Hijrah FM 102.3MHz from Batam, Indonesia tuned in Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia via tropospheric propagation.

On 7th April 2023, I received an Indonesia radio station which was playing Dangdut music from Puchong to Kuala Lumpur around 1806 hours (UTC+8). According to a Dxer, it was Radio Pramudya from Lampung, Indonesia, then I acknowledged it because the video that I filmed was corresponding to Radio Pramudya's broadcast schedule.

Meanwhile I received FM 102.3MHz signal again in Puchong, Selangor yesterday at the same time, however I was hearing Islamic religious speech. 

I stopped my car at Shell Bandar Kinrara petrol station to monitor the radio station on FM 102.3MHz. Initially I suspected it was Radio Hijrah from Batam, Indonesia, so I matched the radio content between FM 102.3MHz and Radio Hijrah Batam online streaming via Tunein, at last both were positively corresponded. 

Based on Radio Pramudya's broadcast schedule, FM 102.3MHz that I filmed at 6.15pm (Malaysia time) was not matched with the schedule because Radio Pramudya carries Lampung songs, meanwhile its Islamic religious program only begins on air from 6.45 pm (Malaysia time UTC+8)/5.45pm (West Indonesia time UTC+7).

The Islamic preacher who had speeches at the mosque on FM 102.3MHz which I received in Puchong was same voice with Radio Hijrah Batam FM 102.3MHz online streaming.

Hence, I identified FM 102.3MHz reception in Puchong on 30th May 2023 at 1817 hours (UTC+8) was Radio Hijrah from Batam, Indonesia.

 

At the same time, while car was moving, co-channel interference with an unlicensed low power local Chinese radio station was detected during departure from Shell Bandar Kinrara before going back home in Balakong, Selangor.

Radio Hijrah FM 102.3MHz from Batam, Indonesia reception in Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia on 30th May 2023 at 1817 hours (UTC+8) was actually the tropospheric propagation signal, transmitter power is 5kW.

 

- Frequency: FM 102.3MHz

- Power: 5kW

- Transmitter site: Batam, Indonesia

- Receiving site: Shell Bandar Kinrara (eastbound), Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia

- Distance: 340km

Lojing Highlands is the first Kelantan location where I receive Kedah FM 97.5MHz from Gunung Jerai.

 

 

Kedah FM is RTM state radio station which serves Kedah state. Apart from Kedah, it can be tuned in Perlis, Penang, North Perak and part of Thailand (Satun, Betong and Danok).

 

Back to 1st May 2022 (a day before Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022), I was in Lojing, Kelantan to conduct FM DXing (radio signal monitoring). During departure from Pos Brooke to Teluk Intan via Cameron Highlands road, I detected Kedah FM 97.5MHz signal from Gunung Jerai when I was driving.

 

 

Kedah FM 97.5MHz Gunung Jerai signal can be heard at few road sections between Pos Brooke and Lojing Mosque. No signal was heard when I reached Masjid Keputeraan Lojing where is located nearby Pahang border.

 

From FM DX: Lojing 1.0 to 2.0, it was my very first time to receive Gunung Jerai radio station because I never expected Gunung Jerai radio station could be heard in Lojing. 

 

As I could receive Kedah FM 97.5MHz Gunung Jerai signal in Lojing, therefore Lojing Highlands became my first ever Kelantan location to receive this radio station from Gunung Jerai. 

 

- Frequency: FM 97.5MHz

- Power: 5kW

- Transmitting site: Gunung Jerai, Kedah

- Receiving location: Lojing Highlands, Kelantan 

- Distance: 174km

 

Kedah FM 97.5MHz Gunung Jerai diterima di Lojing, Kelantan.

Di Tanah Tinggi Lojing, Kelantan, biasanya kita boleh mendengar 3 buah siaran stesen radio negeri RTM, iaitu Perak FM 94.7MHz (Gunung Brinchang), Kelantan FM 97.3MHz (Bukit Bakar) dan Pahang FM 100.3MHz (Gunung Brinchang), juga stesen radio swasta yang dipancar dari Gunung Kledang (contoh: Hot FM 104.5MHz, Fly FM 87.9MHz dll).

 

Saya tidak menyangka bahawa Kedah FM boleh diterima di Kelantan pada frekuensi FM 97.5MHz yang dipancar dari Gunung Jerai kerana Kedah FM cuma boleh didengari di Kedah, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Perak Utara dan sebahagian kawasan Thailand.   

 

Pada tahun 2022, semasa perjalanan saya dari Pos Brooke ke arah Cameron Highlands selepas aktiviti rakaman isyarat radio di Masjid Lojing sudah selesai, saya menerima isyarat siaran Kedah FM 97.5MHz di Lojing.

 

Video penerimaan siaran Kedah FM 97.5MHz (Gunung Jerai) di Lojing, Kelantan diambil pada 1hb Mei 2022 (sehari sebelum Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022, ataupun Raya terkejut). 

Isyarat Kedah FM 97.5MHz cuma boleh diterima di kawasan antara Pos Brooke dan Masjid Keputeraan Lojing.

- Frekuensi: FM 97.5MHz

- Kuasa pemancar: 5kW

- Tempat pemancar: Gunung Jerai, Kedah

- Kawasan penerimaan: Lojing, Kelantan 

- Jarak: 174km

Siaran Kedah FM 97.5MHz di Lojing, Kelantan cuma jelas seketika semasa kereta saya sedang menaik bukit ke arah Cameron Highlands, isyarat terus hilang apabila saya sampai di Masjid Keputeraan Lojing.

Untuk makluman, isyarat dari Gunung Jerai tidak dapat menerima di kawasan sekitar Masjid Keputeraan Lojing, Kelantan.

 

Traxx FM digital radio broadcast on MYTV platform consists few graphics, appeared on Philips 32 inch 6900 series Android LED TV.

 

Traxx FM and other RTM radio stations (Radio Klasik, Nasional FM, Ai FM, Minnal FM, Asyik FM, Sabah VFM, Sabah FM, Sarawak FM and Wai FM) are available on MYTV digital television service nowadays. It is considered as digital radio broadcasting, despite it is on DVB-T2 or DTH satellite.

Recently I purchased new TV for my home, namely Philips 32 inch 6900 series Android LED TV. My Philips TV is connected with indoor UHF antenna by receiving MYTV DVB-T2 signal from Bukit Sungai Besi.

Last week, I listened to Traxx FM digitally via MYTV platform on Philips 32 inch 6900 series LED TV. Initially it only appears with the text "Audio Program" which is default graphic by Philips LED TV, then 30 minutes later, while I was listening to Traxx FM, my Philips TV screen appeared Traxx FM graphics.

The graphics of Traxx FM on the TV were actually based on Traxx FM website with the frequencies, Traxx FM logo and Traxx FM DJs faces.

DXing is not only a hobby, but it is also an alternative radio tuning platform, alongside digitally listening.

DXing is a hobby of receiving or identifying distant TV or radio signal, several people can receive a TV or radio stations via frequency waves from a very far kilometers/miles. Other than hobby, although digitally tuning is the current trend of radio listening platform by radio broadcasters, but DXing is also the alternative radio tuning platform.

1. Some radio stations may have no coverage in several regions or locations, although the broadcasters inform their listeners that they can access the radio broadcast digitally (online streaming or mobile app streaming), but some listeners are still preferring conventional method, so DXing is a very important alternative platform for those conventional radio listeners. By having good quality radio receiver and proper antenna, they can tune to their favorite radio stations on distant frequency which does not belong to their coverage area.

 

Example 1: Malaysia Tamil radio station THR Raaga is not available of its Kuantan frequency. Alongside Syok app, the listeners can tune alternatively on FM 99.3MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali (Klang Valley frequency) via DXing. 

 

Example 2: Media Prima Audio announced that 8FM Kuantan frequency FM 100.4MHz was replaced by Molek FM in October 2022. Audio+ app and YouTube streaming are the tuning platform for 8FM listeners in Kuantan, but FM 88.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali (Klang Valley) is also the alternative radio tuning platform for 8FM in Kuantan which is DXing.

 

2. DXing can raise the public awareness towards radio stations' coverage availability, despite outside broadcast coverage area. When there is an awareness from the public regarding a radio station availability, this can help a radio station to gain more listeners by increasing the listenership rating.

 

Example: If Sinar FM is available in Jerantut, Kuala Rompin and Endau via 96.9MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk, but there are 18k listeners tuning to that radio stations on FM 96.9MHz in Kuala Rompin, Endau and Jerantut, then Gfk survey company includes 18k in Sinar FM's radio audience measurement survey. So, DXing can help Sinar FM to increase more listeners and gain more advertising revenue.

 

3. The listeners can identify how far the radio stations' coverage and the propagation are via DXing with their radio receiver.

4. In emergency events such as earthquake, floods or other natural disasters, then internet service is down while the radio stations local repeater transmission are interrupted by the natural disasters, DXing can help the victims of the natural disasters. The victims can obtain the latest information from the radio stations via DXing on their radio receivers, despite the signal is less clear.

 

DXing is a temporarily radio tuning platform in emergency events.

Example: Flood in Gua Musang, Kelantan. If Kelantan FM's listeners cannot tune in Gua Musang via 92.0MHz due to transmission in Bukit Chupak is interrupted by natural disaster, they can tune alternatively to 97.3MHz from Bukit Bakar in Gua Musang via DXing with weaker signal to get the latest information from Kelantan FM.

 

DXing is a magical hobby because the radio propagation could become special.

The most dangerous places where I prohibit myself and all DXers from DXing.

To prioritize our safety during radio DXing outdoors, here are several prohibited places where I don't recommend any DXers (including myself) to approach:

1. Jungles/Rubber Estates/Palm Oil Estates

- Jungles, rubber estates, palm oil estates are the most dangerous place to do DXing with radio receiver because the jungles are consisting with wild animals (notably snakes), and the trees may have beehives randomly without our awareness.

2. Places where may have hidden beehives/hornet nests

Several locations such as buildings, roadside with trees or plants may have hidden beehives where many people are not aware of them because they are randomly spotted if we go to a place at the first time. If we perform DXing with our radio receivers and unintended to disturb the bees, despite we have already distanced ourselves very far from the beehives, we may be attacked by the bees. The bees' stings are very painful, and the sting can cause death due to poisonous liquid from the bees.

 

I remembered my Kuantan DXing trip from August 2022. Kuala Rompin and Endau were my 2nd day trip, departed from Kuantan on 29th August 2022. I recalled the scene when I was driving to Kuala Rompin from Pekan. Between Pekan and Nenasi, I spotted a beehive was on the top of a tree when I was on my way to Kuala Rompin, the bees were flying surrounding the nest. The mentioned beehive location in between Pekan and Nenasi was very quiet, I only spotted the cars including myself passed by.

Do not approach or engage with the beehives in order your safety.

3. Places where are full with high rise grasses (example: Paddy fields)

The grasses have snakes inside if we don't aware of them, several lands are having snakes' holes where belong to snake's home. We would get attacked even swallowed by the snakes when we are not aware of it.

Snakes are another poisonous wild animals, alongside the bees, scorpions and centipedes.

4. River, water well & Lakes

Another dangerous places after the jungle. River may have snakes and crocodiles, even hidden beehives at the riversides. Without considering weather condition, we could be flooded by the river, even attacked by the crocodiles if we don't realize of it.

5. Army camps

Strictly a super confidential place as camera is not allowed to be used in the military camps to prevent country's confidential from being leaked.

 

6. Very quiet places where have no people

Also the dangerous places when we perform DXing without accompanies. DXers could become the victim of the crime if they have no awareness of crime prevention. Require at least 1 or 2 accompanies when perform DXing at very quiet places.

Safety is the top priority of DXing and any activities, safety awareness is a must when we do any hobbies. Before running DXing, please reconsider the surroundings and environment conditions by finding a proper and safe locations to protect ourselves and accompanies from any incidents. 

Philip DXing Log cares.

Pendengar di Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya boleh menerima 4 buah stesen radio negeri RTM.

Tahukah anda?

Di Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya, pendengar boleh menerima 4 buah stesen radio negeri RTM dengan melalui frekuensi bawah berikut:

1. KL FM 97.2MHz (Menara Kuala Lumpur)

2. Selangor FM 100.9MHz (Gunung Ulu Kali)

3. Pahang FM 107.5MHz (Gunung Ulu Kali)

Penerimaan siaran Pahang FM 107.5MHz tidak jelas seperti Selangor FM 100.9MHz kerana pemancaran Pahang FM 107.5MHz hanya meliputi Pahang Barat sahaja.

4. Negeri FM 92.6MHz (Gunung Telapak Buruk)

Manakala, Melaka FM 102.3MHz and Perak FM 95.6MHz tidak boleh diterima di Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya. (gangguan frekuensi oleh Fly FM 95.8MHz dan Asyik FM 102.5MHz dari Gunung Ulu Kali).

 

Selain daripada Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya, terdapat kawasan Lembah Klang yang boleh menerima 4 buah stesen radio negeri RTM (KL FM 97.2MHz, Selangor FM 100.9MHz, Pahang FM 107.5MHz dan Negeri FM 92.6MHz) seperti:

 

- Petaling Jaya

- Shah Alam

- Subang Jaya

- Klang

- Kuala Selangor

- Jeram

- Banting

- Tanjung Sepat

- Cyberjaya

- Puchong

- Kajang

- Bangi

- Serdang/Seri Kembangan

- Balakong

- Ampang

- Gombak

- Sungai Buloh

- Dengkil

- Semenyih

- Beranang

- Batang Berjuntai