It has been almost 14 years that BFM 89.9 broadcasts in Klang Valley, South Perak, large part of Pahang, and some part of Negeri Sembilan/Melaka/Johor. Since 2014, I noticed that BFM 89.9 was looking for Penang frequency, unfortunately the frequency application was not approved by MCMC.
In fact, BFM was trying to expand its broadcast coverage to Penang since 2009, however MCMC turned it down due to technical interference to existing radio station.
I involved myself to assist BFM to look for Penang frequency by creating my proposal since 2015. Since that, I began to be interested in broadcast engineering stuffs, despite I'm not coming from telecommunication background. In between that, I was introduced by the station founder of the broadcast transmission equipment company job. Hence, I joined the company (Malaysia branch Australia company) to try it out in April 2019, sadly due to personal issue, I left in May 2020. Despite I already left the job two years ago, I also would like to thank to the radio station founder for introducing me the job, meanwhile radio broadcast continues becoming my hobby (thus amateur).
MCMC already announced that the new frequency applications by new radio broadcasters are not considered as the regulator was studying FM frequency re-planning in 1st July 2019. However, the outcome was made in 2020.
MCMC stated that no new frequencies can be assigned in Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and locations nearby international borders (like Kota Bharu, Alor Setar, Kangar, Miri, Limbang, Lawas, Langkawi, Baling and Jeli), but MCMC hold a consultation session with all radio broadcasters to identify the appropriate platforms or methods in ensuring the continuity and development of the radio broadcasting industry in Malaysia. [MCMC Annual Report from 2020]
As MCMC mentioned Penang is the major city where no new FM frequency can be assigned in the summary report of frequency study outcome, so I don't think BFM can expand the coverage to Penang.
Nevertheless, I'm thinking about the proposed alternative site (outside Penang) for BFM to cover Penang (may be a partial transmission). Nearby Penang, outside main site Gunung Jerai, actually there is an alternative transmitter site in Kedah located nearby Penang, it is Bukit Sungai Kechil located in Bandar Baharu district of Kedah (nearby Nibong Tebal, Penang).
The transmitter tower in Bukit Sungai Kechil has only 1 radio station, namely RTM Kedah FM 88.5MHz which covers Bandar Baharu and Serdang of Kedah where they're blind spot areas of FM 97.5MHz Gunung Jerai. Technically, Bukit Sungai Kechil radio transmission can partially cover Penang areas, even it has distant signal receivable in Georgetown.
My proposal of BFM Penang frequency with alternative site:
- Frequency: FM 102.9MHz
- Power: 0.5kW
- Transmission site: Bukit Sungai Kechil, Kedah
- Antenna beaming angle: 310DEG
Proposed antenna model, antenna gain, and antenna height are not disclosed as they're confidential.
==RF Analysis==
102.9MHz: BFM Bukit Sungai Kechil
103.3MHz: Radio Klasik Bukit Larut
<400kHz, OK>
102.7MHz: IKIM FM Bukit Genting
102.9MHz: BFM Bukit Sungai Kechil
<200kHz, OK>
102.9MHz: BFM Bukit Sungai Kechil
102.9MHz: RTM Perak FM Lawin
<0kHz, OK>
102.9MHz: BFM Bukit Sungai Kechil
102.9MHz: RTM Perlis FM Padang Pauh
<0kHz, despite looks OK, but interference within Penang is the biggest concern>
Based on RF analysis, the transmission of FM 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil by BFM may look OK in main listening areas (Southern Seberang Perai, Bandar Baharu and Parit Buntar). Although the transmission of FM 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil doesn't cause interference to Perlis FM 102.9MHz coverage in Perlis, but what I concern the most is FM 102.9MHz Bukit Sungai Kechil being interfered by Perlis FM in Penang areas. Since I raise my concern, it seems that FM 102.9MHz Bukit Sungai Kechil transmission is not ideal when it comes to major cities and towns in Penang such as Butterworth, Georgetown, Gurney, Gelugor, Bukit Mertajam, Air Hitam and possibly Bayan Lepas because these locations have many high rises buildings and condominiums.
I feel doubt over the transmission of FM 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil whether it can covers Penang well or not.
My main concern is the reception quality of those stated areas (Georgetown, Butterworth, Permatang Pauh, Bukit Mertajam) when listeners tune to BFM on 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil because Perlis FM 102.9MHz from Padang Pauh could overspill its signal to these areas, causing co-channel interference between BFM and Perlis FM within Penang.
BFM 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil may have weak signal in some of Georgetown areas, but at the same time Perlis FM 102.9MHz from Padang Pauh is receivable too. So, co-channel interference could be happened, especially high rise buildings and condominiums.
If the listeners tune to BFM 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil transmission tower at Komtar Tower (example: 30th floor, 52nd floor), then tune the same frequency again at a condominium in Butterworth (example: 8th floor, 15th floor), do they detect the co-channel interference signal from Perlis FM while they're listening to BFM on 102.9MHz?
That is my biggest concern when talk about interference within Penang.
If BFM's listeners in Penang (mainly Georgetown, Butterworth, Juru, Gelugor, Bukit Mertajam and Gurney) hear the co-channel interference signal from Perlis FM when they tune on the frequency FM 102.9MHz from Bukit Sungai Kechil, this can make listeners unhappy because the radio station is being interfered. In addition, listeners may shift to listening to BFM via mobile app and podcasts, instead of FM radio which already suffers co-channel interference.
Back to November 2015, when I was working in automotive service industry (now I'm in same company too) while radio DX-ing is my hobby, coincidentally my company organized a company trip to Penang during that time, all of us went to Penang Hill first before checking in the hotel in Tanjung Bungah. Hence, despite I did not own a special radio receiver (TECSUN PL-380) yet, but I used my Lenovo A536 mobile phone built-in radio receiver to receive any distant radio station there.
At the top of Penang Hill, I could receive RTM Perlis FM 102.9MHz from Padang Pauh loudly and clearly, even the restaurant at Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill) can receive the station from Padang Pauh clearly too. Now I recall the moment again, I'm highly concern if the listeners (even restaurant managers who tune to BFM 102.9MHz) heard the co-channel interference between BFM and Perlis FM at Penang Hill.
That is my biggest concern when talk about interference within Penang.
Even if Penang is not the listening area or the targeting coverage of RTM Perlis FM 102.9MHz, but it is receivable in Penang (Butterworth, Georgetown, Juru, and Gurney) because there is no any terrain between Penang Island, Seberang Perai coastal towns and Padang Pauh transmission tower. Consequently, Perlis FM 102.9MHz transmission can overspill to Penang easily.
I can compare with another location. Imagine if,
- Penang (Georgetown/Butterworth/Juru) = Fraser's Hill
- Bukit Sungai Kechil = Gunung Ulu Kali
- Padang Pauh = Felda Paloh or Bukit Bakar.
When both sites are running same frequency, co-channel interference does happen.
In Fraser's Hill, when Gunung Ulu Kali radio stations which operate same frequency with Bukit Bakar and Felda Paloh, listeners can detect co-channel interference between both transmitter sites, despite Fraser's Hill is not far from Gunung Ulu Kali. Therefore, same goes to FM 102.9MHz Bukit Sungai Kechil, listeners who tune this frequency in Penang may hear co-channel interference signal from Perlis FM 102.9MHz Padang Pauh transmitter too.
88.1MHz: 8FM Gunung Ulu Kali
88.1MHz: Kelantan FM Paloh
<Co-channel interference in Fraser's Hill>
99.3MHz: Raaga Gunung Ulu Kali
99.3MHz: Ai FM Bukit Bakar
<Co-channel interference in Fraser's Hill>
102.9MHz: BFM Bukit Sungai Kechil
102.9MHz: Perlis FM Padang Pauh
<Co-channel interference in Georgetown/Butterworth/Juru>
In conclusion, the possibility of the approval by MCMC over FM 102.9MHz in Bukit Sungai Kechil transmission in Penang may be low due to interference within Penang. I may rate 35/100 about the possibility.
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