City Plus FM 106.0MHz transmission commentaries

City Plus FM, a Malaysia first ever Chinese business radio station officially broadcasted on 2nd May 2017 on FM 106.0MHz.

City Plus FM mainly targets large business areas such as Klang Valley as Klang Valley is Malaysia no.1 high commercial region as Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's capital.

Regarding its transmission and coverage, it is very special and unusual. City Plus FM 106.0MHz is not transmitted from Klang Valley, but Negeri Sembilan, where Seremban frequency is distant signal (DX) in Klang Valley.

There are some listeners complaining about City Plus FM reception problem. Dear everyone, for your information, City Plus FM 106.0MHz is transmitted from Gunung Telapak Burok, where "106.0MHz" was formerly used by Red FM (Red 104.9MHz).

Red FM had Negeri Sembilan frequency 106.0MHz in the past, that makes me very impressive. I was used to listen to Red FM on 106.0MHz, but it was closed down since June 2009.

Here has Q&As about City Plus FM transmission issues as well as commentaries:

Q1: All radio stations can be heard clearly in Klang Valley, why can't City Plus FM be received clearly in Klang Valley?

A1: Originally City Plus FM attempted to locate transmitter in Gunung Ulu Kali due to its strategic site (high elevation), Gunung Ulu Kali covers Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, South Perak and West Pahang mainly, but Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and some Johor areas are able to receive from Gunung Ulu Kali signal, just weak reception. According to them, I was informed that Gunung Ulu Kali tower has no space anymore. Same goes to other radio stations like Kool FM, Bernama Radio and IM4U FM, they're forced to transmit from Bukit Sungai Besi and KL Tower for Klang Valley.

Q2: Somebody suggested that City Plus FM to increase its current transmitter 106.0MHz Gunung Telapak Burok to 5kW and 10kW, but why doesn't MCMC allow this?

A2: Until today, there are none of Gunung Telapak Burok radio stations occupying transmission power more than 2kW yet, even RTM Gunung Telapak Burok radio stations only increased from 0.1kW to 1kW since December 2009 (fully upgraded). Malaysia Communications And Multimedia Commission (MCMC) never allow any Gunung Telapak Burok radio stations to increase power beyond 2kW due to certain conditions. First condition is most of Gunung Telapak Burok radio stations have frequency separation about 200-300kHz with Gunung Ulu Kali, even City Plus FM 106.0MHz has 300kHz with Lite FM 105.7MHz Gunung Ulu Kali. According to MCMC, 400kHz frequency separation between Gunung Telapak Burok and Gunung Ulu Kali is the best. High pass filter is required if separation is below than 400kHz.

Gunung Telapak Burok does not only cover Negeri Sembilan, its transmission can be gone to Klang Valley, Melaka, Central Pahang and North Johor, even some Indonesia territories can receive from Telapak Burok.

Second condition is increasing of transmission power beyond 2kW may interfere to existing radio stations coverage. Here is the radio frequency analysis below:

105.7MHz: Lite FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.0MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Telapak Burok
<300kHz>

106.0MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Telapak Burok
106.1MHz: Ai FM Bukit Pelindung
<100kHz>

According to RF analysis above, imagine if City Plus FM 106.0MHz occupies power beyond 2kW, it may interfere Ai FM and Lite FM within coverage areas. So, Lite FM and Ai FM listeners may face listening problems within Klang Valley and East Pahang respectively due to interference with City Plus FM within coverage areas respectively.

Third condition is about internationally transmission. If a Indonesia radio station (Pekanbaru, Dumai and surrounding areas) which locate closely to West Coast of Malaysia occupies 105.9, 106.0 or 106.1, City Plus FM 106.0 can interfere Indonesia radio stations' coverage areas.

Q3: Besides Gunung Ulu Kali, there are another lower sites which can cover Klang Valley like Bukit Sungai Besi and Kuala Lumpur Tower, why doesn't City Plus FM transmit from there?

A3: Unoccupied frequencies are very limited in Klang Valley. Although Bukit Sungai Besi and Kuala Lumpur Tower can cover Klang Valley, even reception in Kuala Lumpur is clearer than Gunung Ulu Kali due to nearer site, but Bukit Sungai Besi and Kuala Lumpur coverage are very limited.

There is FM 91.9MHz where likely can be occupied in Bukit Sungai Besi or KL Tower. In my opinion, I don't think 91.9MHz is not suitable to be located in Bukit Sungai Besi because it is very closed to Gunung Telapak Burok 91.7MHz, even Bukit Sungai Besi has no further distance from Gunung Telapak Burok. If City Plus FM occupied 91.9MHz in Bukit Sungai Besi, it will be interfered by 91.7MHz Telapak Burok in some Klang Valley areas itself.

FM 91.9MHz is more suitable to be located in KL Tower, but as today, none of commercial radio stations even IM4UFM located transmitters in KL Tower because of its reception quality in outskirt of KL. Plus, KL Tower is owned by RTM.

I speculated City Plus FM uses Gunung Telapak Burok 106.0MHz, instead of Bukit Sungai Besi because they are seeking for wider coverage areas, instead of clearer reception by using nonstrategic locations like Bukit Sungai Besi that I mentioned above.

Bukit Sungai Besi and Kuala Lumpur Tower can be received in Klang Valley and Nilai of Negeri Sembilan only, but Gunung Telapak Burok can be received in Negeri Sembilan, Klang Valley (southern part is clear), Melaka, North Johor (only Tangkak, Muar and Segamat), as well as Central Pahang.

If Gunung Ulu Kali tower still has space, City Plus FM transmit there on FM 106.1MHz to cover Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan, South Perak, West Pahang, parts of Melaka and some Johor areas.

In conclusion, hereby I only voice out my comments and opinions, but MCMC is the key regulator to manage the spectrum allocation.