One month after the first opening of the season, a new Es opening has resulted in at least 8 new stations. I did something different for these phases of openings - I went out to Robinson Canyon again for the first 2/3rds of the opening to knock some locals out - and it worked to some advantage. The opening began before 5:00PM local time and lasted through to about 8:30, but there was an hour or so where skip faded out. Not listing the stations in the usual order because I did not have Wifi or anything close to it at Robinson Canyon.
First 'wave' of skip (5:00-5:30PM)
93.3 KZBT Odessa, TX; with Lauryn Hill's 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' and partial TOH ID with call letters. NEW #582, 100KW at 1,422 miles.
98.7 KMTH Maljamar NM with RDS "KMTH-FM" on car radio. NEW #583, 100KW at 1316 miles.
88.7 KXNM Encino NM w/ mention of Estancia School District enrollment for 2020-21 kindergarten. Relog, 18KW at 1158 miles.
92.3 KRST Albuquerque NM with RDS "92.3 KRST". Relog, 22KW at 1093 miles.
Multiple other stations on the dial, some that went UNIDed (like a CCM on 90.5) and others that I skipped by because I already have them in the logs (CHR on 97.3 had to be KKSS, 93.3 with similar format had to be KOBQ ex-KKOB.)
Second 'wave' of skip (5:50-6:30PM) at Robinson Canyon now
94.1 KZOR Hobbs NM w/ top 40 mx, DJ chatter and the joke of the day, call letter mention into Fox News. Relog, 100KW at 1352 miles.
98.7 KMTH again with TOH ID mentioning Eastern NM University. 1322mi from Robinson Canyon
97.3 KKSS Santa Fe NM with Kiss 97.3 IDs, promos for morning show, 2020 Census ads, etc. Relog, 94KW at 1066 miles.
103.7 VERY LIKELY KSNN Ridgway CO, multiple New Mexico ads, have to check recording to make sure. Would be relog, 4.1kw at 888 miles. Was trying for my most-wanted of any station, 250w 103.7 the Oasis ABQ (K279BP) but they weren't there as always...
104.5 likely KKFG Bloomfield NM, iHeartRadio ads, possible 'Kool' ID, need to check recording. Queen followed. Would be new. K283BX Wapato hardly a factor here, nearly gone in the canyon. I had a little more problem dealing with IBOC hash from KKRV 104.7!
107.9 KBQI Albuquerque NM, with ID "Big I". NEW #584, 22.5KW at 1099 miles.
95.1 KOLZ Corrales NM, promo to give away $1,000 in 'nationwide contest' on Hot 95.1. Relog, 100kw at 1093 miles.
NEW TROPO LOG (NOT ESKIP)
102.5 KRAO Colfax WA, long-awaited, IDed as 'myRadio 102.5'. NEW #585, 2.2KW at 171 miles. Been looking for this one forever, and always heard KZOK in and out but never this one. Many Spokane FMs, 101.5 KATW, likely 104.3 KHTR, and CBU-FM1 92.1 Victoria also heard, non-Es wise.
UNIDs everywhere. Many just cannot be IDed because they were in the middle of songs or syndicated DJ chatter. A 106.1 with Regional Mexican and an SS tax consulant commercial could be IDed if I can get the recording out soon. 106.7 Relig was likely the VCY in Albuquerque. 102.5/102.9/101.7/105.5 all had Es at one point, but no time for ID's.
Third wave of Es (7:30-8:30PM), driving back and at home
93.9 KRTN Raton NM with 'Lean on Me' Bill Withers and calls. Relog, 26KW at 1079 miles.
94.1 KMXJ Amarillo TX with Delilah and 'Mix 94.1' ID. Relog, 100KW at 1264 miles.
95.1 KBBY Ventura CA, massive signal (about as strong as an Ellensburg local) with 'Into the Groove' Madonna, 95.1 KBBY ID, mentioned Port Hueneme. Relog, 12.5KW at 893 miles.
94.7 KTXO Goldsmith TX, with Real Country, several commercials and PSAs, and eventually an ID for 'Kickin' Country.' NEW #586, 6KW at 1405 miles. Quite strong at times for the distance and power; but signal itself was distorted and choppy. Someone needs to tweak it. // 1330-KCKM which I caught on a DX test on 3/22/14!
Got the laptop from home and started DXing in my apartment's parking lot - now I have real time info on logs:
7:58PM - 93.1 KMGJ Grand Junction, CO; with multiple local ads and TOH ID. NEW #587, 100KW at 808 miles.
8:10PM - 95.5 KPHT Pueblo, CO; no ID, but matched stream with George Harrison's 'Got My Mind Set on You.' Relog, 100KW at 1045 miles - and a very common relog by golly.
8:11PM - 99.9 KESZ Phoenix, AZ; Michael Jackson's 'Beat It', mention of Delilah and ID '99-9 KEZ'. NEW #588, 99KW at 1028 miles. Would have NEVER been possible in Yakima with KHHK up the road at 99.7 pumping out HD hash.
8:15PM - 96.3 KSWG Wickenburg, AZ; Kenny Chesney's 'Summertime', sweeper 'like what you hear on Real Country?' and a few minutes later heard with DJ talking about the partial lift of Arizona's stay-home order to allow restaurants to open up in the wake of COVID-19. Well wanted, FINALLY nailed this one! NEW #589, 5.8KW at 989 miles.
8:16PM - 92.3 KTAR Phoenix, AZ; with local ads, 602 AC mentions. Relog, 98KW at 1028 miles.
8:17PM - 101.5 KALV Phoenix, AZ; with ID 'Live 101.5' Relog, 100KW at 1028 miles.
8:18PM - 95.5 KYOT Phoenix, AZ; with RDS '95.5 THE MOUNTAIN.' Relog, 96KW at 1028 miles.
8:22PM - 88.7 KPNG Chandler, AZ; mention of EVIT and "Pulse" ID. NEW #590, 15KW at 1062 miles.
8:30PM - 90.5 overtook KNWR IBOC, Regional Mexican, went into religious song in SS, and had an ID sweeper that did not match the only Spanish station even remotely close to AZ which is XHFL way down in Ciudad Obregon SON. I won't have time to pull up the recording until next week so hopefully I can get it out for someone to ID this.
8:41PM - 93.1 KLJZ Yuma, AZ; final log before skip died, with Taylor Swift song and ID 'Z93'. Relog, 100kw at 1034 miles.
A nice start! Let's keep it going.
First 'wave' of skip (5:00-5:30PM)
93.3 KZBT Odessa, TX; with Lauryn Hill's 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' and partial TOH ID with call letters. NEW #582, 100KW at 1,422 miles.
98.7 KMTH Maljamar NM with RDS "KMTH-FM" on car radio. NEW #583, 100KW at 1316 miles.
88.7 KXNM Encino NM w/ mention of Estancia School District enrollment for 2020-21 kindergarten. Relog, 18KW at 1158 miles.
92.3 KRST Albuquerque NM with RDS "92.3 KRST". Relog, 22KW at 1093 miles.
Multiple other stations on the dial, some that went UNIDed (like a CCM on 90.5) and others that I skipped by because I already have them in the logs (CHR on 97.3 had to be KKSS, 93.3 with similar format had to be KOBQ ex-KKOB.)
Second 'wave' of skip (5:50-6:30PM) at Robinson Canyon now
94.1 KZOR Hobbs NM w/ top 40 mx, DJ chatter and the joke of the day, call letter mention into Fox News. Relog, 100KW at 1352 miles.
98.7 KMTH again with TOH ID mentioning Eastern NM University. 1322mi from Robinson Canyon
97.3 KKSS Santa Fe NM with Kiss 97.3 IDs, promos for morning show, 2020 Census ads, etc. Relog, 94KW at 1066 miles.
103.7 VERY LIKELY KSNN Ridgway CO, multiple New Mexico ads, have to check recording to make sure. Would be relog, 4.1kw at 888 miles. Was trying for my most-wanted of any station, 250w 103.7 the Oasis ABQ (K279BP) but they weren't there as always...
104.5 likely KKFG Bloomfield NM, iHeartRadio ads, possible 'Kool' ID, need to check recording. Queen followed. Would be new. K283BX Wapato hardly a factor here, nearly gone in the canyon. I had a little more problem dealing with IBOC hash from KKRV 104.7!
107.9 KBQI Albuquerque NM, with ID "Big I". NEW #584, 22.5KW at 1099 miles.
95.1 KOLZ Corrales NM, promo to give away $1,000 in 'nationwide contest' on Hot 95.1. Relog, 100kw at 1093 miles.
NEW TROPO LOG (NOT ESKIP)
102.5 KRAO Colfax WA, long-awaited, IDed as 'myRadio 102.5'. NEW #585, 2.2KW at 171 miles. Been looking for this one forever, and always heard KZOK in and out but never this one. Many Spokane FMs, 101.5 KATW, likely 104.3 KHTR, and CBU-FM1 92.1 Victoria also heard, non-Es wise.
UNIDs everywhere. Many just cannot be IDed because they were in the middle of songs or syndicated DJ chatter. A 106.1 with Regional Mexican and an SS tax consulant commercial could be IDed if I can get the recording out soon. 106.7 Relig was likely the VCY in Albuquerque. 102.5/102.9/101.7/105.5 all had Es at one point, but no time for ID's.
Third wave of Es (7:30-8:30PM), driving back and at home
93.9 KRTN Raton NM with 'Lean on Me' Bill Withers and calls. Relog, 26KW at 1079 miles.
94.1 KMXJ Amarillo TX with Delilah and 'Mix 94.1' ID. Relog, 100KW at 1264 miles.
95.1 KBBY Ventura CA, massive signal (about as strong as an Ellensburg local) with 'Into the Groove' Madonna, 95.1 KBBY ID, mentioned Port Hueneme. Relog, 12.5KW at 893 miles.
94.7 KTXO Goldsmith TX, with Real Country, several commercials and PSAs, and eventually an ID for 'Kickin' Country.' NEW #586, 6KW at 1405 miles. Quite strong at times for the distance and power; but signal itself was distorted and choppy. Someone needs to tweak it. // 1330-KCKM which I caught on a DX test on 3/22/14!
Got the laptop from home and started DXing in my apartment's parking lot - now I have real time info on logs:
7:58PM - 93.1 KMGJ Grand Junction, CO; with multiple local ads and TOH ID. NEW #587, 100KW at 808 miles.
8:10PM - 95.5 KPHT Pueblo, CO; no ID, but matched stream with George Harrison's 'Got My Mind Set on You.' Relog, 100KW at 1045 miles - and a very common relog by golly.
8:11PM - 99.9 KESZ Phoenix, AZ; Michael Jackson's 'Beat It', mention of Delilah and ID '99-9 KEZ'. NEW #588, 99KW at 1028 miles. Would have NEVER been possible in Yakima with KHHK up the road at 99.7 pumping out HD hash.
8:15PM - 96.3 KSWG Wickenburg, AZ; Kenny Chesney's 'Summertime', sweeper 'like what you hear on Real Country?' and a few minutes later heard with DJ talking about the partial lift of Arizona's stay-home order to allow restaurants to open up in the wake of COVID-19. Well wanted, FINALLY nailed this one! NEW #589, 5.8KW at 989 miles.
8:16PM - 92.3 KTAR Phoenix, AZ; with local ads, 602 AC mentions. Relog, 98KW at 1028 miles.
8:17PM - 101.5 KALV Phoenix, AZ; with ID 'Live 101.5' Relog, 100KW at 1028 miles.
8:18PM - 95.5 KYOT Phoenix, AZ; with RDS '95.5 THE MOUNTAIN.' Relog, 96KW at 1028 miles.
8:22PM - 88.7 KPNG Chandler, AZ; mention of EVIT and "Pulse" ID. NEW #590, 15KW at 1062 miles.
8:30PM - 90.5 overtook KNWR IBOC, Regional Mexican, went into religious song in SS, and had an ID sweeper that did not match the only Spanish station even remotely close to AZ which is XHFL way down in Ciudad Obregon SON. I won't have time to pull up the recording until next week so hopefully I can get it out for someone to ID this.
8:41PM - 93.1 KLJZ Yuma, AZ; final log before skip died, with Taylor Swift song and ID 'Z93'. Relog, 100kw at 1034 miles.
A nice start! Let's keep it going.