RTM Wai FM Bidayuh/Radio Kayan signal monitoring in Sri Aman and Betong Divisions, Sarawak.

RTM Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan celebrate 15 years anniversary as an individual radio station in 2025 by launching new frequencies in Kuching and Serian. Before this, Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan were shared together with Wai FM Iban on FM 101.3MHz in Kuching and FM 106.9MHz in Serian. 

 

Since 2010, Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan were no longer shared with Iban because Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan were given new frequencies, so the 101.3MHz in Kuching and 106.9MHz in Serian became Wai FM Iban.

Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan broadcast on FM 106.1MHz in Kuching, meanwhile FM 101.7MHz in Serian.

 

Unlike Wai FM Iban, in terms of coverage, Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan are only available in Kuching and Serian without coverage expansion to entire Sarawak because most of Bidayuh people stay in Kuching and Serian, except migrants to other divisions of Sarawak.

 

Outside Kuching and Serian, Wai FM Iban is available in entire Sarawak region through local radio stations relay (Sri Aman FM, Sibu FM, Miri FM, Bintulu FM and Limbang FM), but Wai FM Iban broadcast on local radio stations are not full fledged in favor of several local program, hence several airtime of Wai FM Iban is not available certainly.

Compare to Wai FM Iban, in my opinion, Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan are niche radio station actually. Although Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan are only available in Kuching and Serian through frequencies transmission, but they are also available in Sri Aman and Betong Divisions.

From 18th to 20th May 2025, I visited Sarawak by coming to Sibu, Mukah, Sri Aman, Betong and Sarikei Divisions. On 19th May 2025, I conducted the radio signal monitoring of Wai FM Bidayuh/Radio Kayan in 6 locations of Sri Aman and Betong Divisions, mostly on the frequency 106.1MHz from Gunung Serapi, meanwhile 101.7MHz Gunung Ampungan transmitter is hard to be tuned in these locations.

1. Simanggang, Sarawak

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi & 101.7MHz Gunung Ampungan

* Distance: 147km (for 106.1MHz) & 94km (for 101.7MHz)

* Result: 106.1MHz is slightly stronger than 101.7MHz

2. Betong, Sarawak 

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi

* Distance: 151km

3. Engkilili, Sarawak

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi & 101.7MHz Gunung Ampungan

* Distance: 172km (for 106.1MHz); 112km (for 101.7MHz)

4. Spaoh, Sarawak 

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi & 101.7MHz Gunung Ampungan

* Distance: 145km (for 106.1MHz); 102km (for 101.7MHz)

* Result: Both are very difficult to be tuned in Spaoh, but 106.1MHz has more signal than 101.7MHz

5. Debak, Sarawak

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi

* Distance: 138km

6. Saratok, Sarawak

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi

* Distance: 129km

7. Roban, Sarawak

 

* Tuning frequency: 106.1MHz Gunung Serapi

* Distance: 129km

Videos are recorded in 4K HDR resolution by using Sony Xperia 5 V smartphone.

In Sri Aman and Betong Divisions, I tuned to Wai FM Bidayuh/Radio Kayan mostly on 106.1MHz from Gunung Serapi because 101.7MHz from Gunung Ampungan is very weak and almost zero signal.

 

Betong and Spaoh are the weakest coverage of RTM Wai FM Bidayuh, regardless 106.1MHz or 101.7MHz.

FM 101.7MHz from Gunung Ampungan has no signal mostly in Betong, Spaoh, Roban, Saratok and Debak. 

Overall from Sri Aman to Roban, Wai FM Bidayuh/Radio Kayan on 106.1MHz has more signal than 101.7MHz. 

On Pan Borneo Highway, Wai FM Bidayuh 101.7MHz Gunung Ampungan transmitter only covers from Serian until Engkilili.

 

Dear all Bidayuh and Kayan radio listeners, by driving from Kuching to Sibu/Bintulu/Miri via Pan Borneo Highway, Wai FM Bidayuh and Radio Kayan can be tuned from Simanggang until Roban through frequencies transmission, but weak signal.