FM radio stations on 79 MHz from Brazil are heard in Portugal - 19th Nov 2025

In Brazil, South America, they have what is called an 'extended FM band (eFM)' which runs from 76.1 MHz to 87.3 MHz which is used for FM broadcasting. This allows for the addition of new radio stations in areas where the traditional 88-108 MHz band is full. 

This is reasonably new development and the first eFM transmitters went on air as recently as May 2021.

On the 19th of November 2025, SWL & FMDXer Hugh Cocks near the city of Faro on the south coast of Portugal managed to receive several  FM radio stations from São Paulo in Brazil on 76.7, 77.5, 77.9, 79.5 & 79.9 MHz!

This isn't the first time that Hugh has heard these stations as he had a similar opening back on the 7th of March 2023. See previous post HERE.

For the reception report on the 19th of Nov 2025, Hugh writes... "Received in Southern Portugal 19th November 22:15 UTC via evening TEP.  Audio distortion present due to TEP.  Reception can start around 2200, finish 2245 UTC.  76.7 and 77.9 MHz are the strongest. Also 76.1,77 5,79.5,79.9 are there, usually very weak and distorted. "

Video 1... This shows reception of Radio Classic Pan on 76.7 MHz.

Video 2... This shows reception of Radio Cultura on 77.9 MHz.

As far as I know, Hugh uses a 3-element antenna with a low noise narrowband FET amplifier. 

Analysis... This is another remarkable reception report by High in Portugal. There is almost certainly (Trans-Equatorial Propagation) on a very regular basis between say São Paulo and the eastern part of the Caribbean, a distance of about 4000-5000 kms.

I haven't seen any reports of FMDXers there listening but it must be happening at 79 MHz as it's happening at higher frequencies. 

San Paulo to the eastern Caribbean would be a classic TEP path as it crosses the Geomagnetic Equator at right angles. This path to Portugal is really unexpected both in terms of distance - 7880 kms and the fact the signal is crossing the Geomagnetic Equator at an oblique angle.

The lower the frequency, the more oblique the angle can be but 79 MHz isn't that low! It's not like 28 MHz or 50 MHz.

The distance from San Paulo to the Geomagnetic Equator in the direction of Portugal also seems like it would be too far for TEP but something seems to be bridging the gap.

Brazil to USA on 79 MHz ??? ... Again, I pose the same question as I did in 2023... Is there anyone in the USA listening for these signals? There are plenty of areas in the USA that are closer than Portugal. 

If you look at the social media sites for FMDX, there seems to be hundreds of reports of single hop Sporadic-E openings in the USA on the 88-108 MHz band which are for the most part nothing special. 

The 76.1 MHz to 87.3 MHz band in the USA should be relatively free from strong signals for most people. Is anyone trying to listen for eFM signals? Who is going to be the first to log a station from Brazil on the new eFM band?

Link... For other long distance FM reception reports, see my 88-108 MHz page.

Addendum... 

1) As of January 2025, there were 40 stations operating permanently in the new eFM band, 24 of which are located in the state of São Paulo.

2) This is a list of the stations on the eFM band in Brazil as of 2025. 

São Paulo

76.3 FM - Radio Zé FM - Americana

76.7 FM - Classic Pan - São Paulo

77.5 FM - Radio Capital - São Paulo

77.5 FM - Rádio Jauense - Jaú

77.9 FM - Radio Cultura Brasil - São Paulo

79.5 FM - Radio São Paulo - São Paulo

79.7 FM - Radio Bragança - Bragança Paulista

79.7 FM - Radio Vale - Salto

79.9 FM - Rádio Nova Difusora - Osasco

80.1 FM - Class FM - Sorocaba

80.7 FM - Super Radio - São Caetano do Sul

80.7 FM - Radio Luzes da Ribalta - Santa Bárbara d'Oeste

81.3 FM - Radio Cacique - Capivari

81.9 FM - ABC Radio - Santo André

81.9 FM - Radio Brasil - Santa Bárbara d'Oeste

82.5 FM - Radio Azul - Americana

82.9 FM - Best FM - Limeira

83.9 FM - City Radio - Mogi das Cruzes

84.3 FM - Super Good Will Network - São Paulo

84.7 FM - GRU FM - Guarulhos

84.9 FM - EP FM - Campinas

84.9 FM - Radio Mensagem - Jacareí

85.3 FM - Jovem Pan News - Campinas

85.7 FM - Rádio Bandeirantes - Campinas

85.9 FM - Radio Canção Nova - São Paulo

86.3 FM - Rádio Bandeirantes - São Paulo

Rio Grande do Sul

79.1 FM - CBN - Porto Alegre / Canoas

79.9 FM - Your Radio São Francisco - Caxias do Sul

80.7 FM - Radio Metrópole - Cachoeirinha / Gravataí 

81.9 FM - 81 FM - São Leopoldo

82.9 FM - Studio Classic - Caxias do Sul

82.5 FM - Radio Liberdade - Porto Alegre

Rio de Janeiro

76.9 FM - Rádio Manchete - Rio de Janeiro

80.5 FM - Sputnik / Rádio Metropolitana - Rio de Janeiro

Pernambuco

76.1 FM - JC FM Radio - Recife

Paraná

80.9 FM - Canção Nova Radio - Curitiba

83.7 FM - Aleluia Network - Curitiba

85.3 FM - BandNews FM - Curitiba

Ceará

79.7 FM - Metropolitana Radio - Caucaia

Source: https://tudoradio.com/conteudo/ver/45-o-radio-migracao-das-ams-levantamento-no-fm