Monday 27 November 2017

City Plus FM Penang frequency suggestion: Bukit Larut



City Plus FM is a Chinese business radio station which operated by CENSE Media Sdn Bhd since November 2016 for trial transmission, and official transmission since May 2017. It is transmitted from Gunung Telapak Burok on FM 106.0MHz to cover Negeri Sembilan, Klang Valley, Central Pahang, Northeast Johor and parts of Melaka.

For northern region, Penang is important as there are many business areas and SMEs, but the frequency is super limited there.

In my opinion, City Plus FM can launch transmitter in Bukit Larut to beam northwest direction to cover Penang. Although North Perak has less SMEs, but it is bonus area. For the frequency, only FM 93.1MHz is available.

I do suggest Bukit Larut, instead of other sites such as Seberang Jaya and Bukit Penara because Bukit Larut is the highest hill in northern region of Malaysia (1349 meters). Plus the frequency FM 93.1MHz looks more suitable as there is likely no interference to existing radio.

==City Plus FM Penang frequency suggestion==
Frequency: FM 93.1MHz
Power: 2kW
Transmitter site: Bukit Larut

==RF analysis of City Plus FM Penang frequency==

92.8MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Jerai
93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
<300kHz, OK>

93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
93.3MHz: Minnal FM Bukit Palong
<200kHz, OK>

93.0MHz: Radio Thailand Betong
93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
<100kHz, OK>

93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
93.1MHz: Nasional FM Gunung Brinchang
<0kHz, OK>

92.7MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Kledang
93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
<400kHz, OK>

92.9MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Ulu Kali
93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
<200kHz, OK>

From here, if City Plus FM uses 93.1MHz in Bukit Larut, although it never interfere Radio Thailand Betong 93.0MHz coverage within Betong Thailand, but the reception of Radio Thailand Betong 93.0MHz won't be received in Penang, instead signal is being overlapped by City Plus FM 93.1MHz. In addition, I don't think there is problem if co-channel frequency with Nasional FM 93.1MHz Gunung Brinchang because Nasional FM 93.1 covers Cameron Highlands only. Alternatively and exactly Nasional FM can be tuned in affected areas on FM 90.9MHz from Gunung Kledang and FM 107.1MHz from Bukit Larut, even FM 95.3MHz Gunung Ulu Kali is available when comes to South Perak such as Tapah and Tanjung Malim.

Previously I considered 93.2MHz, but now I don't suggest FM 93.2MHz because it will cause interference with Minnal FM 93.3MHz Bukit Palong in Penang. So, City Plus FM reception will be worse in Penang if use 93.2 from Bkt Larut.

With Bukit Larut transmitter, City Plus FM doesn't only cover Taiping and Penang, even some Ipoh areas can receive the station.

It is enough when City Plus FM has two frequencies in Peninsular Malaysia.

106.0FM: Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan, Central Pahang, Northeast Johor, and parts of Melaka
93.1FM: Penang and Taiping



2 comments:

  1. I think 988 should give their Bukit Penara 94.5FM to Cityplus FM as the frequency was redundant for most part of Penang (except western side of Penang Island) since the state can receive Gunung Jerai 96.1FM or Maxwell Hill 101.0FM with decent to great signal. Then again it would depend on 988 or Star Publication willing to give the rights to Cityplus FM since 988 was the number one Chinese-language station in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia/most of Cityplus FM DJs are former 988 DJs and how much the acquisition cost Cityplus FM need to handle if 988 was given green light on this, and we have to consider if MCMC allowed this frequency acquisition happen.

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