It has been 6 months of 8FM's Kuantan frequency 100.4MHz becomes Molek FM (Malay East Coast radio station by Media Prima Audio), meanwhile 8FM has no Kuantan frequency until today.
Since 8FM ceased its Kuantan frequency transmission in 2nd October 2022, its listeners in Kuantan have to tune to this radio station via Audio+ app, YouTube LIVE streaming and the weaker frequency FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali which mainly for Klang Valley.
The transmitter power of 8FM Klang Valley frequency FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali is 2kW. With the antenna gain, the estimated effective radiated power (ERP) could be about 10kW. In Pahang state, 8FM 88.1MHz (regardless Gunung Ulu Kali or Gunung Ledang) can be heard in Bentong, Temerloh, Kuala Lipis, Bera, Muadzam Shah and part of Maran/Raub.
As today, 8FM is not given any replacement frequency for Kuantan after its 100.4MHz becomes Molek FM.
Several Kuantan areas can receive 8FM via FM 88.1MHz with weaker signal. If Media Prima Audio has no interest to return 8FM broadcast in Kuantan, but the company would like to reach 8FM coverage to Kuantan with existing frequency, the only way is to increase the transmitter power of 8FM 88.1MHz in Gunung Ulu Kali from 2kW to 3.5kW or 5kW, but there will have many consequences when it comes to this recommendation.
1. More interference to adjacent radio stations than the current situation
8FM 88.1MHz Gunung Ulu Kali transmission at 3.5kW or 5kW can cause interference to many adjacent radio stations. Radio stations such as Radio Klasik FM 88.1MHz (Bukit Istana), Radio Klasik FM 87.9MHz (Gunung Telapak Buruk), Radio Klasik FM 88.3MHz (Gunung Kledang), Fly FM 87.9MHz (Gunung Kledang) and 8FM 88.1MHz (Gunung Ledang) could become the victim of the interference.
In Perak such as Teluk Intan, Perak Tengah and part of Sitiawan, Fly FM 87.9MHz and Radio Klasik FM 88.3MHz Gunung Kledang could be interfered by 8FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.
In Pahang, if 8FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali increases to 3.5kW or 5kW, then antenna is beamed to east direction, it can cause co-channel interference to Radio Klasik FM 88.1MHz Bukit Istana coverage in part of Jerantut. In addition, Pahang FM 88.0MHz Bukit Sembilan coverage could suffer interference.
In Melaka, 8FM 88.1MHz Gunung Ledang coverage will have co-channel interference with 88.1MHz Gunung Ulu Kali (3.5kW or 5kW), but it is considered as self interference.
Radio Klasik FM 87.9MHz Gunung Telapak Buruk coverage could be interfered by 8FM 88.1MHz Gunung Ulu Kali (at 2kW) in some areas of Negeri Sembilan.
As 8FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali is using same frequency with Kelantan FM from Felda Paloh, but co-channel interference within coverage does not happen if use 3.5kW transmitter power.
2. Radio reception in Kuantan may not be improved with increasing transmitter power to 3.5kW or 5kW from Gunung Ulu Kali
By using a 3.5kW or 5kW transmitter by 8FM 88.1MHz in Gunung Ulu Kali, it cannot guarantee the transmission can reach Kuantan due to geographical locations. Listeners in Kuantan may not receive clearer signal when tune to 8FM via 88.1MHz. Commercially, it may not help 8FM to gain more revenue because Kuantan is not under coverage of Gunung Ulu Kali transmitter 88.1MHz.
If there are 1500 listeners tuning to 8FM in Kuantan via 88.1MHz, Gfk radio listenership survey will not count them.
In Kuantan, current 8FM Gunung Ulu Kali radio reception 88.1MHz (2kW) is weak and having interference with Pahang FM 88.0MHz from Bukit Sembilan which covers Muadzam Shah at certain places. The increment of 8FM 88.1MHz transmitter power to 3.5kW or 5kW to cover Kuantan cannot guarantee to combat the interference of Pahang FM 88.0MHz.
Asyik FM Gunung Ulu Kali frequency 102.5MHz transmitter power is 5kW. Although it says to cover West Pahang, but reception in Kuantan, Pahang is very weak. So, using high power transmitters in Gunung Ulu Kali does not help to reach Kuantan areas.
==Conclusion==
Hence, suggestion to increase 8FM Gunung Ulu Kali frequency 88.1MHz transmitter power from 2kW to 3.5kW or 5kW is not suitable. In order to reach Kuantan, Media Prima Audio has to apply new frequency application for 8FM in Kuantan, but this is subject to MCMC approval and decision.
I hope 8FM will be relaunched in Kuantan with new frequency within 2023.
Actually Kuantan is still having few vacant frequencies which 8FM can be assigned in Bukit Pelindung, such as:
1. FM 98.5MHz
2. FM 101.6MHz
3. FM 102.2MHz
4. FM 106.5MHz
Among those vacant frequencies, I would nominate FM 102.2MHz because it gaps with adjacent radio stations wider.
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