Previously I wrote an article about proposal of RTM Kelantan FM Gunung Brinchang transmitter for Lojing Highlands and made an analysis whether the transmission site can cover there or not.
When I feel doubt about it, so I personally made my enquiry to RTM about the matter.
Thanks to RTM broadcast engineer for the reply, I feel appreciate about that.
According to RTM engineer, Lojing actually cannot receive Gunung Brinchang FM radio signal, I was told that Nasional FM 93.1MHz Gunung Brinchang transmitter coverage in Lojing Valley, Kelantan is very little, most of areas cannot receive it.
Here is the simulation map of Nasional FM 93.1MHz Gunung Brinchang transmitter, provided by RTM engineer (for DXing reference only):
Look at the simulation coverage map of Nasional FM 93.1MHz, most of Lojing areas are not receivable, transmitter power is 100W.
In addition, some of my friends who were used to travel from Kelantan to Cameron Highlands, they claimed that Gunung Brinchang radio stations cannot be received in most of Lojing, Kelantan. In fact, Gunung Brinchang transmitter signal begins to be faded after Blue Valley when step into Kelantan border (Lojing) while going down hill to Gua Musang town.
I was used to watch a FM DX video in a private Facebook group. Traxx FM 90.1MHz from Gunung Kledang (Ipoh) and 105.3MHz from Bukit Larut (Taiping) were clearer and louder than 101.1MHz Gunung Brinchang in Pahang-Kelantan border (Cameron Highlands-Lojing Highlands).
If I have chance to travel Gua Musang when COVID-19 pandemic is less and disappeared, I will include Lojing trip. So, I plan to perform Kelantan FM radio signal test in Lojing.
As existing RTM Gunung Brinchang FM radio transmitters are only operating at 100W power, therefore I made a simulation coverage map of Kelantan FM 105.9MHz Gunung Brinchang at 1kW power transmitter via Nautel RF Toolkit. Parameter is created and tested by following below:
- Frequency: FM 105.9MHz
- Power: 1kW
- Transmitter site: Gunung Brinchang
- Antenna height: 45m
- Antenna configuration: 3 bay array Yagi directional antenna
- Antenna gain: 13.5dBd (3 x 4.5dBd)
- Targeting direction: Northeast (Lojing)
- Receiving antenna height: 10m
Note that Nautel RF Toolkit can only generates OMNI-directional antenna coverage map, so I look at Lojing coverage instead. Following the sample simulation map of RTM Nasional FM 93.1MHz field strength parameter, minimum field strength is 48dBµV/m, meanwhile minimum field strength for STEREO reception is 54dBµV/m.
About field strength level, I set my coverage plot of Kelantan FM 105.9MHz Gunung Brinchang at minimum 48dBµV/m (yellow), then 54dBµV/m (green).
Based on my coverage map of RTM Kelantan FM Gunung Brinchang at 1kW transmitter power, in fact it is nothing difference with RTM Nasional FM 93.1MHz simulation coverage map because both can't cover Lojing at all, regardless 100W or 1kW transmitter power, even antenna system configuration.
I put 3 bay array Yagi antenna (based on SIRA FM-07 model, each antenna has 4.5dBd gain), but the result of the coverage is same with Nasional FM 93.1MHz.
In conclusion, Gunung Brinchang radio transmitter can't still cover Lojing, even use medium-high power transmitter (1kW or 2kW) because Lojing is surrounded by many mountains. Moreover, Gunung Brinchang radio signal is blocked by multiple terrains in Lojing. However, according to Kelantan listeners, Kelantan FM can be received in Lojing by tuning to the frequency FM 97.3MHz from Bukit Bakar which is main transmitter of the radio station. For your information, FM 97.3MHz Bukit Bakar is the highest power among all Kelantan FM transmitter as it operates at 2kW.
When some people claims that Kelantan FM is receivable in Lojing on 97.3MHz from Bukit Bakar, hence it is not necessary to launch a gap filler transmitter to cover Lojing.
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