5 years ago, I highlighted my suggestion regarding Perak FM coverage in Pengkalan Hulu, Perak by proposing RTM to launch Perak FM in Bukit Palong, Baling, Kedah.
As this suggestion is 5 years anniversary today, so I decide to make frequency analysis regarding Perak FM Pengkalan Hulu frequency from Bukit Palong transmitter site.
In Pengkalan Hulu, only Bukit Palong is the ideal transmitter tower site to cover the Far North Perak town. Although Pengkalan Hulu can receive Gunung Jerai radio station, but Gunung Jerai is not ideal site for Perak FM to cover Pengkalan Hulu because not all locations in Pengkalan Hulu can receive radio signal from Gunung Jerai, Kelian Intan (a village between Pengkalan Hulu and Gerik) is the blind spot area of Gunung Jerai.
The proposal that I made is based on the concept of RTM state stations "crossover" to other state where some RTM state radio stations install transmitter in neighboring state which is not their intended coverage. Example:
1. Negeri FM 107.7MHz in Gunung Ledang (Johor)
Fact: Covering Gemas, Gemencheh, Felda Lui, Simpang Pertang and FELDA Palong.
2. Perak FM 94.7MHz in Gunung Brinchang (Pahang)
Fact: Covering Perak areas next to Cameron Highlands border
3. Mutiara FM 93.9MHz in Gunung Jerai (Kedah)
Fact: Covering Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong and Teluk Bahang where are blind spot areas of FM 95.7MHz Bukit Penara
4. Kelantan FM 107.1MHz in Bukit Bintang (Terengganu)
Fact: Covering East Kelantan nearby Besut
There are some vacant frequencies in Bukit Palong, can be recommended for Perak FM Pengkalan Hulu transmission, but frequency assignment is decided by MCMC at final stage. Hence, I make decision to do some analysis.
FM 103.9MHz/104.0MHz/104.1MHz, and FM 104.7MHz.
==Proposed parameter==
* Transmitter site: Bukit Palong, Kedah
* Transmitter power: 0.5kW OR 1kW
* Antenna type: Directional (Yagi/Log-Periodic/Panel)
==RF analysis==
1. FM 103.9MHz
103.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Larut
<200kHz, OK>
103.6MHz: Era FM Gunung Jerai
103.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
<300kHz, OK>
103.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.0MHz: Smart Radio Hatyai, Thailand
<100kHz, OK>
2. FM 104.0MHz
104.0MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Larut
<100kHz, OK>
103.6MHz: Era FM Gunung Jerai
104.0MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
<400kHz, OK>
104.0MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.0MHz: Smart Radio Hatyai, Thailand
<0kHz, OK>
104.0MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Larut
<100kHz, OK>
3. FM 104.1MHz
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Larut
<0kHz, OK, SFN>
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.4MHz: Lite FM Gunung Jerai
<300kHz, OK>
104.0MHz: Smart Radio Hatyai, Thailand
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
<100kHz, OK>
4. FM 104.7MHz (as proposed in 2015)
104.7MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.9MHz: Melody FM Bukit Larut
<200kHz, OK>
104.4MHz: Era FM Gunung Jerai
104.7MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
<300kHz, OK>
104.7MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.8MHz: Langkawi FM Gunung Raya
<100kHz, OK>
104.7MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
105.1MHz: Kedah FM Bukit Dedap
<400kHz, OK>
Based on basic RF analysis above, all frequencies listed above can be used in Bukit Palong because they have no interference when Perak FM operates in Bukit Palong. However, it is interesting if Perak FM uses 104.1MHz in Bukit Palong, perhaps same frequency as Bukit Larut.
RTM still needs to do Thailand frequency studies before launching Perak FM in Bukit Palong because Pengkalan Hulu is under international coordination. Yala and Betong are the required locations to be studied by broadcaster.
Look back some existing RF analysis, there are some Bukit Larut radio stations are using same frequencies with Bukit Palong, but different radio stations, therefore they cause co-channel interference in Penang.
Hot FM and Suria FM in Bukit Larut Taiping are same frequencies with Kedah FM and Traxx FM in Bukit Palong Baling.
90.5MHz: Hot FM Bukit Larut
90.5MHz: Kedah FM Bukit Palong
<0kHz>
91.7MHz: Suria FM Bukit Larut
91.7MHz: Traxx FM Bukit Palong
<0kHz>
When comes to Perak FM, if FM 104.1MHz is used in Bukit Palong for Pengkalan Hulu, it will not cause interference within the coverage areas because Perak FM operates FM 104.1MHz in two different sites for different targeted areas under SFN.
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong
104.1MHz: Perak FM Bukit Larut
<0kHz, OK>
According to the RF analysis above, this is considered as "Single Frequency Network" (SFN) on FM radio band. Single Frequency Network is same radio station uses a frequency in different site, actually this is a suitable configuration for digital terrestrial transmission (DVB-T2/ATSC/DTMB/ISDB/DRM/DAB+), meanwhile it is less suitable for analogue transmission.
Perak FM will have self interference in Penang on FM 104.1MHz from Bukit Larut and Bukit Palong, but Penang is not its broadcast coverage region.
Distance between Bukit Palong and Bukit Larut is 85km.
In addition, there is also SFN (single frequency network) in Penang, and Perak on FM radio.
102.7MHz: IKIM FM Bukit Genting
102.7MHz: IKIM FM Gunung Kledang
<0kHz, OK>
RTM Bukit Penara (except Mutiara FM 95.7MHz) and RTM Bukit Genting (except Mutiara FM 90.9MHz) are operating under Single Frequency Network (SFN).
In addition, it matches with Perak FM's frequencies publications on its website and social media platform if Perak FM is assigned on FM 104.1MHz in Bukit Palong, Kedah because Taiping and Pengkalan Hulu are classified as Perak Utara (North Perak), meanwhile Pengkalan Hulu is Far North Perak (Perak Utara Jauh) where it is very far from Taiping.
Although Taiping, Selama, Parit Buntar and Pengkalan Hulu are often classified as North Perak, but Taiping, Selama and Parit Buntar are considered as "Lower North Perak", in the meantime Pengkalan Hulu, Lawin, Lenggong and Gerik are considered as "Upper North Perak" (I called it as Far North Perak; based on Australian English term where there is Far North Queensland FNQ in Queensland state, 1800km away from Brisbane).
In terms of frequencies publication, it sounds easier actually.
FM 104.1MHz Perak Utara (Taiping + Parit Buntar + Bagan Serai + Selama + Kuala Kangsar + Pengkalan Hulu)
By reading it above, some of people may thought Perak FM uses Bukit Larut transmitter to cover Pengkalan Hulu. In fact, it doesn't, instead Perak FM adds FM 104.1MHz in Bukit Palong to cover Pengkalan Hulu. For your information, Pengkalan Hulu can't receive any radio stations from Bukit Larut, even Gerik, Lawin, and Gunung Kledang.
If Perak FM launches in Bukit Palong, Pengkalan Hulu is covered, neighboring towns such as West Gerik, Klian Intan, Baling, Kedah and Betong, Thailand can receive Perak FM. In Betong, Thailand, there will have four RTM Malay language radio stations, this can attract Thai Malay listeners in Betong.
I hope RTM will consider to expand Perak FM coverage in Pengkalan Hulu from Bukit Palong which I proposed 5 years ago, they can release a tender for it.
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