Radio stations signal monitoring in Menumbok, Sabah

After completing the radio DXpedition in Beaufort, I continued to drive to Menumbok with 1 hour duration.

 

Menumbok is a popular small town in Kuala Penyu District, Interior Division of Sabah where many people visit Labuan Island via ferry from the Menumbok ferry terminal. 

 

Regarding the radio stations' availability, Menumbok is same as Labuan, but no signal to receive Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz from Bukit Lambir in Menumbok like what I tuned in Bandar Victoria, Labuan Island.

 

The people in Menumbok, Sabah can only tune clear radio stations from RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) which are transmitted from Bukit Tampalagus, Sipitang by following below:

* Radio Klasik FM 95.5MHz

* Nasional FM 96.5MHz

* Sabah FM 97.9MHz

* Traxx FM 99.1MHz

* Ai FM 99.9MHz

* Sabah VFM 102.9MHz 

 

In Menumbok, Sabah, I managed to receive 12 distant radio stations randomly, transmitted from Kota Kinabalu (Bukit Karatong), Limbang (Bukit Mas), Brunei (Bukit Subok) and Labuan. 

 

1. Hitz FM 100.8MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (123km)

 

 

2. Mix FM 101.6MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (123km)

 

 

3. MY FM 104.0MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (123km)

 

 

4. Eight WuXian FM 95.7MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (123km)

 

 

5. Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (123km)

 

 

6. IKIM FM 93.9MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (123km)

 

 

7. RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (74km)

 

 

8. RTM Red FM 104.1MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (74km)

 

 

9. RTM Limbang FM 104.9MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (74km)

 

 

10. Cats FM 88.7MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (74km)

 

 

11. RTM Labuan FM 89.4MHz Bukit Timbalai (21km) & 103.7MHz RTM Labuan (12km)

 

 

12. RTB Harmoni FM 94.1MHz Bukit Subok BRUNEI (65km)

 

Bukit Karatong transmitted radio stations in Menumbok have same radio reception in Labuan, but Bukit Mas transmitted Sarawak radio stations in Menumbok are weaker than the radio reception in Labuan.

 

Brunei radio stations are still clear in Menumbok, Sabah, same signal quality like what I tuned in Labuan last year.

 

Menumbok is the first and only location in Sabah where I can listen to RTM Labuan FM on 89.4MHz from Bukit Timbalai transmitter. RTM Labuan FM operates 2 frequencies in Labuan with 89.4MHz Bukit Timbalai and 103.7MHz RTM Labuan, I performed radio signal comparison of both frequencies in Menumbok, Sabah on 19th April 2026, Labuan FM 89.4MHz was better than 103.7MHz.

 

The radio reception in Menumbok and Labuan are almost same because both are adjacent each other with the sea, except RTM Labuan FM and Bukit Mas transmitted Sarawak radio stations.

Radio stations signal monitoring in Beaufort, Sabah.

On the first day of my radio DXpedition in Sabah (PART 2), I drove to Beaufort and Menumbok after landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport for my brunch and radio DXing activity.

 

Beaufort was my first town of radio DXpedition, together with brunch meal, then I drove to Menumbok after completing the radio DXpedition in Beaufort.

 

In Beaufort, the radio stations from Bukit Karatong (Kota Kinabalu), Bukit Mas (Limbang) and Brunei (Bukit Subok) are still receivable, but moderately weak. 

1. Hitz FM 100.8MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (92km)

 

 

2. Mix FM 101.6MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (92km)

 

 

3. Era FM Sabah 102.4MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (92km)

 

4. MY FM 104.0MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (92km)

 

 

5. Eight WuXian FM 95.7MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (92km)

 

 

6. Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz Bukit Karatong KOTA KINABALU (92km)

 

 

7. Al-Quran FM 89.1MHz Bukit Subok BRUNEI (101km) 

 

 

8. RTB Nasional FM 92.3MHz Bukit Subok BRUNEI (101km)

 

 

9. RTB Nur Islam FM 93.3MHz Bukit Subok BRUNEI (101km) 

 

 

10. RTB Pilihan FM 95.9MHz Bukit Subok BRUNEI (101km)

 

 

11. RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz Bukit Mas LIMBANG (105km) 

 

 

Hitz FM 100.8MHz, Era FM Sabah 102.4MHz and Eight WuXian FM 95.7MHz are the strongest Bukit Karatong transmitted radio stations in Beaufort, Sabah, but Mix FM 101.6MHz is the weakest radio station there and it has interference with RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz.

 

Al-Quran FM 89.1MHz is the strongest Brunei radio station in Beaufort.

 

RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz and Cats FM 88.7MHz are the only Sarawak radio stations which are weakly available in Beaufort, meanwhile Red FM 104.1 MHz and Limbang FM 104.9MHz are not receivable in Beaufort.

 

About the radio coverage of Bukit Karatong transmitter from Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) to Lawas (Sarawak), Beaufort is the last town of Bukit Karatong radio coverage. 

 

Back to November 2019, I was used to tune KK12FM 89.5MHz and Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz in Beaufort.

 

RTM radio stations are covered by Bukit Gadong and Bukit Tampalagus transmitters in Beaufort.

* Radio Klasik FM 88.0MHz Bukit Gadong/95.5MHz Bukit Tampalagus

* Nasional FM 89.9MHz Bukit Gadong/96.5MHz Bukit Tampalagus

* Sabah FM 89.3MHz Bukit Gadong/97.9MHz Bukit Tampalagus

* Traxx FM 90.7MHz Bukit Gadong/99.1MHz Bukit Tampalagus

* Ai FM 91.6MHz Bukit Gadong/99.9MHz Bukit Tampalagus
* Sabah VFM 92.6MHz Bukit Gadong/102.9MHz Bukit Tampalagus  

Brunei radio stations reception in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

When I was in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, I could tune Brunei FM radio stations from Bukit Subok which mainly covers Bandar Seri Begawan and Temburong, even Andulau transmitted Brunei radio stations for Kuala Belait can be received in Kota Kinabalu too.

On 19th and 20th April 2026, I tuned 6 Brunei radio stations in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia near I LOVE KK statue.

 

5 radio stations from RTB (Radio Televisyen Brunei) and 1 radio station from Kristal Media. 

1. Kristal Media Al-Quran FM 89.1MHz Bukit Subok (174km)

2. RTB Pelangi FM 91.4MHz Bukit Subok (174km)

3. RTB Nasional FM 92.3MHz Bukit Subok (174km)

4. RTB Nur Islam FM 93.3MHz Bukit Subok (173-175km) & 94.9MHz Andulau (229-230km)

 

5. RTB Harmoni FM 94.1MHz Bukit Subok (174km) & 97.7MHz Andulau (230km)

 

6. RTB Pilihan FM 95.9MHz Bukit Subok (174km)

Videos were recorded at Jalan Tuan Fuad Stephens. Kristal FM 90.7MHz is not available in Kota Kinabalu due to Traxx FM 90.7MHz Lawa Mandau transmitter.

 

RTB Nur Islam FM 93.3MHz has co-channel interference with Cats FM 93.3MHz Bukit Lambir transmitter sometimes in Kota Kinabalu.

 

The signal quality of these Brunei radio stations were moderately clear in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah due to tropospheric propagation. 

RTM Sarawak FM masih boleh didengari di sebahagian kecil Wilayah Sabah pada frekuensi 101.5MHz yang dipancar dari Bukit Mas LIMBANG dan 97.5MHz dari Bukit Tiong, LAWAS

Tahukah anda? Siaran radio RTM Sarawak FM masih boleh diterima di sebahagian kecil Sabah pada frekuensi FM 101.5MHz dari Bukit Mas yang meliputi Limbang dan 97.5MHz dari Bukit Tiong yang meliputi Bandar Lawas.

Pada 8th November 2019, saya merakam isyarat radio RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz dan 97.5MHz di Sindumin dan Sipitang semasa perjalanan dari Lawas ke Kota Kinabalu.

Di Sindumin, RTM Sarawak FM masih jelas diterima pada 97.5MHz yang dipancar dari Bukit Tiong, manakala 97.5MHz tidak dapat diterima di Sipitang dan Beaufort, tetapi saya masih boleh mengikuti siaran RTM Sarawak FM di Sipitang pada frekuensi FM 101.5MHz yang dipancar dari Bukit Mas.

Setelah 6 tahun 5 bulan penerimaan siaran RTM Sarawak FM di Sipitang dan Sindumin, saya mendarat lagi di Wilayah Sabah untuk membuat rakaman video isyarat radio RTM Sarawak FM di kawasan yang baru, kini saya memberi tumpuan di kawasan Beaufort, Kundasang, Menumbok, and Kimanis.

1. Beaufort (105km)

2. Menumbok (74km)

3. Kimanis (138km)

4. Kundasang (222km)

5. Ranau (227km)

6. Tenom (112km)

RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz diterima dengan isyarat lemah di Kimanis, Beaufort, Menumbok, Kundasang, Ranau dan Tenom.

Dari Limbang ke Kota Kinabalu, RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz mula diganggu oleh Mix FM 101.6MHz yang dipancar dari Bukit Karatong di Bongawan dan Papar. Secara teknikal, RTM Sarawak FM 101.5MHz hanya boleh didengari sehingga Beaufort, manakala 97.5MHz boleh diterima sehingga Sindumin, tiada isyarat diterima selepas Sindumin apabila menuju ke Sipitang dan Beaufort.

Tiada isyarat boleh diterima di Keningau dan Tambunan, Sabah.

Secara keseluruhannya, RTM Sarawak FM hanya boleh didengari di sebahagian kecil Wilayah Sabah dengan frekuensi berikut:

* 97.5MHz Bukit Tiong Lawas: Sindumin

* 101.5MHz Bukit Mas Limbang: Sipitang, Menumbok, Beaufort

About the radio coverage of Bukit Karatong transmitter in Sabah.

Bukit Karatong is the transmitter site of the commercial radio stations in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, this transmitter site is operated by Astro Radio (Era FM Sabah 102.4, Hitz 100.8, MY FM 104.0, Sinar 104.9, Melody 98.6, Mix 101.6 and Lite FM 103.2), OOGA X (Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah 96.3), IKIM FM 93.9MHz, Bernama Radio FM 107.9MHz and Media Prima Audio (Hot FM 87.7MHz, Eight WuXian FM 95.7MHz), meanwhile RTM radio stations in Kota Kinabalu are transmitted from Lawa Mandau tower where is located adjacently to Bukit Karatong.

Outside Kota Kinabalu, the Bukit Karatong transmitted radio stations can be received in:

* Papar

* Tuaran

* Tamparuli 

* Penampang (Donggongon)

* Kuala Penyu

* Kimanis

* Membakut

* Bongawan 

* Beaufort (weak signal)

* Part of Kota Belud (except Astro Radio)

* Kundasang (weak signal)

* Part of Menumbok

* Part of Labuan Island

* Small part of Kota Marudu (weak signal)

* Small part of Kudat (Sikuati)

No signal is available in Kudat, Ranau, Kudat town, Keningau, Tambunan, Langkon and Tenom.

In conclusion, Bukit Karatong radio stations are only available in West Coast Division of Sabah. 

Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz from Bukit Lambir (MIRI) radio reception in Tamparuli, Sabah by Kisah Alkisah (2025 and 2026 edition)

 

 

* Frequency: FM 101.3MHz

* Power: 2kW

* Transmitter site: Bukit Lambir, Miri, Sarawak

* Receiving site: Tamparuli, Sabah

* Distance: 326km

 

  

Mediacorp radio stations from Singapore tuned in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia via Sporadic E propagation

A week after receiving Thailand and Vietnam FM radio stations in Tamparuli, Sabah, the Sabah radio DXer Kisah Alkisah has tuned 3 radio stations from Singapore in same town today.

 

Kisah Alkisah receives Mediacorp Ria 897, YES 933 and Love 972 in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia, but the signals are Sporadic E propagation.

 

1. Ria 89.7FM

 

 

2. Yes 93.3FM

 

 

3. Love 97.2FM

 

The signal were weak, but audible. Singapore radio stations are transmitted from Bukit Batok (except now defunct 88.3 Jia FM and Power 98FM), the receiving distance from Bukit Batok to Tamparuli is 1486km.  

 

In Tamparuli, Sabah, during normal radio reception, the frequency FM 93.3MHz is a weak radio signal of RTB Nur Islam from Brunei (TX_Bukit Batok), but occasionally RTB Nur Islam FM has co-channel interference with Cats FM 93.3MHz Bukit Lambir transmitter there.

Thailand and Vietnam FM radio stations tuned in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia by Kisah Alkisah.

 

Tamparuli is always the best town in Sabah, Malaysia to catch ultra far radio stations via Sproadic E propagation. Today on 7th April 2026, Sabah radio DXer, Kisah Alkisah has tuned 6 Thailand and Vietnam FM radio stations in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia.

 

Tuning frequencies are:

* FM 88.7/88.75MHz

* FM 90.5MHz

* FM 91.0MHz 

* FM 95.5MHz

* FM 99.3MHz (likely 99.25MHz) 

* FM 104.5MHz 

 

 

All of these Thailand and Vietnam FM radio stations are inconsistently audible in Tamparuli, Sabah as they are Sporadic E signal. 

 

The radio signal of Flex FM 104.5MHz from Bangkok, Thailand has overlapped RTM Sabah FM 104.5MHz Layang-Layang transmitter in Tamparuli, Sabah. So, RTM Sabah FM 104.5MHz has co-channel interference with Sporadic E propagated Flex FM 104.5MHz, but Sabah FM is tuned on 89.9MHz from Lawa Mandau in Tamparuli, Sabah.

 

FM 99.3MHz is likely not Vietnamese radio station, it sounds more to Thai. As Thailand implements 250kHz per channel frequency separation for FM radio broadcast, so I believe that the frequency of Thailand radio station on FM 99.3MHz which is tuned by Kisah Alkisah is FM 99.25MHz, but unknown radio station's name and location.

 

Although FM 91.0MHz is claimed as MCOT Pattani in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia, but as the signal is gone too soon, I could not verify it at all because FM 91.0MHz could be another Thailand radio station from other provinces.  

 

As I don't speak Thai and Vietnamese, so it is very difficult of me to identify the radio stations' name and transmitter location by watching these videos. 

 

Congratulations to Kisah Alkisah for successfully catching Sporadic E radio stations from Thailand and Vietnam in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia. 

Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz, MY FM 100.6MHz, Melody FM 102.2MHz, Radio Klasik FM 91.1MHz & RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz from Bukit Trig SANDAKAN radio reception in Semporna, Sabah by Kisah Alkisah (outside the town)

Back to 21st March 2026, I had distant radio signal monitoring (FM DX) activity in Semporna, Sabah after landing at Tawau Airport, I only managed to tune two Bukit Trig transmitted Sandakan radio stations such as Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz and RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz in Semporna town center near a mosque, the radio reception of 2 radio stations were very weak and almost no signal there. It is very difficult to tune them in Semporna town.

However, Sabah radio DXer, Kisah Alkisah had managed to tune 5 Bukit Trig transmitted Sandakan radio stations with better signal than mine in various locations of Semporna, Sabah, covering Tagasan, Kampung Tampi-Tampi, Kampung Bulingisan and Kampung Bubul. 

Radio stations were Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz, Sandakan FM 90.1MHz, MY FM 100.6MHz, Melody FM 102.2MHz and Radio Klasik FM 91.1MHz. 

1. Kampung Bubul (163km from Bukit Trig)

2. Kampung Bulingsan (165km from Bukit Trig)

3. Tagasan (167km from Bukit Trig)

4. Kampung Tampi-Tampi (165km from Bukit Trig)

The videos were recorded outside Semporna town center by Kisah Alkisah. Among 4 locations, Kampung Tampi-Tampi is likely the best place in Semporna to receive Sandakan radio stations signal from Bukit Trig because Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz has slightly more signal there, compare to my radio reception video in Semporna town center.

RTM Radio Klasik FM 91.1MHz from Bukit Trig was detected at Tagasan in Semporna while RTM Sabah FM 91.1MHz Bukit Kamari radio transmission was already terminated.

Overall RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz is the strongest Bukit Trig transmitted Sandakan radio station elsewhere in Semporna because it is transmitted from upper peak of Bukit Trig.

Sinar FM 106.9MHz has zero signal in elsewhere of Semporna, Sabah because it only operates at 0.25kW transmitter power in Bukit Trig (lower peak). 

Bukit Trig is the furthest radio transmitter tuned elsewhere in Semporna, Sabah with the receiving distance range 160-170km.

Gunung Silam vs. Gunung Andrassy radio signal, which one is better and clearer in Semporna, Sabah?

Regarding the radio stations' coverage in Semporna, Sabah, the people can receive the radio signal from either Gunung Andrassy (Tawau) or Gunung Silam (Lahad Datu).

Two weeks ago, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday, I went to Semporna to conduct radio signal check, then I randomly recorded the videos of signal comparison between Gunung Silam and Gunung Andrassy radio signals. So, I recorded these radio stations in Semporna by following below:

1. RTM Sabah FM (89.7MHz vs. 95.7MHz)

2. RTM Sabah VFM (92.6MHz vs. 99.3MHz)

3. IKIM FM (107.3MHz vs. 100.7MHz)

In Semporna, Gunung Silam radio signal is clearer than Gunung Andrassy by reading the signal strength level of my radio receiver. So, Semporna is under the coverage of Gunung Silam transmitter.

Semporna has 7 radio stations, transmitted from Gunung Silam.

* RTM Radio Klasik FM 87.9MHz

* RTM Nasional FM 88.7MHz

* RTM Sabah FM 89.7MHz

* RTM Traxx FM 90.5MHz

* RTM Ai FM 91.7MHz

* RTM Sabah VFM 92.6MHz

* RTM Tawau FM 93.6MHz

* IKIM FM 107.3MHz

- Note: The local radio transmission in Bukit Kamari which operates Nasional FM 89.1MHz, Sabah FM 91.1MHz and Tawau FM 88.3MHz were already terminated due to unknown reason.