Wednesday 21 September 2022

RTM Pahang FM should be changed its Muadzam Shah frequency from 88.0MHz to 103.9MHz due to adjacent channel interference with RTM Radio Klasik FM 87.9MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk in Muadzam Shah, Pahang


 

 

RTM Pahang FM has local tuning frequency in Muadzam Shah on FM 88.0MHz, transmitted from Bukit Sembilan.

 

On 18th September 2022, I traveled to Muadzam Shah to conduct radio check and make radio signal content videos.

 

Pahang FM 88.0MHz from Bukit Sembilan reception is very bad in Muadzam Shah actually because it is often being interfered by RTM Radio Klasik FM 87.9MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk, meanwhile it is also interfered by 8FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ledang in several locations of Muadzam Shah.

 

In my opinion, Bukit Sembilan transmitter site is quite strategic and its coverage is quite good to cover Muadzam Shah and Keratong, as well as part of Kuala Rompin, but interference of Pahang FM 88.0MHz is actually caused by frequency problem.

 

Technically, Bukit Sembilan frequency should be separated from Gunung Telapak Buruk and Gunung Ledang at least 300kHz, meanwhile Gunung Ulu Kali and Bukit Pelindung are minimum 200kHz.

 

I did try other frequencies in Muadzam Shah, all of them are unstable and weak.

 

* FM 88.0MHz (Bukit Sembilan 19km): Adjacent channel interference with RTM Radio Klasik FM 87.9MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk

 

* FM 104.1MHz (Bukit Pelindung 92km): Co-channel interference with Best FM 104.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali

 

* FM 95.5MHz (Bukit Sulai 72km): Adjacent channel interference with Asyik FM 95.6MHz from Gunung Ledang

 

* FM 107.5MHz (Gunung Ulu Kali 149km): Signal is stable, but not clear (MONO reception)

 

Radio reception of all stated Pahang FM frequencies was conducted exactly at Dataran Bandar Muadzam Shah where located at the town center of Muadzam Shah, Pahang.



To resolve the interference issue, I highly suggest RTM to change Pahang FM's Muadzam Shah frequency. Based on frequency bandscan, there are four available frequencies which suitable for Bukit Sembilan transmission, such as:


- FM 99.1MHz

- FM 102.0MHz

- FM 103.9MHz

- FM 105.5MHz


==RF analysis==

A. FM 99.1MHz

98.9MHz: Zayan FM Gunung Ledang

99.1MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

<200kHz, OK in Muadzam Shah, but interference in Felda Selancar>

 

99.1MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

99.3MHz: Raaga Gunung Ulu Kali

<200kHz, OK>

 

99.1MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

99.5MHz: Hot FM Gunung Telapak Buruk

<400kHz, OK>

 

99.1MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

99.1MHz: Mix FM Gunung Pulai

<0kHz, OK>

 

B. FM 102.0MHz

101.8MHz: MY FM Gunung Ulu Kali

102.0MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

<200kHz, OK>

 

102.0MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

102.2MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Fraser

<200kHz, OK>


102.0MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

102.3MHz: Melaka FM Gunung Ledang

<300kHz, OK>

 

C. FM 103.9MHz

103.6MHz: Era FM Gunung Telapak Buruk

103.9MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

<300kHz, OK>

 

103.9MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

104.1MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Pelindung

<200kHz, OK> (same radio station)

 

103.9MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

104.1MHz: Best FM Gunung Ulu Kali

<200kHz, OK>

 

103.8MHz: Manis FM Bukit Senggora (Maran sahaja)

103.9MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

<100kHz, OK>

 

103.9MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

104.3MHz: Hot FM Gunung Ledang

<400kHz, OK>

 

D. FM 105.5MHz

105.3MHz: Johor FM Gunung Ledang

105.5MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

<200kHz, OK in Muadzam Shah, but interference in Felda Selancar>

 

105.5MHz: Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan (0.5kW)

105.7MHz: Lite FM Gunung Ulu Kali

<200kHz, OK>

 

Based on RF analysis, FM 103.9MHz is the most suitable frequency for RTM Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan transmission because it is having 300kHz frequency separation with Era FM 103.6MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk, and 400kHz frequency separation with Hot FM 104.3MHz from Gunung Ledang which are very sufficient. In addition, despite Pahang FM 103.9MHz Bukit Sembilan transmission has 100kHz frequency separation with Manis FM 103.8MHz from Bukit Senggora, but it is ok because both are targeting different area. I don't think Pahang FM 103.9MHz Bukit Sembilan transmission can overspill to Maran, Jengka, Chenor, Bandar Bera and Temerloh.


FM 99.1MHz and FM 105.5MHz are less suitable for Bukit Sembilan transmission if covers Felda Selancar where is next to Johor border because Pahang FM could be interfered by Zayan FM 98.9MHz and Johor FM 105.3MHz from Gunung Ledang where both radio stations signal are very clear in between Muadzam Shah and Segamat.


In terms of transmission power, I also suggest RTM Pahang FM to increase transmitter power from 0.1kW to 0.5kW when Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan frequency changes to FM 103.9MHz. Correspondingly, Pahang FM 103.9MHz from Bukit Sembilan can reach Keratong, Bukit Ibam, Selancar and Bera Selatan. The reception of Pahang FM 103.9MHz in Keratong is expected to be clearer than FM 107.5MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.

 

Other than Keratong, Muadzam Shah and Felda Selancar, several locations in Negeri Sembilan (Felda Palong and Serting Hilir) and Johor (Pemanis in Segamat) can receive Pahang FM 103.9MHz from Bukit Sembilan.


With the proposal of frequency change, it is not necessary to launch Gunung Ledang transmitter for Pahang FM to cover Muadzam Shah and Keratong where Gunung Ledang is located in Johor state.

 

Meanwhile in Keratong, Pahang FM can be tuned slightly clearer on 107.5MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.


==My proposal of RTM Pahang FM Bukit Sembilan frequency change==

* Frequency: FM 103.9MHz

* Power: 0.5kW

* Coverage: Muadzam Shah, Bukit Ibam, Keratong, Selancar and Bera Selatan

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