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KFI MAIN TRANSMITTER: DOWN AGAIN?

sdwulfdawg

sdwulfdawg

Over the past week I've noticed that KFI's signal in San Diego is more like the flame from a cigarette lighter rather be the flamethrower powerhouse that it usually is down here.

Anyone?
 
I've been getting KFI REALLY strong here at night up in Puget Sound lately. Are they beaming north?
 
LOTS of interference and modulation after sunset these days. Used to be a brick at my place in North County, 24/7... now it beats like a drum when the sun goes down.
 
sdwulfdawg said:
Mr_Radio_Diary said:
Yeah, I noticed it too.. Atmospherics because some times the signal acted like sky bounce
Click to expand...

It is more than atmospherics....believe me.....
Click to expand...

It could be some kind of antenna work, meaning they are on the short auxiliary antenna. The effect would be multiple: less efficiency so reduced groundwave coverage and a different angle of radiation, so the cancellation zone would move closer to Buena Park. And... I believe the auxiliary tower can only take 25 kw, so there would be a very slight reduction in signal strength (about 25%)... the inefficient aux tower would cause more effect than reducing power a bit.

It sounds like what is being noticed is much closer groundwave and skywave cancellation. In winter months, this can be noticed in fringe areas in the daytime sometimes, too.
 
DoctorWu said:
That makes sense. Thanks, David.
Click to expand...

I spoke with the DoE of another LA group, and he suggested that, given the time frame, the cause may be the solar activity of the last several weeks and which peaked last Tuesday. Solar flares often have the effect of killing reception in fringe areas while more distant signals come in well.

My best example of this is in the early 60's when I lived about 40 miles from WKYC (now WTAM) in Cleveland. That was another 50 kw 1-A clear channel. On one evening, I could barely get WKYC, and I was able to null it completely and get 100% readable copy from a 5 kw station quite a ways inland in Venezuela.
 
I'm not having any trouble hearing KFI here on Kaua`i. But conditions change nightly, and last night stations from Japan took over the dial at about 1 AM. Some nights, KFI is strong and KNX is weak. Other nights, it is the opposite.
 
Don Mussell said:
I'm not having any trouble hearing KFI here on Kaua`i. But conditions change nightly, and last night stations from Japan took over the dial at about 1 AM. Some nights, KFI is strong and KNX is weak. Other nights, it is the opposite.
Click to expand...

I listen Northeast of Sacramento on my way home. The signal quality varies. Since I live at 4000', it is naturally better as I go up the hill. Of course it's better in Winter, I assume since it's dark earlier, and atmospheric conditions are better. As the days get longer, it will fade until I can barely hear it during Summer.
 
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