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Tech and Gear›Nick's Signal Spot

When the FM Band Goes Transatlantic
SDR recording and E-skip allows U.S. FM stations to be heard in Spain

By Nick Langan ⋅

Published: September 16, 2026

At the top of this image, you can see the great circle paths of Mauricio Molano’s transatlantic FM receptions, courtesy of FMList. At the bottom of the image, you can see what they looked like visually using the SDR Console software.
Nick’s Signal Spot is a new feature in which Nick Langan explores RF signals, propagation, new equipment and related endeavors. 
FM broadcast signals can travel long distances under the right conditions.
We’ve touched on E-skip several times in this space, particularly how double-hop sporadic-E makes transatlantic receptions possible. Receptions like these have been documented by long-distant radio enthusiasts such as Ireland’s Paul Logan catching North American signals, and the reverse accomplished by Bryce Foster on Cape Cod and Larry Horlick in Newfoundland.
Now, another operator, this time in Spain, has joined those ranks. Mauricio Molano, a retired 47-year radio veteran and DXer since age 15, recently shared his loggings with us.
“This year, sporadic-E made a dream of mine come true, something that seemed impossible until the arrival of software-defined radios,” Molano wrote of a transatlantic FM reception. “SDRs allow us not only to listen to the radio, but to visually monitor the signals populating the spectrum.”
Molano logged the stations using a four-element Yagi pointed toward Newfoundland and a three-element Yagi aimed toward the Canary Islands and the West African coast.
Molano logged the stations using a four-element Yagi pointed toward Newfoundland and a three-element Yagi aimed toward the Canary Islands and the West African coast.
His E-skip season began in late May with an African opening that brought in signals from Togo for the first time. But on July 19, atmospheric conditions aligned for transatlantic FM propagation into Spain, bringing in stations from the Carolinas, more than 3,700 miles away.
Operating remotely from Aldea del Cano in the Cáceres province, he observed an E-skip opening to the Azores.
That’s normal from his location, what we’d deem as single-hop E-skip. But Molano also observed unusual effects to those signals that could be observed visually with the SDR. Some DXers call this a “barber-polling” effect that can be observed on the waveform.
The best part of SDR DXing in 2026? You can hit record and review the evidence afterward.
This event occurred during the height of the World Cup, so Molano went to watch the Spain vs. Argentina match, he kept his SDRplay RSPduo recording with a 7 MHz slice of spectrum.
The next day, he went to review and explained what he heard.
“I tuned to 93.3 first. Fading was severe, with short, strong spikes. A presenter gave a phone number and website in English. I ruled out the U.K. and Ireland based on programming formats, leaving North America. Then on 92.3, a clear station ID came through: “92.3 The River.” Cross-referencing online audio confirmed it was WQSL(FM) in Jacksonville, North Carolina at 3,841 miles away.”
Watch a video of his catch below:
https://www.radioworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/92300-USA-WQSL-TheRiver.mp4
 
We’ve also mentioned several times the importance of recording your DX. Sometimes, that can create what seems like a mountain of an audio backlog.
But in this case, Molano found some gems.
Over the following days, he reviewed the recorded spectrum and identified four U.S. stations across North and South Carolina:

Frequency
Call Sign
Station Name / Format
Location
Distance

88.1
WRJA
ETV Radio / SCETV
Sumter, S.C.
4,004 miles

92.1
WMNC
Big Ways Country
Morganton, N.C.
4,015 miles

92.3
WQSL
92.3 The River
Jacksonville, N.C.
3,841 miles

93.3
WWWZ
Z93 JAMZ
Summerville, S.C.
4,019 miles

The reception on 93.3 was confirmed by Justin Tucker, the regional director of engineering for the Cumulus Media in Charleston. Molano shared with us the confirmation.

“Quite impressive E-skip for sure… I can confirm you did receive our station WWWZ-FM Charleston, South Carolina. The clip you recorded appears to be at 9 minutes and 36 seconds into our air signal skimmer file from 19 Jul 1930Z to 1945Z, right after our commercial break.”

The 2026 E-skip season was one to remember for many DXers, and for Molano, it produced four logs that will resonate for the rest of his DXing days.
[Read the Signal Spot from Nick Langan for More DX-Related Stories]

Nick LanganThe author is a content producer and staff writer for Radio World, having joined the editorial team in 2024. He has a lifelong passion for long-distance FM radio propagation and is a faculty advisor for 89.1 WXVU(FM). He is also the creator of RadioLand, an FM radio location mobile app, which he completed for his Villanova University graduate thesis.SubscribeFor more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to our newsletter here.

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FM broadcast signals are capable of traveling long distances under specific atmospheric conditions, which is explored in the context of long-distance radio reception. This phenomenon is significantly facilitated by sporadic-E, which allows for double-hop propagation, making transatlantic FM receptions possible. This concept has been demonstrated by long-distance radio enthusiasts, such as Paul Logan receiving North American signals from Ireland, and registrations by Bryce Foster and Larry Horlick.

Mauricio Molano, a retired radio veteran and DXer, recently documented a transatlantic FM reception in Spain utilizing these sporadic-E conditions, demonstrating how software-defined radios (SDRs) enhance the process by allowing visual monitoring of the spectral signals. Molano used his logging sessions, which began with an African opening, to observe and record these distant signals. During one exceptional event, atmospheric conditions aligned for transatlantic FM propagation into Spain in July, bringing in stations from the Carolinas, over three thousand seven hundred miles away. While operating remotely, Molano observed an E-skip opening to the Azores, which was considered a single-hop E-skip from his location. He also noted unusual effects on these signals, described by some as a “barber-polling” effect visible on the waveform when observed with an SDR.

To capture this event, Molano utilized the SDRplay RSPduo to record the spectrum while watching the World Cup match; the next day, he reviewed the recording. He tuned to frequencies and identified a station, WQSL, which he cross-referenced with online audio to confirm as WQSL(FM) in Jacksonville, North Carolina, approximately three thousand eight hundred and forty-one miles away. Subsequent review of the recorded spectrum allowed him to identify four distinct U.S. stations across North and South Carolina, including WRJA in Sumter, South Carolina, WMNC in Morganton, North Carolina, WQSL in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and WWWZ in Summerville, South Carolina. The reception on the frequency 93.3 was further confirmed by Justin Tucker, the regional director of engineering for Cumulus Media in Charleston, who verified the reception of the station WWWZ-FM Charleston, South Carolina, by cross-referencing the recording with a signal skimmer file. This experience underscores the importance of recording DX events, as it can yield valuable spectral evidence.