INDONESIA ON SHORTWAVE

Then and Now - Part 2

This is an edited version of  the article that first appeared in my World of Shortwave Listening column in the August 2025 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com

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Winds of Change

By the 1990s, the Indonesian media scene was diversifying, with RPDK stations transitioning to AM and FM frequencies. Many faced issues such as outdated equipment, limited funding, and competition from private broadcasters, which led to some stations simply disappearing.

As we entered the 2000s, the small regional operators were quickly disappearing. Advances in technology and the rise of digital media meant that even the well-established RRI provincial stations were moving away from shortwave. The AM band remains widely used, especially in areas with poor Internet access. The FM band is filled with both RRI and private broadcasters.

An action photo QSL received for a Voice of Indonesia broadcast on 15150 kHz in 1981. 

The back of the card shows a full data confirmation of reception.

A Word about Channels

RRI offers four main channels or networks: Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3, and Pro 4. These channels are the foundation of its national broadcasting, each targeting a different audience, purpose, and content style. They are essential to RRI’s goal of serving the entire Indonesian population—urban and rural, young and old—with programming that educates, informs, and entertains, reflecting its role as a public service broadcaster.

Pro 1: RRI Pro 1 Daerah caters to local and regional audiences with news, educational content, community services, along with some music.

Pro 2: RRI Pro 2 Muda targets youth and urban audiences, showcasing contemporary music, entertainment, and issues relevant to young people.

Pro 3: RRI Pro 3 Nasional delivers news, current affairs, music, and talk programs 24 hours a day across the country, with reports from local RRI stations. It mainly functions as a public service channel, especially during emergencies.

Pro 4: RRI Pro 4 Budaya dan Luar Negeri focuses on Indonesian arts, traditional music, and cultural heritage.

Not all four channels are available in every city. For example, smaller communities lack access to Pro 4, and some miss out on Pro 3. However, most large cities do have access to all four types of program content.

Voice of Indonesia’s latest eQSL design. This was for the reception of the Japanese service on 4755 kHz in April this year. My thanks to Japanese DXer, Mr Kazuaki Oikawa, for this contribution.

Indonesia on Shortwave Today

A lot has changed over the past decade. Indonesia no longer has a strong international presence on shortwave in Southeast Asia. Also missing are the low-frequency, low-powered regional and provincial stations that once brought both challenges and joy to DXers.

From mid-2018, VOI shifted away from using the traditional higher international shortwave broadcast bands and instead focused on outlets in the 60- and 90-meter bands. There are several reasons for this change. The aging 250 kW transmitters became increasingly unreliable and difficult to repair, eventually leading to their decommissioning. Additionally, VOI’s parent organization (RRI) faced budget cuts and a shift in strategic focus towards online platforms, FM relays, and satellite distribution. Maintaining expensive high-power shortwave infrastructure was deemed unsustainable and unnecessary, especially considering the declining global shortwave listenership.

Palangkaraya

The Voice of Indonesia’s programming in multiple languages began transmission via the Palangkaraya station in Central Kalimantan in June 2018. A July 2018 update from the World Radio TV Handbook reported that VOI was being relayed through RRI Palangkaraya’s 10 kW domestic service transmitter on 3325 kHz. The signal from this Japanese-made NEC transmitter radiates from a non-directional dipole. The signal is widely received across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, parts of North America, and occasionally reaches as far as Europe.

Cimanggis

The VOI service on 4750 kHz was first observed in early 2020. A 10 kW transmitter in Makassar, Ujung Padang, was relocated to Cimanggis, West Java. This information was confirmed by VOI’s technical manager, Syafrudin, as reported by the Radio Listeners Club Indonesia in February 2020. Later, on May 13, 2024, VOI shifted its frequency from 4750 kHz to 4755 kHz. This change aimed to lessen interference from China, also on 4750. As a result, the station is now heard more often beyond Asia.

Both Palangkaraya and Cimanggis carry VOI programming in nine languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, German, Dutch, French, and Indonesian. Transmissions on both frequencies operate daily from 1000 to 2300 UTC.

It is to RRI’s credit that they continue to offer this small, limited service to both international audiences and domestic listeners. While many other stations have completely shut down their international broadcasts, VOI has not fully abandoned its goal of reaching beyond its borders.

Nabire

RRI Nabire operates the only other Indonesian shortwave service on 7289.93 kHz, primarily serving the Central Papua region and its surrounding areas. 

The terrain around Nabire is geographically diverse, reflecting the region’s transitional position between Papua’s coastal lowlands and interior highlands. It comprises coastal plains, lowland rainforests, and vast, rugged mountain ranges. Road access is limited and often seasonal due to heavy rainfall and flooding. Some areas near Nabire are only accessible by air or river transport, highlighting the importance of strong communication systems. Additionally, Papua is tectonically active, with the Nabire region and its surroundings prone to earthquakes.

RRI Nabire broadcasts on AM (729 kHz) and has four FM stations. However, some listeners beyond the town find it hard to pick up these signals due to the difficult terrain. As a result, this shortwave station remains essential for reaching remote inland Indigenous communities.

RRI Nabire, listed as operating at 1 kW, runs between 0600 and 0930 UTC. However, this schedule is quite flexible, with the station sometimes finishing early or running past 1100 UTC. The content includes a mix of easy listening music, news, cultural programmes, and religious segments. Islamic religious content is often aired, especially during key events like Ramadan. Nonetheless, the station also features some Christian content, such as the Easter Saturday service I noted on April 19 this year.

The New RRI Outlet Somewhere in Indonesia

This is an odd one! First spotted by DXers in early July, RRI Pro 3 programming suddenly appeared on the 41-metre band. Frequencies used so far include 7300, 7330, 7335, 7205 and more recently 9690 kHz. Sign-on/sign-off times vary each day, but current monitoring shows it as coming on anytime after 1000 and signing off up to 0130 UTC. It is a strong signal in many parts of Southeast Asia and here in Australia. 

Early speculation was that these transmissions were an illegal operation by a ham radio operator relaying an RRI satellite feed. However, reporting in the September issue of the Australian Radio DX Club, the highly regarded specialist in DXing Indonesia, David Foster, notes a message from RRI:

We would like to inform you that the broadcast of RRI Pro-3 on 7300 kHz is primarily intended for Indonesian communities residing in border areas adjacent to neighbouring countries, as part of our domestic public broadcasting services. We strive to consistently offer the best services for our audience.

David also adds, "They remain coy about transmitter location and power."

The fact that RRI acknowledged the 41 mb operations seems to cast doubt on the ham operator's Pro 3 feed theory. The AM signal is much too strong. We wait for a firm confirmation of this transmission.

WRMI Relay of VOI

Not considered in this review of Indonesian broadcasting is the relay of Voice of Indonesia's English service via WRMI, Okeechobee, FL, USA. It's not on every day, so you will need to check the details with WRMI's extensive colour-coded schedule on their website.

The DX Challenge

These remaining Indonesian stations offer opportunities to engage in some serious DX! All three frequencies have been noted beyond Indonesian borders, with monitoring reports from Asia, the Pacific, the west coast of North America, and Europe. One of the most distant observations was from Finland on 4755 kHz. 

So, how can you tackle the DX challenge? Here are some ideas that may help you succeed:

1) Identify the best times for likely propagation to your location. 

2) Consider the current solar activity. 

3) Use a high-quality shortwave receiver and appropriate external antennas that cover the low frequencies used by these stations. 

4) Try to listen in a low-man-made RF environment, such as a rural or coastal area. 

With a bit of luck and patience, you'll catch the sounds of Indonesia on your shortwave dial.

References

Australian DX News (1975-1995)

Downunder DX Survey (1973, 1981, 1983)

A DXer’s Handbook…Indonesia - John Bryant (1988)

Passport to Worldband Radio (1987)

Voice of Indonesia and Radio Republik Indonesia

NASWA FRENDX - Special Section - Indonesia (1967)

A Javan Fantasy - Bill Sparks

Survey of SWBC Activity in Indonesia - Fine Tuning (1992)

Wikipedia

World Radio TV Handbook - various editions

Mount Evelyn DX Report

SWLing Post

Shortwave Central Blog

Radio Chobi Blog        

Personal observations of the author

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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