Here are the compilation videos of tuning RTM Sarawak FM on SW 9835kHz from Malaysia in Latin America by countries which filmed by Latin America DXers.
1. Mexico
2. Brazil
3. Uruguay
4. Colombia (video courtesy to Arturo Lopez)
Note: Sarawak FM SW 9835kHz transmission is already terminated since 2022.
In Malaysia, there is only 1 shortwave radio station, transmits from RTM Kajang, it is RTM Wai FM, the frequency is SW 11665kHz, operates at 100kW transmitter power.
Wai FM has two radio stations in Kuching, Sarawak, the first channel is 24 hours Iban language radio station, and the second channel is Bidayuh and Kayan languages radio station, meanwhile SW 11665kHz is a hybrid radio station which broadcasts in Iban, Lun Bawang, Kayan and Kenyah languages by relaying different channels of RTM Sarawak radio stations such as Wai FM Iban, Radio Tau Limbang FM, Radio Kayan Miri FM and Talidio Kenyah Miri FM.
Wai FM SW 11665kHz mainly targets Sarawak state, especially for those rural areas where have no coverage of FM radio transmitters, however RTM Wai FM is available in part of Latin America countries on the same frequency. I have watched several videos of receiving Wai FM on SW 11665kHz by Latin America DXers from Mexico, Brazil and Uruguay.
The distance is at least 10000km from RTM Kajang.
Here are the videos of receiving Wai FM SW 11665kHz in Latin America by countries.
1. Brazil
2. Uruguay
3. Mexico
Other than Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico, I believe RTM Wai FM SW 11665kHz from Malaysia can be heard in Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Nicaragua, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Guatemala and Paraguay, but signal reception may vary subject to the location conditions.
RTM Sarawak FM was used to have shortwave broadcast on SW 9835kHz, but it was terminated since 2022.
Malaysia's Chinese Gen Z radio station, GoXUAN broadcasts since 2nd October 2017. It is only available with 2 frequencies, such as FM 88.9MHz in Klang Valley and FM 107.6MHz in Penang.
GoXUAN is also available outside Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang such as:
- North Perak and part of Kedah on FM 107.6MHz
- South Perak, West Pahang and part of Negeri Sembilan/Melaka on FM 88.9MHz
However, GoXUAN is still receivable on FM 88.9MHz in small part of Kelantan. From Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu, GoXUAN FM 88.9MHz can be listened until Gua Musang. Its signal is totally zero after RnR Gua Musang Selatan when heading to Gua Musang town.
When I was driving from Kuala Lipis to Gua Musang on Central Spine Road (CSR), I could hear GoXUAN on FM 88.9MHz after entering Kelantan border for few kilometers. After Kampung Mentara Lama, the signal became very weak.
Kampung Mentara Lama is the clearest Kelantan area to receive GoXUAN on FM 88.9MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.
Many years ago, RTM Kelantan FM used the frequency FM 88.9MHz in Taman Wangi for South Gua Musang, but the transmission of Kelantan FM 88.9MHz Taman Wangi transmitter was already terminated for a long time. If Kelantan FM 88.9MHz Taman Wangi transmitter is still in operation, I believe GoXUAN FM 88.9MHz has co-channel interference with Kelantan FM in Merapoh and Mentara Baru because both are using same frequency.
I filmed GoXUAN FM 88.9MHz radio signal videos in Kelantan-Pahang border (Kampung Mentara Lama) and RnR Gua Musang Selatan (Shell petrol station). At RnR Gua Musang Selatan near Taman Wangi, GoXUAN FM 88.9MHz signal is extremely weak.
Gua Musang becomes my very first Kelantan location to receive GoXUAN signal on FM 88.9MHz in my radio DXing history.
Dari tahun 2021 ke 2023, saya telah membuat rakaman video isyarat radio RTM Kelantan FM 97.3MHz dari Bukit Bakar yang diterima di banyak kawasan negeri Pahang seperti Benta, Merapoh, Cameron Highlands, Bukit Fraser, Jerantut, Kuala Tembeling, Kuala Tahan dan Genting Highlands.
Pada 17hb Mac 2024, saya mencecah rekod baru dengan menerima isyarat radio Kelantan FM di Raub, Pahang.
Di Raub, ia sangat sukar menerima siaran Kelantan FM 97.3MHz kerana frekuensi itu mempunyai gangguan oleh Ai FM 97.1MHz dari Bukit Fraser dan Traxx FM 97.4MHz dari Gunung Ledang. Dari Kota Bharu ke Bentong, siaran Kelantan FM 97.3MHz cuma boleh diterima sehingga Chegar Perah, manakala Benta ialah kawasan yang paling jauh untuk menerima isyarat Kelantan FM 97.3MHz, tetapi isyarat lemah dan mempunyai gangguan frekuensi oleh Ai FM 97.1MHz yang dipancar dari Bukit Fraser.
Video isyarat penerimaan siaran Kelantan FM 97.3MHz dari Bukit Bakar dirakam di Lebuhraya Lingkaran Tengah Utama (CSR) yang berhampiri dengan persimpangan Raub Utara.
Lebuhraya CSR dari Bentong ke Raub dibuka secara rasmi pada 8hb Mac 2024.
Isyarat Kelantan FM 97.3MHz dari Bukit Bakar diganggu oleh Ai FM 97.1MHz (Bukit Fraser) dan Traxx FM 97.4MHz (Gunung Ledang) semasa perjalanan di Lebuhraya CSR sebelum saya berada di persimpangan Raub Utara.
Jarak ialah 216km dari Bukit Bakar ke Raub untuk menerima siaran Kelantan FM 97.3MHz.
==Penerimaan siaran radio Kelantan FM 97.3MHz di Raub==
On 16th November 2021 and 17th March 2024, I captured two Bukit Larut radio signal in Gua Musang town, Kelantan.
In Gua Musang town, old KTM railway station (now as Warung Pok Joh) is the best place to do FM DXing. Back to 16th November 2021, I was used to receive Minnal FM 107.9MHz from Bukit Larut, and 988 FM 96.1MHz from Gunung Jerai.
For recent radio DXing, I revisited Gua Musang town again on 17th March 2024, I captured RTM Nasional FM 107.1MHz signal from Bukit Larut at the same place (Warung Pok Joh @ old KTM Gua Musang railway station).
The signal of Nasional FM 107.1MHz from Bukit Larut was very mild when tuned at old KTM Gua Musang railway station (Warung Pok Joh).
Kelantan FM operates on 107.2MHz in Dabong, but no interference was detected currently when I tuned Nasional FM 107.1MHz because Gua Musang cannot receive Kelantan FM 107.2MHz signal from Dabong.
Nasional FM 107.1MHz and Minnal FM 107.9MHz are the only Bukit Larut transmitted radio stations detected in Gua Musang with very mild radio signal, both operate at 0.25kW transmitter power. The distance between Bukit Larut and old KTM Gua Musang (Warung Pok Joh) is 129km.
For the time being, Malaysia Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC) does not allow new frequency application for FM radio broadcast, this applies the entire Malaysia, from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak.
Regarding the frequencies traffic condition in Sabah and Sarawak for FM radio broadcast, it is not peak as Peninsular Malaysia.
In my opinion, as radio broadcast in Sabah and Sarawak are mostly relayed from Peninsular Malaysia. Under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Sabah and Sarawak should be given the autonomy to manage and regulate the frequencies spectrum for FM radio, even TV.
This means MCMC Sabah and Sarawak branches are given autonomy to regulate and handle the states' FM radio spectrum, meanwhile MCMC headquarter from Cyberjaya (Peninsular Malaysia) becomes auxiliary.
Why? This is because radio is still an important medium, and it is essential in Sabah and Sarawak as people are listening to radio via frequencies transmission over internet platform. In addition, by giving autonomy to MCMC Sabah and MCMC Sarawak for frequency regulation and planning, this can encourage new radio players in Borneo states.
Autonomy given to Sabah and Sarawak for frequency regulation will benefit to Sabah and Sarawak radio broadcast license holders because they can direct to local branches of MCMC without "flying" to the headquarter in Cyberjaya.
In Sabah and Sarawak, there are plenty of vacant FM frequencies, MCMC should allow new frequencies application if a radio station wants to expand the coverage to the target area, subject to the frequency availability and technical criteria set up by MCMC.
In conclusion, MCMC should partially allow the new frequency application of FM radio broadcast for those non-peak coverage.