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What's going on with the KJR trimulcast?

Ground Conductivity plays a factor in how well X-band stations get out. (Well, all AM stations really, but especially for x-banders). When the FCC set up the 10kw days/1kw nights rule, it gave a slight edge to these stations compared to per se, a station on 1600 AM. Also, the sound quality is just better up there as well (this may be subjective.)
 
I wasn’t alive in the “golden age” of AM, but I can’t really name any legendary radio stations that were much higher than 1300 on the radio dial. Some of the more modern AM radios may be decent at locking in some of these x-band stations, but picking up anything in this band is impossible on many radios.
Before all the manmade noise, the AM dial was pretty quiet. About the only interference was lightning strikes and power poles. I would say that Seattle's KOL was legendary!
 
Before all the manmade noise, the AM dial was pretty quiet. About the only interference was lightning strikes and power poles. I would say that Seattle's KOL was legendary!
Yep! RFI noise has screwed over the AM band, unfortunately. I can't imagine how far and useful these stations would get if there was no noise being generated by us. We always talk about how you need a 10 to 15+ mv/M signal to be free from interference in the city, but if there wasn't as much RFI, surely that number would be lowered!
 
The audio one puts on an AM carrier is the same no matter what the frequency... The narrow band effect can happen at any spot on the dial... The determining factor is antenna tuning system bandwidth which is not always designed with fidelity in mind. For instance most stations that tried IBOC had to open up the bandwidth on their systems to pass everything.
 
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The audio one puts on an AM carrier is the same no matter what the frequency... The narrow band effect can happen at any spot on the dial... The determining factor is antenna tuning system bandwidth which is not always designed with fidelity in mind. For instance most stations that tried IBOC had to open up the bandwidth on their systems to pass everything.
Agreed. If I remember correctly, the average range of human hearing is 15khz, and most AM stations don't go beyond 4-5 khz, so we can see where the problem lies. The stations used to use up 10khz for audio. In the larger cities, that is impractical today, but I don't see why a small town AM couldn't use a larger bandwith. Most radios are still in wideband, often covering 6khz, so at least do that. Interesting about the IBOC.
 
Ground Conductivity plays a factor in how well X-band stations get out. (Well, all AM stations really, but especially for x-banders). When the FCC set up the 10kw days/1kw nights rule, it gave a slight edge to these stations compared to per se, a station on 1600 AM. Also, the sound quality is just better up there as well (this may be subjective.)
Something to remember is: Field strength isn't different between a station transmitting ND at 1kW at 550kHz, or ND 1kW 1700kHz. The only difference is the natural propagation effects between one end of the band to the other.
 
What I've found rather annoying is that the radios that have the best audio quality aren't the most selective, and the ones that are extremely selective have rather bad audio quality. Is there a technical limitation here, or is that just bad design?
 
Something to remember is: Field strength isn't different between a station transmitting ND at 1kW at 550kHz, or ND 1kW 1700kHz. The only difference is the natural propagation effects between one end of the band to the other.
When I'm in Cheyenne, the higher frequencies (1240 and 1630 in particular, not as much on 1480) are stronger than the lower ones, but the lower ones (like 650) are beasts for traveling as the higher ones disappear quicker. Definitely the propagation abilities at each end of the band for the air around it.
What I've found rather annoying is that the radios that have the best audio quality aren't the most selective, and the ones that are extremely selective have rather bad audio quality. Is there a technical limitation here, or is that just bad design?
Part of it is that to get high quality sound, you need big bandwidth, but that larger bandwidth can induce interference easily. Search for some DSP radios on the internet. They should allow you to choose between different bandwidths as to get the proper experience whether you are 10 miles away, or 150. As for your locals, you should have no problem putting it on 4 or 6khz of bandwidth for that crisp sound
 
I wasn’t alive in the “golden age” of AM, but I can’t really name any legendary radio stations that were much higher than 1300 on the radio dial. Some of the more modern AM radios may be decent at locking in some of these x-band stations, but picking up anything in this band is impossible on many radios.
You mean 1590 KUUU wasn’t a legendary station? 😀
 
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I wonder what will be heard on "The Patriot"? Two of the biggest names in the iHeart - Premiere Networks talk line up are on other Seattle stations: Hannity's home is KVI and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory is on KIRO-FM. So I suppose the KPTR program schedule will be Glenn Beck from 6 to 9 a.m., Clay Travis & Buck Sexton from 9 to noon and Jesse Kelly from 3 to 6 p.m. That leaves a lot of hours to fill.

And really, does Seattle need three conservative talk stations? So Seattle, among America's most liberal cities, can hear how the Democrats and Joe Biden are trying to ruin the country on 570, 770 and 1090? But I guess it means those three Premiere Networks shows as well as some weekend programs will get cleared in Market #12.
 
I wonder what will be heard on "The Patriot"? Two of the biggest names in the iHeart - Premiere Networks talk line up are on other Seattle stations: Hannity's home is KVI and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory is on KIRO-FM. So I suppose the KPTR program schedule will be Glenn Beck from 6 to 9 a.m., Clay Travis & Buck Sexton from 9 to noon and Jesse Kelly from 3 to 6 p.m. That leaves a lot of hours to fill.

And really, does Seattle need three conservative talk stations? So Seattle, among America's most liberal cities, can hear how the Democrats and Joe Biden are trying to ruin the country on 570, 770 and 1090? But I guess it means those three Premiere Networks shows as well as some weekend programs will get cleared in Market #12.
Four conservative talk stations - don't forget about 1590/1300.
 
What I've found rather annoying is that the radios that have the best audio quality aren't the most selective, and the ones that are extremely selective have rather bad audio quality. Is there a technical limitation here, or is that just bad design?
Receivers with narrower bandwidth have more sensitivity. Think of the receiver window being more focused.
 
Just heard on the Kraken cast... The switchover happens Monday, April 11.

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93.3 - Sports Radio KJR 93.3 FM
950 - Sports Radio KJR 950 AM
93.3 HD2 - Seattle's #1 for Hip-Hop
1090 - The Patriot @1090ThePatriot ("Seattle's Real News, Real Talk!")
 
Sunday 12:01am and the Flip is on. Hearing Handle on the Law at 3am on 1090 KPTR.

3:30am KJR 93.3 is playing fox Sports Sunday and KJR 950 is playing CBS sports.

Sounds like they need to do some automation fine tuning. KJR AM and KPTR both had a some dead air going into the 4am hour. KPTR carried News at the top of the hour but did not catch the branding for it. Then into another hour of Handle on the Law at 4:06am.
 
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I wasn’t alive in the “golden age” of AM, but I can’t really name any legendary radio stations that were much higher than 1300 on the radio dial. Some of the more modern AM radios may be decent at locking in some of these x-band stations, but picking up anything in this band is impossible on many radios.
Some of the the earlier X-band capable radios I have (a 2005 Sony Sports Walkman, and another Sony regular Walkman from the 1990s) didn't seem to have their radios designed to pick up the X-band well.

I have other radios from the 90s (a couple late 1990s Sangeans) that do OK up there, and my 1996 Superadio III does OK up there, but I think some manufacturers who were turning out analog IF chip designs just upped the range while keeping the radios' aligned for the lower frequencies, where most of the AM stations still were.

With the advent of DSP, that, of course, changed.
 
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