So Cal Hits

[Daryl Lynn L.A.]

I remember getting up in the middle of the night, one summer night in 1977. Somehow the radio had found its way to KOMA-1520 (Usually I listened to KLAC-570 or KFI-640 at night...). Hearing that station, or perhaps picking up WBAP-820 from Northern Mississippi earlier that year, kicked off my DXing career.

Fun ! I wonder if KOMA had a directional signal towards the western U.S. or towards the Pacific Coast. I considered that a tremendous achievement to pull in a midwest statopm ( if Ok. City can be considered midwest) on a tiny little transistor that my parents probably bought at the drugstore for $1.99. But I had a great time doing that. My friends thought I was an absolute nerd, LOL. 😂

 

[davideduardo]

Fun ! I wonder if KOMA had a directional signal towards the western U.S. or towards the Pacific Coast. I considered that a tremendous achievement to pull in a midwest statopm ( if Ok. City can be considered midwest) on a tiny little transistor that my parents probably bought at the drugstore for $1.99. But I had a great time doing that. My friends thought I was an absolute nerd, LOL. 😂

At night, the 50 kw of KOMA was sort of "half of a pie" with total protection of WKBW in Buffalo, but a huge night signal from central Texas to the Dakotas.

Not unusual was to hear ads for artist tours and movie openings covering TX, NM, OK, KS, ND, IA, SD, MT, WY and CO.

"See Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in Beach Party opening Friday at the Grand in Jamestown, North Dakota, the Regal in Hays, Kansas and the Bijou in Grants, New Mexico".

1520 is almost a Tropical Band short wave station and it had huge coverage of that central US area.

 

[Mediafrog+]

At night, the 50 kw of KOMA was sort of "half of a pie" with total protection of WKBW in Buffalo, but a huge night signal from central Texas to the Dakotas.

In Amarillo, 250 miles west of OKC, the KOMA night signal was literally local strength, an absolute blowtorch. But in the daytime? No reception.