In Reply to: UCLA Gets New Flagship For Radio KABC! Finally! posted by MANTIS9 on August 21, 2025 at 17:09:13
So with a little help from Google's AI, I found this about some L.A. area AM stations:
KFI (640): Class A -- "As one of the first high-powered "clear-channel" stations in the U.S., KFI broadcasts...with 50,000 watts of power, allowing its signal to cover a wide area, especially at night." (Just to clarify, this use of "clear-channel" has NOTHING to do with the company known as Clear Channel. It means the station has no other radio station around with a competing frequency. When we moved from L.A. to the San Jose area when I was 7, I was able to listen to the Dodgers games at night on KFI. A couple of years or so later, when the Dodgers switched to KABC, I lost that ability to listen.)
KNX (1070): Class A -- "As one of the original "clear-channel" stations, KNX broadcasts with 50,000 watts of power and has a broad signal range, particularly at night." (Yes, I have listened at night to KNX while on traveling as far away as central Idaho. I continue to listen to the AM broadcast despite their not even mentioning anymore that they still have it. I think their FM signal sounds like crap, though I'll tune to it if going through a tunnel.)
KLAC (570): Class B -- "KLAC operates on a regional channel with a power of 5,000 watts." (I've noticed their signal deteriorates at night.)
KABC (790): Class B -- "KABC operates on a regional channel with different power outputs for day (6,600 watts), and night (7,900 watts), using a directional antenna." (6,600 and 7,900 is certainly better than KLAC and KEIB can put out, but to call that a "powerful...signal" is laughable.)
KEIB (1150): Class B -- "This station broadcasts on a regional channel with a power of 50,000 watts during the day, and 44,000 watts at night." (I never had any problem hearing UCLA broadcasts on that station, day or night.)