On 2nd May 2017, Malaysia Chinese business radio station CityPlus FM was officially launched in Negeri Sembilan and South Klang Valley on FM 106.0MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok. In addition, I was used to propose CityPlus FM to expand coverage to Penang by plotting basic coverage report.
At that time, there had no available frequencies in Penang regardless the transmitter site from Gunung Jerai, Bukit Penara or Seberang Jaya. Therefore, I tried to propose CityPlus FM to use Bukit Larut as transmitter site to cover Penang because Taiping Bukit Larut was likely having available frequency to beam to Penang.
6 years ago, I listed four available FM frequencies for Taiping and Northwest Perak, such as 88.8MHz, 92.4MHz, 93.1MHz and 105.7MHz. As 2019, none of frequencies were suitable for CityPlus FM to cover Penang from Bukit Larut.
- 88.8MHz: Not suitable because IKIM FM fully upgraded Gunung Jerai transmission 89.0MHz to cause Taiping can receive loudly and clearly.
- 92.4MHz: Not suitable because interference to Nasional FM 92.3MHz Bukit Ladang Teh coverage in Lenggong, Sauk and Lawin.
- 93.1MHz: Not suitable because co-channel interference to Asyik FM 93.1MHz Bukit Ladang Teh coverage in Lawin, Sauk and Lenggong.
- 105.7MHz: Although the frequency is suitable to cover Taiping and North Perak with lower transmission power, but it is not suitable to beam Penang direction as it can cause co-channel interference to RTM Kedah FM 105.7MHz Gunung Raya coverage in Langkawi. In addition, by beaming signal from Bukit Larut to Penang on 105.7MHz, it could not guarantee Penang listeners will receive CityPlus FM 105.7MHz in Penang (especially Georgetown, Butterworth, Juru and Penang Island), instead co-channel interference signal from Kedah FM 105.7MHz Gunung Raya unless RTM Kedah FM changes the frequency.
Back to Q3 2017, I proposed CityPlus FM Penang frequency with 93.1MHz Bukit Larut at 2kW, even 3.5kW power (https://philipdxinglog.blogspot.com/2017/04/city-plus-fm-bukit-larut-932mhz.html). During that time, I had no much of data to look into existing spectrum analysis because I never been in Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Lenggong and Sungai Siput (U) before. Therefore, I classified FM 93.1MHz as available frequency in Bukit Larut.
After a year from the proposal event, I began to realize that RTM Asyik FM is using FM 93.1MHz in Bukit Ladang Teh for Lawin, Lenggong, Sauk and part of Gerik when I read older Asyik FM Facebook post. Then, I verified with RTM again, I was informed that Asyik FM uses 93.1MHz for Lenggong and Hulu Perak. After that, I found my proposal for CityPlus FM Penang frequency by using Bukit Larut site on 93.1MHz is not workable because co-channel interference to Asyik FM 93.1MHz Bukit Ladang Teh, Lenggong.
Here is the analysis:
92.8MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Jerai
93.1MHz: CityPlus FM Bukit Larut
<300kHz, OK>
93.1MHz: CityPlus FM Bukit Larut
93.1MHz: Nasional FM Gunung Brinchang
<0kHz, OK>
93.0MHz: Radio Thailand Betong
93.1MHz: CityPlus FM Bukit Larut
<100kHz, OK>
92.7MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Kledang
93.1MHz: CityPlus FM Bukit Larut
<400kHz, OK>
92.9MHz: Hitz FM Gunung Ulu Kali
93.1MHz: City Plus FM Bukit Larut
<200kHz, OK>
93.1MHz: CityPlus FM Bukit Larut
93.1MHz: Asyik FM Bukit Ladang Teh
<0kHz, co-channel interference>
According to the RF analysis above, FM 93.1MHz is no longer suitable to be used in Bukit Larut as interference to Asyik FM 93.1MHz Bukit Ladang Teh coverage. Moreover, Asyik FM uses the frequency there since late 2015.
During Christmas holiday week, I traveled to Taiping. I drove via main road after I exited from Ipoh toll in order to have breakfast in Sungai Siput (U). From Sungai Siput (U) to Kuala Kangsar, I could receive Asyik FM 93.1MHz from Bukit Ladang Teh in Salak Baru (West Sungai Siput (U) and Enggor, just a bit weaker of its receiving signal.
In conclusion, to expand broadcast coverage for CityPlus FM in Penang, I need to seek another proposed site (not to disclose here as I classify it as confidential), but at the same time, interference is the biggest concern.
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