Wednesday 10 January 2018

Selangor FM launches additional frequency 99.8MHz



Selangor FM is RTM state radio station for Selangor, it broadcasts the information for Selangor state. Selangor FM broadcasts 100.9MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali for Selangor, it can be received in Kuala Lumpur, South Perak, West Pahang (Raub, Bentong and Karak only), and parts of Negeri Sembilan/Melaka.

Recently there is additional frequency of Selangor FM on 99.8MHz. According to them, Selangor FM 99.8MHz is mainly covering Hulu Langat areas where cannot receive FM 100.9MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali clearly as Hulu Langat is topographic and hilly area.

Same goes to Nasional FM, there is additional frequency on FM 92.0MHz. It is actually for Hulu Langat also. I was informed that Hulu Langat cannot receive Gunung Ulu Kali, Gunung Telapak Burok and Kuala Lumpur Tower signal clearly, so a gap filler transmitter is needed.

Actually some of South Selangor areas may not receive Gunung Ulu Kali radio signal clearly, normally these areas can receive Gunung Telapak Burok radio clearly. Since Selangor FM has no Gunung Telapak Burok frequency as it targets Selangor only, so I may believe that FM 99.8MHz from Hulu Langat does not only cover Hulu Langat itself, also with some blind spot areas:

- Cheras Batu 9
- Sungai Long hilly areas
- Bandar Teknologi Kajang
- Kajang Prison road

I received this radio station signal since 09.01.2018 in Balakong, Selangor (my home actually), reception is ok. Before Selangor FM operates a gap filler transmitter for Hulu Langat on 99.8, I could receive THR Raaga FM 99.7MHz from Gunung Ledang in my area, reception was ok. Since Selangor FM operates 99.8 for Hulu Langat, THR Raaga 99.7 is clashed by this radio station at my home. In addition, Selangor FM 99.8MHz also is clashed by THR Raaga 99.7 Gunung Ledang, but not serious.

99.7MHz: THR Raaga Gunung Ledang
99.8MHz: Selangor FM Hulu Langat
<100kHz>


Wednesday 3 January 2018

List of Nasional FM transmitters in Pahang



Here are the transmitter lists of Nasional FM in Pahang.

==Main transmitters==
- Gunung Ulu Kali: FM 95.3MHz (Bentong, Temerloh, Kemayan, Karak, Lanchang and Mentakab; also for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and South Perak)
- Bukit Pelindung: FM 107.1MHz (Kuantan and Pekan; also for Kemayan Terengganu)

==Gap filler transmitters (low power)=
- Bukit Istana: FM 93.5MHz (Jerantut)
- Bukit Senggora: FM 91.2MHz (Maran, Chenor, Chini and Jengka)
- Bukit Sulai: FM 88.3MHz (Gambang and Sri Jaya)
- Bukit Botak: FM 89.4MHz (Damak)
- Kampung Bantal Seberang: FM 89.3MHz (Ulu Tembeling & Taman Negara)
- Gunung Brinchang: FM 93.1MHz (Cameron Highlands)
- Bukit Fraser: FM 106.2MHz (Raub and Lipis)**
- Kuala Rompin: <not available>

**New gap filler transmitter, launched recently due to Raub areas cannot receive 95.3MHz Gunung Ulu Kali clearly, rural area Sungai Koyan cannot receive 95.3MHz technically.

Nasional FM has no Bukit Sembilan frequency as Muadzam Shah, Bukit Ibam and Keratong can receive the station either from Gunung Ledang on FM 96.6MHz or Gunung Telapak Burok on FM 91.7MHz.

FM 91.7MHz Gunung Telapak Burok also covers Bera district areas such as Bandar Bera and Teriang, also Manchis Pahang (nearby Jelebu Negeri Sembilan).

CONFIRMED: Nasional FM added frequency 106.2MHz in Fraser Hill for Raub, Pahang



After performed FM radio reception test in Lanchang Pahang by detecting Nasional FM 106.2MHz signal, I suspected four possible transmission sites on that frequency. Lanchang, Mentakab, Karak or Fraser Hill?

Today, I began to make reception test of FM 106.2MHz around Klang Valley areas like Puchong, Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Jalil) and Seri Kembangan, I received Nasional FM 106.2MHz signal, but it is very weak.

In Klang Valley, the best reception site is Gunung Ulu Kali. After I have done the findings of the investigation, I find that Nasional FM 106.2MHz is transmitted from Bukit Fraser (Fraser Hill) with 0.5kW power.

For Pahang areas, Nasional FM 95.3MHz Gunung Ulu Kali is actually for Bentong, Karak, Lanchang, Lurah Bilut, Mentakab, Temerloh and Kemayan. It also can be received in Raub, and Lipis, but not all of the areas can't receive Gunung Ulu Kali signal clearly, even no signal due to covered by hills. Actually Raub and Lipis are considered as topographic areas, same with Jerantut and Balik Pulau Penang.

In order to have better reception for these affected areas (Raub and Lipis), RTM added a gap filler transmitter for Nasional FM in Fraser Hill on FM 106.2MHz technically, but generally because 14th Malaysia general election is coming, I also could think that RTM added Nasional FM 106.2MHz in Fraser Hill for likely government propaganda tools as Nasional FM is RTM main radio station, formerly Nasional FM was merged into Klasik FM, became Klasik Nasional.

Klasik Nasional was formerly RTM prime radio station, infotainment radio with Malay classic songs, also with propaganda. Hehehehhe! XD

After demerger of Klasik Nasional, Muzik FM frequencies were taken over by Nasional FM since 2012 during Tan Sri Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais bin Yatim era (former Information, Communications, Culture Minister). Nasional FM became RTM prime radio station after 6 years hiatus.

==Basic technical information of Nasional FM Raub frequency==
Frequency: FM 106.2MHz
Power: 0.5kW (estimated)
Transmission site: Bukit Fraser, Pahang
Coverage areas: Raub and Lipis, Pahang







Monday 1 January 2018

List of radio stations with 300kHz separation each other within same coverage in Malaysia


Here are the radio stations run 300kHz frequency separation in same transmitter site, also within same coverage.

1. Gunung Kledang
87.6MHz: One FM
87.9MHz: Fly FM

2. Bukit Penara
89.9MHz: Fly FM
90.2MHz: Kool FM

3. Gunung Ulu Kali
103.0MHz: Melody FM
103.3MHz: Era

4. Gunung Pulai
101.1MHz: Minnal FM
101.4MHz: Suria FM

5. Johor Bahru and Singapore
98.4MHz: Melody FM Gunung Pulai
98.7MHz: 987FM Singapore Bukit Batok

These radio stations actually installed best quality high pass filter to reduce unwanted signal (interference).

For City Plus FM, actually it uses Gunung Telapak Burok on FM 106.0MHz to mainly cover Klang Valley as result there is no empty frequency in Gunung Ulu Kali. So, the reception of City Plus FM 106.0MHz is not clear in Klang Valley. In order to get better and clearer reception in Klang Valley, City Plus FM may be suggested to increase power to 3.5kW, but due to 300kHz separation with Lite FM 105.7MHz Gunung Ulu Kali, so high pass filter is required for both stations to reduce interference/unwanted signal.

105.7MHz: Lite FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.0MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Telapak Burok 3.5kW (originally for Seremban, but mainly for Klang Valley)
<300kHz>

City Plus FM雪隆區頻道建議(Part 2)



City Plus FM從2017年5月2日開台以來, 其頻率106.0還是從Gunung Telapak Burok (森美蘭/巴生谷南部)發射, 而非Gunung Ulu Kali發射.

去年2017年2月, 我被通知Gunung Ulu Kali發射塔沒有空間, 雖然空頻率還是存在.

2017年12月31日, 我就到彭亨州聯增大象村旅行. 其實彭亨州聯增收的電台訊號最清楚是來自Gunung Ulu Kali, 也是覆蓋巴生谷的電台頻道. City Plus FM 106.0MHz在彭亨還有地區可以聽到, 只是有些地區不清楚.

在彭亨聯增地區, 我突然間收到FM 106.2MHz的訊號, 這個頻率是馬來語電台, 而是RTM Nasional FM附加頻道. 雖然Nasional FM在彭亨西部地區的頻率是95.3, 但是突然有附加頻道106.2MHz, 發射地點未明. 我相信Nasional FM 106.2MHz的發射地點不是在加叻, 聯增或文德甲, 或許106.2MHz覆蓋彭亨西部內陸地區, 或許這些地區是未必收到95.3.

106.2MHz在聯增, 和加叻收到, 但是進入文冬訊號就消失.

自從Nasional FM在彭亨西部內某某地區使用106.2MHz, 這意味著City Plus FM使用Gunung Ulu Kali發射無緣, 因為中馬頻率已經飽和. 如果City Plus FM在Gunung Ulu Kali使用106.1MHz, 這會對Nasional FM 106.2MHz的覆蓋範圍產生干擾.

要讓巴生谷地區可以收到更加清晰的City Plus FM, 其實我個人有兩個建議:

1. City Plus FM在Bukit Sungai Besi增設頻率106.2MHz, 但是增設多一個頻率費用昂貴, 加上Bukit Sungai Besi的發射範圍不是很廣大.

2. City Plus FM原有的頻道106.0MHz Gunung Telapak Burok可以增加功率至3.5kW來覆蓋巴生谷, 但是因為頻率與Lite FM 105.7MHz Gunung Ulu Kali靠近300kHz, 所以高品質過濾器是需要的.

==300kHz RF analysis within same coverage==

1. Gunung Kledang
87.6MHz: One FM
87.9MHz: Fly FM

2. Bukit Penara
89.9MHz: Fly FM
90.2MHz: Kool FM

3. Gunung Ulu Kali
103.0MHz: Melody FM
103.3MHz: Era

4. Gunung Pulai
101.1MHz: Minnal FM
101.4MHz: Suria FM

5. Johor Bahru and Singapore
98.4MHz: Melody FM Gunung Pulai
98.7MHz: 987FM Singapore Bukit Batok

6. Klang Valley
105.7MHz: Lite FM Gunung Ulu Kali
106.0MHz: City Plus FM Gunung Telapak Burok