Right of the Dial - The rise of Clear Channel and the fall of Commercial Radio by Alec Foege

If I remember correctly, at one time, six corporations controlled 1200 radio stations and 770,000 billboards. Monopolization has destroyed commercial radio in America. It's all about the money...

                            

                                                    

 

This much power should never be concentrated in the hands of so few. It is nearly impossible to get an unbiased view of politics. Several political commentators receive a salary of 30 to 40 million dollars a year. 

This book is a good read....

                                               

Pirates

The last few nights I've been listening to a station on the extended portion of the AM band (1620) which I hoped was in St, Croix in the Virgin Islands. Federal regulations demand all US stations identify themselves at the top of the hour by announcing  their callsigns. This station doesn't do so.... 

In all probability this station is a ham station operating illegally outside their bandwidths . They're commonly known as "pirate stations". ......

If you hear a callsign at the top of the hour, please leave a comment for me. I usually hear them around midnight. 

                                                    

 

                                                                                

                                                                                

WWVA 1170

 

 

I can remember hearing this country music station when I was a kid. Last night it was booming into the valley. 

                                               WWVA

Some of my good finds on the AM DX Club site

 

John's AM DX Finds

Hidden Stations

 It's becoming more scarce to find an empty frequency these days. I have some frequencies with three different call signs squeezed together in one spot. But just when  I think I have them all filled up, an unexpected call sign pops up out of nowhere. 

Such was a station in St Croix ,  in the c Virgin Islands, on the car radio one morning while driving down the Interstate to pick up my grandson. The time of day and the season has everything to do with it...... 

                                                                    

    

Simulcasting

 

Have you ever taken a long trip and found an interesting program on the car radio but  the signal constantly fades in and out and you become frustrated to the point where you are forced to search for another station....

This usually happens with an AM station but fortunately re-appears on the FM band. The process is called Simulcasting. It's like being in two different places at the same time and that's exactly what's happening. 

The exact programing is being broadcasted on two different frequencies. 

WV Public Radio 

       

WXRL Radio

 

In the early morning hours, I found this country music station on 1300 KHz. It serves the Lancaster- Buffalo NY area. They were using only 2500 watts.