Friday, 23 February 2018

Bukit Gasing FM radio coverage (if FM broadcast infrastructure is available)

TM Bukit Gasing tower


In Klang Valley,  there are no available FM radio frequencies where can be used in main transmitter sites now, such as Gunung Ulu Kali, Bukit Sungai Besi and Kuala Lumpur Tower.

Previously I had mentioned that RTM added pocket filling transmitter in Fraser Hill for Nasional FM Raub and Lipis areas on FM 106.2MHz last month. In addition, I found there is another tower which likely intended to cover Klang Valley, it is Bukit Gasing. In Klang Valley, FM 91.9MHz and FM 99.7MHz are likely suitable to be intended by locating transmitter in Bukit Gasing.

Here are the coverage of Bukit Gasing:


==RF analysis of Bukit Gasing 91.9/99.7MHz==

a. FM 91.9MHz
91.5MHz: IKIM FM Gunung Ulu Kali
91.9MHz: Bukit Gasing
<400kHz, OK>

91.7MHz: Nasional FM Gunung Telapak Burok
91.9MHz: Bukit Gasing
<200kHz, OK>

91.9MHz: Bukit Gasing
92.0MHz: Nasional FM Hulu Langat
<100kHz, critical>

91.9MHz: Bukit Gasing
92.3MHz: Minnal FM KL Tower
<400kHz, OK>

b. FM 99.7MHz
99.3MHz: Raaga Gunung Ulu Kali
99.7MHz: Bukit Gasing
<400kHz, OK>

99.5MHz: Hot FM Gunung Telapak Burok
99.7MHz: Bukit Gasing
<200kHz, OK>

99.7MHz: Bukit Gasing
99.8MHz: Selangor FM Hulu Langat
<100kHz, critical>

99.7MHz: Bukit Gasing
100.1MHz: Traxx FM Gunung Ulu Kali
<400kHz, OK>


Based on both frequencies analysis above, 91.9 and 99.7 have 100kHz separation with RTM 92.0 and 99.8MHz Hulu Langat frequencies. Nasional FM 92.0MHz and Selangor FM 99.8MHz are gap filler frequencies which intend to cover only Hulu Langat, meanwhile Bukit Gasing coverage did not reach Hulu Langat, but there may have interference between Bukit Gasing and Hulu Langat around Cheras, Balakong, and Kajang.

Interference will be gone if Bukit Gasing antenna did not beam to southeast direction much in order to get protection.

In conclusion, FM 91.9MHz and FM 99.7MHz are not suitable to be used as high power transmitter site in Bukit Gasing because they can interfere Hulu Langat stations. Besides that, FM 91.9MHz and FM 99.7MHz are only suitable for lower power repeater stations to cover Klang Valley. Maximum power 0.5kW is allowed.




City Plus FM currently operates on 106.0MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok to cover Negeri Sembilan and Klang Valley, but reception is not clear at all in majority of Klang Valley areas. In my opinion, a low power repeater can be added in Bukit Gasing to provide better reception in Klang Valley areas such as Petaling Jaya, Puchong, Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Kepong, Setapak, Gombak and Ampang, but transmission fee is expensive if add a repeater. Therefore, I don't think it is worth to add repeater station in Bukit Gasing for City Plus FM, instead suggest to increase power to 3.5kW and install high quality filtering devices from Telapak Burok on 106.0MHz.