Yes, it is the only major area that is still in satellite.

They can technically do so, if MYTV was able to rent a very tight satellite spot covering only Malaysia.

But then, most available spots on satellite, covered a much larger area (Indonesian beam - AFAIK only MEASAT provided a Malaysia specific beam) - this is exactly the case for MYTV Satellite broadcast via Asiasat 9 - some Indonesians are able to watch Malaysian TV with this method, by importing a MYTV Satellite decoder - MYTV have to encrypt it for copyright reasons so that only the intended population can access it - in this case, Malaysian residents - or the broadcasters will have to pay a lot more to buy shows.

The only thing I can't understand is the encryption of radio services.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jan 6 2025, 11:55 PM

Well, it is actually the same for DVB-T2 TV boxes, but they had to give up because there are way too much alternatives available (including IDTV) + it is transmitted in clear.
There really is no reason encrypting free to air channels (terrestrial mode), or MYTV will get backlash for doing so.

Unless they offer pay TV services via the infrastructure alongside the free channels (most certainly using the latest codec available, for pay channels, making all old MYTV boxes useless for that - however free channels will stay at H.264), but then it is another story.

The encryption for satellite, always almost mean only their equipment/viewer card can be used for TV reception.

They can actually go for viewer card mode, but of course selling a satellite receiver will give them more money and control.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jan 8 2025, 09:49 PM

I have give up streaming live TV stream from tonton - as there are pop up ads, covering the livestream from time to time.

Just use Unifi TV for this - a much better overall experience.

Technically, it is possible to send UHD/4K content on 10Mbps or less (RTM is known to send their online stream at horrendous 2.6Mbps @ H.264 that even the terrestrial signal/Mana-mana at H.264 @ 3.5Mbps looks better - but both of them aren't looking great), but the picture quality is not going to be good.

If according to RTM's logic on online streaming, they might be sending it (UHD channel) at low bitrates!

Mux 3 running soon???

This has to trace back to an era when analogue TV broadcasts still exists (before 2019).

Analogue TV reception can be greatly impacted by even the slightest movement of the outdoor antenna. As Kulai is quite far away from Bukit Batok mast, a higher antenna has to be installed to ensure clean, clear analogue TV reception of Singapore channels. For the case of Channel U (analogue) and Suria (analogue), you have to also consider co channel interference from Gunung Ledang, which in Kulai, the signal is directly receivable and so careful installation has to be done to reduce the interference.

However, digital TV switchover have made antenna installations less complicated, as there are no more "snow", "ghosting" on digital TV. You either receive the signal, have pixelation (as a result of weak signal) or get nothing.

On a Singapore TV show, it shows that with correct antenna size/selection and also height (20m+), one can receive digital TV signal from Singapore in Muar clearly, exactly like how Singaporean viewers can receive the signal.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Feb 7 2025, 11:16 PM

Anyone can analyse MUX 1 since Awesome TV has downgraded to SD?

It take them 8 whole years for Media Prima to finally switch everything into HD as a standard (and finally phase out all SD equipment).

Media Prima started HD broadcasting at August 2017 (having switched to 16:9 in 2016 - but logos are still in 4:3), but only Tonton and Unifi TV viewers get to enjoy the full lineup in HD.

Because of economical reasons, TV9 is still in SD for most people, and Astro viewers only see Media Prima channels in SD.

Living Delight is really the final TV programme in the country to switch into HD 1080i production standard (which has been the norm for most productions for many many years).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Feb 11 2025, 12:56 AM

Signal levels greatly depends on the region - general advice - if they could receive Singaporean FM signal outdoors from Bukit Batok clearly (minimal hiss in stereo mode) - yes it is okay to go for 5E antenna (still I would recommend a higher gain antenna for better signal reception - because Kulai is quite far away from Bukit Batok).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Feb 14 2025, 05:35 AM

It is 2025, and we are now forced to watch TV broadcasting in SD???

No wonder viewers gone to somewhere else.

HD should be the only standard - the only standard!

https://www.buletintv3.my/nasional/selepas-...i-bandar-utama/

Media Prima has completed it's move out from Sri Pentas. All main operations are now on NSTP Bangsar or NTV7 Glenmarie Studios.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Feb 25 2025, 06:31 PM

All the private stations (Media Prima, Awesome TV, Suke TV) gives shit (yes, shit) and unacceptable terrestrial picture quality to save operational costs (which should not happen - especially the case for Media Prima!)

SD is totally unacceptable and clearly not ethical in 2025.

For Media Prima channels, you can still watch it in HD elsewhere (ad loaded tonton livestream - which I do not recommend to use at all, Unifi TV) but for the other two - there are limited alternatives available.

But then, there are lots of bandwidth available on MUX 1 (8Mbps was cleared out because the private broadcasters wants to give shit picture quality, and nobody is expected to use the bandwidth!)

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Mar 17 2025, 07:02 PM

The lag is around 30-40 seconds (up to 1 Min) from the linear MYTV broadcast (less than 30 secs for Mana-mana app). For no lag access - antenna remains the king, as the delay is merely 7 seconds - but 8TV is no longer in HD quality because of cost saving measures by Media Prima.

Personally on mobile devices/laptop, I prefer accessing TV1, TV2, TVS and Media Prima TV channels (TV3, 8TV and TV9) via Unifi TV app because of ease of use (in addition of pay TV channels on platform - I have an app based subscription thanks to Unifi fibre), while using Mana-mana app for all other terrestial TV channels.

I personally dislike RTM Klik for their lower picture quality, and Tonton for infestation of ads on their livestream (free user).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Apr 2 2025, 07:00 PM

RTM has launched 7 FAST (free ad supported TV) thematic channels on RTM Klik.

It is branded as "Saluran feeling-feeling" and located on a separate section to standard TV channels..

Picture quality, still the poor 2.5Mbps on 1080p (I still prefer Mana-mana or Unifi app for better picture quality.)

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Apr 13 2025, 05:41 AM


Attached thumbnail(s)

All the 576i SD channels are streamed at 720p on Mana-Mana.

The picture quality is obviously not 720p - it looks blurry (because they pay only the bandwidth for 576i)


This post has been edited by shaun_kok: May 10 2025, 11:30 PM

Channels in 1080i :
All RTM channels, TV Alhijrah, Bernama TV, TVS, TV3 (was downgraded for a brief period, before restored to 1080i)

Channels in 576i
Awesome TV (downgraded since Feb), 8TV (downgraded since Feb/Mar), Suke TV (downgraded since Mar), TV9, DidikTV KPM, TV5 Enjoy TV (downgraded since official broadcast)

8TV/TV9/Didik TV - can be watched in HD via Tonton (warning : ad pop up for free customer) and Unifi TV

Awesome TV - can be watched in HD via official website, but however the MYTV 576i feed is much superior in quality (their 1080p HD feed looks extremely poor in terms of quality - indeed even RTM online stream at 2.7Mbps looks better!).

Live stream on Awesome TV may not work at times.

SukeTV/TV5 Enjoy TV - only available in 576i for now (upscaled 720p on Mana-Mana)

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: May 26 2025, 09:13 PM

Pendengar Johor FM di frekuensi 101.9 MHz dalam mood standby 19 Julai 2025 hingga 8 Ogos 2025 akan berlaku gangguan siaran disebabkan kerja² menaiktaraf sistem pemancar dari stesen Gunung Pulai, maknanya signal akan sedikit teruk pada tempoh tersebut

Lain² stesen RTM seperti Radio Klasik 106.7, Nasional FM 105.7, Traxx FM 102.9, Ai FM 104.9 & Minnal FM 101.1 juga terlibat sama dalam kerja² naiktaraf tersebut pada tempoh yang sama

RTM is upgrading the FM infrastructure from Gunung Pulai soon - the FM signal of all RTM stations, except Radio Klasik, has been very poor as I discovered today - even though I live very close to the FM transmitter. This is before the scheduled upgrade. Usually, the signal should be clear as a bell (both outdoors and indoors) - commercial radio stations remains clear as a bell.

Alternative frequencies from Gunung Ledang (which has recently undergone an major transmitter upgrade)/Bukit Tinggi should be available in Central Johor and further. In Johor Bahru - note that due to the existence of local based transmitters, Ai FM 100.4, Minnal FM 103.3 and Johor FM 105.3 are unavailable. FM signal from Gunung Ledang is not receivable well anyway due to blockage from Gunung Pulai itself + distance

Listeners are advised to use alternative listening methods such as RTM KLIK, MYTV DTT/Mana-Mana or Astro satellite to continue listening to RTM national stations. For Johor FM, please use RTM KLIK app.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jul 13 2025, 09:36 AM

As on now, all RTM radio services are running on full reduced power from Gunung Pulai. As you probably know by now, it is because of planned upgrades by RTM - and so RTM is running on reduced power.

The power reduction is so severe that even my personal FM transmitter setup (tuned to one of the RTM frequencies as test). completely knocked out RTM FM signal within my home - despite being so close to the Gunung Pulai transmitter. The same setup, with commercial stations, will be interfered within a short distance.

https://mothership.sg/2025/06/power98fm-app...o-transmission/

Power 98/JIA 883 is leaving FM dial for good (without a digital equivalent) by the end of October 2025

The problem is - you are moving to 100% digital (streaming only) - without a digital broadcast equivalent at all (such as DAB+ or 5G broadcast). So, 2 less FM stations on the dial in JB/Singapore soon.

Streaming radio is never the answer - with FM/DAB+/DRM/5G Broadcast, information is delivered instantaneously without the need of data - very important during an emergency where streaming servers can become overwhelmed + data congestion.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Jul 19 2025, 07:45 PM

Off topic (radio)

The equipment update of RTM FM signals on Gunung Pulai is complete - after extended period of reduced power transmission.

Presumably both the RDS and transmitter equipment are updated.

RDS Radio Text also updated - rather than showing random text on the text row (message number 1,2,3 and so on) before update.

After changes (today)


Before changes (24 March 2024)


This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Aug 2 2025, 02:35 AM

Streaming delay performance on live TV

TV channel used on test : TV1 and TV2 (because they do show clocks).

Terrestrial network (MYTV) is exactly 7 seconds.
Mana-Mana (1080p stream @ 3.5Mbps) : 20-25 seconds
Sooka by Astro : 20-25 seconds (480p)
RTM Klik (current delay) : 20-25 seconds for 2.5Mbps stream (was 45 seconds at last year - RTM TV1 has a " significantly larger delay" of almost 1 minute - they started to use higher bitrate of more than 5Mbps, after all).
Unifi TV (2.0 app) (1080p stream @ 4Mbps) : 20-25 seconds (1.0 version has a much larger delay of almost 1 minute - they are currently in process to migrate every subscriber to 2.0 app).

There is a reason why TV2, TV Okey and Sukan RTM use lower bitrates instead - because the delay is lower.

After all the updates, the gap on streaming performance of streaming services has "tighten up", with all major apps offering similar delay.

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Aug 17 2025, 04:54 PM

Don't have these at home (my Unifi TV account is app based), so I do not compare. Maybe someone else can compare?

Well, that 7 seconds delay on MYTV DTT, should have already take account of DTH/Satellite feed (with help of GPS) - the line fed transmitter should have "delayed" a bit to be in sync with satellite feed - otherwise the SFN network will fail in some regions, where line fed transmitter and satellite fed transmitter overlap within the SFN network (for example - Pulau Pangkor TX which is satellite fed - which use the same frequency as all the transmitter across Central/Northern region, or Bukit Bintang TX (satellite fed) - which has significant overlap with Telipot/Bukit Bakar which are line fed and use same frequency).

SFN must be in sync perfectly - a SFN with different delay level is horrendous - this can cancel out reception in significantly overlap areas. The delay level of MYTV terrestrial TV should be the same, regardless of using line fed transmitter or satellite fed transmitter.

The delay should have been much lower, if all transmitters are line fed and/or all transmitters use MFN (which different transmitter = different delay level).

This post has been edited by shaun_kok: Aug 17 2025, 06:08 PM