When I scheduled a trip to Big Bend National Park for January, the main motivation was to visit the Chisos Mountain area before a long-term closure begins in May 2026.
But interesting radio reception is always a draw for me, too. Shortly before my visit, RadioWorld’s Nick Langan featured Big Bend as one of “The Top 20 U.S. Locations to Scan the FM Dial.” The list is based on locations that are outside of the main coverage areas of any FM signal, leaving a wide-open band for long-distance radio reception, known as DX.
(Here’s a background on the types of different distant FM reception.)
Winter isn’t generally known for great FM reception. But when I emailed Langan to tell him I was headed to Big Bend, he encouraged me to be ready since E-skip can happen in the winter, too.
I was in the park for four days and heard only some mild regional tropo on the first three days. Then, as I was headed out of the park on the last day (Jan. 7), I struck gold.
I was listening to the regional signal of KRTS/93.5 (Marfa) when I heard what sounded like co-channel interference. Almost not believing it, I started to scan around the dial and quickly came across “KQ94.5” and “96.5 The Walleye.”
Upper Midwest radio fans will recognize those stations as being in Bismarck, North Dakota. Except I was still in Texas, a few miles from the Mexican border. The E-skip was here!
I found a little-used pullout alongside the park road and set up my laptop to run a software-defined radio (SDR), which allows for recording chunks of the FM band for later listening. In this case, I was using an RSPdx receiver and a rabbit-ears style whip antenna attached to a side window with a suction cup.
The 70-degree January desert breeze wafted through the window as dozens of FM signals drifted in from hundreds of miles away! During about 90 minutes of DX’ing, a few people drove past but no one stopped to read the interpretive sign (or ask about the reception).
What I heard was a DX’ers dream, with strong E-skip giving way to meteor scatter from multiple states. I’d heard meteor scatter before but, in decades of DX’ing, I’d never been able to identify a station coming in via meteor scatter. Until now.
I noted some stations received during live listening on the roadside, but most of my loggings came weeks later while reviewing the recordings at home. Since the RSPdx is limited to recording 10 MHz of bandwidth, I stopped recording several times to change frequency to get each part of the band.
Reviewing the recordings, I’ve logged 178 stations from 20 states and provinces! Most of the E-skip came from Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky.
The process of reviewing the recordings can be long and tedious, since the magic of an SDR recording allows you to keep rewinding to listen to each frequency and re-listen to things that aren’t clear the first time. The SDR recordings yielded dozens of hours of audio to check when each frequency is considered!
Looking through my log, you’ll see that many of the stations were identified by PI code, which is a unique code assigned to each station. However, the code will not display unless the station is coming in strongly enough (and weak signals sometimes cause bogus PI codes). The National Radio Systems Committee has a database of PI codes.
The full log is at the bottom of this page, but first, here are some tales of the DX hunt and how I was able to identify some stations:
Hearing Canada from near the Mexican border
Parked a few miles from the Rio Grande, one of the first stations I heard was from the other side of a different border: CIMX-FM/88.7 (Windsor, Ont.) was promoting the recent return of its legacy “89X” Alternative format:
I was able to hear one other station from Ontario (CIDR-FM/93.9 Windsor), but interestingly enough, I didn’t hear any stations from nearby Michigan.
The first minutes of the recording show a strong E-skip opening with stations also coming in from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio at the same time as CIMX. More stations from North Dakota. South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky eventually joined them.
Strong meteor scatter path to Colorado
After a half-hour of E-skip from the Midwest, I was surprised to hear a Rock format pop up for 12 seconds on 99.5 with a PI code matching KQMT (Denver, Colo.) Since the reception was recorded with an SDR, I was able rewind to check other frequencies at the exact same moment. Sure enough, several other Colorado stations came in during this exact same 12-second window. Some had PI codes while others had music that matched their formats, so I noted them as tentative loggings.
In this video, I rewind the SDR recording multiple times to show most of the stations coming in from Colorado:
Apparent meteor scatter also brought in a few stations from Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Oklahoma as the event continued.
High school basketball score clinches tentative logging
On 92.9, a station popped in for about 20 seconds with a sports report. “Men’s basketball from last night, it was ??? took two games from Vandalia at home, NCHS gym. Eagles won the varsity game there, 60 to 42…”
Some internet searching led to the MaxPreps website, which lists Newton vs. Vandalia, Ill,, playing on Jan. 6 with a matching score. Newton is in the main coverage area of WSEI/92.9 (Olney, Ill.)
Low-power FM and translator stations from more than 1,000 miles away
On 103.7, I heard “The Connection, connecting you with Christ.”
The only station using that slogan that comes up in a Google search is KPAR-LP/103.7 (Dickinson, N.D.) I’ve been to Dickinson several times and recorded airchecks of KPAR-LP. Wouldn’t you be surprised to guess what I found in a 2023 recording?
It’s an exact match! And quite surprising to hear a low-power FM station 1,200 miles away.
As I moved up to higher frequencies in my SDR recordings, I was also surprised to hear what appears to be an FM translator on 104.9 that’s about 50 miles away from KPAR-LP:
It appears this is K285HH (Lemmon, S.D.), which relays KBJM/1400. While no station information was heard during the brief time it came in, the ad for “Nelson Panels of Meadow” promotes the website nelsonpanels.com, which says the business is located in South Dakota and within KBJM’s coverage area.
Matching a fragment of a legal ID
On 94.9, meteor scatter brought in a station for two seconds during its top-of-the-hour ID, interrupting a national newscast coming in from a different station:
That’s someone saying “Lotus Corp radio station.” Lotus Corp. only owns two radio stations on 94.9, so I decided to listen to their web streams to see if I could match the wording of the ID. Here’s the ID from KMXZ-FM Tucson as heard on their online stream:
To drive home the point, here’s a quick edit of the DX immediately followed by the same words from the web stream:
Yep, I’m counting it! (For the record, I also checked the other Lotus station, KRVB Nampa, Idaho, which has a completely different ID.)
Saying the right thing at the right time
Meteor scatter usually only lasts a second, if that. There’s not a good chance that a station is going to be saying something identifiable in that time. But sometimes, it happens:
That’s KMOD-FM/97.5 (Tulsa, Oklahoma) quickly popping in over weak reception of another station!
Finally hearing from home
As the DX event was beginning to wind down, I was disappointed that I hadn’t yet heard anything from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, or Michigan, even though I’d heard stations from states to the east and west. Then I heard this on 100.3:
That’s an ad for the St. Paul RV Supershow from Jan. 15 to 18 at the St. Paul RiverCentre. It can only be KFXN-FM/100.3 (Minneapolis)!
I tried using the same method as I’d used with Colorado to identify other Twin Cities stations at that exact moment. Though I did hear brief reception on several other frequencies potentially matching what Twin Cities stations might have been playing at that time, I did not hear any identifying information or receive PI codes for any other Minnesota stations, so I decided not to count them. (But it was probably them.)
Here is the full log from the event with additional audio. Those in bold are E-skip or meteor scatter. Note that while some stations had been logged on earlier days in the park, all were also heard during the event (I just didn’t re-log them).
88.1 WNLD Decatur, IL 1/7/26 1015 “WBGL” (which this station relays)
88.1 KFLK Minot, ND 1/7/26 1029 callsign, mention of Calvary Chapel Minot
88.1 WLWJ Petersburg, IL 1/7/26 1058 “WLUJ” (which this station relays) and address to send donations to WLUJ in Springfield
88.1 KHJR St. Thomas, MO 1/7/26 1059 with PI code 2377 and preaching
88.1 KFLB-FM Stanton, TX 1/7/26 1100 legal ID, fading in and out over listening period
88.3 WLFC North Baltimore, OH 1/7/26 1021 callsign on RBDS, “Findlay’s Indie” and callsign verbally, College/Alternative format, PI code 7238 on RBDS – this station is only 155W/19m!
88.3 WNIN-FM Evansville, IN 1/7/26 1059 legal ID
88.5 WBNH Pekin, IL 1/7/26 1058 callsign and PI code 58A5 on RBDS with SRN News, faded out just as newscast ended
88.5 KVFE Del Rio, TX 1/7/26 1103 “We are life changing 88.5 KVFE”
88.7 CIMX-FM Windsor, ON 1/7/26 1013 “89X, Windsor’s Alternative” commercial format (audio above)
88.7 WBHW Loogootee, OH 1/7/26 1029 long legal ID including parent station WBGW, PI code 57FE corresponding with WBGW
88.7 KCVH-FM Hermitage, MO 1/7/28 1058 PI code 1771 and “Bott” on RBDS with an underwriting announcement for a hospice facility serving southwest MO
88.9 KJLU Jefferson City, MO 1/7/26 1059 PI code 28F6, callsign, and “Smooth Jazz” on RBDS
88.9 WKYU-FM Bowling Green, KY 1/7/26 1113 in briefly with PI code 7194 and public radio talk, consistent with other reception; quickly switched to a different station at 1113:37
88.9 WEKU Richmond, KY 1/7/26 1113:37 PI code A650 with the NPR program “1A,” mostly faded after 30 seconds and completely gone within a minute
89.1 WVJC Mount Carmel, IL 1/7/26 1026 “The Bash” verbally and on RBDS, College/Alternative format, PI code 8D08
89.3 WIPA Pittsfield, IL 1/7/26 1059 “NPR Illinois” with a promo by station host Craig McFarland, faded out when legal ID began at 1100
89.3 WFPL Louisville, KY 1/7/26 1104 “Kentucky Public Radio” news with newscaster Michael Collins
89.3 WZVK Glasgow, KY 1/7/26 1113 “Christian Family Radio”, consistent with other reception, faded out amid underwriting announcement that appeared to continue on simulcast partner WCVK/90.7, which started to come in after 89.3 faded out
89.5 WMAE-FM Booneville, MS 1/7/26 1105:18 in for one second with PI code 745C
89.7 WDCL-FM Somerset, KY 1/7/26 1112 “WKU NPR” and PI code 5CD3 on RBDS
89.9 WDPG Greenville, OH 1/7/26 1018 PI code 5E20 with Classical music
90.1 WXML Upper Sandusky, OH 1/7/26 1017 PI code 92A7 with preaching
90.1 WFYI-FM Indianapolis, OH 1/7/26 1021 callsign on RBDS with NPR program “1A,” PI code 6454
90.1 WORI Harrison, OH 1/7/26 1101 PI code 7B62 and “Air1” on RBDS
90.3 KCRL Sunrise Beach, MO 1/7/26 1058 PI code 170D with Bott Radio Network promos
90.3 KEDV Brackettville, TX 1/7/26 1100 faded in during long legal ID including “…KPAD-LP 101.1 FM Roswell, New Mexico, WSNH-LP 103.7 FM Grand Rapids, Michigan…” Then at 1101 “Radio Vida.” FCC records show the Roswell station’s license was canceled in 2015 (its callsign is now assigned to another station) but Radio Vida’s website still lists the Roswell station and WSNH-LP as affiliates. Radio Vida’s website does not list any stations on 90.3, but Radio-Locator shows KEDV as carrying the network and it’s owned by the same group that owns the network’s flagship station.
90.3 WMKY Morehead, KY 1/7/26 1113 PI code 7574 and portions of “KY” and “MSU” on RBDS with Smooth Jazz. Station website confirms they carry Smooth Jazz at this time of day (ET to CT).
90.5 WVML Millersburg, OH 1/7/26 1020 underwriting announcement for “Pearl Valley Cheese on State Route 93 between Baltic and Fresno in Coshocton County”
90.7 WGLE Lima, OH 1/7/26 1014 “FM 91” with Classical music, PI code 65A2
90.7 WCVK Bowling Green, KY 1/7/26 1113 “Christian Family Radio,” appeared to be the end of the underwriting announcement that began at 1112 on 89.3 but faded out before 90.7 was coming in, 1114 ad for Hospice of Southern Kentucky
91.3 KXWT Odessa, TX 1/6/26 1230 // KRTS (Panther Junction)
91.3 WYSO Yellow Springs, OH 1/7/26 1100 legal ID, PI code 95EA
91.3 WUKY Lexington, KY 1/7/26 1113 with PI code 8A94 and the song “Downstairs” by Matt Maeson, matching WUKY’s playlist at this time
91.5 KRNE-FM Merriman, NE 1/7/26 1018 “Nebraska Public Media,” only network station on frequency
91.5 WCIC Pekin, IL 1/7/26 1058 “WCIC” jingle with PI code 5AC2
91.5 WJLR Seymour, IN 1/7/26 1101 legal ID, ”K-Love” network
91.7 XHBU-FM Ejido Robinson, Chihuahua 1/7/26 1106 “La Norteñita”
91.9 WITT Zionsville, IL 1/7/26 1013 James Taylor song with PI code 6BC9
91.9 WXMF Marion, OH 1/7/26 1019 preaching with PI code 92A1
92.1 WBST Muncie, IN 1/7/26 1021 “Indiana Public Radio,” only network station on frequency
92.3 KNFM Midland, TX 1/7/2026 1058 “Lonestar 92-3” Country format
92.3 WTTS Trafalgar, IN 1/7/26 1018 callsign, 1022 PI code 88D4
92.7 WQEL Bucyrus, OH 1/7/26 1018 “Your home for the Buckeyes in North Central Ohio, iconic rock Q 92-7”
92.7 KKBS Guymon, OK 1/7/26 1100:58 “KKBS-FM” appeared on RBDS amid a jumble of signals
92.7 KALP Alpine, TX 1/7/26 1104 barely perceptible with “PSN? News,” what sounded like “your local Big Bend weather forecast,” 1105 callsign, Country format on a “Wayback Wednesday” (notice that the station website identifies KALP and its AM partner as “Big Bend Radio” though neither is actually listenable in the park itself)
92.9 WSEI Olney, IL (tentative logging) 1/7/26 1017 came in for only about 20 seconds with “…sports on this Wednesday ??? men’s basketball from last night, it was ??? took two games from Vandalia at home, NCHS gym. Eagles won the varsity game there, 60 to 42…” MaxPreps website lists Newton vs. Vandalia, IL, playing on 1/6 with a matching score. Newton is in WSEI’s main coverage area. (audio above)
92.9 KYYY Bismarck, ND 1/7/26 1018 “Mix 92.9” AC format, PI code 51E8
92.9 WGTZ Eaton, OH 1/7/26 1033 PI code 6687 with “All My Life” by K-Ci and Jo-Jo
92.9 KTZA Artesia, NM 1/7/26 1057 Roswell ad, 1102 legal ID
92.9 WGTZ Eaton, OH 1/7/26 1100 PI code 6687 with “Z” on RBDS and the song “Fly” by Sugar Ray
93.1 WIBC Indianapolis, IN 1/7/26 1013 PI code 69E4 with conservative talk
93.1 KSII El Paso, TX 1/7/26 1059 barely audible legal ID, could make out “El Paso,” “Townsquare Media,” and “Kiss FM” (interesting twist: I heard this station in Minnesota in 2025 via e-skip!)
93.1 KRCS Sturgis, SD 1/7/26 1102 PI code 32DA and “HOT 93.1” on RBDS with “Golden” by Huntrix, carrying syndicated Ryan Seacrest show
93.3 KZBT Midland, TX 1/6/2026 1639 “B93” with Hip-Hop (Panther Junction)
93.3 WBTU Kendallville, IN 1/7/26 1014 “US93-3, Fort Wayne’s Country station”
93.3 WDNS Bowling Green, KY 1/7/26 1111 “Bowling Green’s Classic Rock, D93” with host Sheila Ash, PI code 5DF8
93.5 KRTS Marfa, TX 1/4/26-1/7/26 multiple airchecks recorded, listenable everywhere in the park except RGV and strongest in mountains
93.7 KIZZ Minot, ND 1/7/26 1024 “Z94, Minot’s #1 hit music station” with PI code 27C3
93.7 WFCJ Miamisburg, OH 1/7/26 1032 PI code 6219 with preaching by Chip Ingram, partial callsign “FCJ” on RBDS; in again at 1100 with “Insight for Living”
93.9 CIDR-FM Windsor, ON 17/26 1014 “93-9 Virgin Radio” consistent with other reception and appears to be the only station using this slogan on this frequency
93.9 WBKS Columbus Grove, OH 1/7/26 1020 PI code 5862 with “93-9 KISS-FM, Lima’s #1 hit music station” on RBDS
93.9 KSSZ Fayette, MO 1/7/26 1048 “The Gary Nolan Show,” “Zimmer Radio,” “93.9 The Eagle”
93.9 KHCB-FM Houston, TX 1/7/26 1055 callsign given several times
93.9 KINT-FM El Paso, TX 1/7/26 1103 PI code 2685 with Tropical music
93.9 KJMK Webb City, MO 1/7/26 1109:51 in for a few seconds with PI code 2906 and “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett
93.9 WKTG Madisonville, KY 1/7/26 1124 “Power Rock 93-9, KTG”
94.1 WMIX-FM Mount Vernon, IL 1/7/26 1026 callsign, 1027 PI code 753F
94.1 WNNF Cincinnati, OH 1/7/26 1048 legal ID, callsign and PI code 7853 on RBDS, “Queen City Country”
94.1 KZOR Hobbs, NM 1/7/26 1052 callsign
94.1 KNBS Bowling Green, MO 1/7/26 1059 ad for dentist in St. Charles, partial RBDS decoding contained mentions of 101.9 and “NewsTalk” (101.9 is a translator of an HD2 channel that carries the same programming)
94.1 WLYE-FM Glasgow, KY 1/7/26 1111 PI code 7428 and callsign on RBDS with Travis Tritt song
94.3 KATI California, MO 1/7/26 1049 PI code 11F6 with Country music, consistent with other reception; in again briefly at 1058
94.3 WULF Hardinsburg, KY 1/7/26 1123 PI code 8A9B with Country music
94.5 KQDY Bismarck, ND 1/7/26 1003 “KQ94-5” Country format
94.5 WXKR Port Clinton, OH 1/7/26 1013 callsign and PI code 9279 on RBDS, 1018 callsign verbally
94.5 WRZR Loogootee, IN 1/7/26 1030 “…here on the Lunchbox, Classic Rock, Razor 94.5” website confirms they have a show called the “Lunchbox” at this time (receiving ET station in CT); fragments of legal ID at 1100
94.5 XHCDS-FM Ciudad Delicias, Chihuahua 1/7/26 1109 current temperature for “Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico”
94.5 KSEH Brawley, CA 1/7/26 1115:17 in for three seconds, PI code 3FF7 and partial words “EH” and “UAVE” on RBDS, with talking in Spanish (a commercial?), website indicates station uses the slogan “Suavecita”; in again for six seconds at 1117:29 with same PI code and part of a Spanish-language song; again at 1126:09 for nine seconds with same PI code, partial callsign “KS” on RBDS, and a Spanish-language song
94.7 KTTS-FM Springfield, MO 1/7/26 1050 PI code 442C with Country
94.7 KIXY-FM San Angelo, TX 1/7/26 1100 legal ID
94.9 KTZU Velva, ND 1/7/26 1016 Classic Rock with mentions of “94-9 The Zoo” and 949thezoo.com, PI code 44CA at 1021
94.9 WYNG Mount Carmel, IL 1/7/26 1027 PI code 9560 with “K-LOVE” on RBDS
94.9 KCMO-FM Shawnee, KS 1048:55 popped in for five seconds with PI code 168E and KC__-F_ on RBDS
94.9 KBIM-FM Roswell, NM 1/7/26 1050 “94.9 The Country Giant,” 1100 end of legal ID
94.9 XHCHH-FM Chihuahua, Chihuahua 1/7/26 1051 “D95” in English with Top 40 format
94.9 KMXZ-FM Tucson, AZ 1/7/26 1100 popped in for two seconds with female announcer saying “Lotus Corp. radio station.” Lotus owns only two stations on this frequency – what was received matches exactly with ID later heard on KMXZ web stream. (Also checked the other Lotus station, KRVB Nampa ID, which had a completely different ID.) (audio above)
95.1 WAJI Fort Wayne, IN 1/7/26 1015 Fort Wayne ad, 1016 “Magic 95.1”
95.1 WVXG Mount Gilead, OH 1/7/28 1028 “CLASSIC ROCK 95.1 MID OHIOS ROCK STATION” on RBDS
95.1 KTKS Versailles, MO 1049 PI code 4342 and “KS-95” on RBDS with Country music
95.1 WGGC Bowling Green, KY 1/7/26 1111 “Goober 95.1 the Bowling Green country station” on RBDS with PI code 651E
95.3 KOJP Presidio, TX 1/4/26 // KRTS (Chisos Basin, Paint Hills)
95.3 KXMO Owensville, MO 1/7/26 1049 community calendar event hosted by RTI (Rolla Technical Institute) and mention of Rolla, which is in KXMO’s coverage area
95.3 WKVN Corydon, KY 1/7/26 1051 with PI code 713F and “K-LOVE” on RBDS
95.5 WFMS Fishers, IN 1/7/26 1013 callsign verbally, PI code 6326; in again at 1053
95.5 KSDZ Gordon, NE 1/7/26 1023 promo for NewsChannel Nebraska, “The Twister,” Brownfield Network update
95.5 KTOZ-FM Pleasant Hope, MO 1/7/26 1048 “Alice 95-5”
95.5 KLAQ El Paso, TX 1/7/26 1058 legal ID
95.7 WCRC Effingham, IL 1/7/26 1015 callsign on RBDS and verbally, Country format
95.7 WHIO-FM Pleasant Hill, OH 1/7/26 1023 callsign
95.7 KWWR Mexico, MO 1/7/26 1048 “Country 96, 95.7 FM, KWWR”
95.7 XHQD-FM Chihuahua City, Chihuahua 1/7/26 1059 “Switch FM” with Pop music
95.9 WYNT Caledonia, OH 1/7/26 1022 mentions of “Majic 95.9” and “majic959.com”
96.1 KLRQ Clinton, MO 1/7/26 1048 with PI code 2ED6 and the end of “K-Love verse of the day”
96.1 WSTO Owensboro, KY 1/7/26 1051 “Hot 96” verbally, 1052 PI code 862C and “Hot 96” on RBDS
96.1 KLPX Tucson, AZ 1/7/26 1126:09 in for nine seconds with a promo to download the KLPX app
96.3 KHEY El Paso, TX 1/7/26 1116 “K-Hey Country”
96.5 KBYZ Bismarck, ND 1/7/26 1007 “Walleye” on RBDS and verbally, Classic Rock
96.5 KYXY San Diego, CA 1/7/26 1126:10 in for eight seconds with PI code 51CE and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” by Starship
96.7 KCMQ Columbia, MO 1/7/26 1048 with PI code 1690 and an ad for employment with the Missouri Dept. of Corrections, 1050 promo for KCMQ app
96.9 KKOW-FM Pittsburg, KS 1/7/26 1048 with PI code 2BEA and “96-9 The Cow, the Four States’ first choice for new Country”
96.9 KMCM Odessa, TX 1/7/26 1124 Midland ads, “97 Gold” (near Paint Gap Hills)
96.9 KMXP Phoenix, AZ 1/7/26 1127:50 in for one second with PI code 1215 and what sounded like a Pop song
97.1 KFTK-FM Florissant, MO 1/7/26 1048 with PI code 1F2C and “FM Talk” on RBDS with political talk, faded in and out for several minutes
97.3 XHCHI-FM Nuevo Sacramento, Chihuahua 1/7/26 1051 with partial callsign CHI-FM and “Imagen Chihuahua” on RBDS, Spanish-language talk, 1120 full callsign on RBDS
97.5 KMOD-FM Tulsa, OK 1/7/26 1056:49 very good luck as the station was saying its callsign just as it popped up for a one-second meteor scatter (audio above)
97.5 KSZR Oro Valley, AZ 1117:29 in for seven seconds with PI code 4223 and “Right Thurr” by Chingy
97.5 WAMZ Louisville, KY (tentative) 1/7/26 1125:30 in for 15 seconds with liner “Real Music, Real Country, Guaranteed Human, 97.5 …. ” The last part was very difficult to make out, but since “Guaranteed Human” is an iHeartMedia slogan, I looked up which Country stations iHeart owns and there are only two of them on 97.5. The last part sounds like “WAMZ” on relistening, consistent with other reception
97.5 KGKL-FM San Angelo, TX 1/7/26 1126 callsign verbally and on RBDS with PI code A2E7
97.7 XHARE-FM El Divisadero (Ojinaga), Chihuahua 1/4/26 2128 “La Ke Buena,” Mexican and Santa Cruz ads, “La cadena de radio mas grande en Mexico” (Chisos Basin)
97.9 KODM Odessa, TX 1/7/26 1117 “Mix 97.9” AC
97.9 KFBD-FM Waynesville, MO 1/7/26 1048 with ad for Page Office Supply in Lebanon, MO
97.9 KXDG Webb City, MO 1/7/26 1049 “Big Dog 97.9” and PI code 4D10 on RBDS
98.3 KDVC Columbia, MO 1/7/26 1049 “98-3 The Dove” with AC-like format, consistent with other reception at the time
98.3 XHPX-FM Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua 1/7/26 1055 “Exa FM,” 1056 callsign on RBDS
98.3 KPTX Pecos, TX 1/7/26 1122 “98X FM, West Texas’ Best, your home for Monahans High School Sports”
98.7 KTXR Springfield, MO 1/7/26 1048 “The Dove” with AC selections, consistent with other reception, 1050 PI code 4493
98.7 KMTH Maljamar, NM 1/7/26 1048-1052 vintage Easy Listening, 1117 “KENW” (see “Easy Listening Public Radio? Unique Formats Serve the Southwest” for audio of KMTH/KENW recorded from its local area)
98.9 KFLW Saint Robert, MO 1/7/26 1050 ad for Security Bank of Pulaski County
99.1 KCAD Dickinson, ND 1/7/26 1037 callsign on RBDS and verbally, 1047 PI code 154B
99.1 KHKX Odessa, TX 1/7/2026 1054 Odessa ad, 1055 “Kix 99-1” (Paint Gap Hills)
99.3 KDER Comstock, TX 1/7/26 1116 Spanish-language religious program “Temas Vitales” from “Radio Amistad.” Had also heard similar programming on this frequency the prior day on a visit to Rio Grande Village, where it was the only listenable signal. A Wikipedia entry lists KDER as a satellite of KHCB-FM, while Radio Amistad originates on KHCB(AM). The network website does not list KDER but it appears there must have been a recent programming change or an omission on the site.
99.5 KQMT Denver, CO 1/7/26 1037:49 rapid fadeup with Rock format lasting 12 seconds before rapid fadeout, signal strong enough for PI code 3B8B to register on RBDS
99.5 WCOY Quincy, IL 1/7/26 1049 callsign
99.5 WRNO-FM New Orleans, LA 1/7/26 1042:44 rapid fade in/fade out lasting four seconds, long enough for PI code 12EC and “NewsTalk 99._ and Talk of New O____ns” to pop up on RBDS with Talk (a few other stations popped in at this same moment but none could be identified)
99.5 KHAZ Hays, KS 1/7/26 1119:06 in for two seconds with PI code 2295 and callsign on RBDS and the Country song “Swingin'”
99.7 WCVS-FM Hillsboro, IL 1/7/26 1034 rapid fade-in/fade-out with promo for 997cvs.com
99.7 WDJX Louisville, KY 1/7/26 1040 PI code 5D95 and the song “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, reception only lasted about 45 seconds
99.9 WCHD Kettering, OH 1/7/26 1034 PI code 1AA9 and “Ch__nel 99” on RBDS with the song “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” by Usher
99.9 KESZ Phoenix, AZ 1117:00 for one second with PI code 1C7D, could not identify song
100.1 XHRCH-FM Ojinaga, Chihuahua (Chisos Basin)
100.3 KIMN Denver, CO 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with PI code 2665
100.3 KATZ-FM Bridgeton, MO 1/7/26 1050 with “Weather Impact forecast from 5 On Your Side,” the slogan and weather branding used by KSDK-TV in St. Louis, KATZ-FM website confirms weather partnership with KSDK; consistent with other reception at this time
100.3 KFXN-FM Minneapolis, MN 1/7/26 1124:16 for 12 seconds with an ad for the St. Paul RV Super Show at the St. Paul RiverCentre from Jan. 15 to 18 (also heard possible Minneapolis stations on 93.7, 94.5, 97.1, 99.5, and 101.3 at this exact time but did not log them because, though their formats appeared to match, no PI codes or other identifying information was received for any station other than KFXN-FM) (audio above)
100.5 WSDF Louisville, KY 1/7/26 1124 “100.5 FM Louisville” with Classic Hits, came in for about 90 seconds total
100.7 WEEC Springfield, OH 1/7/26 1033 PI code 5FA2
100.7 KULL Abilene, TX 1/7/26 1044 “Abilene’s Greatest Hits 100.7 Kool FM,” 1056 callsign on RBDS (near Paint Gap Hills)
100.9 XHONG-FM Ojinaga, Chihuahua 1/4/26 2119 “La Poderosa” (Chisos Basin)
101.1 KOSI Denver, CO (tentative) 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, no RBDS data registered, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment
101.7 XHOG-FM Ojinaga, Chihuahua 1/6/26 1719 legal ID (Chisos Basin)
101.9 KZZQ Richardton, ND 1/7/26 1043 with Christian talk and PI code 549E, 1047 “Real Presence Radio Network”
101.9 KZWV Eldon, MO 1/7/26 1048 “101-9 The Wave, More Music, More Variety” with host Kevin Hilley
102.1 KFZX Gardendale, TX 1/4/26 “The Eagle” Classic Hits format (heard at Chisos Basin, Panther Junction, Paint Hills)
102.1 KFMA Oro Valley, AZ 1/7/26 1126:09 in for eight seconds with PI code 1E6C and “One” by Metallica
102.3 KPNY Alliance, NE 1/6/26 1042 “My Bridge Radio”
102.5 XHHIH-FM Ojinaga, Chihuahua 1/4/26 2115 “La Ley,” Ads for Mexico and Chihuahua, 2201 legal ID (Chisos Basin)
102.7 KBIQ Manitou Springs, CO 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with PI code 1384 and the song “Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United
102.9 KIXN Hobbs, NM 1/7/26 1040 Hobbs ad, 1041 “Kix 103”
103.1 KKCN Ballinger, TX 1/7/26 1036 “Kickin’ Country 103-1”
103.3 KCRS-FM Midland, TX 1/7/26 1044 CHR format, “the Basin’s party station”
103.5 KRFX Denver, CO (tentative) 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with “Hold On” by Genesis, no RBDS data registered, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment
103.7 KPAR-LP Dickinson, ND 1/7/26 1042 “103.7 The Connection, connecting you with Christ” with parts of the word “Connection” on RBDS, found the identical liner (same wording and voice) on a 2023 aircheck of KPAR-LP recorded in Dickinson (audio above)
103.9 KRKA Severance, CO 1/7/26 1047:49 popped up for 12 seconds with PI code 3DE8 and the song “How Great Is Our God” by Chris Tomlin
104.1 KZTW Tioga, ND (tentative) 1/7/26 1040 man talking on phone // to 101.9, which later identified as “Real Presence,” both stations carry the same Christian Talk network
104.3 KKFN Longmont, CO (tentative) 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with Talk programming, no RBDS data registered, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment
104.9 K285HH Lemmon, SD 1/7/26 1034 weather from Meteorologist Michael Karow (from Weatherology) brought to you buy BezerNet (?), ad for Nelson Panels in Meadow, SD (which is within the coverage area of KBJM, the AM station relayed on K285HH) into the Old Farmer’s Almanac Radio Report; consistent with reception of stations from SW ND at this time (audio above)
105.1 KXKL Denver, CO (tentative) 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with “Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order, overriding another station, no RBDS data registered, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment
105.1 KWMW Maljamar, NM 1/7/26 1034 ads for Hobbs (Paint Gap Hills)
105.9 KXQT Stanton, TX 1/6/26 1309 callsign (Panther Junction)
105.9 KALC Denver, CO (tentative) 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 10 seconds, briefly battling with another station, with “Happen to Me” by Russell Dickerson, which is currently on the Hot AC chart, no RBDS data registered, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment
105.9 KAAQ Alliance, NE 1/7/26 1042 briefly overriding regional station with promo for panhandlepost.com into jingle for “Double Q Country Weather” (the “Double Q” slogan is a relic of a former simulcast with another station that has a Q in its callsign)
106.5 KNMF-FM1 Trinidad, CO 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 15 seconds with “Who Loves You” by the Four Seasons and PI code 3391, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment (somewhat confusing as it appears KNMF-FM1 is a booster of KXXF Springer, NM, but the booster’s callsign was not changed when the former KNMF became KXXF)
106.5 KYQQ Arkansas City, KS 1/7/26 1043:56 popped in for 1 second with PI code 5110 and what sounded like an accordion; station carries a Regional Mexican format
106.7 KCHX Midland, TX 1/7/26 1036 ads for Odessa, later received PI code 1615 (Paint Gap Hills, also heard 1/6 at Panther Junction)
107.1 KTUM Tatum, NM 1/7/26 1042 “Hit music, B107 The Blaze”
107.5 WKXI-FM Magee, MS 1/7/26 1037:20 popped in for 4 seconds with PI code 716E and the song “Excited” by dvsn, matching its listed format
107.5 KQKS Denver, CO (tentative) 1/7/26 1037:49 popped up for 12 seconds with “Live Yor Life” by DJ Two, no RBDS data registered, consistent with other Colorado reception at the exact same moment
107.9 KQLM Odessa, TX 1/6/26 1304 “La Q” (Panther Junction)
I also recorded a lot of AM radio reception during my time in the park, thinking that was going to be the highlight of the trip (many Mexican stations that can’t be heard in the Upper Midwest are easy to hear at Big Bend). I’ve yet to go through most of those recordings, but perhaps they’ll be the focus of a future report!