Welcome to the Desert.
They downgraded to 25 kw days and 7.5 kw nights; the CP went into effect almost immediately as it was just a matter of making some settings on the transmitter.
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WGN Reception
- Thread starter Cincinnati Kid
- Start date
Welcome to the Desert.
They downgraded to 25 kw days and 7.5 kw nights; the CP went into effect almost immediately as it was just a matter of making some settings on the transmitter.
Thank you. We've visited out here many times, but now that I'm semi-retired we've made it our winter home.
That explains it. Thanks!
We are fulltimers... 35° to 120°.
We should meet for coffee at some point... I am out where the tournament just concluded today.
I’d like that. We’re in Palm Desert. Hopefully we can hookup sometime.
That's a very good point! I hadn't thought about it.
Well, now I'm curious. I haven't tried to pick up WLW in the daytime for a few months so going to have to try it and see. And I'll try it again at nightime also. I will have to also try and pick up all the Chicago stations again and see how they sound during the night. Daytime, forget it. I'm too far away. Last time I tried I got WGN, WBBM, WMVP [the former WCFL] and WLS which usually sounds like the tower is sitting in my back yard. Used to DX a LOT but it's sorta worthless now with most of the stations playing the same syndicated crap or sports or infomercials disguised as "talk" radio. Also listen to WCBS 880 AM out of NYC but sometimes WLS is so strong they bleed over onto 880.
With regards to WGN being heard in the western states. I recall an advertisement the station ran in Broadcasting magazine in the early 1960's. In showing a coast-to-coast reception of WGN, the ad stated, "From the Tappan-Zee (a bridge just north of New York City) to the Pacific Sea". I have wondered about that ad frequently over the years. Based on the reception reports that have been posted here, it appears it is still true.
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It was a LOT more than that.
The original (1975) KDWN facility in Henderson was in roadless desert when it was built. The city grew around it and the land became rather valuable. Beasley sold the property more than a year ago and began the process of diplexing KDWN up in NLV at Entercom's 1140 site.
I know the guys who've been working on this project, and it took a year to get done. I assure you it was a LOT more than just "making some settings on the transmitter." It's a whole new transmission facility up in NLV. And the Henderson site was plowed under almost as soon as the new site lit up. I expect to see houses going up there by the time I'm in Vegas in April for NAB.
Well the project has certainly hurt their day signal in areas outside of the Las Vegas metro where previously they could be heard. I'll be interested in your report from the metro when you're there.
I had heard from our engineer there that they initially cut back power at the old site while the new one was readied. There was even some talk that they ran on Aux at the old site while the main was removed to the new site; later I heard they were considering buying a new main.
They really wanted to reduce power as decades had proven that there was no revenue to be had from anywhere outside the metro
It sounds like you have done a lot of traveling, and yet some how you are missing a state which is Washington, and I am nor where near anywhere as you as state s I have traveled to. And it does seems as years have gone by that radio stations started popping up around the country that had a better signal then WGN Radio had. I know ofd the ESPN Radio station in Los Angeles, and one thing proves is that every radio's station signal is different then how far they can go out of the state they broadcast in.
Or the copper in the grounding system is just deteriorating with age. With billings and revenue dropping most AM's don't spend money addressing that issue until they absolutely have to. Some of the smaller ones just fold-up shop when the last bit of copper turns to dust.
My missing state is Alaska. I've been to Washington State numerous times. It's one of my favorite places.
My missing state is Alaska. I've been to Washington State numerous times. It's one of my favorite places.
I highly recommend going to Alaska. I was there in 2005 and had a wonderful time. The scenery is beautiful and I think you would love it. The downside was the radio reception wasn't great as I was there in the summer and there is very little darkness. Even with that, I was so glad I went. Put it on your to do list it is a beautiful adventure.
Alaska is the only place I've been where there is absolutely no AM reception at night!
au contraire... dunno where in alaska you were or when or what gear you were using.. but i spent 16 months in interior alaska and AM reception at night was amazing... stations from CA, BC Canada, Asia, Oceania, Aus/NZ
It was "Tok, a junction, out in the middle of nowhere". We stopped at a service station in October 1983 and the attendant was from New Jersey. He said that he moved there because New Jersey was too crowded and if Alaska gets anymore crowded, he was going to move to the Northwest Territories!
when I lived in Alaska, I had a pretty good radio and a longwire.. I regularly heard the 100kw 1242 from Tokyo like a local most early mornings, 810 from Tokyo, an AFN station with 50kw was heard most mornings. at night, 810 was KGO..... a 500kw am on 1170 from Japan would often wreak havoc with and wipe out the 50kw on 1170 from north plate/fairbanks.. and I was just 250 miles away from Fairbanks
am reception was GREAT
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