Astro Radio faces the audio feed transmission issue in East Coast region during raining (except Gegar), espeically Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu.

I was in Kuala Terengganu from 27th to 30th August 2023, and listening to Astro radio stations such as Melody FM 104.0MHz, Era FM 102.8MHz and Mix FM 98.3MHz at a hotel, the normal radio broadcast will be interrupted when there is rain in Kuala Terengganu, and the radio transmission will be switched to backup audio sources suddenly.

Example: When Mix FM 98.3MHz is playing Lady Gaga - Bad Romance in the half way (as the main audio source from broadcast studio), then the radio station suddenly switches to backup source by playing Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball via mp3 player in the transmitter when there is a heavy rain in Kuala Terengganu, then while Mix FM 98.3MHz plays Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball at 3rd quarter of the song, and suddenly switches back to the main audio source.

I believe the audio source interruption of Astro Radio usually involves Bukit Besar in Terengganu, Bukit Panau in Kelantan and Bukit Pelindung in Pahang, but with the exception of Gegar.

The transmission of Astro radio stations (except Gegar) in Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu are inconsistent, especially the audio source when the rain happens.

 

Based on MCMC's apparatus assignment list, Astro Radio uses CELCOM radio transmission service in Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu.

In my opinion, Astro Radio's Kuala Terengganu transmission in CELCOM Bukit Besar main source is just simply equipped with Astro DVR decoder and a Ku band satellite receiving dish. Acknowledge that Ku band signal is very sensitive with the rain, so Astro Radio's Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu transmission will face the interruption during raining because of Ku band signal faces rainfade.

To solve the issue, I strongly suggest Astro Radio to install C-band receiver and dish in its east coast transmitter sites to relay feeds from the headquarters, instead using consumer's DVR decoder and Ku band satellite dish. This is because C-band satellite signal can send the studio feed to transmitter sites easily. Astro shall have C-band satellite transmission for radio broadcast by sending signal from studio to the transmitter sites.