Radio history station blanks KREN, KTIX, KTWR

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

Well I have done well (thanks to all of you) in my research of the history of Seattle radio. But I still have a few station blanks to fill.

Can anybody help me out with format info on these stations:

1. KREN 1420 1965-1970

2. KTIX 1590 1956-1963

3. KTWR 103.9 1958-1964. Later became KTAC-FM. This station was independetly owned and had no AM sister. Could it have been Big Band, Classical or Beautiful Music?

Thanks for your help on these.
T.J.

 

[dialtwister]

http://www.qzvx.com/pugetsoundradio/PugetSoundFMDial.html

 

[swhyde1980]

http://www.qzvx.com/pugetsoundradio/PugetSoundFMDial.html

t.j..... I Like how you are trying to gather all the history of Puget Sound radio. Are you planning on making a website for it, or adding it all to Wikipedia?

Have you tried to research why 103.9 got moved to 103.7? I was kinda curious about that.

 

[Bongwater]

Have you tried to research why 103.9 got moved to 103.7? I was kinda curious about that.

Pretty simple. You see, back in those days, smaller FM radio stations in the commercial 92-108 band were assigned "local" frequencies (like AM's graveyard channels) called "Class A"s. I believe 103.9 was one of them. The max you could run these stations was 3,000 watts if I remember (they later upped it to 6,000 watts to unlimited now.) 103.9 itself was a better frequency for KTAC/KBRD/KMTT for a long time - especially in the north end of Puget Sound (back when signal reach REALLY mattered and there weren't nearly as many FM stations/translators) because it wasn't smooshed up against CHQM 103.5, but 103.7 was the closest channel where they could go to a higher wattage because of the rules back then.

 

[w9wi]

Have you tried to research why 103.9 got moved to 103.7? I was kinda curious about that.

Pretty simple. You see, back in those days, smaller FM radio stations in the commercial 92-108 band were assigned "local" frequencies (like AM's graveyard channels) called "Class A"s. I believe 103.9 was one of them. The max you could run these stations was 3,000 watts if I remember (they later upped it to 6,000 watts to unlimited now.) 103.9 itself was a better frequency for KTAC/KBRD/KMTT for a long time - especially in the north end of Puget Sound (back when signal reach REALLY mattered and there weren't nearly as many FM stations/translators) because it wasn't smooshed up against CHQM 103.5, but 103.7 was the closest channel where they could go to a higher wattage because of the rules back then.

Yes. Since the 1964 rules went into effect, there were three classes of FM station: A, B, and C. (also D but those were non-commercial ten-watters)

92.1, 92.7, 93.5, 94.3, 95.3, 95.9, 96.7, 97.7, 98.3, 99.3, 100.1, 100.9, 101.7, 102.3, 103.1, 103.9, 104.9, 105.5, 106.3, and 107.1 were reserved for Class A stations - no Class B or C operations on those frequencies. On the other hand, Class A operations could ONLY use these frequencies; you couldn't have a Class A on 106.7, for example.

Class A stations were limited to 3kw/300'; Class C could run up to 100kw/2,000'. (Class B was/is only available in parts of the east and California, where Class C is *not* available0

So a station on 103.9 was limited to 3,000 watts. If they wanted to increase to 100kw, they had to change frequency.

In 1990, Docket 80-90 changed all that, by allowing Class A, B, and C stations on *any* frequency. You can now have a Class C on 103.9, or a Class A on 103.7, etc...

The Class A power limit was increased to 6kw at roughly the same time. That limit survives -- a Class A station is still limited to 6kw -- but now, if you're on 103.9 and want more than 6kw, you can apply to upgrade to Class C. (or C0 or C1 or C2 or C3 as potential interference to other stations permits)

 

[Bongwater]

Have you tried to research why 103.9 got moved to 103.7? I was kinda curious about that.

Pretty simple. You see, back in those days, smaller FM radio stations in the commercial 92-108 band were assigned "local" frequencies (like AM's graveyard channels) called "Class A"s. I believe 103.9 was one of them. The max you could run these stations was 3,000 watts if I remember (they later upped it to 6,000 watts to unlimited now.) 103.9 itself was a better frequency for KTAC/KBRD/KMTT for a long time - especially in the north end of Puget Sound (back when signal reach REALLY mattered and there weren't nearly as many FM stations/translators) because it wasn't smooshed up against CHQM 103.5, but 103.7 was the closest channel where they could go to a higher wattage because of the rules back then.

Yes. Since the 1964 rules went into effect, there were three classes of FM station: A, B, and C. (also D but those were non-commercial ten-watters)

92.1, 92.7, 93.5, 94.3, 95.3, 95.9, 96.7, 97.7, 98.3, 99.3, 100.1, 100.9, 101.7, 102.3, 103.1, 103.9, 104.9, 105.5, 106.3, and 107.1 were reserved for Class A stations - no Class B or C operations on those frequencies. On the other hand, Class A operations could ONLY use these frequencies; you couldn't have a Class A on 106.7, for example.

Class A stations were limited to 3kw/300'; Class C could run up to 100kw/2,000'. (Class B was/is only available in parts of the east and California, where Class C is *not* available0

So a station on 103.9 was limited to 3,000 watts. If they wanted to increase to 100kw, they had to change frequency.

In 1990, Docket 80-90 changed all that, by allowing Class A, B, and C stations on *any* frequency. You can now have a Class C on 103.9, or a Class A on 103.7, etc...

The Class A power limit was increased to 6kw at roughly the same time. That limit survives -- a Class A station is still limited to 6kw -- but now, if you're on 103.9 and want more than 6kw, you can apply to upgrade to Class C. (or C0 or C1 or C2 or C3 as potential interference to other stations permits)

Thank you SO MUCH w9wi!! Because I had a feeling as I was typing that post that someone somewhere was going to attempt to shoot me down as a lunatic for even attempting to even suggest there WAS EVEN a type of FM station called "Class A" (I'll admit I'm crazy, but not STUPID.)

 

[oldzink]

KTWR Tacoma was owned by Tom W Read. He'd still around. He owns 810 in Ephrata, 910? in Yakima and a couple of stations in Spokane

 

[Bongwater]

KTWR Tacoma was owned by Tom W Read. He'd still around. He owns 810 in Ephrata, 910? in Yakima and a couple of stations in Spokane

Tom Read runs something called "American Christian Network". He has a definite old-school radio voice.

Here's his "radio column" It Seems To Me, where he interviews '50s pop star Jerry Vale:

http://www.mutualnetwork.net/istm/jerryvale.m3u

Did I mention he now owns the name to the Mutual Radio Network?

He owns KSPO and KTRW (as "KTW") in Spokane, KGDN Pasco, KTBI Ephrata (a 50,000 watt DAYTIMER on 810 kHz - to protect KGO. And it's a daytimer on STERIODS. That signal EASILY covers all of Eastern Washington!), KYAK (930) Yakima and KTAC-FM Ephrata.

He did a lot of his early work in Tacoma, starting the original KTBI/KTAC there and I think someone said he also founded another station there. He was also the voice over for KTVW-TV.....

 

[xmtrland]

Tom also owned KQIN for a while. KQIN was licensed to Burien and latter was sold to Willy Davis Who upgraded it from 810Khz 500w da daytime to 820Khz 50kw da days and 5kw da night (latter sold it to salem). Tom bought KQIN, which was running Country when he bought it, from a guy named John Mullbery if I remember right.

 

[Bongwater]

Tom also owned KQIN for a while. KQIN was licensed to Burien and latter was sold to Willy Davis Who upgraded it from 810Khz 500w da daytime to 820Khz 50kw da days and 5kw da night (latter sold it to salem). Tom bought KQIN, which was running Country when he bought it, from a guy named John Mullbery if I remember right.

KQIN was 800..not 810 kHz....

 

[xmtrland]

Yes it was, ooopps

 

[radiojjh]

Hey---it was John Mobray that owned KQIN from the beginning, until he sold it, and it was 500 watts non-directional at 800AM.....the studios were at 148-B S.W. 153rd in Burien. Nice little facility. That where I had my first on-air job....wow---time flies.....

 

[DanStrassberg]

Class A stations were limited to 3kw/300'

But originally, Class A FMs were limited to 1 kW @250' AAT. Back then, the max for Bs was 20 kW @500'. I live in B country, so I don't remember the max for Cs--might have been 100 kW @1000', but I'm just guessing about that.

 

[272]

KTWR - Tom Read

Tom Read, who build KTWR in Tacoma, is working on an ebook about his career in broadcasting according to a friend of mine. I have a friend that knew him when they were both back at Mutual in Washington, D.C.

He says it will have several chapters on KTWR and KQIN which Read put on cable systems all over Eastern Washington. Also some inside info from Tom Read's experience as a Director of the NAB and a Communications consultant to the World Fair. www.expo74.info

I am told his ebook will also detail the history of some of the early Tacoma stations KMO and KTBI. I hear him on his ACN network of station when driving through Eastern Washington.

I would say his voice could be described as authoritative and very distinctive. He reminds me a bit of Orson Wells. He must be doing some voice over work in LA as I hear him on TV in Palm Springs.

Nate

Yes. Since the 1964 rules went into effect, there were three classes of FM station: A, B, and C. (also D but those were non-commercial ten-watters)
92.1, 92.7, 93.5, 94.3, 95.3, 95.9, 96.7, 97.7, 98.3, 99.3, 100.1, 100.9, 101.7, 102.3, 103.1, 103.9, 104.9, 105.5, 106.3, and 107.1 were reserved for Class A stations - no Class B or C operations on those frequencies. On the other hand, Class A operations could ONLY use these frequencies; you couldn't have a Class A on 106.7, for example.

Class A stations were limited to 3kw/300'; Class C could run up to 100kw/2,000'. (Class B was/is only available in parts of the east and California, where Class C is *not* available0

So a station on 103.9 was limited to 3,000 watts. If they wanted to increase to 100kw, they had to change frequency.

In 1990, Docket 80-90 changed all that, by allowing Class A, B, and C stations on *any* frequency. You can now have a Class C on 103.9, or a Class A on 103.7, etc...

The Class A power limit was increased to 6kw at roughly the same time. That limit survives -- a Class A station is still limited to 6kw -- but now, if you're on 103.9 and want more than 6kw, you can apply to upgrade to Class C. (or C0 or C1 or C2 or C3 as potential interference to other stations permits)

 

[crainbebo]

I live in the shadow of an ACN station. KYAK 930. KTBI 810 and KGDN 101.3 are also heard here. Can't get KSPO however I try, because of KEGX, and these da*n KFFM spurs that are ruining 106.5-106.7 and 107.9-108.1. I have got to contact Townsquare Media and get transferred to an engineer at KFFM - and tell him that I can hear those 106.5 spurs 15 miles away in the lower Yakima Valley and 107.9 35 miles away on top of a 3500 foot mountain! If they can reach that far I suspect 50W or more is coming out of those spur signals.
There is a 103.9 on the WA coast, KVAS, and another in Spokane (KBBD). Both of them are way above 3000 watts however.

-crainbebo

 

[boombox4]

KREN was a small town sounding, local talk / full service type station. They may have played some music, probably the same style music KIRO would have played at that time. My grandma used to listen to it a lot.

 

[Bongwater]

As far as I know of the earliest history of KTIX, it was a move-in to Seattle from Salem, OR (still trying to piece together what it was in Salem.)