Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz received in Bandar Seri Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Most difficult FM DX signal monitoring ever due to interference noise from Johor FM 105.3MHz Gunung Ledang transmitter.

 

The Indonesia public radio station based in Batam, known as Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz, can be received in Batam, Singapore and Malaysia's Southern Johor.

 

My friend was used to receive RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz in Segamat where located in Northeast Johor, however I break the DX record of receiving RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz in Malaysia in terms of distance.

 

On 13th March 2022, alongside Jelebu, I also dropped by Bandar Seri Jempol before visiting Batu Kikir and Kuala Pilah. From Simpang Durian to Batu Kikir, I was monitoring Pahang FM 102.2MHz (Bukit Fraser), Melaka FM 102.3MHz (Gunung Ledang) and Johor FM 105.3MHz (Gunung Ledang) signal, then I randomly tuned my radio frequency dial to FM 105.1MHz in Serting Tengah, I heard very weak signal of RRI Batam PRO-1.

 

Initially I would like to stop at the road side in Serting Tengah to record the signal, but due to road safety, I didn't make it in order to take care of myself and other road users. In addition, RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz signal was extremely bad and quickly disappeared in Serting Tengah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

 

Interference signal along the road between Serting Tengah and Air Hitam is heard on FM 105.1MHz. I couldn't record the video because RRI Batam PRO-1 propagation was very short.

Then, I drove to Bandar Seri Jempol, some signal was heard on FM 105.1MHz nearby the public park.

Hence, I received the signal of RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz at Taman Awam Bandar Seri Jempol (the public park) to substitute Serting Tengah.

Signal propagation didn't hold long when I tuned to RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz in Bandar Seri Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Fortunately, I recorded RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz signal at the public park, but the radio station was airing Muslim's afternoon prayer (Azan Zuhur). 

 

Better than nothing!

Signal was very weak and difficult to be heard in Bandar Seri Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia because it was rapidly disappeared, caused I needed more time to hear the propagation like fishing. Besides that, adjacent channel interference from RTM Johor FM 105.3MHz Gunung Ledang transmitter was detected.

 

Bandar Seri Jempol is my very first Negeri Sembilan location to receive Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz.

 

Compare to the receiving Indonesia radio stations in Teluk Intan, Sitiawan and Bagan Datuk which I did during Chinese New Year holidays in 2022, RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz reception in Bandar Seri Jempol is the most difficult FM DX ever in the history.

 

- Frequency: FM 105.1MHz

- Power: 5kW

- Transmission site: Sekupang, Batam City, Riau Islands, Indonesia

- Receiving site: Bandar Seri Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

- Distance: 261km

- Receiving date/time: 13.03.2022 1314H (UTC+8)

Indonesia FM radio stations from Pekanbaru City received in Pantai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

On 13th March 2022, I rolled out FM DXing activities again by revisiting several locations in Negeri Sembilan state, Malaysia.

Jelebu is my core location of FM DXing for March 2022, meanwhile Jempol and Kuala Pilah are my side trip.

From Balakong to Jelebu, I will usually pass through Mantin because I go through Lenggeng when driving to Kuala Klawang which is nearer than going via Seremban. After Lenggeng, I pass by Pantai.

 

Before Jeram Toi, when I drove uphill from Pantai to Kuala Klawang, I randomly tuned to any radio stations by pressing the dial to MY FM 101.8MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali. In between Pantai and Jeram Toi, I heard the co-channel interference on FM 101.8MHz suddenly.

 

MY FM and an unknown radio station which broadcast in either Malay or Indonesian, are clashing each other on the frequency FM 101.8MHz.

To identify the radio station, I decided to stop my car at a side and recorded the videos.

FM 101.8MHz was Smart FM from Pekanbaru, Indonesia. Alongside Smart FM Pekanbaru, I also caught Radio Republik Indonesia RRI PRO-1 on FM 99.1MHz too.

Transmission distance from Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia to Pantai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia is about 265km.

RRI Pekanbaru PRO-1 FM 99.1MHz signal was quite clear at the uphill road in Pantai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, meanwhile Smart FM 101.8MHz signal was bad due to interference with MY FM 101.8MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.

Apart of Smart FM 101.8MHz and RRI Pekanbaru PRO-1 FM 99.1MHz, I also caught FM 100.5MHz from Pekanbaru when MY FM 100.6MHz Gunung Telapak Burok signal was weak, but I couldn't record it under consideration of traffic safety, and the signal was quickly disappeared.

The signal of FM 99.1MHz and FM 101.8MHz from Pekanbaru, Indonesia were quickly faded and disappeared once entering Jeram Toi and Jelebu district.

Why doesn't Rakita FM 107.9MHz (formerly known as iM4U FM) locate its transmitter site in Gunung Ulu Kali to reach greater Klang Valley, instead of Bukit Sungai Besi?

 

The Kuala Lumpur based young oriented Malay language radio station Rakita broadcasts on FM 107.9MHz, transmitted from Bukit Sungai Besi.

 

Launched in January 2019, previously it was known as iM4U FM from March 2013 to June 2018.  

 

Rakita FM 107.9MHz transmitter location is in Bukit Sungai Besi, it covers Klang Valley and small part of Negeri Sembilan (Nilai and Mantin), but it can't reach its coverage to Rawang, Hulu Selangor, and Sabak Bernam in Selangor like other radio stations such as BFM 89.9, GoXUAN 88.9 and others.

 

Back to 2015, during iM4U FM era, I was used to suggest to shift its transmission site to Gunung Ulu Kali in order to reach more areas than existing Bukit Sungai Besi. Until today, Rakita FM 107.9MHz is still transmitted from Bukit Sungai Besi, instead of Gunung Ulu Kali.

 

To transfer transmitter site, it is also costly and more difficult to do so. Transferring existing transmitter system and antenna system from Bukit Sungai Besi to Gunung Ulu Kali can't guarantee the entire system can be used in new site (Gunung Ulu Kali) because the parameter and signal propagation would be much different. Besides that, radio broadcaster may have to spend more money to replace the equipment of the system when it shifts to new site.

 

Unavailable space in Gunung Ulu Kali tower to fit Rakita FM 107.9MHz transmitter system and cost factors maybe the part of reason, but I realize there are other technical reasons too.

 

==Reason 1==

* Minnal FM broadcasts on FM 107.9MHz from Bukit Larut to cover Taiping, Kuala Kangsar and Northwest Perak, it also backs up areas in Manjung district such as Sitiawan, Ayer Tawar, Pantai Remis, Sri Manjung, Pangkor and Lumut where Minnal FM's Ipoh frequency FM 98.9MHz from Gunung Kledang suffers adjacent channel interference (ACI) with 988 FM 98.8MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali. 

 

If Rakita FM 107.9MHz transmits from Gunung Ulu Kali, it can cause interference to Minnal FM 107.9MHz Bukit Larut coverage in backup areas of 98.9MHz Gunung Kledang as I mentioned above.

 

==Reason 2==

* The frequency FM 107.9MHz is located at the bordering band next to airband (VHF 108-137MHz). In certain countries, usage of this frequency could cause interference to the airband frequeny if there is no regulation.

* Gunung Ulu Kali transmission actually can overspill to Indonesia territory, mainly east coast of Riau province such as Kota Dumai, Pulau Rupat and the regency of Rokan Hilir, the signal reception of Gunung Ulu Kali radio stations are very clear there (except Pahang FM 107.5MHz, Asyik FM 102.5MHz).

 

In Riau province, there are two airports in Dumai and Pekanbaru. By going through the research, Rakita FM 107.9MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali can cause interference to Dumai Airport airband operation. 

Indonesia broadcast regulator KOMINFO doesn't allow radio broadcasters to transmit higher power more than 100W, even higher antenna height from FM 107.6MHz to FM 108.0MHz because the transmission on these frequencies can cause interference to airband operation. 

 

Usage of FM 107.9MHz by Rakita in Gunung Ulu Kali can cause interference to Indonesia airband frequency (especially Dumai Airport air traffic control). Interference between FM broadcast and airband can led flight incidents (the passengers', pilots and cabin crews may be injured or death) due to aircraft navigation is interrupted badly. 

 

In conclusion, it is safer to use 107.9MHz in Bukit Sungai Besi than Gunung Ulu Kali because Bukit Sungai Besi radio transmission doesn't overspill to Indonesia territory like Gunung Ulu Kali, Gunung Telapak Burok, Gunung Ledang and Gunung Pulai.

List of Indonesia DVB-T2 digital terrestrial teleivision channels in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia

CH28 (UHF 530MHz)

* Trans7 Nunukan

* Trans TV Nunukan

* CNBC Indonesia Kalimantan Utara

* CNN Indonesia Kalimantan Utara

* Kompas TV

 

CH34 (UHF 578MHz)

* TVRI Nasional

* TVRI Kalimantan Utara

* TVRI World

* TVRI Sport

 

CH38 (UHF 610MHz)

* tvOne Nunukan

* antv Nunukan

 

CH42 (UHF 642MHz)

* Metro TV Kalimantan Utara

* Magna Channel Kalimantan Utara

* BNTV Kalimantan Utara (Business News TV)

 

Transmission site: Nunukan, North Kalimantan province, Indonesia