First time to tune China National Radio CNR-17 Kazakh channel in Malaysia via shortwave

China National Radio operates many shortwave broadcast for its many radio stations such as:

1. CNR-1 Voice of China

2. CNR-2 Business Radio

3. CNR-5 Cross-Straits Radio

4. CNR-6 Shenzhou Easy Radio

5. CNR-7 Radio The Greater Bay

6. CNR-8 Ethnic Minority Radio 

7. CNR-11 Tibetan Radio 

8. CNR-13 Uyghur Radio

9. CNR-17 Kazakh Radio 

From 2019 till 2024, I had tuned CNR-1, CNR-2, CNR-5, CNR-6, CNR-7, CNR-11 and CNR-13 in Malaysia via shortwave frequencies. Receiving location is in Balakong, Selangor state where is not far from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

On 18th April 2025, at 2101 hours (UTC+8), I finally received China National Radio CNR-17 Kazakh broadcast in Malaysia via shortwave frequency transmission. 

Basically China National Radio CNR-17 cannot be received in Malaysia via shortwave because the transmitters don't beam to ASEAN as it caters Kazakh listeners in China and surrounding countries. In the past, I was used to try receiving this radio station via shortwave frequencies, but signal was negative.

Until 18th April 2025, I made my first ever shortwave radio listening by tuning CNR-17 in Malaysia on SW 4850kHz.

CNR-17 broadcasts with 7 shortwave frequencies such as 4850kHz, 6015kHz, 7340kHz, 9470kHz, 9630kHz, 11630kHz, and 12055kHz. In Malaysia, I could only receive weak signal on 4850kHz, meanwhile rest of the frequencies have no signal.

4850kHz is transmitted from Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China, transmitted at 100kW power with OMNI-directional antenna.

Signal was mild when I tuned in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia.

* Frequency: SW 4850kHz

* Power: 100kW

* Transmitter site: Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China 

* Receiving site: Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia 

* Distance: 4802km

* Receiving date/time: 18th April 2025 2101 hours (UTC+8)

* Language: Kazakh 

Taiwan numbers station Star Star Broadcasting Station 星星廣播電台 tuned in Malaysia on SW 20025kHz

About Taiwan shortwave radio stations, in the past, I tuned Radio Taiwan International and several clandestine radio stations like Radio NUG, National Unity Radio, and Mizzima Radio. After 21 months hiatus, today I manage to tune another shortwave radio station from Taiwan.

Star Star Broadcasting Station from Taiwan is my first ever numbers station tuned in Malaysia.

Its Chinese name is known as 星星廣播電台.

Star Star Broadcasting Station is transmitted from Guanyin District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (台灣桃園市觀音區) with various frequencies such as 8300kHz, 13974kHz, 19052kHz and 20025kHz. 

Today on 20th April 2025, I manage to tune Star Star Broadcasting Station on 8300kHz, 19052kHz and 20025kHz in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia.

8300kHz and 19052kHz have no signal, but I can detect the radio signal of Star Star Broadcasting Station via SW 20025kHz in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia on 20th April 2025 at 0946 hours (UTC+8).

SW 20025kHz is moderately clear in Malaysia with statics. 

* Frequency: SW 20025kHz

* Power: 10kW

* Antenna degree: Non-directional

* Transmitter site: Guanyin District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 

* Receiving site: Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia 

* Distance: 3209km

* Receiving date/time: 20th April 2025 0946 hours (UTC+8)

Star Star Broadcasting Station is a numbers station from Taiwan, the female announcers say four digits numbers during on air.

Use DC power supply can prevent overheating to the cheap radio receiver's transformer easily during long duration of radio listening

At the market, we can purchase cheap radio receivers as cheaper as RM 30 per unit, those cheap radio receivers are mostly made in China.

In Malaysia, most of the brands of cheap radio receivers are Leotec (now it was rebadged as Wirata, but Made In Malaysia), Khes, Nippon, JOC etc.

I was used to own Leotec LT-Q1 radio receiver from December 2011 to August 2018, it priced at RM35 when I purchased at a market in Teluk Intan, Perak.

I listened to radio broadcast by using this radio receiver with three different power supply, the AC 220V, DC 4.5V and two unit of D size battery (3.0V).

When I used LEOTEC LT-Q1 radio receiver for the first time and listened to my favorite radio station, I turned on the radio by using AC 220V power source, but my radio receiver got overheating after listening to the radio for more than 30 minutes. Then, I switched to battery source by installing two units of D size battery, the radio receiver was better after listening for more than 2 hours, but it was not enough because battery can run out power for long term use, unless I used alkaline battery. Hence, I went for universal DC power adapter. My former Leotec LT-Q1 radio receiver could last long when I switched to DC power source by connecting with universal DC power adapter.

Overheating and faulty transformers are usually happened on the cheap radio receivers if we use AC 220V power supply, this is because the cheaper radio transformer cannot hold the operation for long duration, also the other factors such as poor ventilation.

To prevent overheating or damage of the transformer, I strongly suggest to use DC power supply, several cheap radio receivers have DC power supply socket by connecting from universal adapter. Personally, listening to the radio on cheap radio receivers by connecting to DC socket with the universal DC adapter would be more reliable than AC 220V power supply.

In addition, there are some cheap radio receivers have frequency harmonic problem. I was used to check them out, those radio receivers or Bluetooth speakers with FM radio like JOC, Havit etc have frequency harmonic when the frequency reached on FM 96.0MHz. The listeners will hear nothing when they tune FM 96.0MHz on these cheaper radio receivers, regardless FM 96.0MHz has radio transmission in their areas or not.

For better radio listening experience, I strongly suggest to buy better quality radio receivers like Panasonic, Sony, Pensonic, Philips, Retekess, TECSUN, Aiwa etc, but if you're listening to the radio with using cheaper radio receivers like Leotec, Wirata, Khes etc, I strongly recommend to use universal DC adapter. When the radio receiver requires 4.5V DC power supply, please set to 4.5V DC power supply on the adapter, then you can switch on the radio.

Indonesia radio station FM 101.1MHz tuned in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia was Radio GSP FM from Jambi Province

Yesterday I received a message from another DXer, named Kelvin Lee regarding the radio reception in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.

He received an unknown Indonesia radio station on the frequency FM 101.1MHz in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia yesterday. Then, he sent the video of receiving FM 101.1MHz to me.

In the past years, when I was in Genting Highlands, I only managed to receive Minnal FM from Gunung Pulai and MY FM from Bukit Pelindung on the frequency FM 101.1MHz, but I never managed to receive any Indonesia radio station on this frequency yet.

By checking the frequency registration list of Indonesia radio stations, none of radio stations are using FM 101.1MHz in North Sumatra, South Sumatra and Riau provinces where are adjacent to Malaysia with Malacca Straits, but there is a radio station using FM 101.1MHz in Jambi.

Next, I watched and listened to the given video, the radio station was airing an event announcement in Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) and mentioning something about Jambi. Then, I identified that the Indonesian speaking radio station on FM 101.1MHz was Radio GSP from Jambi town, Jambi Province, Indonesia tuned in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.

The radio reception of GSP FM 101.1MHz from Jambi, Indonesia in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia was considered as tropospheric propagation because it was not consistently available at all. 

As RTM Selangor FM 100.9MHz is also transmitted from Gunung Ulu Kali where is just next to Genting Highlands, so adjacent channel interference noise from this radio station could be detected when listened to Radio GSP FM 101.1MHz in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.

Transmitter power of this radio station was unknown.

The transmitter site of Radio GSP FM 101.1MHz is located at Jalan Professor Dr Ir Sutami 62 in Jambi City, Jambi Province, Indonesia. By calculating the distance between the Tx location of Radio GSP and Genting Highlands, it is 593km.

As April 2025, Radio GSP FM 101.1MHz from Jambi, Indonesia is the furthest radio station tuned in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.

In conclusion, Indonesia radio on FM 101.1MHz tuned in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia on 12th April 2025 was Radio GSP FM from Jambi, Indonesia.

* Frequency: FM 101.1MHz

* Power: (unknown)

* Transmission site: Jalan Profesor Dr Ir Sutami 62, Jambi City, Jambi Province, Indonesia 

* Receiving site: Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia 

* Distance: 593km

Adakah siaran radio IKIM FM boleh didengari di Sandakan, Sabah pada frekuensi FM 107.3MHz dari Lahad Datu (Gunung Silam)?

Pada tahun 2010-an, IKIM FM memperluaskan siarannya di 2 buah kawasan Wilayah Sabah selepas Kota Kinabalu, iaitu Lahad Datu pada frekuensi FM 107.3MHz (Gunung Silam) dan Tawau pada frekuensi FM 100.7MHz (Gunung Andrassy).

Walaupun IKIM FM mempunyai frekuensi di Lahad Datu dan Tawau, tetapi stesen radio ini melangkau Sandakan dengan tidak menambah frekuensi di kawasan tersebut.

Di Bahagian Sandakan, terdapat pendengar mengatakan bahawa siaran radio IKIM FM masih boleh diterima pada frekuensi FM 107.3MHz yang dipancar dari Lahad Datu (Gunung Silam).

Saya kurang pasti sama ada pemancar IKIM FM 107.3MHz di Gunung Silam boleh meliputi kawasan Bahagian Sandakan, Sabah atau tidak, oleh itu saya membuat peta liputan simulasi IKIM FM 107.3MHz pemancar Gunung Silam, kuasa pemancarnya ialah 2kW.

==Peta liputan IKIM FM 107.3MHz Gunung Silam==

==Peta liputan IKIM FM 107.3MHz Gunung Silam di Bahagian Sandakan==

==Peta liputan IKIM FM 107.3MHz pemancar Gunung Silam di Sandakan==

==Peta liputan IKIM FM 107.3MHz pemancar Gunung Silam di Kinabatangan dan Beluran==

Saya menggunakan Nautel RF Toolkit untuk membuat peta liputan simulasi IKIM FM 107.3MHz pemancar Gunung Silam dengan memasuki parameter pemancarnya (ramalan). Dalam peta tersebut, warna hijau adalah kawasan yang boleh menerima isyarat IKIM FM 107.3MHz dari Gunung Silam dengan kekuatan medan minimum 54dBuV/m, manakala warna kuning adalah kawasan liputan IKIM FM 107.3MHz dengan isyarat lemah.

 

Berdasarkan pada peta liputan tersebut, IKIM FM 107.3MHz boleh didengari dengan jelas di sebahagian kawasan Bahagian Sandakan seperti Kinabatangan dan Bandar Sandakan yang berhampiran dengan laut.

Di Bandar Sandakan, penerimaan isyarat IKIM FM 107.3MHz adalah lemah dari Batu 3 ke Batu 16, manakala tiada isyarat boleh diterima di kawasan Batu 2 kerana isyarat dihalang oleh Bukit Trig, tetapi IKIM FM 107.3MHz boleh diterima dengan jelas di Pusat Bandar Sandakan yang berhampiran dengan laut. 

 

IKIM FM 107.3MHz memang jelas diterima di Kinabatangan, Sabah kerana Kinabatangan terletak di kawasan antara Lahad Datu dan Sandakan.

Di Beluran, siaran IKIM FM 107.3MHz diterima dengan isyarat yang sangat lemah, kemungkinan tiada isyarat boleh diterima di kawasan tersebut.

Secara keseluruhan, walaupun IKIM FM tidak mempunyai frekuensi Sandakan seperti Era Sabah dan Sinar FM, tetapi ia masih boleh didengari pada frekuensi FM 107.3MHz dari Lahad Datu (Gunung Silam) di Kinabatangan dan beberapa kawasan Sandakan (Pusat Bandar Sandakan & Batu 19), tetapi tiada jaminan isyarat yang jelas.

Bukit Djin and Gunung Serapi transmitted Kuching radio stations received in Serian, Sarawak by Sarawak Radio TV (Sarawakian_12)

From Kuching to other locations of Sarawak (example: Sri Aman, Sibu etc), Serian is always the final coverage of Kuching radio stations which are transmitted from Bukit Djin, Gunung Serapi and Bukit Antu.

According to the YouTube channel, Sarawak Radio TV (Sarawakians_12), Astro radio stations from Bukit Djin such as Era FM 96.1MHz, Hitz FM 95.3MHz, MY FM 96.9MHz, Melody FM 103.7MHz, Sinar FM 102.1MHz, Mix FM 97.7MHz and Lite FM 100.1MHz cannot be tuned in Serian anymore. In Serian, Sarawak, these radio stations have no signal. Personally I suspect they're running low power transmitters or using directional antenna, that's why their coverage are not wide as other Kuching radio stations.

 

The coverage of these Astro radio stations are available until Siburan.

However, other Bukit Djin and Gunung Serapi transmitted Kuching commercial radio stations are still clearly available in Serian.

 

Dear all Serian radio listeners, here are the available Kuching commercial radio stations which can be tuned in Serian, Sarawak.

1. Kupi-Kupi FM 92.5MHz (46km from Bukit Djin)

2. IKIM FM 93.7MHz (46km from Bukit Djin)

3. Eight FM 98.3MHz (46km from Bukit Antu)

4. Bernama Radio FM 100.9MHz (46km from Bukit Antu)

 

5. Tea FM 102.7MHz (46km from Bukit Antu)

6. Hot FM 94.3MHz (61km from Gunung Serapi)

 

7. Cats FM 99.3MHz (61km from Gunung Serapi)

8. Kool 101 FM 104.3MHz (46km from Bukit Djin)

Thanks to Sarawak Radio TV for the contribution in radio DX and signal monitoring activity.

RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz dari Bukit Trig diterima di Tawau dan Kunak, Sabah.

RTM Sandakan FM ialah sebuah stesen radio tempatan RTM Sabah, khususnya untuk pendengar Bahagian Sandakan, ia bersiaran pada frekuensi FM 90.1MHz yang dipancar dari Bukit Trig.

Untuk makluman, RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz meliputi Sandakan, Beluran, Pamol, Telupid dan Kinabatangan, tetapi stesen radio ini masih boleh didengari di Lahad Datu pada frekuensi yang sama.

Berdasarkan video yang dimuat naik oleh Kisah Alkisah di YouTube, siaran RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz dari Bukit Trig masih boleh diterima di Kunak dan Tawau dengan isyarat sederhana dan lemah.

1. Tawau (178km)

2. Kunak (130km)

Di Tawau dan Kunak, isyarat RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz lebih jelas daripada Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz. 

 

Selain daripada Tawau dan Kunak, menurut kata Kisah Alkisah, RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz pun boleh diterima di kawasan Semporna, Sabah. 

Secara keseluruhan, di luar Bahagian Sandakan, siaran RTM Sandakan FM masih boleh diterima di Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak dan Tawau pada frekuensi 90.1MHz dari Bukit Trig, isyarat mungkin jelas atau lemah, tertakluk kepada kawasan penerimaan.

RTM Wai FM can be tuned loudly and clearly in Labuan via shortwave SW 11665kHz.

Although RTM Wai FM shortwave SW 11665kHz from RTM Kajang transmitter mainly targets Sarawak region, especially the rural areas where FM broadcast has no coverage, but it can be tuned loudly and clearly in Federal Territory of Labuan.

In Labuan, RTM Wai FM on SW 11665kHz is very loud and clear, compare to Peninsular Malaysia, this is because RTM Wai FM SW 11665kHz from RTM Kajang transmitter beams the signal at 93 degree angle.

Wai FM Iban can be tuned in Labuan via Limbang FM 104.9MHz from Bukit Mas transmitter, but Wai FM Iban on 104.9MHz is only available from 12am to 9am, then 6pm to 12am because Limbang FM broadcasts local programs from 9am to 6pm in Malay, Lun Bawang and Bisaya languages.

9am to 12pm: Malay

12pm to 3pm: Lun Bawang

3pm to 6pm: Bisaya

Wai FM SW 11665kHz becomes alternative platform of FM 104.9MHz in Labuan, but Iban broadcast is not available on SW 11665kHz from 12pm to 6pm in favour of Lun Bawang broadcast from 12pm to 3pm, then Kayan from 3pm to 5pm, and Kenyah from 5pm to 6pm.

So, Wai FM Iban from 12pm to 6pm is needed to be tuned via online if the listeners tune the radio in Labuan.

SINPO code of RTM Wai FM SW 11665kHz in Labuan is 55555 which is clear and full signal, video was taken in Bandar Victoria on 31st March 2025 at 0725 hours (UTC+8).

- Frequency: SW 11665kHz

- Power: 100kW

- Transmitter site: RTM Kajang, Selangor

- Receiving site: Bandar Victoria, Labuan

- Distance: 1514km

- Receiving date/time: 31st March 2025 0725 hours (UTC+8)

- Receiver: TECSUN PL-380

- SINPO: 55555

Era FM Sabah masih boleh diterima di Lahad Datu, Sabah pada frekuensi 103.0MHz dari Sandakan (Bukit Trig), manakala isyarat sangat lemah di Kunak.

 

Walaupun frekuensi Era FM Sabah di Sandakan 103.0MHz meliputi Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Beluran dan Pamol yang dipancar dari Bukit Trig, tetapi siaran Era FM Sabah masih boleh didengari di Lahad Datu dengan isyarat sederhana pada frekuensi yang sama, manakala isyarat lemah Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz masih boleh dikesan di Kunak yang terletak di antara Tawau dan Lahad Datu.

 

Terdapat seorang DXer dari Sabah, namanya Kisah Alkisah memuat naik video isyarat radio Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz di Lahad Datu dan Kunak ke laman YouTube.

 

Di sini terdapat dua video penerimaan isyarat radio Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz di Lahad Datu dan Kunak yang dimuat naik oleh Kisah Alkisah.

 

1. Lahad Datu (93km)

 

2. Kunak (130km)

 

Antara dua kawasan ini, siaran Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz dari Bukit Trig, Sandakan boleh didengari dengan sederhana di Lahad Datu, tetapi isyaratnya sangat lemah di Kunak.

 

Kuasa pemancar Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz di Bukit Trig ialah 2kW.

 

Pada pandangan saya, saya berfikir bahawa Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz tidak dapat diterima di Tawau dan Semporna. Ini kerana isyarat Era FM 103.0MHz sudah diterima dengan sangat lemah di Kunak, oleh itu Era FM 103.0MHz tidak mempunyai isyarat di Tawau, tetapi di kawasan Semporna, Era FM 103.0MHz mungkin tidak dapat diterima juga kerana ia bertindih dengan RTM Nasional FM 102.9MHz yang dipancar dari Felda Sahabat. 

 

Untuk stesen radio kembarnya, Sinar FM 106.9MHz dari Bukit Trig tidak dapat diterima di Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau dan Semporna kerana Sinar FM 106.9MHz menggunakan pemancar kuasa rendah di Bukit Trig pada kekuatan 0.25kW.

The signal of RTM Keningau FM 94.7MHz from Bukit Sigapon transmitter was detected in Labuan

Although my main target of DXing the radio signal in Labuan is from Bukit Mas (Limbang), Brunei (Bukit Subok + Andulau), Bukit Tiong (Lawas), Bukit Tampalagus (Sipitang), and Bukit Karatong (Kota Kinabalu), but surprisingly I detected weak radio signal of RTM Keningau FM on the frequency 94.7MHz, transmitted from Bukit Sigapon.

Initially I detected the radio station signal at Bulatan Merdeka (Labuan's Merdeka Roundabout) with very mild reception, then I recorded the video, however I received a better signal of Keningau FM 94.7MHz at Dataran Merdeka in the morning.

I monitored RTM Keningau FM 94.7MHz signal in Bandar Victoria, Labuan on 31st March 2025 (first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday), from 0800 hours to 0900 hours at two different places such as Bulatan Merdeka and Dataran Labuan.

Co-channel interference with RTM Radio Klasik FM 94.7MHz Bukit Tiong transmitter could be detected when I listened to RTM Keningau FM 94.7MHz at Dataran Merdeka by using TECSUN PL-380 radio receiver.

By measuring the receiving distance, Keningau FM 94.7MHz was not the furthest radio station tuned in Labuan. From Bukit Sigapon to Labuan, the adjacent distance is just 88km.

 

Keningau FM 94.7MHz Bukit Sigapon transmitter coverage mainly covers Keningau, Tenom and Tambunan in Interior Division of Sabah. Although there are many terrains between Bukit Sigapon and Labuan, but the signal can overspill to Labuan with very mild radio reception.

Keningau FM doesn't only broadcast in Malay language, it also broadcasts in Murut and Dusun language.

* Malay: 6am to 9am, then 3pm to 7pm

* Dusun: 9am to 12pm

* Murut: 12pm to 3pm

As Keningau FM 94.7MHz radio reception in Labuan is just an overspilling signal and Labuan is outside the broadcast coverage of this radio station, so listeners in Labuan are advised to tune Keningau FM via online streaming platform (RTM Klik).

- Frequency: FM 94.7MHz

- Power: 1kW

- Transmitter site: Bukit Sigapon, Sabah

- Receiving site: Labuan

- Distance: 88km