In the nighttime pattern above, the coverage was HUGE...and we can see how all of Cuba, parts of Central and South America were covered, as well as literally over half of Canada, up to Alaska...and no telling where else...I wish we had access to all the mail KAAY got!
In the past, I'd mentioned the "grey line" a phenomenon where it is not day, nor night...just that half-light pattern between the two. In the "old days", radio stations would sign off at sunset and sign back on at sunrise (some few still do). During this time, it was possible to tune to frequencies and momentarily, for a few minutes, hear other radio stations that were blocked by a local station, before THOSE stations signed off. In some instances, it was mere minutes, others it was maybe longer, due to the difference of a time zone. We radio enthusiasts of all types still use the "grey line" to communicate or to listen for otherwise elusive radio stations not "there" in daylight or dark. It is a fascinating phenomenon, as things happen during the "grey line" that do not happen any other times. Here is the link to the "grey line" map; it refreshes ever five minutes or so:
http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/greyline.html
Because radio propagation is an ongoing study, some things are constant- others are constantly changing! A lot has to do with weather and sunspots. Nonetheless, I believe this "grey line effect" was responsible for my hearing KAAY before dark and the changeover to the nighttime "flame-thrower" figure-eight pattern. Give the dial a whirl before sunset sometime, you may be pleasantly surprised! Do it for a week, or two weeks and there may be more there than you realized!
Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)
Bud,
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at the KAAY night time coverage map, I now know why I had NO trouble picking up KAAY at night in Minnesota.
Paul Kirby
Thanks for the site. I listened from Marshalltown, Iowa from 1968-73, then had to head East for college. The signal ranged from terrific to good...always. It was magical for sure.
ReplyDeleteTo Paul and Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of all of us who so proudly served the KAAY call letters, THANK YOU for being out there on that Skywave with us! Trust me, it was just as magical on our end as it was on yours--BECAUSE of you.
What a rush it was to watch the sun go down...
David B. Treadway
Doc Holiday VII
I'll still never forget my first shift at KAAY, in November of 1984. I was very much aware of that signal, and as if to serve as a reminder, within my first hour, I had a call from Minnesota. I'm not sure how that night time signal is doing these days, as I know, for several years (at least from '03-'08) KAAY was operating at about 18,000 watts at night.
ReplyDeleteBarry McCorkindale, aka Scott Taylor, Barry Mac
WBAM 740 "BIG BAM" Mongomery used to boom into Tampa 30 minutes before they signed off. One of the legendary Bennis top 40 powerhouses. They were 50 KW directional, to the south, to protect adjacent clear-channel WSB back then. Mongomery sunset was 15-30 minutes after Tampa. Now they have a new XMTR QTH, and new pattern. Reduced to 10 KW, I think. KAAY has to protect WBAL, Baltimore at night. Hence the deep null that runs right through the Atlantic south.
ReplyDeleteBud, I remember one particular night in about 1975-76, I was on-the-air from 8pm-11pm. About 1030pm one winter's night I was playing "Stairway to Heaven" (over 7 minutes long). I had time to answer a few phone calls. The first call was from Key West, Fla.-a couple of NAVY guys called in for a request. We chatted for a minute or so & I still had time to take another call. The very next call I answered was from Butte, Montana !! We chatted a minute or so. It was 72 degrees in Key West & minus 20 in Butte !!! Even having been a "ham" & used to long distance communications, I was awed that each night KAAY's signal was heard from Butte to Key West & ALL IN BETWEEN !! Wayne Moss (the P.D. at the time) told me that the estimated listening audience of KAAY on it's night-time directional pattern was over 1,000,000 people!!! It was a little bit intimidating! My 3 years as 8-11pm "jock" at the MIGHTY 1090 were the best 3 years of my 56 years as a "ham" & "broadcaster" !! I have two shoe-boxes of "mail" I'll bring to our next meeting... Keep up the great work. Steve Scott / W5BIB
ReplyDeleteSteve, I am looking forward to us getting together again! Bud S.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve, Your experience parallels mine. One night working the seven to midnight shift on a Saturday night on the Mighty 1090 I had a call from Canada immediately followed by a call from Key West. I loved every second of my time behind the KAAY mic. Having grown up in New Orleans I was a long time listener of the station and would switch between WTIX, WNOE and KAAY at night. I had two goals as an aspiring DJ at 17 years old, to work at WNOE and KAAY. I'm a lucky man, WNOE was my very first job and six years later I was in Little Rock first at KLAZ-FM then left for KAAY. Of all the stations I worked, KAAY was my favorite. The feeling of power in those 50,000 watts on the sky wave was enormous,as you too know so well.
ReplyDeleteJ.J. West, KAAY 1977
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DeleteHi J.J. - Yep,... KAAY was quite a trip ! I left 8-11pm in late 1976 to be P.D. @ WROA in Gulfport/Biloxi )I missed the Gulf Coast) - After a year there, I was pretty burnt-out.
ReplyDeleteI went to 'Truck Driving School' & became a Long-Haul Over-the-road driver.
One VERY COLD night (-20f) in January of 1978, I was driving across Montana & tuned-in to see how KAAY was sounding. They were BLASTING IN ! - It was a strange feeling to know that 2 years earlier, that was ME on-the-air @ KAAY,... Now, I was a 'listener' a thousand miles away !!
After a year or so,... I got burnt-out on-the-road & went back to WROA. For several years, I'd work on-the-air (@ WROA)& go back on-the-road. Finally ending-up @ WABB in Mobile & staying there for 10 years before retiring @ 45 years-old.
To this day (now 72 years-old) I remember my 3 years @ KAAY (1974-76) as the very best years of my broadcast career.
I'm still "on-the-radio", but, as a ham operator (since 1961) & relish my daze(sic) as a D.J. @ KAAY "The BLOWTORCH"
Thanks to Bud for keeping the memories of KAAY "The ROCK of the South" alive.
73 de Steve Scott (Morris)/ W5BIB
Hey Steve. Its Shane McBryde. How you been?
DeleteSteve - I hope you get this as I'd would love to connect! I'm Michael Stuart from WABB, formerly Marathon Mike. Not sure if you do social media but here's my fb and website: https://www.facebook.com/audiomsp/ http://audiomsp.com/
ReplyDelete