Dramatic Radio Locator Maps-WJR And WSB On The Same Scale Map

[Mediafrog+]

Here's one illustrating 50 KW KOA-850. KOA's single monopole is in Parker, Colorado, just outside of Denver.

The extremely good ground conductivity eastward toward and into Kansas greatly extends the signal in that direction. I often cross the country and when I do, I usually stay in Hays, Kansas, 300 miles east of KOA. KOA has a beautiful signal into Hays.

In the late 70s-early 80s I could hear KOA's day signal in Amarillo, some 350 miles away. Also could hear KLZ during the day.

 

[asugeorge1]

In the late 70s-early 80s I could hear KOA's day signal in Amarillo, some 350 miles away. Also could hear KLZ during the day.

Meanwhile if you go west of Denver on I-70, you lose KOA pretty fast. I remember when I was in Vail, there was not even a whiff of KOA during the daytime.

 

[ZantennaG1]

Meanwhile if you go west of Denver on I-70, you lose KOA pretty fast. I remember when I was in Vail, there was not even a whiff of KOA during the daytime.

Supposedly KLTT sends a weak signal all the way to Grand Junction? Can you confirm?

 

[asugeorge1]

Supposedly KLTT sends a weak signal all the way to Grand Junction? Can you confirm?

I’m not in the area right now unfortunately, but when I was in Grand Junction, Colorado a few years ago, I did not hear any Denver radio stations during the day. I wasn’t specifically trying to catch KLTT, but I did a band scan on my car radio and I don’t remember hearing anything on 670 AM in Grand Junction. KOA was my main target and I didn’t hear anything from them in Grand Junction or Vail during the day. Nighttime and pre sunset were a different story however.

 

[timetraveller]

@timetraveller These maps are awesome, keep it up! I have to wonder when you traverse I-70 how (particularly) KRVN, KGAB, KDFD, and WIBW do?

Thanks!

KGAB-650 is audible into much of western Kansas along I-70 at mid-day. I believe it makes it to Hays and maybe a little farther towards Salina. 650 is a great frequency because there's not much on it as you cross the country. Coming east from St. Louis on I-70, it's fun to listen for when WSM-650 Nashville, TN kicks in. It's audible for a long while once it does, along the I-70 corridor.

KRVN-880 is a powerhouse. Easily copied across much of central Kansas during high daytime hours.

I don't have recollection on KDFD or WIBW.

I did an article about crossing the country on I-70 (from Denver) and DXing medium wave a few years back. Interesting from a daytime DXer's perspective.

Cross Country Pipeline - A Daytime MW DX Tale

This is a story about daytime mediumwave DXing. To set up this story, let me tell you that I am on my way back to New York from Arizona, by ...

radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com

Bill

 

[timetraveller]

That map looks like KOA's signal is just west of Hays.
I recall KOA's daytime signal coming in very weak in LaCrosse, KS, about 30 miles south of Hays.
I listened to the Clarence Thomas supreme court hearings, which KOA carried live, in the late 1980s.

I could hear KOA, during the day, but only on my car radio. The signal must be better in Hays, which would be closer to the contour than LaCrosse or points directly south.
I don't recall receiving KOA (during the day) in Great Bend, which is the next major town of significance southeast of Hays toward Wichita.

On the old truck radio I had, during daytime, KOA-850 generally petered out from Hays (mile marker 159) to Salina (about mile marker 260), an additional distance of 100 miles. You could hear traces of carrier east of Salina for KOA and a couple of other Denver stations, but not copyable. The surprising one for me was KHOW-630. It's only 5 KW but it puts a very big signal into Kansas. It's roughly audible as far as KOA is. The lower frequency helps.

Bill

 

[timetraveller]

Supposedly KLTT sends a weak signal all the way to Grand Junction? Can you confirm?

Yes, Denver signals deteriorate rapidly going west. Poorer ground conductivity and 14,000 ft. mountains just west of Denver. They do seem to make a difference on medium wave.

KLTT-670 would probably be your best bet for farthest coverage west, but I don't recall hearing any Denver in Grand Junction. That's not to say it's impossible.

Bill

 

[WCJ]

Orange County, TX - speaking of Denver stations, has KOA done something with their transmitter.
They used to come in here, SE corner of Texas, all night, but for the last, almost a year, they have been for the most part nonexistent. Lately, on 630, KHOW has been the dominate station along with KSLR, Saan Antonio, and KYFI, St Louis fighting it out.

 

[TXPH97]

Orange County, TX - speaking of Denver stations, has KOA done something with their transmitter.
They used to come in here, SE corner of Texas, all night, but for the last, almost a year, they have been for the most part nonexistent. Lately, on 630, KHOW has been the dominate station along with KSLR, Saan Antonio, and KYFI, St Louis fighting it out.

KOA is still reliably strong at night here in DFW.

 

[Dondd]

I don't have recollection on KDFD or WIBW.

WIBW, like KFRM, covers most of western Kansas. It's a monster signal at 580.

 

[schmave]

Thanks!

KGAB-650 is audible into much of western Kansas along I-70 at mid-day. I believe it makes it to Hays and maybe a little farther towards Salina. 650 is a great frequency because there's not much on it as you cross the country. Coming east from St. Louis on I-70, it's fun to listen for when WSM-650 Nashville, TN kicks in. It's audible for a long while once it does, along the I-70 corridor.

KRVN-880 is a powerhouse. Easily copied across much of central Kansas during high daytime hours.

I don't have recollection on KDFD or WIBW.

I did an article about crossing the country on I-70 (from Denver) and DXing medium wave a few years back. Interesting from a daytime DXer's perspective.

Cross Country Pipeline - A Daytime MW DX Tale

This is a story about daytime mediumwave DXing. To set up this story, let me tell you that I am on my way back to New York from Arizona, by ...

radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com

Bill

That was you? I remember reading that several years back and being both fascinated and impressed.

 

[Deleted User]

the only area on a coverage map that matters (besides the legal requirements to cover the C.O.L.) is the area you can monetize.

Nobody in their right mind is going to put any time, effort, or electricity into an area they can not potentially turn into cash.

Signal downgrades in order to get better local coverage are the norm these days.

Signal downgrades to save money on electricity costs are real

Buying other stations in other markets on your frequency or even a first adjacent and taking them dark to improve your local signal is not unheard of.... 30 years ago it would never have been considered.

There is so much electrical interference from consumer devices, home radios are rare, and the AM section of car radios have been cheapened to the point they are no better than the 5 dollar transistor radios we bought in 1964 that covering any more ground than you have to is a waste of effort.

And WHEN the AM band is converted to digital, which IMHO is its future, coverage areas will be pretty much what is on your predicted contour maps and not much more