On last Saturday, Radio NUG announced to launch another frequency alongside SW 17710kHz at Facebook page, this new additional frequency will be aired on 0130H UTC (8pm Myanmar time, meanwhile 9.30pm Malaysia time).
At its official Facebook page, Radio NUG initially stated this additional frequency was SW 15530kHz, but it provided wrong frequency information and caused many listeners including DXer are unable to receive the broadcast on the frequency. Until few minutes before Radio NUG signing off at 0200H (UTC), a DXer informed that Radio NUG was broadcasting on SW 15300kHz, and caused I was not able to copy the signal.
I was a little bit disappointed for not receiving Radio NUG on the additional frequency, hence I planned to try it again by last Sunday, however no signal was shown up at 0130H (UTC), regardless 15300kHz and 17710kHz.
Until yesterday when it was Monday, I finally received Radio NUG on SW 15300kHz on 30th August 2021 at 0130H (UTC).
QTH is Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia (20km from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia).
Compare with SW 17710kHz night transmission, Radio NUG SW 15300kHz is much louder and clearer in Malaysia, the field strength reading meter on my TECSUN PL-380 is higher than 17710kHz when I tuned Radio NUG on SW 15300kHz.
I believe SW 15300kHz is not transmitted from Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar, but I may presume it is from Tashkent, Uzbekistan by beaming to southeast direction (please correct me if I'm wrong).
SINPO code for SW 15300kHz is 45444.
==Completed QSL report of Radio NUG SW 15300kHz in Malaysia==
After KNLS is the furthest shortwave radio station that I received in Malaysia from Alaska, USA, now Radio Romania International is second furthest shortwave broadcaster received in Malaysia.
In addition, Radio Romania International is the only European transmitted shortwave broadcaster which I can tune in Malaysia.
As August 2021, I received two Radio Romania International shortwave frequencies.
11825kHz broadcasts in English to target India, meanwhile 15340kHz broadcasts in Romanian by relaying Actualitati program.
- QTH: Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia (20km from Kuala Lumpur)
- Receiving date:
* 05.08.2021 0336H UTC (SW 11825kHz)
* 29.08.2021 1338H UTC (SW 15340kHz)
* Distance from Galbeni-Bacau, Romania transmitter site: 8617km
* SINPO: 35333 (both frequencies)
In conclusion, Malaysia DXers (HBC 101 and me) had received at least two Radio Romania channels, namely Radio Romania International (SW 11825kHz & 15340kHz; QTH: Balakong, Selangor) and Antena Satelor LW 153kHz (QTH: Segamat, Johor).
Astro Radio kini mempunyai 4 buah stesen radio berbahasa Melayu, iaitu Era, Sinar, Gegar dan Zayan.
Zayan ialah stesen radio Melayu keempat daripada Astro Radio, ia adalah stesen radio yang berformat "kontemporari Muslim" (atau dikenali sebagai Muslim Moden). Frekuensinya dahulu digunakan oleh Red FM dimana Astro membeli Red FM dan Capital FM daripada Kumpulan Star Media Radio pada 30 September 2016.
Zayan telah bersiaran selama hampir 4 tahun, tetapi pada sudut pemasaran jenamanya, Zayan memfokuskan pada platform digital dan hasil pendapatan iklan dijana melalui plaform digital. Manakala, pada sudut prestasi stesen radio, Zayan adalah stesen radio Melayu yang "kurang berjaya", berbanding dengan Era, Sinar dan Gegar.
Saya membuat sedikit kajian tentang stesen radio yang didengari oleh ramai orang Melayu, kebanyakkan orang Melayu tidak kira muda atau tua mendengarkan siaran Era, Sinar, Suria FM, Best FM, IKIM FM dan Hot FM, manakala banyak orang Melayu di Pantai Timur mendengarkan siaran Gegar dan Manis FM, juga stesen negeri RTM seperti Terengganu FM dan Kelantan FM.
Tetapi saya memerhatikan bahawa kurang pendengar Melayu mendengarkan siaran Zayan FM. Jika saya membuat perbandingan antara Zayan dan Ikim FM, pendengar Melayu yang suka kandungan ilmu keagamaan lebih cenderung kepada IKIM FM, daripada Zayan.
Pada sudut rating antara dua buah stesen radio Muslim, IKIM FM pasti dah menang, dan mempunyai lebih pendengar daripada Zayan.
Pada pandangan saya, lagi sesuai jika Zayan boleh dijenamakan kepada "Awani FM" oleh pihak pengurusan Astro Radio demi mendapatkan lebih hasil pendapatan iklan.
Penjemaan semula radio Zayan kepada Awani FM sangat menyakinkan kerana Astro Radio boleh mempunyai sebuah stesen radio Bahasa Melayu yang dikenali sebagai "teman" kepada saluran TV Astro Awani.
Logo konsept Awani FM
Berbanding dengan Zayan, saya percaya bahawa Astro Radio akan mendapatkan lebih hasil pengiklanan jika Zayan ditukar kepada Awani FM. Di samping itu, saya juga percaya bahawa Awani FM akan menarik perhatian ramai golongan profesional Melayu atau PMEBs (Profesional, Pengurus, Usahawan dan Ahli Perniagaan) untuk mendengarkan siaran Awani FM.
Oleh itu, golongan PMEBs akan mendapat lebih maklumat yang mereka inginkan melalui stesen radio ini.
Sekiranya Astro Radio menjenamakan Zayan kepada Awani FM, ia boleh bersaing dengan Buletin FM dan Bernama Radio.
Jangkaan saya mengenai kandungan topik Awani FM ialah:
1. Isu semasa (politik, sosial dan dunia)
2. Keusahawanan, bisnes dan kewangan
3. Sukan
4. Dokumentari
5. Cara hidup
6. Bualan topik keagamaan
7. Lagu indie Melayu (seperti Xfresh FM)
8. Teknologi
9. Berita
10. Analisis dan Ulasan
Saya berharap Astro Radio akan mempertimbangkan cadangan ini pada masa depan yang terdekat.
It is to be 4 years anniversary of Zayan FM by 2nd October 2021. 5 years ago, Astro Radio acquired loss-making Red FM and Capital FM from Star Media Group. Red FM was rebranded as Zayan FM, Astro's 4th Malay language radio station, a Muslim contemporary format channel, meanwhile Capital FM was rebranded as GoXUAN, Astro's Chinese Gen Z radio station.
Now both radio stations are almost 4 years old.
Zayan, the Astro Radio's Malay language Muslim contemporary radio station, it delivers Islamic content, but more modern than long established IKIM FM. This radio station is focusing more on digital platform than conventional FM radio platform, hence its advertising revenue is from online digital platform.
Despite Zayan is airing Islamic content, but there is some duplicate element actually, especially the playlist.
Compare to its sister radio stations such as Era, Gegar and Sinar, Zayan is less successful one within Astro Radio's Malay language channel segment.
Astro Radio's biggest "enemy", Media Prima Audio recently rebranded all of its radio stations in 2nd August 2021.
Hot FM and Fly FM got new logos and DJ lineup, meanwhile One FM and Kool FM rebranded to 8FM and Buletin FM respectively. Buletin FM is second Malay language talk radio station after Bernama Radio in Malaysia. It is also a companion radio station to TV3 Buletin Utama and news related segment.
In order to make more revenue on FM 104.9MHz (Klang Valley) and other former Red FM frequencies, I highly suggest Astro Radio to switch Zayan FM to "Awani FM", where FM 104.9MHz is to become Malay language news, business and talk radio station.
Awani FM sounds very convincing because Astro Radio can have a companion radio station to Astro Awani TV channel.
Muslim radio market in Malaysia is considered niche, IKIM FM already monopolizes the segment since 2001, even RTM Malay language radio stations carry religious content too. Moreover, the standalone East Coast Malay radio station, Manis FM also already put more religious contenT.
Astro Awani FM concept logo
Compare to Zayan, I may believe Astro Radio will get more advertising revenue if Zayan is switched to Awani FM. This is because Awani FM topic coverage is wider than Zayan. I believe Awani FM will attract more Malay professionals, and PMEBs to tune, so the professionals will get more information through this radio.
If Astro Radio rebrands Zayan to Awani FM, it can compete with Buletin FM and Bernama Radio in Malay language talk radio segment.
What I expect the topics about Awani FM are:
1. Current affairs (politics, social and world)
2. Entrepreneur, business, finance
3. Sports
4. Documentary
5. Living, lifestyle
6. Religious talk (during evening which it is near to Maghrib prayer)
7. Niche Malay music (eg: Indie)
8. Technology
9. News
10. Analysis & Commentary
For entrepreneur segment, I believe Awani FM branding will encourage more Malay SMEs actually.
I hope Astro Radio will consider this suggestion in the future.
In August 2021, there are two latest shortwave radio broadcast stations which both are clandestine radio stations against Myanmar Military and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan governments.
1. Radio NUG (National Unity Government of Myanmar) SW 17710kHz.
2. Radio Afghanistan International SW 7600kHz.
Both shortwave radio stations are receivable in Malaysia by tuning on shortwave radio receiver.
==Radio NUG==
Radio NUG broadcasts daily at 8am and 8pm (Myanmar time zone UTC+6.30) [1.30am and 1.30pm UTC], each time slot duration is 30 minutes. Tuning frequency is SW 17710kHz. Radio NUG SW 17710kHz is transmitted from two different locations. According to DXers, Radio NUG SW 17710kHz is transmitted from Taiwan during morning broadcast (1.30am to 2pm UTC), meanwhile it is transmitted from Madagascar during night broadcast (1.30pm to 2pm UTC).
For Myanmar expats in Malaysia, Radio NUG can be listened via Facebook LIVE, podcast and shortwave radio. The broadcast schedule of Radio NUG SW 17710kHz based on Malaysia time zone below.
09:30 A.M. to 10 A.M (UTC+8)
09:30 P.M. to 10 P.M (UTC+8)
Malaysia time zone is UTC+8
Here are two videos of Radio NUG SW 17710kHz signal reception in Malaysia.
Recently Taliban takes over Afghanistan government, the Afghanistan's clandestine radio station, Radio Afghanistan International TV SW 7600kHz is launched.
According to DXer, Radio Afghanistan International TV broadcasts 24 hours to target listeners in Afghanistan. Broadcast frequency is SW 7600kHz, but transmission site is unknown yet.
Many DXers thought SW 7600kHz is transmitted from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but according to Shortwave Central on YouTube, it believes that Radio Afghanistan International TV SW 7600kHz transmitter site is from Armenia, instead of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
So, I trace the transmission site of this radio station by looking where is the exact location of Armenia shortwave radio station.
In Malaysia, I can receive Radio Afghanistan International TV SW 7600kHz actually. Here is the video:
In terms of reception signal, Radio Afghanistan International TV SW 7600kHz is quite clear in Malaysia, signal is copied in Balakong, Selangor where it is 20km from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysia's capital city.
Recorded on 28th August 2021 between 0745-0800 hours (UTC+8). If Radio Afghanistan International TV SW 7600kHz is transmitted from Tashkent, Uzbekistan where many DXer presumed, I don't think I can receive this radio station in Malaysia as I believe Tashkent transmitter site won't beam to east if targets Afghanistan.
Therefore, I believe it is transmitted from Yerevan-Gavar, Armenia as the site beams to southeast direction in order to target Afghanistan primarily.
==Radio Afghanistan International TV shortwave DX report==
* Frequency: SW 7600kHz
* Power: 300kW (presumed)
* Transmission site: Yereven-Gavar, Armenia
* Receiving site: Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia (20km from Kuala Lumpur)
* Distance: 7011km
* Receiving date/time: 28.08.2021 0749H (UTC+8)
* Language: Pashto/Dari
* SINPO: 35444
Signal reception of Radio Afghanistan International TV SW 7600kHz is average, meanwhile Radio NUG SW 17710kHz signal is not really consistently clear in Malaysia. Both radio stations are received by using TECSUN PL-380.
Alongside Gunung Ulu Kali, KL Tower and Bukit Sungai Besi which are local transmitter sites for radio broadcast in Selangor, usually Selangor state can receive neighboring states radio stations from Gunung Telapak Burok and Gunung Kledang, but Bukit Larut is receivable in Selangor.
Here is the locations in Selangor where I received Bukit Larut transmitted radio station (Raaga FM 102.1MHz):
* Sabak Bernam
* Sungai Besar
* Sekinchan
* Tanjong Karang
* Kuala Selangor
* Bukit Rotan
* Puchong
* Banting
Raaga FM 102.1MHz is the most powerful Bukit Larut radio station in terms of transmission coverage. Although it is operating at 0.5kW transmitter power, it can reach to quite numbers of Selangor locations, even I received it in Banting and Puchong as the furthest Selangor areas to receive Raaga FM 102.1MHz Taiping frequency from Bukit Larut.
Dear English radio stations listeners in Miri, Sarawak, if you feel tired of listening to H*** FM, but you want more alternative radio station alongside Traxx FM and Red FM (not related to Peninsular Malaysia's now defunct English radio station), you can try listening to BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz.
For your information, Miri is the only Sarawak's territory where BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz is available there. About BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz, it is operated by British Forces Broadcasting Service, based in Seria, Brunei. The radio station mainly delivers British Army Forces in Seria, Brunei, together with playing UK music.
Here is the video of receiving BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz in Miri, Sarawak.
The signal quality of BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz is still clear in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. BFBS Radio FM 101.7MHz is clearer than BFBS Gurkha Radio FM 89.5MHz in Miri actually.
* Frequency: FM 101.7MHz
* Power: 1kW
* Transmitter site: Seria Garrison, Brunei
* Receiving site: Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
* Distance: 42km
* Language: UK English
In conclusion, BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz is available in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Hence, Miri listeners can enjoy listening to 5 English radio stations (3 full-fleged English stations, and 2 semi-fledged radio station).
==Availablity of English language radio stations in Miri, Sarawak==
* Hitz FM Sarawak 105.8MHz (Sarawak based)
* Traxx FM 88.9MHz/104.5MHz (Malaysia)
* Red FM 90.7MHz/106.3MHz (Sarawak based, but bilingual)
* Kristal FM 98.7MHz (Brunei based, but bilingual)
In Brunei, RTB and Kristal FM are most common radio stations in the country, meanwhile I almost overlook BFBS Radio actually.
BFBS Radio is operated by British Forces Broadcasting Service, it has two radio stations in Brunei. They're BFBS Radio-1 FM 101.7MHz in English,and BFBS Radio-2 FM 89.5MHz in Nepali.
BFBS Radio Brunei transmitter site is located at Seria Garrison, Brunei, operating at 0.5kW transmitter power.
Technically BFBS Radio-2 FM 89.5MHz from Seria, Brunei can be received in part of Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Based on coverage map, BFBS Radio-2 FM 89.5MHz reception is clear in Lutong and Baram, Sarawak.
Here is a radio signal monitoring video of BFBS Brunei Gurkha Radio received in Miri, Sarawak. Video credit to Mr Alexander Nyareng.
In terms of radio signal quality, the signal of BFBS Brunei Gurkha Radio FM 89.5MHz is not clear in Miri, compare to BFBS Brunei Radio FM 101.7MHz, Radio Teleivisyen Brunei, Al-Quran Radio and Kristal FM.
* Frequency: FM 89.5MHz
* Power: 1kW
* Transmission site: Seria Garrison, Brunei
* Receiving site: Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
* Distance: 42km
* Language: Nepali
In conclusion, BFBS Brunei Gurkha Radio FM 89.5MHz is the only available Nepali language radio station in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia (Lutong, Baram and some part of Miri town).
* Note: Some of listed locations are not clear to receive goXUAN. If you cannot receive GoXUAN in certain listed areas, I suggest to listen on Syok application or Astro CH 877.
It is 25th years birthday anniversary of Cats FM today. Hence, happy birthday to Cats FM from Philip DXing Log. (1996-2021)
Cats FM was launched in 9th August 1996, as Sarawak's first private radio station. Initially broadcasts in English, Malay, Ibanese and Mandarin, but after that, Cats FM only broadcasts in Sarawak Malay and Ibanese. Cats FM is available in Sarawak, and Brunei, then now it is available in part of Sabah via Lawas frequency FM 88.2MHz.
Alongside with my birthday wishes, I would like to share some of my memories with Cats FM, especially its transmitter system project in 2019.
I'm a former staff of a broadcast transmitter equipment company actually. Joined in 11st April 2019, but left in 1st May 2020 (due to personal reasons). During 13 months of broadcast industry career, my position was just a junior broadcast engineer (entry-level one, but I'm not having any broadcast telecommunication background fields, instead joined the industry as my interest/hobby).
In 2019, I involved the Cats FM transmitter commissioning project with my company actually.
My former company participated Cats FM transmitter commissioning projects in Belaga (FM 99.5MHz), Kapit (FM 107.6MHz) and Lawas (FM 88.2MHz) in 2019, a year before COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse in Malaysia, then we cannot go anywhere under the lockdown, instead staying at home, however coincidentally Cats FM celebrates 25th years birthday anniversary today, I would like to share about my outdoor activities about Cats FM Kapit and Lawas project.
Back then, my ex-company joined three of Cats FM transmitter commissioning project, but I only participated myself in two only which was Kapit and Lawas.
I did not take part Belaga FM 99.5MHz project because I was still in Australia. So, I looked forward for Kapit and Lawas.
In
2019, my ex-company delivered 6 units of Italian Elettronika Mizar2
500W transmitters, 3 units of automatic changeover units, 3 units of
Bulgarian DEVA Broadcast DB-6400 audio processor and 3 units of Remote
Control Units to Cats FM. When I reflected the moments, I'm proud of it
actually.
From September 2019 to December 2019, I joined Cats FM Kapit and Lawas transmitter commissioning project. Hence, here are some best picture of myself in Cats FM project.
1. Kapit FM 107.6MHz project (17th September 2019)
2. Lawas FM 88.2MHz project (8th November 2019)
Now I'm a ex-junior broadcast engineer. Yes, I've enjoyed and experienced the projects actually.
Cats FM doesn't only broadcast in Sarawak statewide, but Brunei can receive the station via Limbang FM 88.7MHz from Bukit Mas transmitter.
After Cats FM launched in Lawas on FM 88.2MHz from Bukit Tiong where I also involved its transmitter system commissioning project, Cats FM is available in part of Sabah such as Sindumin and Sipitang since then. Here are my videos of receiving Cats FM 88.2MHz in Sabah by using my Samsung Galaxy V Plus phone.
After Miri FM 95.7MHz (Bukit Lambir) was received in Bintulu, Sarawak, in fact now Sibu FM is available in Bintulu town, a FM DX video was filmed by Shafik1995.
In Bintulu, listeners can tune to Sibu FM on 102.1MHz from Bukit Singgalang transmitter where it covers Selangau. In the footage, Shafik1995 video of receiving Sibu FM 102.1MHz was a relay program of RTM Wai FM Iban actually.
Sibu FM only broadcasts 3-5 hours of its local program in Malay language, but rest of broadcast hours are relaying Wai FM Iban mostly.
* Station name: RTM Sibu FM (aka Wai FM Sibu)
* Received frequency: FM 102.1MHz
* Transmitter power: 1kW
* Transmitter site: Bukit Singgalang, Sarawak
* Receiving site: Bintulu, Sarawak
* Distance: 122km
In conclusion, Bintulu is available of 3 RTM Sarawak local radio stations based on Shafik1995 FM DX videos on YouTube.
Semalam Buletin FM memaklumkan bahawa siarannya akan terganggu di Lembah Klang 101.3MHz pada 8 Ogos 2021 dari 11 pagi hingga 2 petang.
Pada mulanya saya berasa dan sangka Buletin FM akan memindahkan tempat pemancar frekuensi Lembah Klang FM 101.3MHz dari Bukit Sungai Besi ke Gunung Ulu Kali demi memperluaskan siarannya ke lebih kawasan.
Buletin FM mula menutup isyarat FM 101.3MHz buat sementara pada 11.30 pagi. Lepas itu, siarannya kembali, tetapi kurang stabil, dan sekarang penerimaan Buletin FM 101.3MHz bertambah baik.
Sebelum 11 pagi, isyarat Buletin FM 101.3MHz memang lemah, macam menerima siaran radio dari Gunung Kledang di Slim River, Perak.
Selepas frekuensi Buletin FM 101.3MHz kembali bersiaran pada 12 tengah hari. Selepas 1-2 jam dari 12 tengah hari, saya bertanya kawan saya di Rawang dan Sungai Besar untuk mencubanya, tetapi kawan saya yang berada di Sungai Besar memaklumkan bahawa Buletin FM 101.3MHz tidak dapat diterima di kawasan tersebut, manakala isyarat Buletin FM 101.3MHz masih tidak jelas di Rawang.
Terima kasih kepada maklum balas kawan saya.
Pada pandangan saya, berdasarkan pada maklum balas mengenai penerimaan siaran Buletin FM 101.3MHz di Sungai Besar dan Rawang, Buletin FM 101.3MHz masih kekal dipancar dari Bukit Sungai Besi, bukannya dipindah tempat pemancarannya ke Gunung Ulu Kali yang saya ramalkan semalam.
Kawan saya dari Seremban pun berkata bahawa Buletin FM 101.3MHz masih tiada isyarat selepas 2 petang. Ini bermakna Buletin FM 101.3MHz di Lembah Klang tidak dipindahkan ke Gunung Ulu Kali. Sekiranya ia dipindahkan ke Gunung Ulu Kali, Seremban masih boleh dapat menerima Buletin FM, walaupun isyarat lemah.
Oleh kerana Sungai Besar (Selangor) masih tidak dapat menerima Buletin FM 101.3MHz selepas gangguan siaran sudah diselesaikan, saya percaya Media Prima cuma membaiki atau mengganti alat pemancar (contoh: sistem antenna) Buletin FM 101.3MHz di Bukit Sungai Besi.
Jika sistem alat pemancar dibaiki atau diganti dalam 30 minit, saya mungkin percaya alat ganti baru sudah dipasang sebelum pengumuman gangguan siaran Buletin FM 101.3MHz diperbuat di Facebook semalam, cuma sistem antenna baru belum digunakan lagi sehingga gangguan siaran Buletin FM 101.3MHz diselesaikan.
