(Tropo FM DX 2018) Unknown Thailand radio station FM 96.0MHz detected in Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia.

 

 

Sungai Sumun is a small town, located in Bagan Datuk district, Perak. It is 30km away from Teluk Intan, 129km from Ipoh, 19km from Bagan Datuk and 160km from Kuala Lumpur.

 

About the radio coverage in this small town, Sungai Sumun is covered by Gunung Ulu Kali and Gunung Kledang FM transmission, however I received something unusual radio signal there on FM 96.0MHz.

 

FM 96.0MHz is usually Suria FM Ipoh frequency from Gunung Kledang in Teluk Intan, Bagan Datuk, Selekoh, Sungai Sumun and Hutan Melintang, but when I drove from Sabak Bernam to Bagan Datuk, I caught unknown Thailand radio station which played oldies on FM 96.0MHz in Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia.

 

For the radio station, I could not fully identify what Thailand radio station on FM 96.0MHz was spotted in Sungai Sumun, Perak on the spot because I was driving. Hence, now I suspected two radio stations because they're Southern Thailand based. 

 

1. MCOT Narathiwat

2. Unity Radio Krabi

 

Now analyze MCOT Narathiwat FM 96.0MHz reception possibility in Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia. 

 

MCOT Narathiwat height above sea level is 9m, meanwhile its antenna height is 120m. Transmitter power is 1kW, effective radiated power is 4kW. In terms of tropospheric transmission to Sungai Sumun, Perak, I think the possibility is low because there are many terrains between Narathiwat and Sungai Sumun. Distance is 301km.

 

Next, Unity Radio FM 96.0MHz Krabi. The reception possibility in Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia was slightly higher than MCOT Narathiwat because there is no much terrain between Krabi and Sungai Sumun. Between both locations, actually it is the sea. Unity Radio TX site is located at Rodboon Road, Amphoe Mueang district, Krabi province, Thailand.

 

The distance between Unity Radio Krabi FM 96.0MHz TX site to Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia is 511km.

 

Due to geographical condition, I suspected FM 96.0MHz that I received in Sungai Sumun, Perak, Malaysia was Unity Radio Krabi FM 96.0MHz. Actually this is tropospheric interference to Suria FM 96.0MHz Gunung Kledang local radio station coverage by Unity Radio Krabi FM 96.0MHz. 

 

Footage was taken on 15.06.2018 1846H (UTC+8) 

 

==DX information==

Suspected radio station 1: MCOT Narathiwat

- Power: 1kW

- Transmission site: Mueang district, Narathiwat, Thailand

- Distance: 301km

- Tropospheric reception possibility in Sungai Sumun: Low 

 

Suspected radio station 2: Unity Radio Krabi

- Power: unknown

- Transmission site: Rodboon Road, Mueang district, Krabi, Thailand

- Distance: 511km

- Tropospheric reception possibility in Sungai Sumun: Medium

(Sporadic E DX 2018) Cambodia FM radio station spotted in Malaysia?

Back to 15th June 2018 during Hari Raya Aidilfitri festival, when I drove from Sabak Bernam to Bagan Datuk in the evening, I attempted to receive Radio Thailand Yala FM 95.0MHz in Sabak Bernam.

Surprisingly, I caught an unknown language radio station on FM 95.0MHz, it is definitely not Thai language, but likely Khmer language that I don't understand totally.

Hence, FM 95.0MHz that I caught in Sabak Bernam was Radio Bayon from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. According to Asiawaves.net, FM 95.0MHz operates with 24kW power transmitter. The signal that transmit from Cambodia to Malaysia was considered as Sporadic E propagation.

==Sporadic E DX report==

* Station name: Bayon Radio

* Frequency: FM 95.0MHz

* Transmission power: 24kW

* Transmission site: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

* Receiving site: Sabak Bernam, Selangor, Malaysia

* Distance: 969km

* Receiving date/time: 15.06.2018 1816H (UTC+8)

During Sporadic E propagation, Bayon Radio FM 95.0MHz had no interference from local stations in Sabak Bernam, Malaysia.

Malaysia Media Prima one FM is available in part of Batam, Indonesia on FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ledang

While many people complained that Media Prima One FM is not receivable in Singapore, regardless tuning on the frequency FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ledang and low power Johor Bahru repeater FM 105.3MHz from Taman Sentosa JB, surprisingly Batam can receive Media Prima One FM (Chinese radio station from Malaysia) on 88.1MHz.

There is a Batam based YouTuber, known as Farrel Vicky, recorded few footage of receiving One FM 88.1MHz in Batam, Indonesia. 

According to the footage, One FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ledang has no interference from Singapore 88.3 Jia FM in Batam. I believe his radio receiver has good quality filtering devices, so that's why 88.1 has no adjacent channel interference from Singapore Jia FM 88.3MHz.

 

==DX Information of receiving Media Prima One FM in Batam==

* Frequency: FM 88.1MHz

* Power: 2kW

* Transmission site: Gunung Ledang, Johor, Malaysia

* Receiving site: Batam, Indonesia

* Distance: 212km

While One FM can be tuned in certain areas of Batam, Indonesia via 88.1MHz from Gunung Ledang, but it does not mean Singapore can receive the station. In Singapore, there are more high rise buildings than Batam. In addition, Singapore already has local station Jia FM 88.3MHz, so One FM 88.1MHz Gunung Ledang is not receivable in Singapore and having interference from local radio station. Meanwhile FM 105.3MHz Johor Bahru transmitter from Taman Sentosa is not receivable too in Singapore because 105.3 is operating at super lower power transmitter and transmission antenna does not beam to Singapore direction. I believe One FM JB frequency 105.3MHz is directional panel antenna, likely transmit to northeast direction (Kota Tinggi can receive it, but not clear). 

When I was in Singapore, FM 105.3MHz is adjacent interference signal from Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz and PRO-2 FM 105.5MHz badly, somehow FM 105.3MHz is a weak signal of Radio Canggai Putri from Karimun, Indonesia, caught in Tuas and Marina Bay, Singapore.