RTM Sabah VFM launched its shortwave frequency SW 11885kHz on 1st March 2026, transmitted from RTM Kajang shortwave transmitting mast.
Although RTM Sabah VFM on SW 11885kHz mainly targets rural areas in Sabah where have no coverage of FM transmitters, but RTM Sabah VFM shortwave frequency on SW 11885kHz is available in Klang Valley of Peninsular Malaysia where Sabahans stay.
People does not only can access RTM Sabah VFM via digital platform such as RTM Klik, they can tune it via Astro (CH870) and MYTV (CH708) elsewhere in Malaysia, however shortwave frequency SW 11885kHz is a new platform of Sabah VFM.
Yes, there are many Sabahans staying and working in Klang Valley, notably Seri Kembangan, Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, Cyberjaya, Bangi, Petaling Jaya etc, so they can listen to Sabah VFM via SW 11885kHz in Klang Valley with the radio receiver which has shortwave frequency band, but Sabah VFM on SW 11885kHz only broadcasts 12 hours daily from 8am to 8pm.
Here are the radio reception of Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz that I tune in various locations of Klang Valley.
1. Balakong (near Kajang, Cheras and Bangi)
Loud and clear signal in Balakong as it is near from RTM Kajang transmitter.
2. Puchong
Signal is weak and unstable in Puchong, no signal if I tune this frequency indoor.
3. Ampang
Video is recorded near Bandar Baru Ampang, it is still clear and stable in Ampang.
4. Kuala Lumpur
Video is recorded at Dataran Merdeka. Signal is not so good in Kuala Lumpur, compare to Nasional FM SW 15295kHz because Sabah VFM uses directional antenna.
5. Cyberjaya
Video is taken at Persiaran Apec, the signal is loud and clear. So, it is also clear in Putrajaya.
6. Seri Kembangan
Moderate signal received in Seri Kembangan.
The signal of RTM Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz can be only heard clearly in East Klang Valley, especially areas near RTM Kajang transmitter tower such as Kajang, Bangi, Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Semenyih, Ampang and Cheras, but the signal strength of RTM Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz is weak in most of Klang Valley areas such as Puchong, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and Petaling Jaya because RTM Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz beams signal towards east direction at 93DEG angle, those west Klang Valley areas are not in the coverage of SW 11885kHz.
Listeners are highly advised to tune Sabah VFM digitally such as RTM Klik, Astro CH870 and MYTV CH708 after 6pm because SW 11885kHz has co-channel interference from China radio station (CNR-1) in Klang Valley from 6pm to 8pm. The listeners may hear two radio stations on SW 11885kHz from 6pm to 8pm.
RTM Sabah VFM on SW 11885kHz can be tuned in part of Peninsular Malaysia, but outside Klang Valley. A listener tuned it in Port Dickson and Salak Tinggi.
==Shortwave radio receivers==
To tune RTM Sabah VFM in Klang Valley via shortwave frequency SW 11885kHz, the listeners must have a radio receiver with shortwave band. Although many electrical shops in supermarket don't sell radio anymore, but the radio receivers can be purchased on several online shopping platform like Shopee and Lazada.
I'm using TECSUN PL-310ET radio receiver to tune a shortwave radio station, TECSUN PL-310ET is an affordable, but mid-range radio receiver. It is cheaper than Sangean and XHDATA. I bought PL-310ET at Shopee 5 years ago with the price around RM160.
Retekess V115 is another budget-friendly shortwave radio receiver, it is sold at Shopee with the price below than RM100.
Both TECSUN PL-310ET and Retekess V115 are powered by rechargeable battery.
TECSUN PL-310ET is using 3 units of AA battery, its charger port is plugged with Mini-B cable. I use Eveready Rechargeable Battery for TECSUN PL-310ET. When the battery is about to empty, it is highly recommended to charge the battery at least 5 hours.
Retekess V115 is powered by Nokia's BL-5C rechargeable battery, the charger port is plugged with Type-C cable.
Some of supermarkets and electrical shops also sell cheaper radio receivers, notably Wirata and Colone, but I'm doubt about their reliability.
Wirata LT-Q1 radio receiver is based on China made Leotec LT-Q1, the radio receiver itself is just locally manufactured. I was used to own Leotec LT-Q1, but if you want to buy this radio receiver, I cannot guarantee the radio frequency dial is accurate or not because the radio frequency dial is not accurate when I used LEOTEC LT-Q1, but I'm not sure about Wirata version because both are manufactured in different locations.
Wirata is a Malaysia electrical products company based in Ipoh, Perak, it also produces audio appliances. Wirata also produces radio receivers with shortwave frequency band such as:
1. LT-Q1
2. LT-D5.5U
3. LT-D6.5
4. LT-D6.5A
5. LT-D6.5U
6. RC-D7.5
7. RS-D8.5
Most of the radio receivers have multi frequency band, FM-MW-SW-LW, but some of them are "FM-MW-SW1-SW2". RTM Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz is under SW2 band which is from 10000kHz to 22000kHz.
By converting the frequency measurement unit from kHz to MHz, RTM Sabah VFM is actually on SW 11.885MHz. So, the frequency dial on SW2 for certain radio receiver is between 10MHz and 12MHz.
==Recommended shortwave radio receivers (budget friendly models)==
1. TECSUN PL-310ET
2. TECSUN PL-380
3. TECSUN R-909
4. TECSUN DR-920C
5. Retekess V115
6. Retekess TR618
7. Retekess V117
8. Colon radio (clone version of Panasonic RX-M70)
9. Various Wirata shortwave radio receivers
==CONCLUSION==
For Klang Valley, RTM Sabah VFM on SW 11885kHz is only loud and clear in the locations near RTM Kajang transmitter like Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Hulu Langat, Kajang, Bangi and Semenyih. So, it is highly recommended to tune Sabah VFM in Klang Valley and other part of Peninsular Malaysia via RTM Klik, Astro or MYTV.
Car radio receiver does not feature shortwave SW frequency band as it has only FM and AM bands, so the listeners need to tune RTM Sabah VFM in the car via online.
==BROADCAST HOURS OF RTM SABAH VFM SW 11885kHz (UTC+8)==
* 0800-0900: Kadazan
* 0900-1200: Chinese
* 1200-1500: English
* 1500-1800: West Coast Bajau
* 1800-1900: East Coast Bajau
* 1900-2000: Murut
==Coverage of RTM Sabah VFM SW 11885kHz in Klang Valley==
* Balakong
* Kajang
* Bangi
* Ampang
* Seri Kembangan
* Part of Kuala Lumpur
* Semenyih
* Hulu Langat
* Cheras
* Beranang
* Salak Tinggi
* Gombak
* Cyberjaya
* Putrajaya



















