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Montana Anyone been through West Yellowstone lately?

C

crainbebo

On the Montana trip last weekend, I drove through the I-90 corridor all the way to Billings. Upon reaching the Whitehall area, I tuned in 92.9 expecting to find a KEZQ signal. Alas, I didn't find them at all! I only had KLFM Great Falls (115 miles+) and the KKGR 680 translator at Townsend (25-30 miles north and northwest). I checked 92.9 through Bozeman.

Is "The Big EZ" even on the air? I see they have a CP to move to 93.1 and rimshot Idaho Falls.

I also did not find KBZM-104.7 Big Sky, even going through Bozeman. KKQX was just fine, on air and strong through SW MT. Off air? Low power? Too many mountains? A 5KW signal at 11,000+ feet elevation should reach Butte, let alone the home of MSU.

BTW, YNOP is everywhere on low-FM, and so is Yellowstone Public Radio. Every 30 miles, another new frequency for Your Network of Praise popped up. Some (like KZNP-90.7 Mullan ID) are open carrier only, and I should let YNOP know. You can pick up KZNP weakly in Coeur D'Alene and Post Falls, and even in parts of Spokane where the KPBX translator isn't full-quieting.
 
The Big EZ spends more time off the air than on, I swear. They may be operating with their aux site in W Yellowsone while moving their transmitter to the new ID location. Or they could have just pulled the plug in W Yellowstone and are working on installing the moved equipment to ID. Pure speculation on my part.

OTOH, the folks running 104.7/105.7 (The Eagle) Bozeman have always operated in a legit fashion and have done their best to keep both signals on the air. As you know, you certainly should have heard the Big Sky station once you went over the pass east of Butte. It's the biggest 5kW sginal I know! It starts to become a problematic signal the closer you get to Bozeman, hence the need for 105.7 Lone Peak is not the easiest place in the world to service, so they may be on the Big Sky Aux site which really only covers the COL. I don't know- there is nothing on their socials that mentions this.

Not sure if this is still the case, but last time I was in the area I found they were not quite a true simulcast. They run different stop sets so they can sell Big Sky and upper valley ads on 104.7 and Bozeman/Belgrade ads on 105.7. They run the same songs on both stations, but I am thinking they are only semi-live with the local talent weekdays becuase the stations can definitely get out of sync at times.
 
As soon as you start dropping from Homestake, there are several Billings FMs that make it (190 miles or so) - KWMY-105.9, KPLN-106.7, KCHH-95.5, a few others. Crazy strong, too. Delilah on 95.5 Lite FM was solid into Belgrade and Three Forks on I-90 with little sign of KMBR.

Now it turns out I may have a job opportunity AT HOME - and Red Lodge may not be the place where I need to go. More about that later.

What is KEZQ's format like? Is it a giant jukebox of oh wow's, or a satellite (Westwood One) format...or a simulcast of another station?

Also not noted at all was KCWB-92.1 Byron/Cody WY, even though the Country Superstation KZMQ, KCGL, and especially 91.1 KOFG (with Southern Gospel) were blazing in from across the state line. Even in Red Lodge, 92.1 was hiss and static. An LPFM exists on 101.1 in Billings, but down the 212 you eventually get KHMN "The One" with Christian music.
 


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