List of empty FM frequencies which are not suitable to be used in Gunung Telapak Burok

Here are the empty FM frequencies list which are prohibited to be transmitted from Gunung Telapak Burok of Negeri Sembilan:

- 88.3MHz
- 89.1MHz
- 90.1MHz
- 90.9MHz
- 91.3MHz
- 99.1MHz
- 99.5MHz
- 99.9MHz
- 101.1MHz
- 105.5MHz

1. FM 88.3MHz
- Interference with 88.1MHz Gunung Ulu Kali and 88.5MHz KL Tower each other in Kuala Lumpur and South Selangor
- Interference with 88.1MHz Gunung Ledang and 88.5MHz Gunung Ledang in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and North Johor

2. FM 90.1MHz
- Interference with 89.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali and 90.3MHz KL Tower each other in Kuala Lumpur and South Selangor
- Interference with 90.3MHz Gunung Ledang in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and North Johor

3. FM 90.9MHz
- Interference with 90.7MHz UPM each other in South Selangor (Serdang, Putrajaya, Kajang, Balakong, Puchong)

4. FM 91.3MHz
- Interference with 91.5MHz Gunung Ulu Kali each other in Kuala Lumpur and South Selangor

5. FM 99.1MHz
- Interference with 99.3MHz each other in Kuala Lumpur and South Selangor
- Interference with 99.1MHz Gunung Pulai in Central Johor

6. FM 99.9MHz
- Interference with 99.7MHz Gunung Ledang each other in Negeri Sembilan ,Melaka and North Johor
- Interference with 99.9MHz Gunung Pulai in Central Johor

7. FM 101.1MHz
- Interference with 101.3MHz Bukit Sungai Besi and 100.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali each other in Klang Valley
- Interference with 101.1MHz Gunung Pulai in Central Johor
- Interference with 101.1MHz Bukit Pelindung in East Pahang

8. FM 105.5MHz
- Interference with 105.3MHz and 105.7MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali each other in Klang Valley and Negeri Sembilan

Among these eight frequencies, the interference level is high, but these eight frequencies can be allowed to be transmitted in Bukit Gan, Seremban.

==Maximum power of these eight frequencies in Bukit Gan==
- 88.3MHz: 0.25kW
- 90.1MHz: 0.5kW
- 90.9MHz: 1kW
- 91.3MHz: 0.75kW
- 99.1MHz: 1kW
- 99.9MHz:  1kW
- 101.1MHz: 0.25kW
- 105.5MHz: 0.25kW

Gunung Telapak Burok covers all Negeri Sembilan areas (except Tampin), and parts of Melaka/Johor/Selangor/Pahang, but Bukit Gan covers only Seremban and surrounding areas.

The usage of FM 101.1MHz in Negeri Sembilan

FM 101.1MHz is an empty frequency in Negeri Sembilan, but it is distant signal from Gunung Pulai and Bukit Pelindung in Southern and Eastern Negeri Sembilan.

Minnal FM 101.1MHz Gunung Pulai in Negeri Sembilan:
- Bahau
- Gemas
- Tampin
- Bandar Seri Jempol
- Rompin
- Gemencheh
- Bukit Rokan
- Rembau
- Kota

My FM 101.1MHz Bukit Pelindung in Negeri Sembilan:
- Bahau
- Kepis
- Dangi
- FELDA Palong

It's vacant frequency in Seremban currently. Normally radio stations in Negeri Sembilan (Seremban) are transmitted from Gunung Telapak Burok.

Gunung Telapak Burok can cover all Negeri Sembilan areas (except Tampin), parts of Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Pahang.

For usage of FM 101.1MHz in Gunung Telapak Burok, here is the RF analysis:

- FM 100.9MHz: Selangor FM Gunung Ulu Kali
- FM 101.1MHz: Gunung Telapak Burok
- FM 101.3MHz: Kool FM Bkt Sg Besi

FM 101.1MHz: Gunung Telapak Burok
FM 101.1MHz: MY FM Bkt Pelindung & Minnal FM Gunung Pulai

According to the spectrum status above, FM 101.1MHz is not suitable to be located in Gunung Telapak Burok because of:

- Interference to 100.9 and 101.3 in Southern Selangor areas like Kajang, Semenyih, Bangi, Serdang, Balakong. Selangor FM 100.9MHz has only 1 frequency to cover Selangor. If 101.1MHz is used in Gunung Telapak Burok, listeners in affected areas are unable to tune to alternative frequency of Selangor FM. In addition, Kool FM 101.3 is also affected.
- Interference to 101.1 Gunung Pulai in Johor such as Kluang, and Batu Pahat. The minimum frequency separation between Gunung Pulai and Gunung Telapak Burok is 100kHz. The transmission of Gunung Telapak Burok can transmit to North East Johor. Moreover, because Minnal FM 101.1MHz Gunung Pulai can transmit partially to Tampin, Rembau, and Bandar Seri Jempol, 101.1MHz Gunung Telapak Burok will be interfered by Minnal FM 101.1MHz from Gn Pulai in Rembau and Tampin, even Melaka. I had tested to listen to Red FM on 104.9MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali and Lite FM on 104.6MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok in Rembau and Tampin respectively, I received interference signal from Gunung Pulai. I also heard the interference of Era FM 104.5MHz from Gunung Pulai in Tampin when listen to Lite FM on 104.6MHz.
- Interference to 101.1 Bukit Pelindung in East Pahang because there is nothing hill block between Bukit Pelindung and Gunung Telapak Burok.

In conclusion, FM 101.1MHz is not suitable to be used in Gunung Telapak Burok, but it is suitable to be used in Bukit Gan, Seremban.

Tamil radio station market in Malaysia

Currently Malaysia Tamil language radio stations are Minnal FM and THR Raaga.

Back to the pre 2000s generation of Malaysia, there is only one Tamil radio station, known as Radio6 or Red Network (Rangkaian Merah in 1960s), now becomes Minnal FM.

Minnal FM is owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), which is under Ministry of Information of Malaysia government.

Minnal FM was monopolizing Tamil radio station market in Malaysia for five decades, from 1950s till 1990s, but when came to 2001 there is a new Tamil radio programme on Time Highway Radio, known as THR Raaga. It ended the monopoly of Minnal FM in Malaysia, and THR Raaga is currently monopolizing Tamil radio market since 2001.

Basically THR Raaga was not a radio station, instead it was just a radio programme of Time Highway Radio until acquired by Astro in 2005. After THR was acquired by Astro, THR Raaga became full fledged Tamil radio station in Malaysia, meanwhile the simulcast relay from THR Gegar on THR Raaga frequencies was deceased phase by phase.

Compared to other language stations, English was the earliest to end the monopoly of RTM, there was Time Highway Radio, ended the monopoly of Radio 4 (Traxx FM) in 1994, following by Chinese commercial radio station, Redi FM 988, ended the monopoly of Radio 5 (Ai FM) in 1996. Then, Malay commercial radio, Era FM, ended the monopoly of Radio1, Radio Muzik and RTM state stations in 1997.

In terms of music taste, THR Raaga mainly plays latest and some older Tamil songs, which targets all age of Indians, same as Minnal FM, but RTM Minnal FM plays older Tamil songs more than latest, which targets majority older Indians.

Minnal FM does not only play music, it also carry some talks, including Islamic talks in Tamil.

I'm Chinese, I also have Indian friends too. During high school era, most of my Indians told me that they were listening to THR Raaga, rather than Minnal FM. Then I also shared to them too, stated that most of my Chinese friends preferred listening to My FM, One FM and 988, rather than Ai FM.

In Malaysia, most of Malaysians are listening to commercial radio, rather than government radio (RTM) because there has many factors.

Although I don't really understand every single words of Tamil language, but I was used to try to listen to Tamil radio station in Malaysia, mostly Minnal and THR Raaga. In term of taste, I felt that THR Raaga is nicer. Minnal FM is ok too, but the name "government radio" makes me feel "meh".

Religion talk (mainly Islamic) normally broadcasted on Malay radio stations mostly among all RTM stations (never include IKIM FM, despite IKIM is semi commercial radio), Ai FM and Traxx FM never usually air religion talk at all, just very minor slot of religion talk on the air. Back to 2013, I went to a barber shop to have hair cut, the barber shop owner was listening to Minnal FM, I heard Minnal FM aired religion talk on 11am, I believed that Minnal FM also had another targeted audience too. Minnal FM did not only target Tamil speaking listeners, also including Indian Muslims in Malaysia, so there was a establishment of religion talk, in cooperated with Jakim on Minnal FM resulted.

Now talk to the competition of Tamil radio stations in Malaysia. After THR Raaga launched in 2001, the popularity of Raaga grew rapidly, but most obvious since 2005. In addition, THR Raaga listenership went more stable and higher since 2009. In terms of coverage, Minnal FM is wider than THR Raaga because the station is funded by government, even Minnal FM is available in Terengganu and Kelantan, meanwhile THR Raaga does not go to any East Coast region.

Imagine if THR Raaga has frequency in Kuantan, together with Malay East Coast station THR Gegar, I think Minnal FM will feel threatened in Kuantan and some Terengganu areas and the competition gets stiffer.

Look at Media Prima, and Star Radio Group, these two giant media airs few stations in Malay, Chinese and English, but currently Media Prima and Star Radio Group haven't operated any Tamil radio yet, even Media Prima does not have any Tamil TV station too. Star also closed down its English radio (Red and Capital) since 31st December 2015, then Media Prima 8TV and NTV7 English programmes got decreased heavily since 2016.

Astro has two different music genre stations in three languages:

- Malay
1. Era (hot contemporary)
2. Sinar (classic)
3. THR Gegar (mix format, but for East Coast)

- English
1. Hitz (Hot contemporary, Top40)
2. Mix (90s, 2000s and adult mainstream contemporary)
3. Lite (classic hits and easy listening)

- Chinese
1. My (hot contemporary)
2. Melody (classic)

- Tamil
1. Raaga (hot adult contemporary 80%; classic 20%)

Look at this list, Astro still lacks of Tamil retro station, but Astro has Osai on Astro satellite radio. On September 2016, Astro acquired Red and Capital.

If Red FM is rebranded to Osai FM, and the Tamil retro station is launched by Astro, the competition of Tamil radio market will be stiffer than current.

Minnal FM is not only threatened  by THR Raaga, but it will be threatened again by Osai FM.

Talk about Tamil radio stations in South East Asia, currently there have Raaga, and Minnal from Malaysia as well as Oli from Singapore. Based on the popularity, THR Raaga is currently the most famous Tamil radio in South East Asia.

THR Raaga is also popular in Singapore.

Osai FM can become 4th Tamil radio station in South East Asia and join the battle of radio war.

Singapore is one of battle war place for Tamil radio stations.  The war can be liked this:

Raaga+Osai (from Astro) vs. Minnal (RTM) vs. Oli (Singapore)

Oli FM 96.8MHz only covers Singapore, Batam and Johor (Central and South), meanwhile Minnal covers whole Peninsular Malaysia and Raaga covers West Coast only.

The Astro classic radio station is grouped like below:
- English: Lite FM (since 1997)
- Malay: Sinar FM (since 2004)
- Chinese: Melody FM (since 2012)
- Tamil: Osai FM (to be 2017??)

For Malaysia domestic Tamil radio market, currently Minnal FM monopolizes East Coast Tamil radio market, meanwhile THR Raaga is unable reach East Coast (Kuantan) due to license condition. After Red FM is rebranded to Osai FM, I believe that Red FM Kuantan frequency 91.6MHz will air Osai FM, so Osai FM will end the monopoly of Minnal FM in Kuantan and the battle begins. This East Coast Tamil radio battle can spread until Sotuh Terengganu as Bukit Pelindung can cover there too. To be fair, Astro THR Raaga should reach Kuantan by modifying its license, so the battle among three Tamil radio stations in Kuantan can be started.

Note: This blog post is not fully truth, it is just a speculation, based on my opinion. For most accurate news of rebranding Red FM, please wait the news from Astro.

Possibilities of Capital FM rebranding after acquired by Astro

On 9th September 2016, Astro acquired loss making Capital FM and Red FM with RM42 Billions.

Capital FM Sdn Bhd holds Content Application Service Provider (CASP) license which can be allowed to broadcast Red FM and Capital FM.

Astro will rebrand these two radio stations to target new audience.

Previously I had speculated and predicted Red FM will be rebranded to a Tamil retro radio station, known as Osai FM (which currently only airing on Astro CH866), because there also may demand of Tamil listeners who want the classic music station like Malay station Sinar FM and Chinese station Melody FM.

Now, we will talk about the future of Capital FM.

Astro currently broadcasts nine FM radio stations, mainly Era, My, Sinar, THR Raaga, THR Gegar, Melody, Hitz, Mix, and Lite. In addition, Astro also owns Classic Rock, Bayu, Kenyalang, Opus, Jazz, Gold, India Beat and Osai.

Rumors state that Capital FM will be rebranded to a talk radio station like Astro Talk Radio FM 101.8MHz in 1997-98.

Let's analyze the Astro satellite stations which may be possible broadcasted on Capital FM frequency.

1. Opus
- In my opinion, I don't think Astro will rebrand Capital FM to Opus FM as less listeners will listen to classic opera music. Actually classic opera music station has no market in Malaysia, perhaps not all listeners love to listen to classic opera music.

2. Jazz
- Same answer with Opus. Jazz FM plays jazz music, less Malaysian people listen to jazz music on FM station. In addition, its sister station Lite FM also plays jazz music, alongside with easy listening music.

3. India Beat
- India Beat actually plays Northern Indian music. Malaysia Indians speaking language is Tamil, and some of them are speaking in Malayalam rather than Hindi. India Beat plays Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali music. Tamil language is origin from South India. In my opinion, I don't think Astro will rebrand Capital FM to India Beat perhaps Northern India music station market in Malaysia is very small, it is considered as minority market.

4. Bayu and Kenlayang
- Both are East Malaysia music stations. Never think Astro will launch in Klang Valley, instead they can launch in Sabah and Sarawak.

5. Osai
- I had mentioned previously regarding rebranding of Red FM. Briefly say that Osai FM is a Malaysia Tamil retro radio station which plays Tamil music from the 1970s till 1990s.

6. Classic Rock
- A rock station by Astro. In 1997, Classic Rock was aired on 103.3MHz (Klang Valley), then slots are taken over by Era FM due to high demand of Malay listeners. Sounds like BFM 89.9, because BFM 89.9 plays classic rock music, together with business and headlines talk. To me, there is also a chance of launching Classic Rock on Capital FM frequency, but they also may have possibility to take over Mix FM slot if Mix FM face loss making due to low listenership.

7. Gold (formerly Golden Oldies and Nostalgia)
- Gold FM plays the English songs from the 1950s till 1970s like Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, The Beatles, Bee Gees, James Brown etc. Light & Easy played English oldies before it renamed to Lite FM in 2006. Lite FM dropped the 1960s and 1970s songs as they want to concentrate on younger listeners, so Lite FM plays the songs beginning from the 1980s. After Lite FM is no longer playing 1960s and 1970s, but those 1960s and 1970s are played on Astro satellite only station Gold FM. In my opinion, the rebranding of Capital FM to Gold also could be the possible as Malaysia currently has no more oldies station which play the songs from 1960s and 1970s.

Other than these eight radio stations, I don't think Astro will return its defunct station XFM (Xfresh) as this station had been making loss heavily after 2010. In term of marketing, most of Malay listeners are listening to Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hot FM, Suria FM, Best 104 and Kool FM. XFM target audience is Malay teenagers and it plays Malaysia indie music like Pop Shuvit, Meet Uncle Hussein, Hujan, Poetic Ammo, Point Blanc.

According all the analysis made on six stations, India Beat, Jazz and Opus won't be aired on FM terrestrial radio by taking over Capital FM. Meanwhile Classic Rock and Gold, hmmm...Gold may result higher possibility than Classic Rock, but mostly Astro may return broadcasting of their long time defunct Talk Radio back to FM station.

Talk about the history of Astro early radio station, Talk Radio. It was launched in 1997, together with Hitz, Mix, Lite and Classic Rock, but it was ceased broadcasting in 1998 after taken over by My FM.

==Talk Radio==
88.9MHz: Klang Valley (Gn Ulu Kali)
107.6MHz: Penang (Bkt Penara)
103.3MHz: Johor Bahru (Metropolis Tower)
xx.xMHz: Ipoh (Gn Kledang)
xxx.xMHz: Seremban (Bkt Gan)
xx.xMHz: Malacca and Johor (Gn Ledang)

If Astro returns Talk Radio, in my opinion, I don't think Astro will expand the coverage to Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis/Langkawi as there have no commercial value. English radio market is not so big in these states.

In terms of commercial value, Gold and Classic Rock may result higher.

Analisa liputan THR Gegar Bukit Senggora FM 100.7MHz

Pada masa kini, kawasan Pahang Tengah dan Barat seperti Maran, Jengka, Temerloh, Bera belum menerima siaran THR Gegar. Terdapat satu tempat pemancar radio terletak di Pahang Tengah, iaitu Bukit Senggora, Maran.

Untuk meliputi kawasan Temerloh, Bera dan sebahagian Pahang Barat dari Bukit Senggora dengan field strength sekurang 54dBuV/m (STEREO) dan 48dBuV/m (MONO).

==Parameter THR Gegar untuk Pahang Tengah dan sebahagian Pahang Barat==

Frekuensi: 100.7MHz

Tempat pemancar: Bukit Senggora 

Kuasa diuji dengan: 3.5kW, 5kW

Ketinggian: 215m

Antenna gain: 6.4dBi

 

Berdasarkan pada peta liputan di atas, THR Gegar Bukit Senggora FM 100.7MHz pada kuasa 5kW lebih luas daripada 2kW dan 3.5kW. THR Gegar Bukit Senggora FM 100.7MHz boleh memancar sehingga kawasan Karak dan Lanchang pada 5kW, tetapi penerimaannya lemah, manakala Temerloh dan Mentakab boleh menerima siaran THR Gegar dalam STEREO.

Secara asasnya, Bukit Senggora tiada nilai komersil kepada pihak penyiaran swasta, tetapi liputannya lebih luas daripada Bukit Istana, Bukit Botak dan Bukit Sulai. THR Gegar mungkin ada nilai komersil di Pahang Tengah dan Barat (Bukit Senggora), berbanding dengan Era dan Sinar.

Sinar FM dan Era FM boleh diterima di Maran, Jengka, Temerloh pada 96.7MHz dan 103.3MHz dari Gn Ulu Kali masing-masing.

Secara keseuluruhnnya, Bukit Senggora adalah tempat sesuai untuk meliputi Pahang Tengah dan Barat, tetapi kuasa 5kW diperlukan.

Red FM becomes Tamil radio station? Capital FM becomes talk radio station?

On 9th September 2016, Astro acquired Red FM and Capital FM with RM42Million

Previously I had mentioned that Red FM and Capital FM may rebrand to a Tamil retro station, Osai FM.

Now I don't think Red FM and Capital FM will be rebranded together into one station because I hear that Capital FM will become talk radio station.

For my prediction, I strongly believe that Red FM English broadcast will not be continued after joining Astro, it will become Tamil radio station Osai FM.

==OSAI FM==

- 104.9MHz: Klang Valley and South Perak (Gunung Ulu Kali)
- 106.0MHz: Negeri Sembilan (Gunung Telapak Burok; return broadcasting after closed transmission in June 2009)
- 98.9MHz: Melaka and North Johor (Gn Ledang)
- 92.8MHz: Johor Bahru and Singapore (Gn Pulai)
- 106.4MHz: Ipoh (Gn Kledang)
- 98.1MHz: Kedah, Perlis, Penang and North Perak (Gn Jerai)
- 91.6MHz: Kuantan (Bkt Pelindung)
- 99.3MHz: Taiping (Bukit Larut; take over from THR Raaga Bkt Penara; THR Raaga can be received in Penang via 102.4MHz)

PS: Minnal FM will face stiff competition from THR Raaga and Osai FM

For Osai FM Negeri Sembilan frequency, Astro can reuse Red FM old frequency FM 106.0MHz which was ceased in June 2009, perhaps Seremban and Central Negeri Sembilan areas can't get 104.9MHz and 98.9MHz clearly. FM 98.9MHz is interfered by 988 FM 98.8MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali in most of Negeri Sembilan areas until some Melaka areas.

For Taiping and North Perak, I never think that Astro will reuse former controversial Red FM Bukit Larut frequency FM 98.2MHz. Astro can take over THR Raaga Penang frequency 99.3MHz by moving site to Bukit Larut for Osai FM Taiping frequency, perhaps THR Raaga 99.3MHz in Penang is quite "pointless" because Penang already has strategic frequency from Gunung Jerai Kedah, that's FM 102.4MHz.

Regarding to the future of Capital FM, rumors said that Capital FM will be rebranded to talk radio station, which focus on news and business like BFM 89.9.

For frequency coverage, currently Capital FM has only 88.9 for Klang Valley and 107.6 for Penang, I don't think Astro will expand this station to nationwide like Hitz, Mix and Lite because of market.

This talk radio language could be in English or Malay. If this talk radio is in Malay, Astro could expand to nationwide, but what if in English, Astro may not go nationwide.

The talk radio station would only target Klang Valley, Penang, Ipoh, Melaka, Johor and Seremban, but I don't think Astro will not have any plan to expand this talk radio station to East Malaysia and East Coast temporarily.

==Talk radio station==

88.9Mhz: Klang Valley (Gn Ulu Kali)
107.6MHz: Penang (Bkt Penara)
xxx.xMHz: Ipoh (Gn Kledang)
xxx.xMHz: Melaka, Johor (Gn Ledang)
xxx.xMHz: Seremban (Bukit Gan)
103.3MHz: Johor Bahru (Metropolis Tower)

封鎖朝鮮FM電台的建議 Suggestion of jamming North Korea FM signal parameter

以下是可以在韓國境內可以接收的朝鮮電台 (朝鮮平壤中央廣播電台):

- FM 92.5MHz (開城)
- FM 103.7MHz (海洲)
- FM 97.8MHz (海洲)
- FM 102.3MHz (海洲)
- FM 95.1MHz (元山)

為了防止韓國人民收聽具滿邪惡共產主義的朝鮮電台, 韓國通訊部在各地的發射站安裝jammer來封鎖朝鮮電台.. Jammer的作用是干擾一個電台

1. FM 103.7MHz
目前我看到的是朝鮮海洲電台103.7MHz被韓國封鎖 , 但是jammer是靜音的.. 發射地區是在南山 (Namsan)... 103.7MHz的jammer靜音是避免干擾首爾電台的SBS Love FM 103.5MHz.. 如果無線電干擾器是放出聲音在103.7MHz, SBS Love FM 103.5MHz也會自己遭殃.

在韓國江原道的春川, TBN FM也使用103.7MHz, 主要覆蓋江原道的整個省, 但是功率不大, 只是3kW. 基本上如果要在京畿道內干擾朝鮮電台, 韓國政府必須增加TBN FM 103.7MHz的發射功率至10kW. 

首爾方面, FM 103.9MHz也可以在冠岳山增設電台, 功率為10kW, 來封鎖朝鮮電台..

2. FM 92.5MHz
韓國政府在韓國首爾南山安裝電台干擾器 (jammer)來完全封鎖朝鮮電台92.5MHz, 所以在首爾的你, 如果把收音機的電台頻率調去92.5MHz, 肯定會聽到鳴聲 (beep).. 開城離開首爾的距離是不到100公里

3. FM 97.8MHz
韓國政府目前沒有在這個頻率安裝任何的干擾器, 因為KBS Cool FM已經在京畿道有了97.7MHz, 功率為0.2kW

4. FM 102.3MHz
韓國政府在首爾冠岳山可以增設新電台102.3MHz, 功率為5kW.

5. FM 95.1MHz
韓國政府可以在江源道增設FM 94.9MHz來封鎖來自元州的朝鮮電台, 功率為10kW. 其實韓國首爾冠岳山已經有了FM 95.1MHz, TBN FM.

==Suggested parameter for jamming North Korea FM signal in South Korea== (feat with antenna pattern)

1. FM 103.9MHz
Power: 10kW
Transmitting location: Gwanaksan, Seoul, South Korea

2. FM 103.5MHz (SBS Love FM)
Power: 15kW
Transmitting location: Gwanaksan, Seoul, North Korea

3. FM 102.3MHz
Power: 5kW
Transmitting location: Gwanaksan

4. FM 94.9MHz
Power: 10kW
Transmitting location: Neuratjae (Chuncheon)