• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

KEXP Buys KREV

Weiserguy said:
Yup, big power drop. They may get a better location, but they're going to lose a lot of whatever punch that signal has currently. And that isn't exactly a whole bunch of punch, even now.
Click to expand...
On several occasions I have moved very high antenna / very low power stations to a location that was lower with higher ERP and found ratings to increase significantly.

A more recent example was moving 98.3 in West Covina (LA Metro) from a higher location but with less than 1,000 watts ERP. We moved it to pretty close to 6 kw at 100 meters, and ratings tripled, pushing the KRCD KRCV simulcast into the top 10 in LA in its target demo.
 
We knew the signal for this station was problematic. Keeping the tower where it is was not ideal. So their proposal is to move the tower to a much better location, with greater height. My guess is they've determined they have a better chance to reach their target this way than the other way. It makes sense. Once again, we know that KEXP intends to focus more of their attention on outreach and education than traditional radio.
 
Weiserguy said:
Yup, big power drop. They may get a better location, but they're going to lose a lot of whatever punch that signal has currently. And that isn't exactly a whole bunch of punch, even now.
Click to expand...
This was a problematic location before when KNGY tried it. There may not be other choices readily available, however. The technical exhibit states that the lease on the present location expires at the end of this month and the owner of that site (same site as KSFB(AM)) doesn't wish to renew it.

Also note that the proposal replaces a directional antenna with a two-bay nondirectional antenna. It would be interesting to see where the antenna will be placed on the tower.

At least on paper, there is improved coverage of Marin and Pacifica, worse coverage to the east. Parts of San Francisco may have less multipath, given Sutro's central location within the city. Demonstrating city-grade coverage of Alameda in the technical exhibit also appeared to be a bit of a challenge.
 
JamieA said:
I'm involved with KEXP. The speculation is spot on. We are aware of the issues with the 92.7 signal. We're going to try it from Sutro and see if we can optimize using some new technology. This discussion here helped orient us to some of the issues so thanks for the input!
Click to expand...

How will the signal change in Redwood CIty?
 
Mark Roberts said:
The technical exhibit states that the lease on the present location expires at the end of this month and the owner of that site (same site as KSFB(AM)) doesn't wish to renew it.
Click to expand...

This is interesting because in the offering for the license, the auction house said the tower lease for the old location was assumable. They didn't say it would expire at the end of the year. Always read the small print! I'd imagine Sutro rent is more expensive than the current site.
 
JamieA said:
On paper the new 60dBu omni contour from Sutro hits Redwood City (just). We'll see how that performs with a radio.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Good to hear :)
92.7 in RWC previously went in and out, it was pretty unusable down here. KEXP is a lot more interesting format and will easily be on my dial.

Does that change also mean the signal will no longer be limited to the south protect KTOM?
 
Weiserguy said:
Yup, big power drop. They may get a better location, but they're going to lose a lot of whatever punch that signal has currently. And that isn't exactly a whole bunch of punch, even now.
Click to expand...
True their field strength will be less, but they'll be transmitting from the same location as the big boys. From a capex perspective; this thing is a 4RU sized Crown or Nautel transmitter and a low power two bay antenna. Considering they'll be paying higher rent at the premier real estate, keeping your utility and construction costs down is important.
 
TheBigA said:
I think KQED is there as well. There may be a discount for non-profit.
Click to expand...
KQED-FM is on Mt. San Bruno. KQED(TV) is on Sutro.

KOIT, KNBR-FM, and KSOL are on Sutro, as are KXSF-LP/KSFP-LP (time-share with all of 2 watts) and two translators.

KALW is close to Sutro, nearby on Twin Peaks. With a height very close to KREV's proposed height, and 2½ times the power, this may give some idea of the expected coverage of KREV, though adjustments should be made for the lower power. The theoretical coverage of KALW extends into the Diablo Valley in East Bay but, due to the Berkeley and Oakland hills, the signal actually barely makes it to Orinda, even in a car.

Have fun with page 3 of this file (though KOSF is no longer on Sutro): https://static1.squarespace.com/sta..._COMBINED-SET_revised-Photosim-2018_01_07.pdf
 
Mark Roberts said:
KQED-FM is on Mt. San Bruno. KQED(TV) is on Sutro.

KOIT, KNBR-FM, and KSOL are on Sutro, as are KXSF-LP/KSFP-LP (time-share with all of 2 watts) and two translators.

KALW is close to Sutro, nearby on Twin Peaks. With a height very close to KREV's proposed height, and 2½ times the power, this may give some idea of the expected coverage of KREV, though adjustments should be made for the lower power. The theoretical coverage of KALW extends into the Diablo Valley in East Bay but, due to the Berkeley and Oakland hills, the signal actually barely makes it to Orinda, even in a car.

Have fun with page 3 of this file (though KOSF is no longer on Sutro): https://static1.squarespace.com/sta..._COMBINED-SET_revised-Photosim-2018_01_07.pdf
Click to expand...
Who else broadcasts on Twin Peaks? KALW is a very solid signal that comes in very well in RWC. It does receive interference at times that other signals do (towards 280) but that entire area is an anomaly as I can get 5/6 Sacramento signals there. Otherwise KALW comes in even more solid then say, KNBR.
 
Radiopaw said:
Who else broadcasts on Twin Peaks? KALW is a very solid signal that comes in very well in RWC. It does receive interference at times that other signals do (towards 280) but that entire area is an anomaly as I can get 5/6 Sacramento signals there. Otherwise KALW comes in even more solid then say, KNBR.
Click to expand...
What you say is absolutely true. It really depends on *where* in RWC you're talking about. In the flats, yes, KALW's signal generally does well. If you drive up in the hills towards the college and 280, there's a spot (near the 3-way stop, a local will know where I'm talking about) where you lose KALW to CapRadio's classical music station on 91.7, which is near freakin' Tahoe. That's 200 miles away, but when KALW gets shadowed by the hills the radio captures the 200-mile-away signal. That same phenomenon happens anytime I drive into my garage with 91.7 on the radio, all of a sudden I'm hearing classical. Even in the house, there are spots where the KALW reception is solid and others, only feet away, where it ain't there.
 
Radiopaw said:
Who else broadcasts on Twin Peaks?
Click to expand...
No one. It's a city-owned tower. History cards indicate KALW moved there late in 1975. Technical description of the location is Christmas Tree Point.

Also note that KALW broadcasts in mono a good part of the time, including most NPR and PRX programming. That gives it a leg up compared to stereo transmissions with their higher noise floor.
 
Was Twin Peaks even a viable site to achieve 70 dBu Longley-Rice for Alameda? Were other sites possible? I thought I would ask at least.
 
DavidEduardo said:
On several occasions I have moved very high antenna / very low power stations to a location that was lower with higher ERP and found ratings to increase significantly.
Click to expand...
That clearly made sense from a business perspective. Higher wattage penetrates buildings better. But from a DX'er view, I've found higher elevations are vastly more important than ERP.

Case in point listening in San Diego: L.A's 98.7 KYSR versus 100.3 K-Love. Both sticks are about 120 miles away. 98.7 has far higher power, from the mountain above Beverly Hills. But 100.3, with far lower power, has better reception in San Diego -- due to its much higher elevation on Mt. Wilson.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom