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Who's got the best FM signal in SoCal?
- Thread starter airpab
- Start date
airpab said:
KRTH has a great signal. I've picked them up in western San Diego and KCBS-FM gets out pretty good too as I've picked them up on the northern side of the grapevine before. KBIG has a very good signal but when they dropped from 105 thousand watts to 65 thousand it seemed to diminish the reach of their signal a bit.
So if KBIG is now My 104/3 does that make KRTH My Guy 101? ;D
But seriously, in concert with the above mentions, I have heard
KRTH like a local while sitting outside of the west terminal at SAN.
On a Walkman.
But seriously, in concert with the above mentions, I have heard
KRTH like a local while sitting outside of the west terminal at SAN.
On a Walkman.
H
Hunter
Guest
I've picked up KCBS pretty far east from Cabazon.
i would say 101 kgb fm in san diego.ive heard them all the way up to bass lake by fresno.and all the way to el centro. 
For L.A. by far KRTH has the best signal; I've been able to receive their signal as far north as Lompoc.
I recall KCBS-FM used to have a better signal, but that may be no fault of their own. In Santa Barbara 92.9 KJEE overpowers KCBS. Furthermore, if I am correct, doesn't KCBS have the highest tower?
In the Inland Empire I always thought KOLA had the best signal. It's one of the few, if only, IE stations which can be received in the San Fernando Valley. Oddly enough they're some areas in Ventura County where you can switch the antenna between KOLA and Santa Barbara's KTYD.
Interestingly enough I was able to pick up KYSR when I was in Ensenada, Mexico. This was the only L.A. station I was able to pick up that far south. It may of been possible with other stations had their signals not been overridden by local stations.
There is an area around Bishop where most of the Mt Wilson FMs come in.
In Big Bear most of the Las Vegas stations override the L.A. stations.
In Pasadena I've been able to receive, clear as a bell, Palm Springs' KDES 104.7.
I recall KCBS-FM used to have a better signal, but that may be no fault of their own. In Santa Barbara 92.9 KJEE overpowers KCBS. Furthermore, if I am correct, doesn't KCBS have the highest tower?
In the Inland Empire I always thought KOLA had the best signal. It's one of the few, if only, IE stations which can be received in the San Fernando Valley. Oddly enough they're some areas in Ventura County where you can switch the antenna between KOLA and Santa Barbara's KTYD.
Interestingly enough I was able to pick up KYSR when I was in Ensenada, Mexico. This was the only L.A. station I was able to pick up that far south. It may of been possible with other stations had their signals not been overridden by local stations.
There is an area around Bishop where most of the Mt Wilson FMs come in.
In Big Bear most of the Las Vegas stations override the L.A. stations.
In Pasadena I've been able to receive, clear as a bell, Palm Springs' KDES 104.7.
gotta agree about the 103.3 Santa Barbra signal...
when it was still KRUZ, I'd listen in Simi Valley...and in San Luis Obispo.
off-topic...but...a great spot for listening is where the 101 takes a sharp northward turn
(near Gaviota)...most of the San Diego FMs have a straight over the water path, and
boom in like locals. just FYI (I tried it numerous times driving between Simi and SLO)
when it was still KRUZ, I'd listen in Simi Valley...and in San Luis Obispo.
off-topic...but...a great spot for listening is where the 101 takes a sharp northward turn
(near Gaviota)...most of the San Diego FMs have a straight over the water path, and
boom in like locals. just FYI (I tried it numerous times driving between Simi and SLO)
At one time KRUZ 103.3 had a liner " From the Tip of Baja to almost San Franscisco KRUZ103.3". KRXV (The Highway Stations) Mountain Pass, ID's "Mountain Pass-Las Vegas-Big Bear" I have herd them from Las Vegas to Acton and almost Gorman, Bullhead City and on HWY10. 98.1 also has a big footprint for it's tower height and power. Very Strong clear out to Gorman. in L.A 94.7 can be herd in Taft, California and in the City of Ridgecrest. 93.1, 101.1 have stations on the same frequencies in Bakersfield.
I think the The Highway Stations in Barstow would have the biggest footprint over all with the three transmitters, The stand aloan prize would have to go to 103.3 Santa Barbara for HAAT plus power to back it up. at one time they also had and KEYT 3 still has the best studio location in Sothern California , both being on Maramonte Drive
Steve
www.radiooutlaw.com
I think the The Highway Stations in Barstow would have the biggest footprint over all with the three transmitters, The stand aloan prize would have to go to 103.3 Santa Barbara for HAAT plus power to back it up. at one time they also had and KEYT 3 still has the best studio location in Sothern California , both being on Maramonte Drive
Steve
www.radiooutlaw.com
Re: KVYB-By far!
Keep in mind that all such stations, which are grandfathered superpower facilities, are only protected to the extent of the conforming Class B or Class C contour if such applies. So the FCC can put on new facilities that interfere with the measured contours, because the protection is only given to the theoretical conforming B contour. In LA, nearly, if not all, the stations on Wilson are grandfathered... even KSCA
LA_Guy said:
Keep in mind that all such stations, which are grandfathered superpower facilities, are only protected to the extent of the conforming Class B or Class C contour if such applies. So the FCC can put on new facilities that interfere with the measured contours, because the protection is only given to the theoretical conforming B contour. In LA, nearly, if not all, the stations on Wilson are grandfathered... even KSCA
In my opinion, I've found that KRTH/101.1 probably had the best LA signal in Orange County, especially in the indoors (in Anaheim and Irvine). However, the signals from KOLA/99.9, KGB-FM and XETRA-FM (Tijuana) were quite substantial in OC as well, though not as strong as the LA stations. But they were quite usable for me.
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts
Re: Of course, KPFK is no slouch either!
For a long time they ran a horri ble 12 bay antenna, full of nulls and shadow areas... I believe they have changed it, but it never sounded particularly potent to me.
LA_Guy said:
For a long time they ran a horri ble 12 bay antenna, full of nulls and shadow areas... I believe they have changed it, but it never sounded particularly potent to me.
A lot of bays at a lot of height is never a good thing. Here in Palm Springs I hear the 90.7 from Mexicalli clearly. KPFK doesn't come in. Around L.A. as David says KPFK has never seemed that strong. In the I.E. I believe 97.5 has 72kw and a couple of hundred additition feet HAAT from Heaps peak making it better than KOLA.
I had always heard KPFK had the strongest signal, and it does seem to be double KRTH's 50,000. I'm sure, though, KRTH has better techies on board to make the most of what they have. KPFK is held together with chewing gum and masking tape.
In any event, KRTH comes in really clear, really strong, no matter where you are. Best of any stations I tune in.
In any event, KRTH comes in really clear, really strong, no matter where you are. Best of any stations I tune in.
Back in the early to mid 80's when I lived in Bakersfield and before the Southern San Joaquin Valley FM spectrum became cluttered I would pick up 93.1 KKHR (now KCBS) and 100.3 KIQQ / KLIT / KQLZ Pirate (now V-100) clear as a bell. KRTH is also a great signal going up CA-14 to US-395 and I've picked up KLOS on CA-58 between Mojave and Barstow. San Diego's KGB and Rock 105.3 are also strong signals that can be pulled in just after you reach Tejon Summit through the Grapevine if heading South.
On the flipside, I can barely get Indie even if I parked right next to the stick.
On the flipside, I can barely get Indie even if I parked right next to the stick.
Strictly in terms of theoretical coverage in the absence of interference, nine of the ten "biggest" signals are in Los Angeles. The other one (and #1) is KVYB. (but KPFK is a very close #2)
As David says, these stations are only protected from interference as if they were running 50kw/150m. KVYB is running 105kw but is protected as if they were only running about 1.4kw. So that massive coverage area may be subject to interference.
As David says, these stations are only protected from interference as if they were running 50kw/150m. KVYB is running 105kw but is protected as if they were only running about 1.4kw. So that massive coverage area may be subject to interference.
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