Comments on: BSR launches first digital multicast station

By: boiseengineer

boiseengineer — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:33:16 +0000

KBSU-AM 730 has resumed HD broadcasts.
Sounds really good!

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:24:08 +0000

Yeah, I know… no buttons pushed here.

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:51:05 +0000

Oh, Jim…. I think it was Wrabbit that was asking the question about your office Faraday Cage…. or was that the Fortress of Solitude he was refering to….

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:48:10 +0000

Its very interesting this time of year what will actually come in around here on the AM dial as you drive home. I have heard several California stations and those big legendary flame throwers out of Seattle and Portland in the transistion between day and evening. I dont seem to pick them up any other time of the year.

By: elchupacbras

elchupacbras — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:34:22 +0000

RDS, You are right! I did find a recent renewal of a construction permit for KOUU on the FCC website:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1184400.pdf
I guess I was under the wrong impression the station was licensed to American Falls, instead of Pocatello. I do think the were only a kilowatt in the past, but I could be wrong.

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:35:19 +0000

I don’t listen to BSU radio. I tuned it in to answer Radio Active. I usually listen to AM talk from Boise, KSRV AM or KGO San Francisco comes in nicely early morning or late afternoon.

By: RDS

RDS — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:29:46 +0000

The info on KOUU is based on FCC data. Now, I have not looked to see how tall the tower is, or anything like that. Poor grounding and poor conductivity of the soil can make a huge difference as well.

OK… took a minute or so and went back on the FCC site. From the looks of the data, they have recently gone to 50 kw, changed to a directional antenna and most of the signal goes north. Previously they were either 1 or 5 kw. What I don’t know is if they are actually running 50 kw. This is another case where I wish someone closer to the source could shed some light on what is really going on. So … Anyone got some updated info?

By: Idaho Radio Buff

Idaho Radio Buff — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:19:48 +0000

Chupa, KUPI-AM was until Sand Hill took ownership. It really bummed out my friend Michael J in Wyoming – he works for KEVA and KNYN-FM and would probably love to discuss this… he’s a huge advocate for AM stereo and I can testify his station sounds awesome. Stupid cheap radios!

Of course, I don’t know what difference it would make to the now Spanish language broadcast and high school sports on (what was KUPI AM).

KOUU is audible in Idaho Falls, at least, last time I visited, which was a new thing. Made me think the 50k went through, unless it was just an incredible skip day. Of course, all it airs is KZBQ with “Cow” liners – seems odd to pay that power bill and stuff to me.

I’m guessing the equipment is still there, just turned off. Just like at KSL-AM’s studio in Salt Lake City, Utah.

By: Peabody

Peabody — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:32:50 +0000

In my 2006 Ford I am actually very impressed with the AM section…

…When I get out of town, that is. I’ve noticed that I can detect signals from as far away as Salt Lake in the middle of the day, on I84 between Boise and Mountain Home. I can clearly hear distant stations from Twin Falls.

But like you, Wrabbit experience a lot of noise in town. There’s places in downtown Boise, you can’t hear slightly weaker stations like KCID AM. Just drive a couple miles out of town in any direction, and you can hear those signals with perfect clarity (in the daytime, at least.) Nighttime AM skip is impossible to get, in those more densly populated areas.

It’s partially because there are so many more sources of interference than there used to be. Now, homes and businesses are jam-packed with devices with digital power supplies that have interference generating oscillators. In my house, all I have to do is turn on my computer, and even strong local stations get buried in the noise.

I have noticed the LED traffic lights can generate a ton of interference on both AM and FM, as well. If that’s not enough, powerlines are strung everywhere like spiderwebs in most older neighborhoods.

If anything, the FCC should stiffen regulations regarding what is considered to be an “acceptable” level of interference from digital devices, especially these lousy new LED traffic lights.

By: elchupacabras

elchupacabras — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:24:27 +0000

Let me pose another question: Is there ANY AM station in the state still broadcasting in C-QUAM?