu. Although Bukit Palong still can be received in Penang, but the signal is very weak. Plus, Bukit Palong has no commercial values to commercial radios.
And I also took a look of Bukit Genting transmitter, the coverage is very limited in Balik Pulau. Just look at Malaysia Islamic radio station, IKIM FM as an example. IKIM FM operates on 102.7MHz in Bukit Genting, most of Penang areas such as Georgetown and Seberang Perai cannot receive the signal from Bukit Genting. Therefore, I don't recommend Bukit Genting to BFM as Penang transmitter.
Bukit Genting, Bukit Palong= no commercial values
Regarding the power of Bukit Penara, I suggest 1kW to BFM, not 2kW because to prevent interfere with Hitz FM 92.8MHz.
Bukit Penara broadcast coverage
1. Penang Island: ALL
2. Seberang Perai (mainland): ALL
3. Kedah: Sungai Petani, Kulim, Bandar Baharu
4. Perak: Taiping (Larut Matang), Selama, Parit Buntar, Bagan Serai, Kamunting, Semanggol
==Perak==
Perak is also quite important to them, especially in Ipoh. In Perak, normally commercial radio stations operates in Gunung Kledang and Bukit Larut. In my opinion, they can set up in Gunung Kledang on 93.3MHz with 2kW power. Why do I suggest 93.3MHz?
According to frequency spectrum status, 93.3MHz has no co-channel interference with any radio station in Perak. Meanwhile 94.9MHz and 93.9MHz has co-channel with Gunung Jerai in Taiping, unless the particular radio install another transmitter in Bukit Larut.
So, in Taiping, BFM listener can tune into two frequencies, either 93.1MHz from Bukit Penara or 93.3MHz Gunung Kledang. In my opinion, BFM 93.1MHz Bukit Penara reception must be clearer than 93.3MHz Gunung Kledang. Look at Fly FM 89.9MHz, clear in Taiping.
Coverage of Gunung Kledang:
1. Perak: Kuala Kangsar, Ipoh, Hilir Perak, Manjung, Perak Tengah, Kinta Valley and parts of Taiping
2. Pahang: Cameron Highlands.
==South Johor==
Johor has two transmitter sites, there are Gunung Ledang for North Johor and Gunung Pulai for South Johor.
Now, talking about Southern Johor first. There is only 1 empty frequency in Gunung Pulai, FM 107.9MHz, BUT many of radio stations are fighting for the 107.9MHz. Unless BFM pay more cash to get 107.9MHz, then can gain listeners in Johor. According to some news, 107.9MHz will become a Malay language radio station in Gunung Pulai soon. Seriously FM radio frequencies in Johor Bahru is very full, but 89.3MHz is belonged to Singapore.
So, no choice of expanding coverage in Gunung Pulai Johor. BFM may go to Metropolis Tower to cover Johor Bahru, but frequency is still limited. About the frequency in Metropolis Tower, I suggest 90.9MHz with 2kW power.
==North Johor/Melaka/Negeri Sembilan except Seremban==
Gunung Ledang is a very strategic location because it can cover Melaka, most of Johor areas and Negeri Sembilan. It is also an alternative to Gunung Pulai transmitter. Since Gunung Pulai is full, BFM may go to only Metropolis Tower to cover JB, the rest areas of Johor must receive from Gunung Ledang. one FM is an example, 105.3MHz only in JB, but rest Johor areas rely on 88.1MHz.
Empty frequencies in Gunung Ledang: 87.6MHz, 91.5MHz, 100.9MHz and 106.0MHz
All of them cannot go up to JB because interfered by Gunung Pulai and Singapore radio stations, but 106.0MHz was formerly used by Red FM in Gunung Telapa Burok. 106.0MHz shall not be used by any radio stations in Southern region.
About the frequency, I suggest 100.9MHz. Why 100.9? This is because 100.9MHz is interference free frequency in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. Look at the spectrum status below:
100.6MHz: My FM Gunung Telapa Burok
100.9MHz: BFM Gunung Ledang
Spacing: 300kHz
91.5MHz: BFM Gunung Ledang
91.7MHz: Nasional FM Gunung Telapa Burok
Spacing: 200kHz, interference in Negeri Sembilan
100.9MHz: BFM Gunung Ledang
100.9MHz: Selangor FM Gunung Ulu Kali
Status: Co-channel, but ok because Negeri Sembilan is not under coverage of Selangor FM.
Broadcast coverage of Gunung Ledang (based on districts "daerah")
1. Melaka: ALL
2. Johor: Segamat, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Ledang, Muar, Pontian, West Mersing, Kulaijaya and some Johor Bahru areas
3. Negeri Sembilan: Tampin, Gemas, Rembau, Port Dickson, Kuala Pilah, Jempol (Bahau), parts of Jelebu (Simpang Pertang)
==Seremban==
Although BFM 89.9MHz still can be received in Negeri Sembilan, but it is heavily interfered by Ai FM (formerly Radio 5) 89.7MHz from Gunung Telapa Burok. A transmitter must be added in Bukit Gun on 90.1MHz to cover Seremban with 2kW power.
Gunung Telapa Burok transmitter tower is already full because the tower cannot support the load anymore.
With 90.1MHz Bukit Gun, Seremban can receive clearer signal of BFM than 89.9MHz. Although BFM 100.9MHz Gunung Ledang can cover most of Negeri Sembilan areas, but Seremban surely will get interference signal with Selangor FM 100.9MHz.
The 90.1MHz in Bukit Gun only can received in Seremban and surrounding areas only, rest of Negeri Sembilan areas won't receive from there. BFM for rest of Negeri Sembilan areas must rely 89.9MHz from Ulu Kali or 100.9MHz from Ledang.
==East Pahang==
Kuantan is not the most important coverage for BFM, but just recommend 102.2MHz in Bukit Pelindung with 2kW power.
Bukit Pelindung covers East Pahang, Terengganu areas like Kemaman only.
==Central Kedah==
Kedah still has market to BFM, but regarding to the transmitter site, only Alor Setar Tower can be used, because Gunung Jerai is full. BFM can set up in Alor Setar Tower on FM 103.1MHz. If BFM set up FM 103.1MHz in Gunung Jerai, heavy interference to 102.9MHz Padang Pauh and Bukit Penara will occur in Perlis and Penang.
Regarding the transmitting tower, I only suggest 0.5kW to prevent interference to 102.9MHz in Perlis because it has 200kHz with Perlis FM 102.9MHz Padang Pauh. If 0.5kW still produce interference, power should be decreased to 0.25kW.
1. RF analysis of BFM 103.1MHz Alor Setar Tower:
Ikim FM Bukit Penara 102.9MHz vs. BFM 103.1MHz Alor Setar Tower= 200kHz, OK
Perlis FM Padang Pauh 102.9MHz vs. BFM 103.1MHz Alor Setar Tower= 200kHz, but 103.1MHz must not exceed than 0.5kW.
Coverage: Alor Setar, Yan, Padang Terap, Kuala Nerang, Jitra, Changlun, Kubang Pasu, and Bukit Kayu Hitam.
