My opinion regarding Asyik FM coverage expansion in Eastern Pahang

 

In Pahang, RTM Asyik FM is available on 102.5MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali for Western Pahang (Bentong, Temerloh, Bera, Raub, Lipis and Chenor), 99.9MHz Bukit Botak for Damak, and 105.1MHz Gunung Brinchang for Cameron Highlands, these existing frequencies cover majority Orang Asli areas in Pahang, notably western part.

One thing I almost overlooked, East Pahang has Orang Asli people too, but Asyik FM has no frequency to cover East Pahang yet. Orang Asli people within Eastern Pahang are staying in Pekan, Muadzam Shah, Kuala Rompin and Gambang.

Normally main transmitter East Pahang is from Bukit Pelindung because it mainly covers Kuantan, the state capital of Pahang where it is urban town.

Because there is many Orang Asli people in East Pahang, RTM shall expand Asyik FM's coverage there by adding in a strategic transmitter site, rather than gap filler site.

In East Pahang, there are 4 radio transmitter sites, including pocket filling site:

1. Bukit Pelindung covers Kuantan, Pekan, West Gambang, Sungai Lembing and Southern Terengganu
2. Bukit Sulai covers Gambang, Seri Jaya and part of Pekan where are blind spot of Bukit Pelindung
3. Kuala Rompin covers Kuala Rompin and Tioman Island
4. Bukit Sembilan covers Muadzam Shah, Keratong, Bukit Ibam. 

Bukit Pelindung coverage

Bukit Sulai coverage

To cover Orang Asli areas in East Pahang, Bukit Pelindung and Bukit Sulai are less suitable to be used as Asyik FM because both transmission sites coverage are not mainly covering Orang Asli areas in East Pahang, actually both of them cannot cover Muadzam Shah where has Orang Asli people due to terrain.

In my opinion, Bukit Sembilan is more suitable for this Orang Asli radio station, compare to other radio stations who are transmitted from Bukit Pelindung. Currently Pahang FM 88.0MHz is only Bukit Sembilan radio station, but operated at 0.1kW which very limited for Muadzam Shah, and Bukit Ibam. The transmission of Bukit Sembilan can cover Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Muadzam Shah, Keratong and Bukit Ibam perfectly if transmission power is higher at least 1.5kW.

Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan coverage at 2kW (suggestion)

RTM can launch Asyik FM in Bukit Sembilan actually with higher power transmitter.

==My suggestion of Asyik FM Eastern Pahang frequency==

* Frequency: FM 100.8MHz

* Power: 1.5kW or 2kW

* Transmitter site: Bukit Sembilan, Pahang

* Main coverage: Muadzam Shah, Bukit Ibam, Keratong, Pekan, Kuala Rompin and part of Kuantan/Gambang

According to the coverage map of Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan, it can cover Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Keratong, Muadzam Shah, Bukit Ibam, and part of Gambang/Maran/Kuantan, even Segamat of Johor and East Negeri Sembilan still can receive Asyik FM 100.8MHz from Bukit Sembilan.

==RF analysis of Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan==

100.4MHz: one FM Bukit Pelindung
100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
<400kHz, OK>

100.6MHz: MY FM Gunung Telapak Burok
100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
<200kHz, OK>

100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
100.9MHz: Selangor FM Gunung Ulu Kali (Selangor sahaja)
<100kHz, OK>

100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
101.1MHz: MY FM Bukit Pelindung
<300kHz, OK>

100.4MHz: Ai FM Gunung Ledang
100.8MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Sembilan 2kW
<400kHz, OK>

If Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan frequency is activated one day, Selangor FM 100.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali coverage in Pahang will be limited. In addition, it will not interfere Selangor FM 100.9MHz Gunung Ulu Kali coverage in Pahang as Pahang is not under Selangor FM coverage.

The transmission of Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan will not affect MY FM 100.6MHz Gunung Telapak Burok coverage in East Jempol much as MY FM listeners can tune to 106.4MHz from Gunung Ledang. In addition, East Jempol is not under Gunung Telapak Burok coverage as it is blocked by Pasoh hill where located between border of Jempol-Jelebu district.

Other than southern and east Pahang, Asyik FM 100.8MHz Bukit Sembilan still can be received in FELDA Palong, Sungai Sompo, Kampung Sungai Lui, FELDA Lui and Ladang Geddes of Negeri Sembilan, people in these areas can listen to Asyik FM on 100.8MHz, clearer than low power Gunung Ledang FM 95.6MHz where beam to southeast direction only for Segamat, Chaah, Bekok, Lapis and Kluang.

Regarding the frequency, I do suggest FM 100.8MHz as it will not create interference with other radio stations, plus if other frequency such as FM 101.8MHz, FM 92.8MHz and FM 94.5MHz, they will create interference to Gunung Ulu Kali radio stations in Bera, Teriang and Kemayan where are under coverage, meanwhile Selangor FM 100.9MHz does not cover Bera, Teriang and Kemayan. Moreover, FM 100.9MHz was used to become my personal study for Gunung Ledang, but the frequency is not suitable to be used as FM 100.9MHz Gunung Ledang will be interfered by Selangor FM within the coverage, notably northwest Melaka areas.

With Asyik FM Eastern Pahang frequency FM 100.8MHz from Bukit Sembilan, Orang Asli listeners in Pekan, Kuala Rompin, Gambang, Muadzam Shah, Keratong, Bukit Ibam, East Jempol, FELDA Palong, Batu Anam and part of Kuantan can receive this radio station loudly and clearly. So, Orang Asli in these areas can get more information and news by tuning Asyik FM.

In conclusion, I do wish RTM will consider to expand Asyik FM to Eastern Pahang as part of future plan.