KNBR

[gar hi]

This is one station I've been attempting to hear and I don't see why I shouldn't be able to if I can sort it out from the stations I hear on 680. There's a local station on that frequency that's easy to tune out completely when the radio faces in the right direction which also happens to be the right direction anyway for KNBR. I can count three stations that I can hear, the strongest being from Memphis and that's sports. It's the only one I've been able to ID so far. The one from Raleigh is directional away from me so I think I can rule that one out. The Atlanta station is directional generally to the southwest but not directly at my location but I can't rule that out either. From what I've been able to hear, all three stations I can receive are a sports format and going by what the frequency guide says for 680, I should assume one of them has to be KNBR. The problem is, as we know, that syndicated stations these days only give local IDs on the half hour and it's a game of chance that I'll be able to get an official ID. From all I've read about DXing reports on the internet, KNBR seems to really get out far and I wish there was a better way to sort out what I'm hearing because at the rate I'm going, I'll be lucky to get a station ID at the same time I get a strong enough signal from either of the two unknown stations.

 

[Lawppy]

I've been trying to grab KNBR for years now with no luck. Much like in your area, there aren't many stations between here and San Francisco that would block anything on 680, but I always seem to get 680News (Toronto) Great 68 (WCTT-Corbin, KY) WPTF and occasionally Radio Disney from Louisville. The best i've done on 680 was San Antonio during some freak skywave DX last year.

It looks like KNBR broadcasts Giants, 49ers and Warriors games. You might try listening during one of their games, listen for team mentions, player names, etc. That may give it away.

I've also been trying for KFI. I only get a weak WOI, which unfortunately throws all of their nighttime signal in my direction. This is in Coldwater, MI. So, KNBR and KFI would have to travel almost 2,000 miles to get to my radio. Seems highly unlikely, but not impossible. Even with today's crowded AM dial.

 

[vibe]

Getting the 680 out of San Antonio from SW Fla last month was probably freakish- ya gotta go thru San Antonio to get San Francisco from SW Fla. Lotsa luck..
Why not try for 1070 KNX? I can't even come close to KNX due to a "music of your life (or death) station on 1070 out of the Punta Goarda-Ft. Myers FL area.
But since gar did KFI, it means that it is possible to get all the way out to the West Coast from mid FLA.
One of these days...

 

[gar hi]

I've been trying to grab KNBR for years now with no luck. Much like in your area, there aren't many stations between here and San Francisco that would block anything on 680, but I always seem to get 680News (Toronto) Great 68 (WCTT-Corbin, KY) WPTF and occasionally Radio Disney from Louisville. The best i've done on 680 was San Antonio during some freak skywave DX last year.

It looks like KNBR broadcasts Giants, 49ers and Warriors games. You might try listening during one of their games, listen for team mentions, player names, etc. That may give it away.

I've also been trying for KFI. I only get a weak WOI, which unfortunately throws all of their nighttime signal in my direction. This is in Coldwater, MI. So, KNBR and KFI would have to travel almost 2,000 miles to get to my radio. Seems highly unlikely, but not impossible. Even with today's crowded AM dial.

Hi. It's good to hear I'm not alone in wanting to get that station. I had the same problem with KFI until I finally got it very late one night not long ago and the signal was impressive too. At first, I thought it had to be something much closer but I was blown away when, at the top of the hour, I heard them mention "The Southland" and then they gave the ID! This is why I'm wondering if I could have heard KNBR now and then but couldn't officially ID it. I'm in Tampa and I'm roughly the same distance from California in general as you are. Are you listening with a non directional antenna? That can be a problem in some cases like this. I use my Sony Walkman and I can also get KOA Denver much of the time but only because I can put the radio in a specific position.

 

[gar hi]

Sorry, Vibe. Your post got in there when I was making a reply.

I've tried for KNX but from here 1070 is so jammed with stations it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
I still try now and then but don't hold much hope.

 

[BRNout]

For what it's worth, KFI is closer to you guys than KNBR is. In other words, LA is southeast of San Francisco - not just south. So you're looking for a signal that has to travel 350 miles farther than KFI's to reach you. Which is one hell of a catch itself from the eastern US. Though it may not be impossible to get KNBR (theoretically) it's pretty close to it. You must remember that KNBR throws more signal north, south, west and northeast than it does to the east and southeast. Combine those things with having lots of other stations competing on 680 and it makes KNBR a nearly impossible catch from the eastern half of the USA.

 

[gar hi]

I was thinking of the distance too. While LA and SF are 350 miles apart from each other in a NNW direction, I figure that since I'm ESE of California, San Francisco wouldn't be quite as much as the same 350 miles difference.

I thought KNBR was non directional? No?

 

[vibe]

In answer to a previous post, I use a old Bose Wave Radio (which has at least gotten me KSL and KOA from SW Fla. I recently boiught an old GE combo AM/AM 8 track player (with a 2nd detachable speaker) which has an extremely strong AM tuner, much stronger than the Bose but not as sensitive. (the FM tuner is something else!) Plan to take my $2 system/find outside next time I'm in Fla to see what long distance reception I can get. But it was real cold at nite the last few days I was there. The system is more of a patio radio and finding 8 track tapes at 10 cents each should be no problem in my hood. I'll leave the radio outside; if anyone takes it, whoop de doo.
Strong (good news)-Had 1110 Charlotte like a local. 620 St. Pete-much stronger than the Bose.
Sensitive (or lack thereof)-No sign of KMOX 1120 which I always get on the Bose.
Directional? (the last and critical item) =TBD

 

[BRNout]

I was thinking of the distance too. While LA and SF are 350 miles apart from each other in a NNW direction, I figure that since I'm ESE of California, San Francisco wouldn't be quite as much as the same 350 miles difference.

I thought KNBR was non directional? No?

Yes, the first part is true - if my rusty geometry serves, it's more like an extra 275 miles from you.

About KNBR, I was under the impression that they were a little-bit directional - even though they aren't required to be. Sort of like WBZ. In this case, throwing a little less power to the southeast and the rest goes elsewhere. Their predicted signal pattern seems to indicate this graphically; however, I thought that I also read it somewhere.

FWIW, they come in pretty well in Salt Lake City at night and are a powerhouse up and down the coast.

 

[dx1ng]

I thought KNBR was non directional? No?

Yes. KNBR is 50,000 watts non-DA day and night.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

KNBR is an easy catch in Dallas - pre-sunrise. Too bad about the 680's out East, if you catch the worst of them during maintenance intervals, I think KNBR might have the power to make it to the East coast.

 

[dlf]

I was up in the Hill Country NW of San Antonio (about 25 miles from KKYX's towers) one early morning in October 1997 and I pulled in KNBR with no sign of KKYX. I don't know if I had my old GE Superadio nulled in the exact spot to hear KNBR, but KNBR has not been heard up there (by me) since. Usually the 680 out of St. Joseph, MO dukes it out with KKYX outside of San Antonio.

I have pulled in KNBR in Lubbock, but no such luck in other parts of Texas (with the above-mentioned exception). KFI and KNX do make it fairly regularly into the Texas Hill Country.

dlf

 

[gar hi]

I was awake a couple hours before I was supposed to get up and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to just lie there and hear what's on the AM band. To my surprise, I heard WPTF from Raleigh on 680 and I originally said I assumed that wouldn't be one of the stations I was hearing because they have a very concentrated directional signal to the SE at night and I'm to the SW. I didn't notice the exact time but all I knew is that it was still dark here. Either that's one of the stations I've been hearing all along (and still can't understand why because of the direction) or do some stations switch to their daytime mode pre sunrise?

 

[dx1ng]

To my surprise, I heard WPTF from Raleigh on 680 and I originally said I assumed that wouldn't be one of the stations I was hearing because they have a very concentrated directional signal to the SE at night and I'm to the SW.

Actually, WPTF has a very broad nighttime lobe to the South and East, with their only real nulls being toward Boston and San Francisco. WPTF has an estimated 80000 to 90000 watts toward Tampa at night, and actually are stronger in your direction on their night pattern than on their day pattern. Take a look at their pattern: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/ampat?call=wptf&sid= Your bearing from Raleigh is 203 degrees.

 

[gar hi]

I guess interpreted the nighttime coverage map of WPTF wrong because of that one little spike that extends to the southeast but now I see your point.

Speaking of coverage maps and direction, another SF station I had wondered about but assumed isn't worth the try from Tampa because of their directional signal is KGO. But looking at it again, they seem to get out pretty good in our general direction? Here's their coverage map. It only had daytime but I guess they use the same directional pattern day and night.

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KGO&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

810 here doesn't have too many stations on it but one problem is that we also have a local on 820 and the only way to reduce the spill over almost completely is to point the radio in a NW/SE direction. All I can really hear with any significant strength is a Spanish speaking station that seems strongest in the SE direction and I'm wondering if it's the non directional one from Puerto Rico. There are always a couple of other very weak stations in the background too but they are never quite strong enough to hear specific words. I figured if it were possible to ever hear KGO from here, one possible way to get a clue would be to listen before dawn on weekday mornings because the voice of Ray Taliaferro would be very easy to recognize among the others. I've heard him late at night when I've been out there visiting the SF Bay area.

I guess that because I've been out there so many times visiting family, it's been a goal of mine to catch a San Francisco station from here.

 

[vibe]

About 1 hr S of Tampa, 680 Raleigh is the dominant station except for the San Antonio 680. I too look for KNBR but no success.
On 810 I heard the Super Bowl play by play. No idea where the station was coming from.

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

Gar, I haven't heard KNBR lately, but a DJ buddy of mine who has lived in SFO for fifteen years has for the longest time been referring to KNBR when he references it by the phrase 'THEEEE sports leader'. I don;t know if that's still their catchphrase.

If the positioner is still intact, maybe one of those can break through the 680 stew by you.

Have you tried // ing your 680 reception with KNBR's internet? I *know* that technique can be considered somewhat a DXer-on-steroids approach to it all, but I know of know congressional powwows which have said it's cheating.

Yet, hi.

 

[radioman148]

WPTF use to be an easy catch in the Chicago area before WSCR turned on their IBOC.
I also could get KNBR on Monday mornings when WPTR and others were off for maintenance. I Don't think
those stations signoff anymore.

 

[K4WRF]

KGO or KNBR would be a longshot in the eastern US even in the best of conditions. There are way too many night operations in this end of the country and what you hear is the RSS or root, sum, square of all those signals. KGO is very directional and the radio locator maps don't seem to be accurate in null areas. Hearing anything on 810 under WGY and WHB KC down in Florida would be difficult at best. Try this link to get a better idea of the directional stations actual patterns. http://www.fccinfo.com/

w/

btw: if you are hearing sports on 810 kHz, that might be WHB in Kansas City, Mo an all sports formatted station.

 

[radioman148]

KGO has a very deep null to the east & west. I am in Hawaii and there is no other station on 810 and I still can't hear KGO.