Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Cats FM 93.3MHz, Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz, Sinar FM 96.6MHz, MY FM 103.2MHz, Melody FM 102.4MHz and Hitz FM 105.8MHz from Bukit Lambir Miri radio reception update in Tamparuli, Sabah via tropospheric propagation

Previously I had seen the radio reception of Cats FM 93.3MHz and Era FM Sarawak 101.3MHz in Tamparuli, Sabah by Kisah Alkisah in June 2025.


Here's another radio reception update of tuning Miri radio stations in Tamparuli, Sabah which is published by Kisah Alkisah today.


Today's update is coming with additional radio stations from Bukit Lambir such as Sinar FM 96.6MHz, Melody FM 102.4MHz, MY FM 103.2MHz and Hitz FM 105.8MHz.


Melody FM 102.4MHz and MY FM 103.2MHz have already overlapped Era FM Sabah 102.4MHz and Lite FM 103.2MHz Bukit Karatong coverage due to same frequencies, causing tropospheric interference in Tamparuli, Sabah.


Same as previous radio reception, the signal of Bukit Lambir radio stations in Tamparuli today is tropospheric propagation.

Although ABC Radio had closed down its shortwave radio stations many years ago, but Reach Beyond Australia was my very first Aussie shortwave radio station tuned in Malaysia since 2021, but before the weather radio station VMW Wiluna.

 


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.


Australia weather radio station VMW from Wiluna received in Malaysia on SW 12362kHz

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)

* Receiving date: 21.09.2025 1933H (UTC+8)

* SINPO: 33232




Friday, 19 September 2025

Hot FM 94.3MHz dari Kuching (Serapi) masih boleh didengari di Pusa, Maludam dan Kabong, Sarawak.


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.

List of ABC radio stations in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (FM & AM)


1. ABC Radio Brisbane AM 612kHz

 

2. ABC Radio National 

* AM 792kHz

* FM 90.1MHz (distant transmitter from Gold Coast - Lower Beechmont)

 

3. ABC News Radio

* AM 936kHz

* FM 95.7MHz (distant transmitter from Gold Coast - Lower Beechmont)

 

4. ABC Triple J FM 107.7MHz (TX: Mount Coo-Tha)

 

5. ABC Classic FM 106.1MHz (TX: Mount Coo-Tha) 


6. ABC Gold Coast FM 91.7MHz (distant radio station from Gold Coast Lower Beechmont)



 

(AUSTRALIA) ABC National Radio and ABC News Radio can be tuned in Brisbane, QLD via distant FM frequencies from Gold Coast (Mount Tambourine) on 90.1MHz and 95.7MHz respectively, despite they have no FM frequencies.



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.




RTM Sandakan FM 90.1MHz from Bukit Trig transmitter received in Tawau and Semporna, Sabah by Kisah Alkisah (September 2025 update)

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.

Monday, 15 September 2025

要聽1980年代以下的華語經典老歌?砂拉越Red FM是最佳的選擇。

馬來西亞的中文電台大部分都是播放最新,和最熱門的歌曲來鎖定年輕聽眾,但有些中文電台有播放經典歌曲。


Astro旗下的電台Melody FM早期是播放1960和70年代老歌,當時這家電台還沒在FM 頻率廣播。


Melody FM 這家電台漸漸年輕化,因為很多2000年代和2010年代的歌曲都在這家電台出現,偶爾會聽到不應該在Melody FM出現的抖音和小紅書神曲(因為它們是姊妹台GoXUAN和MY FM的歌單),反而1980年代中之前的歌曲開始比較少播放。


Melody FM的歌單都是從1980年代中開始到2000年代後半,這家電台就沒有聽到1970年代和本地歌手的老歌。


988也播放經典歌曲,但只限星期日早上八點到十點,以粵語為主,主要播放1980年代中到2000年代中的歌曲和部分西洋經典歌曲。


國營電台的愛FM有以前播放經典老歌的時段。現在愛FM的節目年輕化,所以經典老歌時段只有在星期四至星期日,清晨五點到六點播放,節目名稱是“回味無窮”,這個時段是無間斷播放1930年代至90年代的經典歌曲,但不是所有的人在清晨很勤力起身收聽老歌廣播。


沙巴電台VFM中文時段也有經典老歌,通常是在最後一個小時廣播播放,每天早上11點到12點播放老歌。


這些經典老歌都是鳳飛飛,張小英,李逸,萬沙浪,潘安邦,黃曉君,黃清元等等歌手。


在Melody FM,聽眾是絕對聽不到張小英,李逸,黃曉君,黃清元的老歌因為這家電台不再播放1970年代老歌,Melody FM播放的歌曲都是經典流行歌曲,涵蓋張學友,童安格,林志穎,黎明,劉德華,郭富城,張宇,張惠妹,周華健,黃品源等等歌手,同時也有經典1偶像派的F4, S.H.E., 5566, Energy,王心凌,張棟樑等等歌手。


翻唱1970年代以下的懷舊歌曲和中國大陸經典歌曲的本地歌手如羅賓,莫翰,姚乙,莊學忠,李俐倩,賴冰霞和李永平,他們的歌曲不會出現在Melody。


想在電台聽到更多的經典老歌,我強力推薦砂拉越Red FM。


砂拉越Red FM在每天清晨5點到早上7點都有播放經典老歌,然後星期天和星期二傍晚也有經典老歌節目時段,然後星期一和星期四傍晚7點有一個小時無間斷播放經典流行歌曲。


* 星期天傍晚7點到9點:那些年,那些歌 (聽眾可以在Red FM中文台的臉書專頁點1980年代之前的歌曲)

* 星期二傍晚7點到9點:歌裡尋他千百回 (聽眾可以在Red FM中文台臉書專頁發出“歌裡尋他千百回”貼文寫故事並點歌)

* 星期一和星期四傍晚7點到8點:聽歌好時光 (一個小時無間斷播放1980年代後半和1990年代經典流行歌曲,偶爾2000年代初的歌曲)


我覺得 Red FM播放經典歌曲(懷舊+流行)的中文時段 比Melody FM好聽,聽了超過一年的Red FM,這家電台的傍晚時段使到我聽出耳油。


雖然Red FM只限砂拉越廣播,由於科技已經進步,電台不僅可以在FM頻率收聽,但我可以使用手機通過線上平台或RTM Klik收聽廣播。

Sunday, 14 September 2025

RTM Minnal FM radio reception in Teluk Intan, Perak on 98.9MHz from Gunung Kledang (September 2025 update)



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)==

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

FM DX: Serian, Sarawak (August 2025 edition)

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.