Today I travel to Kuala Selangor Bukit Malawati for FM DX hobby activity, in fact I traveled to this site 3 years ago. During that time, I only captured Bukit Larut radio station as the furthest signal there.
Now I receive three FM radio stations from Gunung Jerai in Kuala Selangor (Bukit Malawati), this breaks my record of FM DXing there as the furthest radio signal caught in Selangor.
I received RTM Radio Klasik FM 94.9MHz, Suria FM 106.9MHz and Raaga FM 102.4MHz at top peak of Bukit Malawati nearby Baitul Hilal.
Baitul Hilal is the most ideal site to receive FM signal from Gunung Jerai and Bukit Larut in Kuala Selangor.
Radio Klasik FM 94.9MHz is the most powerful Gunung Jerai radio station that I receive in Kuala Selangor today, following by Suria FM 106.9MHz, meanwhile Raaga FM 102.4MHz is hard to be received because of Asyik FM 102.5MHz Gunung Ulu Kali.
RTM Radio Klasik FM 94.9MHz is using 5kW transmitter in Gunung Jerai. In Kuala Selangor Bukit Malawati, I can detect adjacent channel interference from Hitz FM 95.0MHz Gunung Telapak Burok.
The distance from Gunung Jerai to Kuala Selangor is 286km.
For current status, Kuala Selangor is the furthest Selangor location now to receive Gunung Jerai FM radio stations signal after Sungai Ayer Tawar.
- FM 88.3MHz (Gunung Kledang): Ipoh, Kampar, Tanjung Tualang, Teluk Intan, Sitiawan, Manjung, Langkap, Manong, Lahat, Menglembu, Pusing, Teronoh, Batu Gajah, Simpang Pulai, Parit, Beruas, Pantai Remis, Chenderong Balai, Lumut, Pulau Pangkor, Chemor, Tanjung Rambutan, Bota, Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datuk, Selekoh, Seri Iskandar, Changkat Keruing, Ayer Tawar, Ulu Bertam, Jeram, Sauk, Lenggong & Malim Nawar.
- FM 103.3MHz (Bukit Larut): Taiping, Sauk, Padang Rengas, Kamunting, Kuala Kangsar, Enggor, Lenggong, Simpang, Kuala Sepetang, Semanggol, Batu Kurau, Selama, Rantau Panjang, Matang, Changkat Jering & Terong
- FM 94.9MHz (Gunung Jerai): Bagan Serai, Kuala Kurau, Parit Buntar, Tanjung Piandang, Selama, & Pantai Remis
- FM 88.7MHz (Bukit Palong): Pengkalan Hulu, Klian Intan, Gerik Barat & Lawin
- FM 98.3MHz (Gunung Ulu Kali): Bidor, Sungkai, Terolak, Slim River, Behrang, Tanjung Malim, Bagan Datuk, & Hutan Melintang.
- FM 88.7MHz (Changkat Rembian): Tapah, Chenderiang & Temoh
Malaysia digital terrestrial television infrastructure provider, MYTV has two DTT transmitters in Perak. Gunung Kledang and Bukit Larut on UHF 666MHz (CH45) and 650MHz (CH43). In terms of transmission coverage, both reaches 10 out of 12 districts within the state, except Hulu Perak and Muallim.
Muallim district can receive MYTV via DTT from Gunung Ulu Kali, this involves Tanjung Malim and Slim River.
For Bukit Larut transmission, it covers Larut Matang Selama, Kerian and Kuala Kangsar districts, but MYTV DTT signal from Bukit Larut is unavailable in Far North Perak.
Lenggong and Southern Lawin are likely the maximum Far North Perak locations to receive Bukit Larut signal, but DTT signal may be unstable ones (<35%), depends on the antenna conditions.
The term "Far North Perak" defines as Hulu Perak district. In the districts, most locations are hilly areas. It is impossible to cover the "Far North Perak" areas by using DTT for MYTV with a strategic transmitter site. If MYTV wants cover Far North Perak areas (Hulu Perak), the TV infrastructure provider requires to install more gap filler transmitters such as Bukit Ladang Teh (Lenggong), Memplam Sari (Gerik), Lawin and neighboring site Bukit Palong (Pengkalan Hulu). Therefore, it costs more to launch gap filler transmitters for Far North Perak areas (Hulu Perak).
The existing gap filler transmitter sites which used by RTM in Far North Perak are not strategic at all because small coverage generated.
In fact, DTH (Direct-To-Home) is more economical than DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) to reach households in Far North Perak areas. So, MYTV viewers in Pengkalan Hulu, Lawin, Gerik and Lenggong must install MYTV satellite dish to watch their favorite local TV channels via DTH, rather than using UHF antenna.
Some of radio stations which have Bukit Larut transmitter will classify it as frequency for Taiping and North Perak, example 988 FM 101.0MHz: Taiping and North Perak.
In northern side of Perak, the district covers Larut Matang Selama, Kerian, Kuala Kangsar and Hulu Perak.
Technically, Bukit Larut radio stations cover only the districts of Larut Matang Selama, Kerian and Kuala Kangsar. Apart from Larut, Matang & Selama where Taiping is the main town of the district, actually Kerian and Kuala Kangsar are classified as North Perak.
Hulu Perak is not under "North Perak" frequency radio coverage because it is far north enough, compare to Taiping, and Parit Buntar.
Here are the areas of North Perak where covered by Bukit Larut transmitter stations for FM radio.
==Larut, Matang, & Selama==
* Taiping
* Kuala Sepetang
* Matang
* Changkat Jering
* Batu Kurau
* Bandar Selama
* Terong
* Simpang
* Kamunting
* Rantau Panjang
==Kerian==
* Parit Buntar
* Semanggol
* Bagan Serai
* Kuala Kurau
* Tanjung Piandang
==Kuala Kangsar==
* Kuala Kangsar
* Padang Rengas
* Sungai Siput (U)
* Enggor
* Sauk
For Hulu Perak district, it is classified as "Far North Perak". This far northern Perak consists Lenggong, Lawin, Gerik, Klian Intan, Pengkalan Hulu, Belum and Temenggor.
In fact, Hulu Perak district is not covered by any radio stations from Bukit Larut or Gunung Kledang where are main transmitter sites for Perak radio stations. For commercial radio stations, Bukit Larut can cover only up to Lenggong and Southern Lawin, then signal goes off after the locations when going northbound to Gerik and Pengkalan Hulu.
For RTM, as government broadcaster in Malaysia, the "Far North Perak" Hulu Perak is covered with three local gap filler transmitter sites and one neighboring TX site, namely:
1. Bukit Ladang Teh for Lenggong
2. Lawin
3. Memplam Sari for Gerik
4. Bukit Palong, Kedah for Pengkalan Hulu
Although Far North Perak (Hulu Perak district) can't really receive any radio stations from Bukit Larut (Taiping and North Perak), but the district can receive few Thailand FM radio stations from Yala and Betong partially.
Pada masa ketika ini, Radio IKIM FM boleh didengari di sebahagian Brunei dengan frekuensi Miri pada FM 104.0MHz yang dipancar dari Tanjong Lobang.
Bandar Seri Begawan ialah ibu kota negara Brunei. Di bandar tersebut, siaran radio Malaysia masih boleh diterima di Brunei dari Bukit Mas, Sarawak (Limbang). Selain itu, Brunei adalah negara Islam di Asia Tenggara.
Pada pandangan saya, untuk menyasarkan pendengar Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan), IKIM FM boleh memperluaskan siarannya ke kawasan Limbang dan negara Brunei dengan melancarkan satu pemancar di Bukit Mas. Jika IKIM FM mempunyai frekuensi Limbang, saya mempercayai bahawa terdapat persaingan baru bagi stesen radio Islamik antara Malaysia dan Brunei di negara tersebut.
Di negara Brunei, terdapat dua buah stesen radio Islamik iaitu RTB Nur Islam FM 93.3MHz dan Al-Quran Radio FM 89.1MHz. IKIM FM boleh bersaing dengan kedua-dua stesen radio tersebut.
==Cadangan mengenai IKIM FM untuk Brunei dan Limbang==
- Frekuensi: FM 105.6MHz atau FM 106.4MHz
- Kuasa pemancar: 2kW
- Tempat pemancar: Bukit Mas, Sarawak
- Kawasan liputan: Sarawak (Limbang & Lawas), Brunei, Sabah (Sindumin) dan sebahagian Labuan.
At current moment, IKIM FM can be tuned in Western Brunei such as Kuala Belait and Seria on Miri frequency FM 104.0MHz from Tanjung Lobang, Sarawak.
In fact, as Brunei capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan can receive Malaysia radio stations from Limbang (Bukit Mas), Sarawak. In addition, Brunei is a Muslim majority country in South East Asia. From my view, there is a potential market for IKIM FM in Brunei.
To reach Brunei listeners, IKIM FM can launch a transmitter in Bukit Mas, Limbang, Sarawak to cover Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan). If IKIM FM expands its coverage to Limbang, Sarawak (thus mainly for Brunei), I believe there is a new competition of Islamic radio stations between Malaysia and Brunei.
In Brunei, currently there are two Islamic radio stations, such as RTB Nur Islam (FM 93.3MHz Bandar Seri Begawan) and Al-Quran Radio FM 89.1MHz. IKIM FM can compete against them with having Limbang frequency.
Apart of it, I love to scan vacant frequencies at the same time. Here's my personal proposed parameter:
==IKIM FM Limbang frequency==
* Frequency: FM 105.6MHz or FM 106.4MHz
* Power: 2kW
* Transmitter site: Bukit Mas, Limbang, Sarawak
* Targeting locations:
- Sarawak: Limbang, and Lawas
- Sabah: Sindumin
- Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan
- Part of Labuan
As a result, with Limbang frequency, Brunei gets covered by IKIM FM transmission with two frequencies from Miri and Limbang of Sarawak.
On 30th August 2020, I traveled to Bagan Serai, Kuala Kurau, Tanjung Piandang, and Parit Buntar. These four locations are under Kerian district, Perak.
Generally Kerian district of Perak is under coverage of Bukit Larut FM radio transmission, but technically it is not broadcast coverage of RTM Bukit Larut radio stations except Perak FM.
In Bagan Serai, Parit Buntar, Kuala Kurau and Tanjung Piandang, basically RTM Radio Klasik stated that the frequency there is FM 103.3MHz from Bukit Larut, but the reception is not really clear in Bagan Serai, Tanjung Piandang, and Parit Buntar on FM 103.3MHz from Bukit Larut.
The actual coverage of Radio Klasik FM 103.3MHz Bukit Larut is Taiping, Changkat Jering, Batu Kurau, Semanggol, Matang, Kuala Sepetang, Padang Rengas, Kuala Kangsar, Enggor, Selama and Kamunting. Transmission power for this frequency is only 0.25kW.
When I was in Parit Buntar, Tanjung Piandang and Bagan Serai, I tested few Radio Klasik frequencies such as FM 103.3MHz Bukit Larut, FM 94.9MHz Gunung Jerai, FM 88.7MHz Bukit Palong, FM 101.7MHz Bukit Genting and FM 98.3MHz Gunung Ulu Kali.
In these locations, Radio Klasik FM 94.9MHz from Gunung Jerai was much clearer than FM 103.3MHz Bukit Larut.
I believe Radio Klasik listeners in Tanjung Piandang, Parit Buntar, and Bagan Serai usually tune to the station on the frequency FM 94.9MHz from Gunung Jerai which is much clearer than FM 103.3MHz from Bukit Larut.
For your information, FM 94.9MHz Gunung Jerai transmits at 5kW power.
Here is the coverage of Radio Klasik in Northwest Perak.
==FM 103.3MHz Bukit Larut (0.25kW)==
- Taiping, Changkat Jering, Batu Kurau, Semanggol, Matang, Kuala Sepetang, Padang Rengas, Kuala Kangsar, Enggor, Selama and Kamunting.
==FM 94.9MHz Gunung Jerai (5kW)==
- Bagan Serai, Parit Buntar, Kuala Kurau, Tanjung Piandang
On my TECSUN PL-380 radio receiver, among all frequencies signal strength measurement, Radio Klasik FM 94.9MHz is the highest one, tested in Parit Buntar. Therefore, this means that the exact tuning frequency for Radio Klasik FM in Parit Buntar, Tanjung Piandang and Bagan Serai is FM 94.9MHz from Gunung Jerai.
For Nasional FM, the reception of FM 107.1MHz Bukit Larut is not clear as FM 100.5MHz Gunung Jerai in same areas. In Parit Buntar and Tanjung Piandang, I could detect interference from Suria FM 106.9MHz Gunung Jerai when tuned to Nasional FM 107.1MHz, but I could even receive clearer signal on 100.5MHz from Gunung Jerai.
For a small radio station, to get a frequency license from regulator, the authority requires the broadcasters to do frequency planning and interference analysis by making coverage report. The coverage report may be a mandatory if apply a frequency license.
Some say that it is very expensive to get a radio frequency planning and coverage report, but in fact those reports are done by professional engineers. Inversely, some say that they want to get coverage report of radio transmission for FREE! It is impossible to ask professional engineers to provide RF coverage report for FREE. Besides that, the RF coverage report is generated by using software, it also costs you for the software license.
I may understand that some of broadcasters may not afford to get FM coverage studies report by professional engineers due to the costs. A RF toolkit may help them, but for only coverage map of their transmitting station.
Want to do a basic RF coverage by your own without cost? Here is one of my favorite tool, it is Nautel RF Toolkit which is my favorite RF coverage tool since September 2016 until today.
Nautel RF Toolkit is a free radio coverage tool. To access it, you must create an account. Here are some screenshots of Nautel Radio Coverage Tool:
In my opinion, Nautel RF Coverage Tool is quite amazing. As FM DXer (amateur), I can check the coverage of existing radio stations' transmitter sites by using this toolkit because it can generate estimated coverage of a transmitter site by inserting site parameters and antenna system information.
This Nautel RF Radio Coverage Tool only generates coverage with only OMNI-directional antenna form. It won't generate directional antenna coverage, despite I set the directional antenna gain and TX line loss, this is because it has no antenna beaming angle configuration.
I usually publish a radio coverage map on blog by using Nautel RF Toolkit to show a roughly coverage of a radio station. For the field strength, I follow ITU recommendation which minimum field strength of stereo signal is 54dBuV/m (green), meanwhile lowest field strength (mono signal) is 30dBuV/m (yellow). In terms of accuracy, I can rate 89 out of 100.
This free toolkit will not generate any interference analysis like what professional series RF software company does. Moreover, it will not detect the vacant frequencies by performing FM band scanning. Therefore, we need to use FM band scanner toolkit (example: DEVA Band Scanner). To get only your radio station coverage map, Nautel Radio Coverage Tool is my recommendation. Please sign up account to generate your own radio station coverage map.
In addition, as Nautel also states that the coverage tool is not meant to replace the coverage studies and other works done by professional RF engineers. So, please consult with a qualified engineer before applying license or buying equipment.
Although I'm former junior broadcast engineer now, BUT I continue as non-profit broadcast transmission journalist cum enthusiast. As I'm RF enthusiast, I love to use Nautel Radio Coverage Tool to discover the coverage of Malaysia, Singapore and Southern Thailand radio stations.
Disclaimer: The review of Nautel RF Toolkit is come out from my personal opinion, also my personal experience of using the toolkit.
On 30th August 2020, I went to Parit Buntar, Tanjung Piandang, Kuala Kurau and Bagan Serai for a short vacancy. As they're located at coastal areas of Northwest Perak, so I planned to receive Perlis FM 102.9MHz from Padang Pauh there.
In fact, Perlis FM 102.9MHz was not receivable there. While I was driving from Tanjung Piandang to Parit Buntar, I received some unknown signal on FM 102.9MHz, it was not Perlis FM, but it was Perak FM.
Initially I suspected Perak FM 102.9MHz transmission is from Bukit Palong, Kedah to cover Pengkalan Hulu, so I sent a FM DX verification email to RTM for confirmation of FM 102.9MHz transmission.
Today I receive RTM email regarding FM DX verification. RTM Perak FM 102.9MHz that I received in Titi Serong, Perak is transmitted from Lawin, Perak, not Bukit Palong that I speculated earlier.
Lawin is located between Lenggong and Gerik. In Lawin, RTM has Nasional FM on 101.7MHz (same frequency as Radio Klasik FM 101.7MHz in Bukit Genting which is for Balik Pulau).
RTM Perak FM 102.9MHz actually covers Lawin where it is a blind spot area of FM 94.2MHz Bukit Ladang Teh and FM 96.2MHz Gerik. In Lawin, RTM Perak FM 94.2MHz from Bukit Ladang Teh is likely interfered by far away transmitted Radio Thailand Yala FM 94.25MHz. Therefore, RTM launches Perak FM Lawin frequency FM 102.9MHz.
==RF analysis of Perak FM 102.9MHz Lawin==
102.7MHz: IKIM FM Gunung Kledang
102.9MHz: Perak FM Lawin
<200kHz, OK>
102.9MHz: Perak FM Lawin
102.9MHz: Perlis FM Padang Pauh
<200kHz, OK>
The reception of RTM Perak FM 94.2MHz from Bukit Ladang Teh starts to have interference from Radio Thailand Yala FM 94.25MHz from Lawin to Gerik. In Gerik, Perak FM 94.2MHz signal becomes Radio Thailand Yala FM 94.25MHz.
After I noticed that Perak FM 102.9MHz is from Lawin, so let's analyze if Perak FM 102.9MHz is from Bukit Palong, see what will happen.
==RF analysis if Perak FM uses 102.9MHz in Bukit Palong==
102.7MHz: IKIM FM Gunung Kledang
102.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong (apply directional antenna)
<200kHz, OK>
102.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong (apply directional antenna)
102.9MHz: Perlis FM Padang Pauh
<200kHz, OK>
102.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong (apply directional antenna to Pengkalan Hulu)
103.0MHz: Nasional FM Gulau
<100kHz, NOT OK>
102.7MHz: Nasional FM Bukit Dedap
102.9MHz: Perak FM Bukit Palong (apply directional antenna to Pengkalan Hulu)
<200kHz, NOT OK>
If Perak FM 102.9MHz is transmitted from Bukit Palong, although it transmits by using directional antenna (regardless panel, Yagi or log-periodic), but it can cause interference to Nasional FM 102.7MHz Bukit Dedap and 103.0MHz Gulau coverage, even Perlis FM 102.9MHz Padang Pauh coverage can be interfered too.
I verified with RTM engineer that RTM Lawin radio stations Nasional FM 101.7MHz and Perak FM 102.9MHz are operating at 250W power only.
It is unbelievable to receive Perak FM 102.9MHz Lawin frequency in Titi Serong and Kuala Kangsar. Here is my DX information:
