Why does Kelantan FM has Besut frequency FM 107.1MHz from Bukit Bintang transmitter, despite Besut is not located in Kelantan?

 

Kelantan FM is RTM's state radio station for Kelantan state, but this radio station has a transmitter in Bukit Bintang, Terengganu on FM 107.1MHz.

 

Bukit Bintang transmitter is actually targeting Besut, Terengganu, it is also covers Setiu.

 

I was curious why does Kelantan FM have FM 107.1MHz in Bukit Bintang, despite Besut is located in Terengganu, not Kelantan.

 

While Terengganu FM has Bukit Bintang transmitter on FM 96.2MHz to cover Setiu and Besut, but Kelantan FM 107.1MHz can't be received in Setiu, Terengganu because Kelantan FM transmission in Bukit Bintang doesn't beam to Setiu as its directional antenna beams to north towards East Kelantan.

 

Kelantan FM has a transmitter in Bukit Bintang, Terengganu on 107.1MHz is actually to back up FM 97.3MHz Bukit Bakar coverage in Pasir Puteh district, Kelantan where it located nearby Terengganu border.

 

Although Pasir Puteh district can receive Kelantan FM 97.3MHz from Bukit Bakar, but 97.3MHz has adjacent channel interference from Traxx FM 97.0MHz from Bukit Bintang in certain areas such as Semerak, Cherang Ruku, Gong Kedak and Bukit Awang where located next to Terengganu border.

 

Although it is sufficient to have 300kHz frequency separation between Bukit Bakar and Bukit Bintang transmitters, but the problem is on the listeners' radio receivers due to quality condition. Some of radio receivers may have interference when receive radio stations which is 300kHz frequency separation away from local transmitter. My Panasonic RX-D48 is an example, I tuned to Melody FM 103.0MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali in Balakong, Selangor, but I could hear the interference of IKIM FM 102.7MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok.

 

Listeners in affected areas (Semerak, Cherang Ruku, Gong Kedak dan Bukit Awang) who tune to Kelantan FM on 97.3MHz from Bukit Bakar by using cheaper radio receivers which have poor filtering technology (non-DSP function) would hear the interference from Traxx FM 97.0MHz Bukit Bintang. As Kelantan FM has no alternative frequency in the affected locations, meanwhile 102.9MHz Wakaf Che Yeh signal is weak there, so RTM Kelantan FM launches Bukit Bintang on FM 107.1MHz to solve the interference between Kelantan FM 97.3MHz and Traxx FM 97.0MHz in Pasir Puteh district.

 

DSP = Digital Signal Processor

 

In conclusion, Kelantan FM 107.1MHz is for East Kelantan area (Pasir Puteh district).