A Visit to RRI Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
by Hans van den Boogert
On October 6, 1998 I took a taxi from the hotel and after some 40 minutes was dropped off in the eastern outskirts of Denpasar - the capital city of Bali - to be more precise, the Jalan Haram Wuruk. 

After finding the sign of RRI Denpasar I walked through the gate and left the busy city life behind. Inside were some gracefully styled buildings, a nice garden with lots of antenna towers spread around. As I hadn't made an appointment I was kind of nervous, afraid to be kicked out. I shouldn't have been: Indonesians are very friendly people, always welcoming you and willing to have a chat. 

Most Balinese have a rudemantary command of English, so it wasn't difficult to find someone to ask some questions. That person was Mr. Kusnadi Musthofa, a reporter who also happened to be correspondent for the BBC Indonesian section. He gave me some historical information on RRI Denpasar and showed me around. I also had a chat with some of the engineers who were really amused why this foreigner was so interested in their transmitter park.
History

RRI studio Denpasar was established on November 9, 1950 and is a Regional 1 station. (Bali also has a Regional 2 Station: RRI Singaraja). Since its establishment RRI Denpasar has moved from a mini studio located in Jalan Melati, via bigger ones in Jalan Sanur, Klandis, to the present complex at Jalan Hayam Wuruk, Klandis. 

Personnel

Currently (October 1998) some 200 people work at RRI Denpasar.

Programming

Since 1984 RRI Denpasar's main program runs 24 hours a day. This program goes out via AM and FM (and formerly also on shortwave). The Denpasar city service goes out on FM only during the daytime and features rock and pop music.

Sounds

Identification, interval signal and news
 download/stream (RA 5.0 - 265 kb)
Frequency announcement and some germinal
 download/stream (Real Audio 5.0 - 375 kb)
Broadcasting facilities
1985 1998
MW: 1 kW transmitter on 684 kHz, located at Jalan Haram Wuruk. Self constructed in 1980. MW: 2 kW NEC transmitter on 1206 kHz, located at Abiansemal (15 km north of Denpasar) used as reserve.
MW: 10 kW transmitter (1976) on 1206 kHz, located at Abiansemal (15 km north of Denpasar).  MW: 10 kW Gates transmitter on 1206 kHz, located at Abiansemal (15 km north of Denpasar).
SW: 1 kW transmitter (1954) on 3945 kHz, located at Abiansemal.  SW: Gates transmitter (1976) procured, but no spares to do necessary repair.
FM: 50 Watt transmitter (1976) on 93.75 MHz, located at Jalan Haram Wuruk. FM: 3 x 2 kW transmitters at the station on Jalan Haram Wuruk, running some 1200 Watts only. Programa Satu on 88.8 MHz for Denpasar and 100.9 MHz for the area south of Denpasar. Programa Dua on 93.5 MHz.

Outlying areas are served by transmitters at Kinta (95.0 MHz), Sega (95.5 MHz) and Kutul (95.9 MHz)
This is one of the three NEC 2 kW FM transmitters located at the studio complex of RRI Denpasar at Jalan Haram Wuruk. The FM and communication towers in the front garden. 
I found this nice map in an office, while wandering around the RRI Denpasar complex. It shows Indonesia with all the Radio Republik Indonesia stations.

Left: This nice log periodic antenna in the front garden is still used for communications with RRI Jakarta, but at a much lesser scale as satellite links have taken over.