988 FM can be received in Kelantan?

988 FM fka RFM 98.8 and Redi FM 98.8 is Malaysia oldest Chinese commercial radio station, from cable radio to FM terrestrial radio, operated by Star Radio Group. Until today, 988 FM broadcasts only Peninsular Malaysia except Kelantan and Terengganu.

988 FM did not expand coverage in Kelantan and Terengganu as there are very less Chinese demographics, compare to other states. At the same time, Kelantan and Terengganu have no commercial value for 988. For east coast region, 988 FM is only available in Kuantan on FM 90.4MHz from Bukit Pelindung. 

988 FM can be accessed in Southern Terengganu (Kemaman, Jabor, Cherul, Cheneh, Kijal and Chukai) on FM 90.4MHz from Kuantan. 988 FM 90.4MHz can be only received up to Kijal Terengganu, signal goes weak when reach Kerteh.

Listen to 988 FM via online or mobile app is not surprise, but it is very freak when Kelantan can receive 988 through a radio receiver.

Surprisingly, 988 FM can be received in part of Kelantan from a very far away transmitter site where more than 180km distance. In Kelantan, 988 FM is classified as distant radio station. 988 FM 96.1MHz from Gunung Jerai mainly covers Kedah, Perlis, Penang and some Langkawi areas, even it can be accessed in some Thailand areas such as Betong, Sadao, Danok and Satun. Perhaps its transmitter power is 10kW from Gunung Jerai, it can transmit to some Kelantan areas actually.

988 FM 96.1MHz from Gunung Jerai can be accessed in part of Kelantan, such as Kota Bharu, Kubang Kerian, Pasir Mas, Pengkalan Chepa and Wakaf Baharu. In Kelantan, Chinese people population is only 3%, I believe they are staying in north Kelantan areas including Kota Bharu. Technically, 988 FM can gain some Chinese listeners in Kelantan via 96.1MHz.

== RF analysis==

96.0MHz: MCOT Narathiwat

96.1MHz: 988 FM Gunung Jerai

<100kHz, OK>

96.1MHz: 988 FM Gunung Jerai

96.2MHz: Terengganu FM Bukit Bintang

<100kHz, OK>

Based on RF analysis above, there are no problem on spectrum allocation.

988 FM 96.1MHz cannot be accessed in Tumpat and Kelantan areas where nearby Thailand border due to MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz, meanwhile Kelantan areas where nearby Terengganu border cannot receive 988 FM 96.1MHz from Gunung Jerai due to Terengganu FM 96.2MHz Bukit Bintang.

I'm very appreciate to my friend from Kelantan for sending me 988 FM 96.1MHz reception in Kelantan through Whatsapp. The video shows that 988 FM 96.1MHz reception is taken at HUSM Kubang Kerian, nearby Kota Bharu. Gunung Jerai contributes much commercial driven in northern region, but it also serves some Kelantan areas.

Seriously, to get better reception of 988 in Kelantan, high quality (such as Tecsun, or Sony) radio receivers are recommended where have filtering devices to reduce interference noise. 

10 years ago, I was listening to 988 FM, I still remembered 988 FM DJ said that  the radio station was accessible in Kelantan.

Overall, 988 FM is available in Kota Bharu, Kubang Kerian, Pasir Mas and some flatted areas on 96.1MHz, meanwhile for south Kelantan such as Lojing and Gua Musang can receive 988 on either 98.8 or 99.8.