BBC Radio 4 switched off its longwave radio transmission LW 198kHz on 27th June 2026, why did it happen?

 

 

On 27th June 2026, BBC Radio 4 officially switched off its longwave radio transmission LW 198kHz.

 

LW 198kHz was transmitted at Droitwich transmitter tower in Worcestershire, United Kingdom at 500kW power, together with lower power transmission at 50kW in Burgehead and Westerglen.

 

==Brief history== 

BBC longwave radio transmission began on 6th September 1934 on the frequency LW 200kHz for BBC National Service to transmit signal across the country and deliver important information regarding World War 2 (WW2).

 

In 1939, LW 198kHz became BBC European Service. 

 

In 1945, BBC National Service LW 200kHz was switched to BBC Light Programme until 1967. From 1967 to 1978, LW 200kHz was used by BBC Radio 2 before becoming BBC Radio 4 in November 1978.

 

In 1988, BBC Radio 4 changed its longwave frequency LW 200kHz to 198kHz.

 

BBC Radio 4 operated on LW 198kHz from 1988 until June 2026. 

 

Why did BBC Radio 4 switch off LW 198kHz?

1. Many listeners in United Kingdom had already listened to BBC Radio 4 via FM frequencies, DAB+ and online streaming (example: BBC Sounds), people consume digitally more nowadays, they can access the radio via digital gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, laptops. The latest radio receivers don't have LW band anymore. In United Kingdom and many European countries, many radio receivers are only equipped with FM and DAB+. If the people don't tune BBC Radio 4 on FM or DAB+, they can tune digitally by connecting to Smart Speakers or Bluetooth speakers from their smartphones.

2. Longwave (LW) is the oldest radio broadcast wave technology, it was used since early 20th century. At BBC radio engineering department side, it is very expensive and difficult to maintain the longwave radio transmission system nowadays because all the manufacturers of the radio transmitters and antennas had already obsoleted the production, as well as the spare parts of the transmitter system. When the transmitter of BBC Radio 4 LW 198kHz reached end of the life, but there are no spare parts available from the manufacturer, so it is meaningless to continue the transmission of LW 198kHz, even the listeners had already tuned digitally and conventionally FM/DAB+ frequency band.

 

Note: Some of radio transmitters manufacturers also discontinued the production of several FM transmitters nowadays. Example: R&S low power FM transmitters

 

After BBC Radio 4 switched off LW 198kHz, people can continue listening to this radio station on various platform below:

1. FM radio across United Kingdom

2. DAB+ radio on 12B (VHF 225.648MHz) via BBC National DAB

3. BBC Sounds App (UK only) and BBC.com (international)

4. Freeview DVB-T2 on CH704

5. Freesat CH704

6. Virgin Media (CH 904 in England, Scotland and Wales)

7. Virgin Media Ireland (CH 910) 

8. Sky CH 0104 

 

Goodbye to BBC LW 198kHz and thanks for serving the people in United Kingdom during these 92 years (1934 to 2026), from BBC National Service to BBC Light Programme, and then BBC Radio 4.  

 

 

 

As 5th July 2026, Radio Romania Antena Satelor LW 153kHz and Poland's Polskie Radio Program 1 LW 225kHz are the only longwave radio stations in Europe.

 

Gunung Ledang trasnmitted Malaysia FM radio stations tuned in Jambi, Indonesia (July 2026 UPDATE)

  

Last month, I had shared about the radio reception videos of tuning Malaysia FM stations (Gunung Pulai and Gunung Ledang) which were recorded by Limra DX in Jambi, Indonesia on previous article.

 

In previous post, regarding the radio reception videos of Gunung Ledang transmitted Malaysia FM radio stations in Jambi, Indonesia, Limra DX received Kool FM 88.1MHz, IKIM FM 89.5MHz and 988 FM 98.2MHz.

 

On 4th July 2026, Limra DX received another 4 Gunung Ledang transmitted Malaysia FM radio stations in Jambi, Indonesia, but they were very weak there.

 

1. Fly FM 94.0MHz

 

 

2. Zayan FM 98.9MHz

 

 

3. MY FM 106.4MHz

 

 

4. Melody FM 107.3MHz  

 

Melody FM 107.3MHz has 100kHz adjacent channel interference with RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 107.2MHz from Karimun repeater in Jambi, Indonesia. 

 

Same as previous post, these 4 radio stations were received in Gentala Arasy Bridge, they were also tropospheric propagation.  

Distant FM radio stations from Sarikei, Sibu and Sri Aman received in Kuching, Sarawak

 

 

When I was in Kuching, Sarawak last year, I did not manage to tune so much of distant FM radio stations because they were zero signal, except Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Entikong PRO-1 FM 99.9MHz.

 

Recently Cock DXer from Sarawak published several distant FM radio stations in Kuching where are transmitted from Sarikei, Sibu and Sri Aman.

 

He tuned Sibu FM 94.6MHz (Bukit Kayu Malam), Sri Aman FM 89.5MHz (Bukit Temudok), Cats FM 88.4MHz (Bukit Lima), Cats FM 88.7MHz (Bukit Temudok), Cats FM 96.7MHz (Bukit Kayu Malam) and the furthest RTM Radio Klasik FM 93.3MHz (Bukit Singgalang) in Kuching, Sarawak, but receiving location is at higher altitude hotel.

 

1. RTM Sibu FM 94.6MHz (127km from Bukit Kayu Malam)

 

There is 200kHz adjacent channel interference noise of RTM Sarawak FM 94.8MHz Gunung Ampungan transmitter.

 

2. RTM Sri Aman FM 89.5MHz (127km from Bukit Temudok)

  

 

3. Cats FM 88.4MHz (183km from Bukit Lima), 96.7MHz (127km from Bukit Kayu Malam) and 88.7MHz (127km from Bukit Temudok)

 

96.7MHz and 88.4MHz are moderately clear, but 88.7MHz has adjacent channel interference from RTM Sarawak FM 88.9MHz Gunung Serapi transmitter. 

 

4. RTM Radio Klasik FM 93.3MHz (229km from Bukit Singgalang) 

 

In the FM frequency bandscan video, more radio stations from Sri Aman and Sarikei were detected too.

 

 

 

Generally, none of Kuching people will tune a radio from distant transmitters because these radio stations can be tuned locally in Kuching, the main purpose of these radio reception videos is to identify how far a distant radio station transmission can reach.

 

In Kuching, Cats FM is already tuned on 99.3MHz from Gunung Serapi, meanwhile Wai FM Iban is available 24 hours on 101.3MHz from Gunung Serapi, then Radio Klasik is tuned on FM 92.9MHz from Gunung Serapi. 

 

I don't think Kuching people will tune 3 hours Malay language local programs on Sibu FM 94.6MHz and Sri Aman FM 89.5MHz because these radio stations are mostly zero signal in Kuching, Sarawak. I tried to tune Sibu FM 94.6MHz and Sri Aman FM 89.5MHz near Kuching Waterfront when I was in Kuching, Sarawak on 31st August 2025, I only got very mild signal there, but mostly they had no signal.

RTM Radio Klasik FM 93.3MHz from Bukit Singgalang is the furthest radio station tuned in Kuching, Sarawak with 229km distance.

Although RTM Radio Klasik is tuned on FM 92.9MHz from Gunung Serapi in Kuching, Sarawak, then it can be tuned from various distant transmitters there such as 98.0MHz from Gunung Ampungan (Serian), 107.3MHz from Bukit Temudok (Sri Aman) and 87.9MHz from Bukit Kayu Malam (Sarikei), but the Sarawak radio DXer, known as Cock DXer received RTM Radio Klasik on FM 93.3MHz which is transmitted from Bukit Singgalang.

Radio Klasik FM 93.3MHz Bukit Singgalang mainly covers Selangau, Stapong, Kanowit, Igan and Oya areas in Central Sarawak (Sibu Division and Mukah Division).

According to the video, RTM Radio Klasik FM 93.3MHz is tuned at higher altitude of a hotel in Kuching, the signal is weak actually.

In terms of distance, it is 229km from Bukit Singgalang tower to Kuching, so it becomes the furthest radio station tuned in Kuching, Sarawak.

Radio Klasik FM 93.3MHz is the only Bukit Singgalang transmitted radio station received in Kuching, Sarawak.

* Frequency: FM 93.3MHz

* Power: 1kW

* Transmitter site: Bukit Singgalang, Selangau, Sarawak

* Receiving site: Kuching, Sarawak

* Distance: 229km

Bukit Djin/Bukit Antu transmitted Kuching radio stations reception in Kota Samarahan, Asajaya and Sadong Jaya, Sarawak by Cock DXer

 

Here are the radio reception videos of Bukit Djin/Antu transmitted Kuching radio stations in Kota Samarahan, Asajaya and Sadong Jaya, Sarawak by Cock DXer (Sarawakian_12).

 

1. Kota Samarahan - Era FM Sarawak 96.1MHz Bukit Djin

 

 

2. Kota Samarahan - Sinar FM 102.1MHz Bukit Djin

 

 

3. Kota Samarahan - Kool FM 104.3MHz Bukit Djin 

 

 

4. Asajaya - Era FM Sarawak 96.1MHz Bukit Djin 

 

 

5. Asajaya - Sinar FM 102.1MHz Bukit Djin

 

   

6. Sadong Jaya - Era FM Sarawak 96.1MHz Bukit Djin

 

 

7. Sadong Jaya - Eight Wuxian FM 98.3MHz Bukit Djin

 

 

8. Sadong Jaya - Bernama Radio FM 100.9MHz Bukit Antu

  

Sinar FM 102.1MHz is the weakest Kuching radio station from Bukit Djin in Kota Samarahan, Asajaya and Sadong Jaya as Sinar FM 102.1MHz only operates at 0.25kW transmitter power there, while most of Bukit Djin FM radio stations operate at 1kW and 2kW power, meanwhile its rival station Kool FM 104.3MHz is the strongest Bukit Djin transmitted radio stations in these 3 locations. 

Kuching radio stations reception in Saratok, Sarawak

 

On 19th May 2025, I went to multiple locations in Sarawak for radio DXing activity, covering Simanggang, Betong, Engkilili, Spaoh, Debak, Saratok and Roban.

 

In Saratok, I managed to receive 5 radio stations from Kuching, such as Hot FM 94.3MHz, Kool FM 104.3MHz, Eight WuXian , FM 98.3MHz, RTM Wai FM Iban 101.3MHz and RTM Wai FM Bidayuh 106.1MHz.

 

Hot FM 94.3MHz, RTM Wai FM Iban 101.3MHz and RTM Wai FM Bidayuh 106.1MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk were loud and clear in Saratok, meanwhile Eight WuXian FM 98.3MHz and Kool FM 104.3MHz are weak there as they are transmitted from lower height Bukit Djin tower.

 

The Sarawak based radio DXer, known as Cock DXer (Sarawakian_12) also received several Kuching FM radio stations in Saratok, Sarawak from April 2025 to June 2026 intermittently.

 

1. Radio Klasik FM 92.9MHz (127km from Gunung Serapi)

 

Radio Klasik can be tuned clearly in Saratok via Sarikei frequency FM 87.9MHz, transmitted from Bukit Kayu Malam. 

 

2. Hot FM 94.3MHz (127km from Gunung Serapi) 

 

 

3. RTM Wai FM 101.3MHz (12km from Gunung Serapi)

 

 

4. Kool FM 104.3MHz (111km from Bukit Djin)

 

 

5. Eight WuXian FM 98.3MHz (111km from Bukit Djin) 

 

 

6. Bernama Radio FM 100.9MHz (111km from Bukit Antu)

 

Weakest Kuching radio station from Bukit Antu in Saratok, Sarawak.

 

7. RTM Wai FM Bidayuh 106.1MHz (127km from Gunung Serapi)

 

 

Saratok is the best location in Betong Division, Sarawak to catch Kuching radio stations signal from Gunung Serapi and Bukit Djin.

 

==My radio reception videos in Saratok, Sarawak from 19th May 2025 (Hot FM 94.3MHz, Wai FM Iban 101.3MHz, Wai FM Bidayuh 106.1MHz, Kool FM 104.3MHz and Eight FM 98.3MHz)== 

Penerimaan siaran radio RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz di Wilayah Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia (Batam vs. Bintan Tanjungpinang)

 

 

RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz dari Gunung Pulai yang meliputi Johor Selatan dan Johor Tengah boleh didengari di Singapura dan sebahagian kawasan Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia.

 

Batam dan Kariumun ialah kawasan Kepulauan Riau di Indonesia yang pendengar mengikuti siaran RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz. Pada 29hb Jun 2026, saya bercuti di Tanjungpinang, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia. Saya mencuba menerima siaran RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz di bandar tersebut.

 

Stesen radio RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz tidak dapat menerima di Pusat Bandaraya Tanjungpinang (Jl. Merdeka), tetapi saya hanya boleh menerima isyarat lemah di Tugu Gong Gong yang berhampiri dengan Jalan Hang Tuah.

 

Di kawasan sekitar Tugu Gong-Gong, RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz mempunyai gangguan isyarat frekuensi bocor daripada Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-3 88.6MHz. Isyarat RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-3 FM 88.6MHz membocor ke frekuensi FM 101.8MHz.

 

Antara tiga buah pulau di Kepulauan Riau, Batam ialah kawasan yang paling jelas menerima siaran RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz, diikuti dengan Karimun, manakala Tanjungpinang di Pulau Bintan ialah kawasan yang paling lemah untuk mendengar siaran Johor FM. 

 

Di sini terdapat video penerimaan siaran RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz di Kepulauan Riau yang dirakam oleh Ovifarz dan saya.

 

1. Batam

 

 

2. Galang

 

 

3. Tanjungpinang di Pulau Bintan

 

Secara keseluruhannya, RTM Johor FM 101.9MHz hanya boleh diterima di Pulau Batam dan Pulau Karimun bagi Wilayah Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia. 

 

Selain itu, RTM Radio Klasik FM 106.7MHz dan RTM Nasional FM 105.7MHz pun diterima dengan isyarat lemah di Tanjungpinang, Indonesia (Bangunan Gong-Gong).

Singapore radio stations tuned in Jambi, Indonesia

Generally Singapore radio stations are receivable outside Singapore such as Southern Johor in Malaysia and part of Riau Island Province in Indonesia (Batam, Bintan and Karimun).

 

Surprisingly, there are some Singapore radio stations tuned in Jambi city, Jambi Province, Indonesia recently by Limra DX.

 

I watch the Singapore radio reception videos by Limra DX on YouTube where he records them in Jambi City, Indonesia.

 

Total of 7 Singapore radio stations are recorded at Gentala Arasy Pedestrian Bridge in Jambi City, Indonesia. 

 

1. Mediacorp Gold 90.5FM

 

2. SPH One FM 91.3

 

3. Mediacorp CNA 93.8FM

 

 

4. Mediacorp Warna 94.2FM

 

 

5. Mediacorp Class 95FM

 

 

6. Mediacorp Capital 95.8FM

 

 

7. Mediacorp 987FM 

 

 

The clearest Singapore radio stations in Jambi, Indonesia are CNA 93.8, One FM 91.3 and Warna 94.2FM. There is RDS PS text appeared on the radio receiver when tune CNA 93.8FM in Jambi, Indonesia.

 

Except now defunct 88.3 Jia FM and Power 98FM, all Singapore radio stations are transmitted from Bukit Batok, the receiving distance from Bukit Batok to Jambi in Indonesia is 327km. 

 

According to Limra DX, these Singapore radio stations are tropospheric propagation in Jambi, Indonesia.

 

Jambi City becomes the furthest location to receive Singapore FM radio station in Indonesia.

 

Bravo 73 to Limra DX. 

(UPDATE 27/6/2026 5pm)

BBC World Service FM 88.9MHz, Money FM 89.3MHz and Oli 96.8FM are received in Jambi, Indonesia.

Oli 96.8FM is loud and clear with RDS PS text.

(UPDATE 30/6/2026 10pm)

Mediacorp Ria 89.7FM, SPH Kiss 92FM, Mediacorp Symphony 92.4FM, Mediacorp YES 93.3FM, SPH Hao FM 96.3MHz, Mediacorp Love 97.2FM and SPH UFM 100.3MHz are received in Jambi, Indonesia.

 

Symphony 92.4FM was tuned adjacently to FM 92.3MHz due to local radio station FM 92.5MHz (Radio Muaro Jambi / Jaringan Trirama FM Net FM).

List of local FM radio stations in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia

Here are the list of local radio stations that I performed aircheck in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia.

1. RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-1 FM 98.3MHz

 

2. RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-2 FM 92.1MHz

 

3. RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-3 FM 88.6MHz

 

4. RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-4 FM 101.3MHz

 

5. O-Nine Radio FM 93.0MHz

 

6. Radio Gurindam FM 97.8MHz

 

The aircheck videos are recorded at Nite & Day Laguna Hotel in Tanjungpinang City, Indonesia. 

 

Distant radio stations from Malaysia, Singapore and Batam are weak and mild in Tanjungpinang City, Indonesia. 

Malaysia, Singapore and Batam FM radio stations reception in Tanjungpinang, Bintan Island of Riau Islands Province, Indonesia

From 28th to 30th June 2026, I spend days in Tanjungpinang for my very first ever radio DXpedition activity in Indonesia. Tanjungpinang is a city located in Bintan Island, it is the capital of Riau Island Province in Indonesia. 

As Tanjungpinang is the capital of Riau Island Province in Indonesia, but nobody has done any radio signal monitoring there, so I decide to take this task.

I visited Tanjungpinang, Indonesia by ferry, departing from Johor Bahru at 3.45pm (UTC+8), it takes about 3 hours 30 minutes to travel from Stulang Laut Jetty to Sri Bintan Pura Terminal. 

When I reached there, the first agenda was to check in the hotel because I arrived in Tanjungpinang at 6.45pm (West Indonesia time UTC+7), then I took a dinner. 

After completing this task, the second agenda was to conduct preliminary radio signal check in Tanjungpinang city center at Jl. Merdeka. At Jl. Merdeka, zero signal of Singapore and Malaysia radio stations were heard. Then, I walked to Gong Gong Building (Indonesian: Gedung Gong Gong) at Jl.Hang Tuah to conduct further radio signal monitoring activity. Initially, there were zero signals of Singapore and Malaysia radio stations in the vicinity of Gong Gong Building, but I tried to go upstairs and tuned them. I had captured weak signal of Singapore and Malaysia radio stations.

During the first day at Gong Gong Building, I could only receive two Malaysia radio stations Traxx FM 102.9MHz and Johor FM 101.9MHz, meanwhile the rest stations were zero signal. Next, I tried it again on second day by going to Gong Gong Building again in the morning, I started to receive more Malaysia radio stations signal.

Singapore radio stations were tuned weakly at Gong Gong Building. Due to copyright restriction where some of the radio stations were playing non-stop music on Sunday night, I couldn't record the videos of several radio stations, so I carried forward on second day.

Malaysia radio stations are transmitted from Gunung Pulai which mainly covers South Johor and Singapore.

Singapore radio stations are transmitted from Bukit Batok.

Here are the videos of Malaysia, Singapore, and Batam radio stations received weakly in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia.

==Malaysia (JOHOR BAHRU Gunung Pulai)==

* 87.8MHz: Sinar FM

* 90.1MHz: Hot FM

* 94.6MHz: Lite FM

* 95.4MHz: MY FM

* 99.1MHz: Mix FM

* 99.9MHz: 988

* 101.9MHz: RTM Johor FM

* 102.5MHz: Fly FM

* 102.9MHz: RTM Traxx FM

* 103.7MHz: Raaga

* 104.5MHz: Era FM

* 104.9MHz: RTM Ai FM

* 105.7MHz: RTM Nasional FM

* 106.7MHz: RTM Radio Klasik

==Singapore (Bukit Batok)==

* 88.9MHz: BBC World Service

* 89.3MHz: SPH Money FM

* 89.7MHz: Mediacorp Ria 897

* 90.5MHz: Mediacorp Gold 905

* 91.3MHz: SPH One FM

* 92.4MHz: Mediacorp Symphony 924

* 93.3MHz: Mediacorp YES 933

* 93.8MHz: Mediacorp CNA 938

* 94.2MHz: Mediacorp Warna 942

* 95.0MHz: Mediacorp Class 95

* 95.8MHz: Mediacorp Capital 958

* 96.3MHz: SPH Hao FM

* 96.8MHz: Mediacorp Oli 968

* 97.2MHz: Mediacorp Love 972

* 98.7MHz: Mediacorp 987 FM

* 100.3MHz: SPH UFM 1003

==Batam radio stations==

* RRI Batam PRO-1 FM 105.1MHz

* RRI Batam PRO-2 FM 105.5MHz

* Hang FM 106.0MHz

* Radio Serumpun FM 91.7MHz

* Batam FM 100.7MHz

* Hijrah FM 102.3MHz

All videos are recorded at Gong Gong Building in Kota Tanjungpinang, Indonesia, but no signal when I tuned any Singapore and Malaysia radio stations at Jl. Merdeka in Tanjungpinang.

==NOTES==

1. Suria FM 101.4MHz from Gunung Pulai is not receivable in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia due to RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-4 FM 101.3MHz.

2. Melody FM 98.4MHz from Gunung Pulai is not receivable in Tanjungpinang due to RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-1 FM 98.3MHz.

3. Kiss 92FM is the only Singapore radio station unavailable in Tanjungpinang due to RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-2 FM 92.1MHz.

4. Zayan FM 92.8MHz, IKIM FM 106.2MHz, Hitz FM 97.6MHz and Best FM 104.1MHz from Gunung Pulai are zero signal in Tanjungpinang. 

5. RTM Minnal FM 101.1MHz from Gunung Pulai has no signal in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia, instead adjacent channel interference noise of RRI Tanjungpinang PRO-4 FM 101.3MHz.

In conclusion, Singapore, Malaysia and Batam radio stations are mostly zero signals in most of Tanjungpinang City, Indonesia, but Gong Gong Building area is the only best location to capture the radio signal from Singapore, Malaysia and Batam radio stations, but weak signal reception. Batam Island is the best location of Riau Islands Province in Indonesia to tune Singapore and Malaysia FM radio stations loudly and clearly, while Tanjungpinang in Bintan Island is the distant coverage of Singapore, Batam and Malaysia FM radio stations.

A movie version of Malaysia, Singapore and Batam radio stations signal monitoring video in Tanjungpinang, Indonesia is released today with 36 minutes and 32 seconds duration.

 

 

==How to visit Tanjungpinang, Indonesia from Malaysia?==

1. Go to Berjaya Waterfront ferry at Stulang Laut in Johor Bahru and purchase ferry tickets at Berjaya Waterfront Hotel 2nd floor.

2. Alternatively, the passengers can book the ticket via Berjaya Waterfront website (https://berjayawaterfront.com.my/ferry_booking/).

3. All visitors are required to fill up the arrival card via All Indonesia (website at: https://allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id/ or All Indonesia app) within 3 days before arrival in Indonesia. Once visitors have filled it, a QR code will be generated, visitors can print the QR code and present it to the immigration counter upon arrival in Tanjungpinang.

4. From Stulang Laut JB to Tanjungpinang via ferry, it takes estimated 3-4 hours, subject to the operators and weather condition.

5. Please ensure passport validity for 6 months and beyond before visiting Tanjungpinang, Indonesia or any international destinations.