In Song, Cats FM 107.6MHz is moderately weak, but it can be tuned loudly and clearly in some areas due to high elevation of the land.
Commercially it is not worth of Cats FM to add Bukit Song transmitter to cover this small town in Kapit Division due to demographics reason and low listeners demand.
In Song, Sarawak, by having demographics survey, Iban is the majority, but Cats FM mainly broadcasts in Sarawak Malay, meanwhile Iban is the minority broadcast language of the radio station with 3 hours daily program only. So, Cats FM doesn't meet the actual market commerciallly in Song, Sarawak if it launches the transmitter there like RTM.
Technically, the listeners can tune to Cats FM in Song, Sarawak on 107.6MHz from Bukit Kapit, but depends on the model type of the radio receivers.
Today on 19th October 2025, I come to Sibu again, but different travelling location by visiting Daro and Matu for another series of radio DXing activity.
Daro is my first location after landing at Sibu airport, it takes 2 hours 30 minutes from Sibu airport to Daro. As Batang Paloh bridge to connect from Sarikei to Bruit Island is not yet completed, I have to go by ferry to pass by the river.
Before this, via radio frequency list database, I already know Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has a gap filler transmitter at Kampung Semob in Daro for its 3 radio stations such as Radio Klasik FM 92.7MHz, Nasional FM 95.7MHz and Sarawak FM 99.0MHz to cover Daro and Matu, I may believe this town has some weak radio coverage from Bukit Kayu Malam and Bukit Lima, so that's why a gap filler transmitter was set up in 2017.
1. RTM Traxx FM 92.3MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (64km) & 95.9MHz Bukit Singgalang (87km)
2. RTM Ai FM 93.6MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (64km) & 97.1MHz Bukit Singgalang (87km)
3. RTM Red FM 89.2MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (64km) & 101.1MHz Bukit Singgalang (87km)
4. RTM Sibu FM 94.6MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (64km) & 102.1MHz Bukit Singgalang (87km)
5. Cats FM 96.7MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (64km)
6. Era FM Sarawak 96.3MHz Bukit Lima (54km)
7. Hitz FM 105.1MHz Bukit Lima (54km)
8. MY FM 105.9MHz Bukit Lima (54km)
9. Tea FM 100.7MHz Bukit Lima (54km)
After radio signal monitoring in Daro is finished, I take breakfast at a food court. Then, I drive to Matu for another radio DXing before driving back to Sibu in the afternoon.
Matu is an another small town in Mukah Division, it takes 30 minutes duration from Daro to Matu.
Radio reception videos in Matu, Sarawak
1. RTM Traxx FM 92.3MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (83km) & 95.9MHz Bukit Singgalang (80km)
2. RTM Sarawak FM 91.5MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (83km)
3. RTM Sibu FM 94.6MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (83km) & 102.1MHz Bukit Singgalang (80km)
4. Cats FM 96.7MHz Bukit Kayu Malam (83km)
5. Era FM Sarawak 96.3MHz Bukit Lima (57km)
6. Hitz FM 105.1MHz Bukit Lima (57km)
7. MY FM 105.9MHz Bukit Lima (57km)
8. Tea FM 100.7MHz Bukit Lima (57km)
==Results==
1. In Daro and Matu, commercial radio stations Era FM Sarawak 96.3MHz, Hitz FM 105.1MHz, MY FM 105.9MHz and Tea FM 100.7MHz can be received weakly, but the signal is slightly better than what I tuned in Dalat 5 months ago.
2. By comparing between Bukit Kayu Malam and Bukit Singgalang radio reception, all RTM radio stations in Daro and Matu are received from Bukit Kayu Malam because Bukit Kayu Malam transmitter is clearer than Bukit Singgalang.
* Radio Klasik on FM 87.9MHz
* Nasional FM on 90.3MHz
* Sarawak FM on 91.5MHz
* Traxx FM on 92.3MHz
* Ai FM on 93.6MHz
* Red FM on 89.2MHz
* Sibu FM on 94.6MHz
Note: RTM Kampung Semob transmitted radio stations (Radio Klasik FM 92.7MHz, Nasional FM 95.7MHz and Sarawak FM 99.0MHz) are inactive at the moment, no signal can be detected in Daro and Matu, Sarawak.
3. Same as RTM radio stations, the Sarawak only statewide commercial radio station, Cats FM is also tuned in Daro and Matu on 96.7MHz from Bukit Kayu Malam transmitter loudly and clearly.
Overall, Daro and Matu are still under the radio coverage of Bukit Kayu Malam transmitter which mainly covers Sarikei. The radio listeners can still tune Era FM Sarawak 96.3MHz, Hitz FM 105.1MHz, Tea FM 100.7MHz and MY FM 105.9MHz weakly in Daro and Matu, Sarawak by using car radio tuner.
Excluding shortwave weather radio station, currently there is only 1 shortwave broadcast radio station in Australia, which is Reach Beyond broadcasts in various languages.
The public broadcaster ABC Radio Australia had terminated its shortwave radio transmission since January 2017, so Reach Beyond is the only Australia shortwave radio station in the country.
Reach Beyond is transmitted from Kununurra, Western Australia state (WA) on various shortwave frequencies at 100kW transmitter power, it can reach many Asia countries.
I had missed out of tuning ABC Radio Australia on shortwave frequency, but fortunately I had managed to tune Reach Beyond radio broadcast as the first ever Australia shortwave radio station in Malaysia.
Reach Beyond Australia is also available in Malaysia via shortwave frequency transmission. My first time to tune Reach Beyond Australia was on 29th July 2021, where I listened in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia.
In my history of shortwave radio listening, Reach Beyond was my very first Australia radio station tuned in Malaysia.
Reach Beyond Australia shortwave signal is still loud and clear in Malaysia.
I managed to tune this Australia shortwave radio station in Malaysia on two different frequencies in July 2021 and September 2025 by following videos below:
* SW 12010kHz in Tsangla language on 29th July 2021 at 1946 hours (UTC+8)
* SW 15460kHz in English language on 18th September 2025 at 2047 hours (UTC+8)
It is 3626km distance to receive Reach Beyond from Kununurra, Western Australia in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia.
From videos above, Reach Beyond Australia that I tuned in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia is loud and clear.
On 21st September 2025, I tuned an Australia weather radio station at the first time in Malaysia, named as VMW from Wiluna on SW 12362kHz, but by using a non-SSB/USB/LSB radio receiver.
VMW is transmitted from Wiluna, Western Australia state, Australia.
I tuned this Aussie weather radio station at 1933 hours (UTC+8) in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia. It was receivable with weak signal, but unclear audio because I used TECSUN PL-380 radio receiver which had no USB, SSB, and LSB function.
Meanwhile Australia weather radio station, VMC from Charleville signal is negative in Malaysia on any frequencies.
VMW Wiluna is my second Australia radio station tuned in Malaysia after Beyond Reach Australia.
After that, I sent my QSL report to Australia Government Bureau of Meterology for my radio reception of VMW signal in Malaysia, then I received an e-QSL card from Aussie government.
* Frequency: SW 12362kHz
* Power: 1kW
* Transmission site: Wiluna, Western Australia State (WA), Australia
* Receiving site: Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia
* Distance: 3889km
* Receiver: TECSUN PL-380 (non-USB/SSB radio receiver)
4 bulan lepas, saya telah merakam video isyarat radio Hot FM 94.3MHz yang dipancar dari Gunung Serapi di beberapa buah kawasan Sarawak seperti Simanggang (Sri Aman), Engkilili, Debak, Saratok, Roban dan Pakan.
Selain daripada 6 buah kawasan tersebut, Hot FM 94.3MHz masih boleh didengari di Kabong, Pusa dan Maludam yang terletak di kawasan pinggir laut Bahagian Betong.
Peminat radio dari Sarawak bernama Cock DX Channel (@Sarawakian_12) menerima isyarat radio Hot FM 94.3MHz dengan jelas di Pusa dan Maludam, manakalan isyarat sederhana di Kabong.
1. Pusa (120km)
2. Maludam (93km)
3. Kabong (106km)
Isyarat Hot FM 94.3MHz di Kabong hampir sama seperti saya menerima di Roban, tetapi kurang jelas daripada Saratok.
Penerimaan siaran radio Hot FM 94.3MHz di Kabong, Pusa dan Maludam oleh COCK DX Channel (Sarawakian_12) dijadikan pelengkap kandungan video isyarat Hot FM 94.3MHz di Bahagian Betong, Sarawak.
Keseluruhannya, dari Kuching ke Sarikei dengan melalui jalan Sebuyau, siaran radio Hot FM 94.3MHz masih boleh didengari dengan jelas dari Maludam sehingga Kabong.
In Brisbane City, QLD, Australia, the public radio stations ABC National Radio and ABC News Radio have no tuning frequencies on FM band because they broadcast on AM frequencies (MW).
ABC National Radio is on MW 792kHz in Brisbane, meanwhile ABC News Radio is on MW 936kHz.
Alternatively, the listeners can tune ABC National Radio and ABC News Radio in Brisbane, QLD via FM frequencies from distant transmitter site, but the signal is less clear and not every location in Brisbane can receive these radio stations via FM frequencies from Gold Coast.
The nearest FM transmitter of ABC National Radio and ABC News Radio in Brisbane is Lower Beechmont which mainly covers Gold Coast QLD and Tweed Heads NSW. About their tuning frequencies, ABC National Radio is on FM 90.1MHz, meanwhile ABC News Radio is on FM 95.7MHz.
Alongside ABC National Radio FM 90.1MHz and ABC News Radio FM 95.7MHz, its local radio station ABC Gold Coast FM 91.7MHz is still receivable in Brisbane, QLD.
Hence, the radio listeners in Brisbane can tune ABC National Radio and ABC News Radio on both FM and AM frequencies. Their AM frequencies are local, but FM frequencies are distant.
3 months ago, a radio DXer from Sabah, named Kisah Alkisah had tuned a distant radio station, RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz from Bukit Trig in Tawau and Kunak, Sabah, however he updates the radio reception in same location and Semporna recently.
RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz from Bukit Trig is the furthest radio station tuned in Tawau and Semporna, Sabah.
Meanwhile Era FM Sabah 103.0MHz and Hitz FM 99.8MHz have no signal in Tawau because they're transmitted from lower peak of Bukit Trig tower, but RTM Sandakan radio stations are transmitted from the upper peak of Bukit Trig tower, so the coverage of RTM radio stations are wider than commercial radio stations.
1. Tawau, Sabah (178km from Bukit Trig)
2. Tagasan, Semporna, Sabah (167km from Bukit Trig)
RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz in Tawau has clearer signal than Semporna, but signal is mono in both towns. In Tagasan, Semporna, RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz signal is weak with static sound.
That's all about the update from Kisah Alkisah for the radio reception of tuning RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz in Tawau and Semporna, Sabah as September 2025.
Recently RTM had already completed its radio transmitter system upgrade in Gunung Kledang few months ago.
As RTM is using 6+1 system in Gunung Kledang where 6 radio transmitters share with a standby antenna, so it is very difficult and more steps if one of radio station changes frequency.
Minnal FM 98.9MHz Gunung Kledang transmitter has suffered adjacent channel interference with Chinese radio station 988 FM 98.8MHz Gunung Ulu Kali transmitter in many Perak areas, involving Limit, Teluk Intan and Sitiawan since 1996 where 988 hit airwaves in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on 98.8MHz in 1996.
By looking at the history, Minnal FM operated on 98.9MHz was earlier than 988 FM 98.8MHz actually. Minnal FM started to use 98.9MHz in Gunung Kledang since 1989, meanwhile 988 used 98.8MHz in Gunung Ulu Kali since 1996.
I had written several emails to RTM to solve the interference between Minnal FM and 988 by suggesting Minnal FM to move its Ipoh frequency to 99.0MHz, but until today RTM Minnal FM remains on 98.9MHz in Gunung Kledang after the transmitter system upgrade, so the interference is not resolved at all.
During Gunung Kledang radio transmitter upgrade in May 2025, I suggested RTM to move Minnal FM frequency from 98.9MHz to 99.0MHz via email to avoid interference with 988 FM 98.8MHz, however I was told by RTM engineer that Minnal FM would remain on 98.9MHz because MCMC didn't allow to change the frequency. I might suspect that MCMC found that the radio transmission of FM 99.0MHz by Minnal FM in Gunung Kledang could interfere Fly FM 99.1MHz Alor Setar Tower coverage in Central Kedah via feasible study of FM frequency allocation, or else MCMC may simply prohibit the frequency change without giving any specific technical reasons.
Minnal FM 98.9MHz Gunung Kledang radio reception in Teluk Intan is still listenable after the system upgrade. Although the interference does exist, but the interference is slightly reduced (about 15%).
By not changing frequency, the interference with 988 FM 98.8MHz can be reduced further actually, 988 can reduce its signal transmission towards Perak on 98.8MHz like Suria FM 105.3MHz because 988 is already tuned loudly and clearly in Teluk Intan on 99.8MHz from Gunung Kledang.
Alternatively RTM Minnal FM can be tuned on 96.3MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali and 107.9MHz from Bukit Larut in Teluk Intan when 98.9MHz from Gunung Kledang is interfered by 988 FM 98.8MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali.
So, the interference impact to the listeners for Minnal FM is moderate to low.
==Minnal FM 98.9MHz Gunung Kledang radio reception in Teluk Intan, Perak (September 2025 update)==
==Alternative frequencies of Minnal FM in Teluk Intan (96.3 & 107.9)==
After Sematan, I drove back to Kuching and checked in hotel, then I went out again with my friend and we visited Serian for radio DXing, also had a dinner there.
Serian was the 2nd location of FM DX: Sarawak 2025 (PART 2) after Sematan.
Serian is the last coverage of Kuching radio stations from Gunung Serapi and Bukit Djin, but RTM radio stations have local transmitter in Gunung Ampungan which covers Serian.
In the evening on 31st August 2025, I had managed to record 11 radio stations in Serian, Sarawak, however I tuned Kuching radio stations randomly.
1. Hot FM 94.3MHz Gunung Serapi (63km)
2. Cats FM 99.3MHz Gunung Serapi (63km)
3. Sinar FM 102.1MHz Bukit Djin (48km)
4. Tea FM 102.7MHz Bukit Antu (48km)
5. Bernama Radio FM 100.9MHz Bukit Antu (48km)
6. Eight FM 98.3MHz Bukit Djin (48km)
7. Kool 101 FM 104.3MHz Bukit Djin (48km)
8. MY FM 96.9MHz Bukit Djin (48km)
9. Kupi-Kupi FM Sarawak 92.5MHz Bukit Djin (48km)
10. Ikim FM 93.7MHz Bukit Djin (48km)
11. Radio Republik Indonesia RRI Entikong PRO-1 99.9MHz (36km)
In Serian, the radio signal of IKIM FM 93.7MHz, MY FM 96.9MHz, Era FM 96.1MHz, Hitz FM 95.3MHz and Sinar FM 102.1MHz from Bukit Djin are weak, meanwhile Media Prima Audio radio stations from Bukit Djin such as Kool 101 FM 104.3MHz and Eight FM 98.3MHz are still clear there.
Kupi-Kupi FM 92.5MHz is still clear in Serian, Sarawak.
Mix FM 97.7MHz and Lite FM 100.1MHz from Bukit Djin are almost zero signal in Serian, Sarawak.
Hot FM 94.3MHz, and Cats FM 99.3MHz from Gunung Serapi signal is still clear in Serian, Sarawak. As the signal of Cats FM 99.3MHz is still ok in Serian, so it is not necessary of Cats FM to launch Serian frequency by installing transmitter in Gunung Ampungan like RTM radio stations.
RRI Entikong PRO-1 FM 99.9MHz is the only Indonesia radio station available in Serian with loud and clear signal.
In conclusion, most of Kuching radio stations are still available in Serian, Sarawak.
