8FM temporarily ceases Kuantan frequency transmission, is 8FM going to change Kuantan frequency?

I have spotted a post by 8FM on Facebook and Instagram today about the notification of ceasing transmission of 8FM Kuantan frequency.

"From 25th September onwards, listeners need to change the listening method of tuning to 8FM. Immediately download Audio+ app, listen to our voices on 8FM anytime".

 

"Attention to Kuantan listeners, Kuantan 100.4 wants to change lor!"

 

By reading the notification post on 8FM Facebook and Instagram page in detail, now I think that 8FM will change its Kuantan frequency, but the time to launch new frequency is unknown yet.

 

BREAKING NEWS: "8FM is temporarily not having any new Kuantan frequency yet, Kuantan listeners need to tune via Audio+ or online streaming platform." (I received a message reply from 8FM via Instagram)

I think 8FM will get new Kuantan frequency later because I guess that Media Prima broadcast engineer team is on the way changing the transmission equipment of 8FM in Bukit Pelindung. Changing frequency is not easy as what we think because it involves many things, somewhat transmission equipment are needed to be replaced or re-calibrated. (Personal speculation only)

In my opinion, 8FM may change Kuantan frequency because it has co-channel interference with Ai FM 100.4MHz from Gunung Ledang in many areas within East Pahang. In addition, Ai FM 100.4MHz covers large part of Pahang. 

 

Actually I also detect the co-channel interference between Ai FM and 8FM on 100.4MHz in Sri Jaya and some Gambang areas when I drove on LPT highway.

 

On last month, I went to Chukai, Terengganu from Kuantan, then I did monitor 8FM Kuantan frequency 100.4MHz signal propagation. In between Cherating and Chukai town, 8FM 100.4MHz from Bukit Pelindung was having co-channel interference with Ai FM from Gunung Ledang. Signal became stable again once I reached Chukai town.

It is a problem when 8FM 100.4MHz from Bukit Pelindung is interfered by Ai FM from Gunung Ledang in Cherating, but it is fine if happens in Chini.

Ai FM Gunung Ledang 100.4MHz transmission power is 2kW, meanwhile 8FM Bukit Pelindung 100.4MHz is just only 0.25kW. Under this situation, how does 8FM can encounter and avoid the co-channel interference with Ai FM with such low output power? Somewhat the height of Gunung Ledang is higher than Bukit Pelindung.

Actually this is also a poor frequency planning by MCMC because FM 100.4MHz is not supposedly to be used in Bukit Pelindung as Ai FM uses it in Gunung Ledang which is very powerful. In terms of frequency history, Ai FM uses 100.4 in Gunung Ledang since 1985 when it is 24 years earlier than 8FM (One FM in 2009).

For now, 8FM listeners in Kuantan have to tune via Audio+ app or online streaming platform, but 8FM is receivable on 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali in few locations.

I recorded the footage of receiving 8FM 88.1MHz in Kuantan was exactly located at Jalan Gambang, video was recorded in Paya Besar. The signal was interfered by Pahang FM 88.0MHz from Bukit Sembilan which covers Muadzam Shah and Bukit Ibam.

Now I'm waiting further update from 8FM. I will report here once I receive the notification.

Latest update (26/09/2022): 8FM Kuantan frequency 100.4MHz is to be replaced by Molek FM somewhere in October 2022.