The important of Bukit Penara transmitter of Raaga FM 99.3MHz in Penang

 

In most of Penang areas, from Georgetown and Seberang Perai, the Tamil commercial radio station Raaga can be tuned loud and clearly on two frequencies such as FM 99.3MHz from Bukit Penara and FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai, meanwhile FM 102.1MHz from Bukit Larut is tuned moderately and FM 101.9MHz from Gunung Raya is weak.

 

Although Raaga can be tuned loudly and clearly in Georgetown and Seberang Perai on the frequency FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai, but there is another clear frequency on FM 99.3MHz from Bukit Penara. So, it is a duplication because Raaga has two clear frequencies in Penang.

 

However, both Raaga frequencies 102.4 and 99.3 have different roles in Penang. Although FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai transmitter covers Georgetown and Seberang Perai clearly, but FM 99.3MHz from Bukit Penara acts as auxiliary transmitter to cover blindspot coverage of FM 102.4MHz Gunung Jerai transmitter in Penang Island, notably Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar.

 

I was used to suggest Astro Audio (formerly known as Astro Radio and AMP Radio Networks) to abolish FM 99.3MHz Bukit Penara transmitter because I found it was duplicate as Raaga can be tuned in Penang via FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai, but my suggestion was wrong because I needed to consider the coverage of Southwest Penang Island.

 

If Raaga abolishes Bukit Penara transmission (FM 99.3MHz), it will give listening impact to Indian listeners who are tuning Raaga in Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar because FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai cannot be received there, meanwhile FM 102.1MHz from Bukit Larut is weak in Balik Pulau (potentially zero signal too like Gunung Jerai transmitter 102.4MHz).

 

Indian people in Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar have been comfortable of listening to Raaga via FM 99.3MHz from Bukit Penara for more than 2 decades, even the frequency was already used in Bukit Penara for Penang since 1995 under the era of Time Highway Radio (THR) which was an English radio station (with 3 hour Malay program from 3am to 6am). The Indian listeners would be angry if FM 99.3MHz from Bukit Penara is ceased broadcast because they cannot tune Raaga on FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai in Balik Pulau, even FM 102.1MHz from Bukit Larut is weak there.

 

Outside Penang, Raaga FM 99.3MHz also can cover Pengkalan Hulu in Perak where 102.4MHz has interference with MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz from Thailand. When I was in Pengkalan Hulu, I detected the interference noise from MCOT Yala FM 102.5MHz while tuning Raaga FM 102.4MHz, but I got a moderate signal when I switched to FM 99.3MHz there.

 

So, Raaga FM 99.3MHz targets Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar in Penang, as well as Pengkalan Hulu in Perak.

 

In conclusion, although Raaga can be tuned clearly in most of Penang areas via FM 102.4MHz from Gunung Jerai, but FM 99.3MHz from Bukit Penara is still important in Penang as it needs to cover Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar where 102.4MHz has no signal there.