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.