Spain-Based DXer Mauricio Molano Logs U.S. FM Stations via Double-Hop Sporadic-E
Veteran Spanish radio hobbyist Mauricio Molano used software-defined radios and directional Yagi antennas to capture FM broadcast signals from the Carolinas, over 3,700 miles away, during a sporadic-E event on July 19. He also documented an African opening in May that brought in Togo for the first time, and observed a distinctive 'barber-polling' waveform effect during an Azores opening from his station in Cáceres, Spain.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
These transatlantic FM catches illustrate how modern SDR technology has turned amateur long-distance radio monitoring into a precise, visually verifiable science rather than a matter of chance. The ability to record and replay spectrum data gives hobbyists concrete proof of rare atmospheric propagation events that were once nearly impossible to confirm.
- Sporadic-E propagation enabled reception of U.S. FM stations from over 3,700 miles away in Spain.
- SDR technology lets DXers visually monitor and record spectrum activity, improving verification of rare signals.
- Molano also logged a first-time African FM opening from Togo and unusual 'barber-polling' waveform effects near the Azores.
RTL-SDR Blog V4 SDR receiver — This is exactly the kind of software-defined radio that hobbyists use to chase sporadic-E and transatlantic FM catches like those described in the article. It's an affordable entry point for anyone curious about visually monitoring the spectrum and trying their own long-distance DX receptions.
See RTL-SDR Blog V4 SDR receiver on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: radioworld.com — Nick Langan, 2026-09-18
Published there as: “When the FM Band Goes Transatlantic”
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