On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:36:44 GMT, "David Eduardo"
wrote:

Remember that the radio-locator.com maps are labeled as "for entertainment
purpose only" and the inner of the circles or contours is still an
exaggeration of the real, consistent city coverage.

The Radio-Locator.com maps are basically only good for getting a
rough, general idea of where the station might cover (notice I said
MIGHT).

It does not account for such things as terrain, AM radio band
electrical noise or below-average performance by the station's
equipment...not to mention interference from stations in other cities,
and first and second adjacent station interference.

For example, though looking at the map you might expect to be able to
pick up a faint signal from KVTO/1400 near the Sacramento area,
reality is that second adjacent 5KW KTKZ/1380 Sacramento would wipe
out most traces of KVTO anywhere near Sacramento, even on the best of
radios.

The two stations mentioned cover well only about 40% or less of the San
Francisco metro radio market.

They cover the "preaching to the choir" area, as it's been called...
SF/Berkeley/Oakland and other areas that might be considered receptive
to their programming.

KVTO, 1400khz, doesn't traverse into Sactown as well as former predecessor &
jazz legend KRE, "creative radio", did several decades ago!

I don't see how this can be true. The licensed facilities are the same.
Maybe the replacement tower (on which KFRC is diplexed) changed the
propagation?

Experts?

Norm Lehfeldt

(elg110254) wrotf:

KVTO, 1400khz, doesn't traverse into Sactown as well as former predecessor &
jazz legend KRE, "creative radio", did several decades ago!

"norml" wrote in message
...
I don't see how this can be true. The licensed facilities are the same.
Maybe the replacement tower (on which KFRC is diplexed) changed the
propagation?

Experts?

Norm Lehfeldt

(elg110254) wrotf:

KVTO, 1400khz, doesn't traverse into Sactown as well as former
predecessor &
jazz legend KRE, "creative radio", did several decades ago!


Part of the problem is that the noise level is many dB higher now than it
was several decades ago, and the receivers no where near as good. (for
AMBCB). Many people have gone to using fluorescent lighting in the name of
saving some money, and there are many more modern conveniences that generate
RF noise (these need not be in your home to affect the noise floor in your
receiver). These include, but are not limited to, computers/monitors, light
dimmers, coffee makers, digital clocks, microwave ovens, etc..

Most significant though is the receivers today are inferior to those back
then. AM is pretty much an afterthought in anything but a car radio anymore.
Home receivers' AM sections are next to worthless, unless you own something
like a Carver TX-11a or 11b. An onld AA5 table radio was ten times the radio
that the AM sections in most home receivers are. For starters, home stereos
don't even use a tuned antenna for AM anymore, just a broadband input
section with a simple bandpass filter.