Saturday 30 March 2019

車內收聽City Plus FM手機應用程序教學短片


City Plus FM在巴生谷, 森美蘭, 馬六甲西部和彭亨部分地區是FM 106.0MHz, 古晉是FM 92.5MHz, 但這家電台在這些地區以外依然可以通過數碼平台收聽, 最重要的是下載City Plus FM手機應用程序.

在室內, 不管是辦公室或家裡通過手機應用程序收聽City Plus FM絕不是問題, 第一就是啟動藍芽連接影響, 第二可以使用AUX連接線從電話連結至具備AUX/Music Port的收音機.

但是在戶外, 尤其是車內, 有些人不太會怎樣通過數碼平台收聽City Plus FM. 車內的方式跟室內收聽是差不多一樣, 除了先進的Apple Car Play或Android Auto, 但有些汽車收音機沒有具備藍芽或AUX功能, 就需要最"古董", "老爺"的mp3 modulator來連結City Plus FM手機應用程序.

以下是我的教學影片, 向大家分享如何在車內通過手機應用程序收聽City Plus FM:

由於網絡科技發達, 數碼平台崛起. 許多人打開手機應用程序在車內聽歌, 電台推出手機應用程序來鎖定那些不在廣播範圍內的聽眾收聽, 這也會給傳統的數碼廣播電台DAB+ 打擊, 加上5G科技來臨 (馬來西亞砂拉越都說要發明7G科技), 車內收音機都漸漸具備網絡功能, 是針對電台或音樂應用程序而設的.

不在City Plus FM的廣播範圍內, 但要收聽這家高水準的中文電台? 我鼓勵大家下載City Plus FM應用程序來收聽, 應用程序內有兩家電台, 中馬City Plus FM 106和古晉City Plus FM 92.5, 大家可以自由選擇收聽.

Sunday 17 March 2019

If Singapore MediaCorp acquires NTV7 and TV9 from Media Prima?



Last week, we had known that Malaysia former ruling party UMNO is going to sell its stake in Media Prima. Then, few years ago Media Prima suffered huge loss revenue since 2014.

From 2018 onwards, all TV9 programs were end and filled by CJ Wow Shop TV shopping block when Media Prima attempted to rebrand NTV7 as Modern Malaysian channel, but ntv7 rebranding movement seemed unsuccessful due to low rating when came to end of 2018.

Due to unsuccessful rebranding of ntv7, from 2019, ntv7 is filled by CJ Wow Shop, but in Mandarin Chinese. From what I understand, Media Prima launches CJ Wow Shop on ntv7 (in Chinese) and TV9 (Malay) is to cover their loss revenue.

In my opinion, Media Prima shall close all analogue TV transmission as soon as possible because their TV stations are available for digital transmission. Media Prima also pays transmission fees to MYTV for digital terrestrial television, then the company still pays transmission fees to Telekom Malaysia for analogue terrestrial television, so Media Prima already pays double fees. Rather than paying duplicate transmission fees to TM for analogue TV, all their TV stations analogue transmitters must be shutdown.

TV3 and 8TV have better performance within Media Prima Television Networks, meanwhile ntv7 and TV9 recent performances are poor. If ntv7 and TV9 cannot gain revenue back via CJ Wow Shop, I suggest Media Prima to dispose ntv7 and TV9 to save operation costs.




When talk about disposal of NTV7 and TV9, simply dispose will not cover the revenue, but it is better to sell them to new party from Media Prima. For Malaysia TV companies, most of them may not interest to acquired these two disposed TV stations due to new company direction.



Our neighboring country, Singapore has famous broadcaster, known as MediaCorp. This company is quite successful in Singapore, Channel 5 and Channel 8 are the longest and most famous TV stations in Singapore.

Singapore kids and sports TV channel OKTO will be merged into Channel 5 since 1st May 2019. In Malaysia, the merger also happens for Media Prima. Technically, TV9 and NTV7 Malay contents were merged to TV3, meanwhile NTV7 Chinese contents were merged to 8TV.



Actually MediaCorp can expand its business to Malaysia by opening Malaysia branch, this can produce high quality content with its Singapore branch for Malaysia. For poor performance Media Prima TV channels, if these channels cannot survive with CJ Wow Shop within 3 years, what I suggest is Media Prima need to dispose NTV7 and TV9 and sell to MediaCorp Malaysia instead in terms of business deal between two companies.

If Media Prima sells NTV7 and TV9 to Astro, I don't think Astro is interesting to acquire them because both companies' license conditions are different. Astro is pay TV, meanwhile Media Prima is free-to-air TV CASP license holder.



If MediaCorp opens Malaysia branch, it may call as "MediaCorp Sdn Bhd". Same theory like Channel 5 famous drama, Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd in Singapore, but when Phua Chu Kang made drama in Malaysia with joint venture between Channel 5 and NTV7 around 2010, the drama was known as Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd.

Imagine if "MediaCorp Sdn Bhd" acquires ntv7 and TV9 from Media Prima, the Singapore based company may not retain the TV stations name, instead MediaCorp will fully rebrand the stations in order to produce high quality programs from Malaysia and Singapore.

In Singapore, MediaCorp has Vasantham for Indian community, but Malaysia has no free-to-air Tamil TV stations, it may feel unfair to Malaysia Indians.

By the way, here is my suggestion of rebranding channels if MediaCorp acquires NTV7 and TV9:

- NTV7>> English and Malay TV channel (Channel 7?)
- TV9>> Chinese and Tamil TV channel (Channel 9?)

Then, MediaCorp can produce "Crimewatch Malaysia" on either NTV7 or TV9.

Talk about logo, Channel 7 and Channel 9 will look like Singapore based Channel 5 and 8.




In conclusion, the suggestion regarding acquisition of NTV7 and TV9 from Media Prima by MediaCorp Malaysia may benefit both companies. First, Media Prima will not feel burden much of handling TV stations, mainly content and operation. Second, acquisition by MediaCorp for NTV7 and TV9 will create more competition in Malaysia free-to-air TV industry.



Friday 15 March 2019

List of empty FM frequencies in Betong, Thailand

Compare to Thailand radio stations in other provinces of Southern Region such as Satun and Songkhla (Hat Yai), Betong has more vacant frequencies.

Brief information: Betong is southernmost Thailand area which next to Malaysia border (Pengkalan Hulu, Perak).

- FM 93.75MHz (low power; Maximum 100W)
- FM 95.75MHz (low power; Maximum 250W)
- FM 101.75MHz
- FM 102.9MHz (uncommon Thailand frequency spectrum system)
- FM 105.0MHz (low power <100W)
- FM 105.5MHz
- FM 106.25MHz
- FM 107.75MHz


Although Betong is a district under Yala province of Thailand, but the listeners demand and taste between Yala and Betong are hugely different, so that's reason Radio Thailand launches district radio station known as Radio Thailand Betong FM 93.0MHz for the district to target Betong listeners, meanwhile Betong is not under main coverage of Yala radio stations, instead as distant radio stations.

Radio Thailand Yala FM 92.0/94.25/95.0MHz, Parliament Radio FM 89.0MHz and MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz are transmitted from Khao Pokyo in Bannang Sata district, they cover North-Central Yala province, Pattani and some areas within Narathiwat province. Although Betong is not covered, but Yala radio stations still be heard with weaker signal, also known as "DX" mode.

Yala is Thai-Malay Muslim majority area, so there are Muslim content on Yala radio stations. For Betong, it is mixed area in Thailand, so Yala radio content is not important much there.

Betong radio stations are also available in Pengkalan Hulu of Perak as well as Baling of Kedah for Malaysia, but it depends on the radio stations transmission parameters, such as antenna design and transmitting power.

Radio listeners taste:  Yala ≠ Betong

==Current Betong radio station lists== 
* FM 93.0MHz: Radio Thailand Betong (1kW)
* FM 99.5MHz: Love FM (0.03kW)






Saturday 2 March 2019

RTM launches gap filler transmitter in FELDA Terolak for Nasional FM and Radio Klasik



On 3rd February 2019, which fell 2 days before of Chinese New Year. While I traveled from Klang Valley to Teluk Intan Perak, there were two RTM radio stations Radio Klasik and Nasional FM broadcasted on 90.3MHz and 88.5MHz respectively where I detected the stations in Bidor and Teluk Intan.

Initially I was wondering where are these two radio stations transmitting from, then I made site speculations by predicting the site is either from FELDA Terolak or TLDM Lumut. Based on spectrum analysis, Radio Klasik FM 90.3MHz and Nasional FM 88.5MHz have 200kHz frequency separation from Gunung Kledang transmitted Traxx FM 90.1MHz and Radio Klasik FM 88.3MHz respectively. It is impossible that Lumut separates 200kHz from Gunung Kledang as Lumut is under Gunung Kledang coverage. So, I guessed they're transmitted from Terolak.

In order to get exact verification, so I decided to collect data by recording the reception video and uploaded to YouTube as evidences, next I chose to write in email to RTM, together attaching YouTube videos that I recorded. I collected the data by not only recording video on my TECSUN PL-380 receiver as well as Nissan Almera's radio in Teluk Intan and Bidor, I also recorded the audio from Samsung Galaxy V Plus radio receiver.

After I sent the email, I had been informed that RTM launched pocket filling transmitter for Radio Klasik 90.3MHz and Nasional FM 88.5MHz in Terolak, Perak. Terolak has two transmitting towers, first is in FELDA Terolak Timur, second is TM Terolak microwave towers which located beside MRSM FELDA Terolak, but reception in Sungkai is not clear, so I guess both are from FELDA Terolak Timur.

In my opinion, RTM adding FELDA Terolak (Timur) transmitter for Radio Klasik and Nasional FM is to cover blind spot areas within Terolak, Perak. I may believe the radio reception from existing Gunung Ulu Kali and Gunung Kledang are unstable and not clear in Terolak, Perak because it is hilly area. Other than newly launched radio transmitter, RTM does have analogue TV transmitter in FELDA Terolak (Timur).

Because Malay is the majority population in Terolak, Perak, other than Radio Klasik and Nasional FM, RTM shall also launch pocket filling transmitter in FELDA Terolak for Perak FM.

Radio Klasik and Nasional FM are RTM Malay nationwide stations, meanwhile Perak FM is Perak state Malay radio station, to me it is quite important for Perak FM to have Terolak frequency.

Perak FM operates three frequencies for Southern Perak, FM 95.6MHz from Gunung Kledang is the main transmitter to cover Ipoh, Central Perak, Teluk Intan, Manjung, Kampar and Sungkai, meanwhile FM 97.3MHz Changkat Rembian covers Tapah, Temoh, Bidor and Chenderiang, FM 89.6MHz Bukit Asa covers Slim River and Tanjung Malim.

In Terolak, Perak FM reception are not satisfied much, FM 97.3MHz Changkat Rembian, FM 89.6MHz Bukit Asa and FM 95.6MHz Gunung Kledang are weak. The existing transmitters are not covering Felda Terolak (Timur). In order to stabilize Perak FM reception in Southern Perak, there are two suggestions.

1. Perak FM shall add gap filler transmitter in FELDA Terolak

2. In order to make better reception for Slim River and Tanjung Malim, RTM Perak FM shall change Bukit Asa frequency from 89.6MHz to 107.1MHz, then increase transmitter power to 1kW.




==My suggestion on Perak FM Terolak frequency==
* Frequency: FM 92.4MHz
* Power: 1kW
* TX Site: FELDA Terolak Timur.

== RF analysis ==
92.1MHz: Ai FM Gunung Kledang
92.4MHz: Perak FM Terolak Timur
<300kHz, OK>

92.4MHz: Perak FM Terolak Timur
92.7MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Kledang
<300kHz, OK>

With Perak FM 92.4MHz, Terolak areas will get better and clearer reception than FM 97.3MHz and FM 95.6MHz.

Timeline of RTM pocket filling radio transmitters by year (Peninsular Malaysia)

RTM gap filler radio stations and frequencies by years

==2003==
* Bukit Senggora for Maran, Pahang: Radio Klasik 87.9MHz, Nasional FM 91.2MHz, Pahang FM 92.0MHz, Traxx FM 94.7MHz, Ai FM 89.6MHz, Minnal FM 90.4MHz
* Bukit Genting for Balik Pulau, Penang: Radio Klasik 101.7MHz, Nasional FM 93.9MHz, Mutiara FM 90.9MHz, Traxx FM 90.1MHz (now 88.5MHz), Ai FM 92.1MHz, Minnal FM 98.9MHz
* Bukit Dedap for Sik Kedah: Radio Klasik 99.5MHz, Nasional FM 102.7MHz, Kedah FM 105.1MHz, Traxx FM 105.9MHz, Ai FM 106.7MHz, Minnal FM 107.5MHz

==2006==
* Bukit Asa for Tanjung Malim, Perak: Perak FM 89.6MHz 

==2011==
* UUM Sintok: Radio Klasik 99.4MHz, Nasional FM 102.7MHz, Kedah FM 105.1MHz, Traxx FM 105.9MHz, Ai FM 106.7MHz, Minnal FM 107.5MHz 

==2014==
* Bukit Kemuning for Kemaman, Terengganu: Terengganu FM 90.7MHz
* Felda Paloh, Kelantan: Nasional FM 90.7MHz
* Bukit Sulai for Gambang, Pahang: Radio Klasik 89.2MHz, Nasional FM 88.3MHz and Pahang FM 95.5MHz
* Sedili, Johor: Radio Klasik 100.5MHz and Nasional FM 96.5MHz 
* Bukit Ladang Teh for Lenggong, Perak: Nasional FM 92.3MHz, Asyik FM 97.3MHz 
* Bukit Botak for Damak, Pahang: Nasional FM 89.4MHz, Pahang FM 107.2MHz and Asyik FM 99.9MHz

==2017==
* Batu 18, Hulu Langat, Selangor: Nasional FM 92.0MHz and Selangor FM 99.8MHz
* Bukit Fraser for Raub, Pahang: Nasional FM 106.2MHz

==2018==
* Bukit Fraser for Raub, Pahang: Radio Klasik 90.9MHz, Pahang FM 102.2MHz and Ai FM 97.1MHz
* FELDA Terolak, Perak: Radio Klasik 90.3MHz and Nasional FM 88.5MHz