A 4-member investigative team deployed by NCA in the process identified and shut down an illegal radio station at Pokuase.
Accra-based Asaase Radio has not caused any interference on Joy FM’s frequency, the National Communications Authority, NCA, has established in a report sighted by Citi News.
A team of investigators deployed by the Authority came to this conclusion after the Multimedia Group, operators of Joy FM, filed an official complaint on June 15th accusing ABC Radio Limited, managers of Asaase Radio, 99.5 MHz, of causing disruptions on their 99.7 MHz frequency.
According to the complainant, the interferences were occurring at Mataheko, Dansoman First Stop, Dansoman Akukor-Foto, Dansoman Control and Exhibition, Lapaz, Tabora, Pokuase-Mayera and Kwabenya-Abuom all in Accra.
But the report said “There was no interference recorded at the locations the monitoring was conducted; i.e. North Legon, Kwabenya-Abuom, Pokuase-Mayera, Tabora, Lapaz, Dansoman-Control and Exhibition, Dansoman First Stop, Dansoman Akukor-Foto and Mateheko”.
The NCA in the report said “it first conducted preliminary investigations into the reported interference on Thursday, June 18, 2020, in which no interference was observed on Joy FM’s assigned frequency of 99.7MHz. Joy FM further indicated that its listeners mostly complained of interference between the hours of 7:00am and 12:00pm on Saturdays.”
A follow up probe by the NCA’s team tasked to undertake further monitoring on Saturday 20th June, 2020, to ascertain Joy FM’s claim, also confirmed that no interference existed.
Recommendations
On the contrary, the Report of the investigative team as cited by Citi News, has recommended that managers of Joy 99.7 FM should be directed to fix a stage-three Cavity Filter to ensure stability in their signals.
“Joy FM should be directed to install a three-stage cavity filter with a minimum attenuation of 40Db and maximum deviation of +75kHz.”
Cavity filters are the basic circuitry behind a Duplexer, and are sharply tuned resonant circuits that allow only certain frequencies to pass. This device prevents interferences on frequencies as long as FM stations operate within their permitted radius.
The 4-member investigative team, including a rep each from Joy FM and Asaase Radio, were Edward Sutherland, Assistant Manager, Engineering, NCA, Edem Debrah, Officer, Engineering, NCA, Francis Hargo, Head of Transmission at Joy FM, and Emmanuel Agyarko, a Technical Executive at Asaase Radio.
Methodology
The team says “it conducted monitoring and drive tests using the Audemat MC5 FM Monitoring Equipment, Spectrum Monitoring Van, a Low-end Potable FM Receiver, as well as the Car FM Receiver in the Monitoring Van.”
It added that “it conducted deviation measurements and recorded the live transmissions of Joy FM an Asaase Radio at the locations the exercise was conducted. In addition, for locations where either station had weak signals, the team measured only the field strength”.
The Report said ‘Live recordings from the areas monitored are available for verification”.
The Report added that, “During the investigation, the team received a call from a listener at North Legon who complained of interference on Joy FM’s frequency. The team drove to the listener’s premises to investigate the interference. However, no interference was recorded on Joy FM’s frequency.”
Other Findings
The team also found that, “Joy FM and Asaase Radio were not compliant with the maximum deviation limit of +75kHz at all the locations the exercise was conducted”.
The Report also said “Both Joy FM and Asaase Radio had weak signals at Pokuase-Mayera and Kwabenya-Abuom, whiles Joy FM, had a weak signal at Tabora, hence the team was unable to measure both stations’ maximum deviation”.
The investigative team in the process also identified and shut down an illegal radio station at Pokuase, operating on the frequency, 99.9MHz. It also found out that another FM station, Marhaba Radio 99.3 MHz, was causing adjacent channel interference on the frequency of Asaase Radio, 99.5MHz due to over modulation.
As a result, the team recommended that the three stations “Joy FM, Asaase Radio and Marhaba Radio, should be directed to ensure that their transmissions are confined within a minimum deviation of +75kHz during all periods of operation within 14-days, failing which sanctions shall be applied”.
Credit: Citi News
