KBRT from near 32.761°N 116.947°W - few clips incl site move 2013-02-28

[pianoplayer88key]

Hi all...

Over the last couple days I've recorded a few clips from KBRT, as heard within 1/8 mi (0.2 km) of 32.761°N 116.947°W, with my Tecsun PL-398mp. All but one use the Select-A-Tenna, the other one is using only the radio's internal loopstick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHRYXyvAzL8 - Feb 26 sunset signoff announcement. The transmitter is switched off about 32 seconds after the music ends. KCBS is also heard through much of the clip, getting clearer when KBRT is switched off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7JxaM0eYfQ - Feb 27 sunset signoff. Unlike the previous day, the signal seems to fade its way out over several seconds to a certain point, THEN gets switched off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtqR3TJPAOg - Feb 27 night/day pattern change ~6:53 am. After the switch, KBRT is easily on top, but KCBS can still be heard underneath. Before the switch, KBRT is still audible, but competes with KCBS, with KCBS sometimes on top especially at the beginning of the clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQrnpMrfCcM - Feb 28 signon (on night pattern from Catalina). KBRT, even at low power, CAN be heard here just south of El Cajon, about 92+1/3 mi E/SE of the Catalina site. KCBS is also heard simultaneously.

So, since I could still hear KBRT from here on night pattern, how much closer would one need to be for it to be a listenable signal for most non-DXers - maybe 3 or 4 times closer? Or, am I underestimating how far stations can still be detected beyond their clear-signal zone?
I do realize it's not a sudden cliff - if a $500k military radio with a beverage array can't detect QRSS CW or PSK31 (whichever one works with fainter signals) at 200.000000 km, a Coby or other terrible brand radio (one that can't get KNX at Columbia Park's softball field, and with which KLNV is wiped out by KOGO, even with IBOC off, at Emerald Hills Park's tennis courts) won't get a perfectly clear signal at 199.999999 km. How quickly do they drop from noise-free to undetectable even with a BFO, assuming same radio with stock built-in antenna, constant ground conductivity (like 15 mS/m) and constant noise level (nearest population density greater than 16 km^2/person is so far that two 50kW 540's with 180° antennas will fit between you and there, at least daytime)?


Aaaanndd... I recorded the location switch from Avalon to Costa Mesa at noon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMyhL0rdu3Y

This one was recorded using only the Tecsun's built-in ferrite antenna - the SAT was not used. When KBRT was transmitting from Catalina, they clocked in at about 48 dBµ on the Tecsun. After the switch to Costa Mesa, they're at about 32-33 dBµ, and noticeably noisier.

(I would have been interested in trying, with the SAT, for KCBS at noon while KBRT was off, but I wanted the switch recorded barefoot to show typical normal reception. I wonder if there's some way I might get that chance anyway sometime soon?)

KBRT was just barely edging out KNX as the strongest L.A. area station heard here midday, but now they're approximately competitive with KLAA, making KNX the current strongest L.A. groundwave signal here. KFI is typically a few dB, give or take, behind KNX, in spite of being 12 miles closer. Interesting to mention, also, is KDIS - they're about 22-25 dB weaker than KNX, in spite of being about the same distance, close on the dial, and sending effectively 80 kW toward me, based on their RMS field vs field in my direction.

Sometime I hope to record several of the L.A. area legal TOH IDs as heard in the daytime here, and maybe post a compilation video for comparison of their signal strengths.

 

[jonbruce]

It should be noted Costa Mesa is only the COL. The new transmitter site is close to Corona.

 

[MarioMania]

On the 4 min Video..the one at Noon

1:28 KBRT goes off the air for few seconds

After that doesn't have a great signal, you could hear static under KBRT

 

[DrAkbar]

On the 4 min Video..the one at Noon

1:28 KBRT goes off the air for few seconds

After that doesn't have a great signal, you could hear static under KBRT

Ground conductivity in the mountains is almost non-existent. KBRT had darned few choices: they lost their lease on Catalina, and all other mainland sites would have resulted in a significant hit to their coverage. The poster was monitoring 7~Forty at a location south and east of El Cajon. KBRT has to protect KFMB more from the new site, than from Catalina. They did the best they could and the noise is there for a reason. A great job all around by Crawford engineers.

 

[Big 121]

During the hours of presentation about the quest to relocate KBRT, Mr. Crawford and Chris Alexander said they
were clueless as to why the Island Conservency denied renewing the lease on Catalina in 2008.
Here's a clue to jog the memory=
An avoidable, 4600 acre fire that originated on the KBRT site, in 2007. That sealed KBRT's fate.

 

[davideduardo]

During the hours of presentation about the quest to relocate KBRT, Mr. Crawford and Chris Alexander said they
were clueless as to why the Island Conservency denied renewing the lease on Catalina in 2008.
Here's a clue to jog the memory=
An avoidable, 4600 acre fire that originated on the KBRT site, in 2007. That sealed KBRT's fate.

The detail is in the fact that the fire was started by a negligent subcontractor who did not follow the "no burn" restrictions in effect at the time.

Crawford and KBRT did not cause the fire... negligence on the part of a third party did.

 

[DrAkbar]

During the hours of presentation about the quest to relocate KBRT, Mr. Crawford and Chris Alexander said they
were clueless as to why the Island Conservency denied renewing the lease on Catalina in 2008.
Here's a clue to jog the memory=
An avoidable, 4600 acre fire that originated on the KBRT site, in 2007. That sealed KBRT's fate.

The detail is in the fact that the fire was started by a negligent subcontractor who did not follow the "no burn" restrictions in effect at the time.

Crawford and KBRT did not cause the fire... negligence on the part of a third party did.

That's exactly right. The Conservancy wants to keep the island in as natural condition as possible and three tall radio towers aren't part of the plan. Whether there was a fire or not, in all likelihood KBRT's lease would not have been renewed.

 

[radiohistory]

Very interesting, and as a former DXer, with a casual interest in the topic and hobby these days, thanks for posting the recordings. Also, it's interesting from my radio history interest that from 1925-1928, an Avalon ham radio operator ran a 250-watt broadcasting station from his Catalina home on Claressa Street. KFWO (Katalina for Wonderful Outings) operated on 1420, 1370 and 1000 kilocycles, while Major Lawrence Mott (U.S. Army Signal Corps) owned KFWO. He ran it as mostly a non-commercial station, until its last few months on the air. He shut KFWO down and turned in the license after he got married and moved to the Hollywood Hills. He died 2 or 3 years later of leukeimia.

I wonder how long the station would have lasted on Catalina if Mott had kept the station on the air or sold KFWO to another party? At the time just before KFWO's license was deleted, the FRC was to assign KFWO to share time on 1500-AM with KWTC in Santa Ana (now KVNR-1480, the old KWIZ) and lower power from 250 to 100 watts.

Jim Hilliker
Monterey

 

[ercjncpr]

Very interesting, and as a former DXer, with a casual interest in the topic and hobby these days, thanks for posting the recordings. Also, it's interesting from my radio history interest that from 1925-1928, an Avalon ham radio operator ran a 250-watt broadcasting station from his Catalina home on Claressa Street. KFWO (Katalina for Wonderful Outings) operated on 1420, 1370 and 1000 kilocycles, while Major Lawrence Mott (U.S. Army Signal Corps) owned KFWO. He ran it as mostly a non-commercial station, until its last few months on the air. He shut KFWO down and turned in the license after he got married and moved to the Hollywood Hills. He died 2 or 3 years later of leukeimia.

I wonder how long the station would have lasted on Catalina if Mott had kept the station on the air or sold KFWO to another party? At the time just before KFWO's license was deleted, the FRC was to assign KFWO to share time on 1500-AM with KWTC in Santa Ana (now KVNR-1480, the old KWIZ) and lower power from 250 to 100 watts.

Jim Hilliker
Monterey

I wonder if the Conservancy would have allowed John Poole to build KBIG?

 

[DrAkbar]

I wonder if the Conservancy would have allowed John Poole to build KBIG?

AFAIK Wrigley owned much of the land and the Conservancy got it after his passing. So even if it was around back then, it's rather doubtful Poole would get a land lease. Believe or not, the original COL for KBRT was Long Beach!

Anyone have a report on their new nighttime coverage with 113 watts?

 

[MarioMania]

How about KISL??

Is the transmitter on the island also?

 

[davideduardo]

How about KISL??

Is the transmitter on the island also?

Yes, but as a LPFM with 200 watts ERP, the antenna is likely two small bays on a rooftop or a small tower. It's HAAT is only 20 ft, in fact.

This is very unlike a low band AM directional with huge towers, an extensive ground system on a large piece of land, and the need for lots of electrical power.

 

[MarioMania]

Thanks David

 

[ercjncpr]

Never tried KBRT at night until now, but in checking around the AM dial during the DST hour later sunset, I noticed that here in Mission Viejo, KBRT now has an equal chance with KCBS and much stronger signal. When I turn my loop antenna east-west, KCBS is now obliterated, that never happened before.