Technically, ‘The Mighty 690′ was XETRA-AM 690 from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. As a Mexican station, it was licensed to run 50,000 watts both day and night. This high power output coupled with it’s low dial position and highly-conductive signal path across the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean allowed ‘The Mighty 690′ to cover not only San Diego but also Los Angeles with the signal strength of a local station! The station’s jingles identified as “The Mighty 690, Southern California” or “The Mighty 690, Los Angeles.” Yolanda Salas voiced the Mexican Legal ID which was announced once per hour in Spanish, as required. But the programming was in English, as were the leasees of the station. (Mexican law prohibits non-citizens from owning radio stations.)

As contemporary music listeners gravitated to FM, ‘The Mighty 690′ saw it’s audience gradually drop off. The format segued to Oldies as “69 XTRA Gold”, then “XTRA Sports.” Today, this station is known as XEWW-AM 690 with the moniker “W Radio.” Everyone assumed ‘The Mighty 690′ was buried and gone forever.

Enter Chris Torrick. Chris worked as an intern at ‘The Mighty 690.” He had a dream to bring back this legendary station via the Internet. Chris’ dream has become reality as TheMighty690.com. This is not just another soulless 80s music jukebox, the likes of which are littered all across the Internet. Rather, TheMighty690.com is an authentic recreation of XETRA as it was during it’s existence as a high-energy contemporary hit radio station in Southern California. The music, the imaging, the Spanish Legal ID, even some of the original ‘Mighty 690′ DJs are all part of the presentation. Give it a listen online when you have the chance and let Chris know what you think.

The geeks here at RadioGeekHeaven.com give TheMighty690.com a big thumbs-up for bringing back FUN RADIO the way it used to be…the way it should be!

“Clutter free, The Mighty 690…dot com!”

As per their website, here is the WLCX/WLXR Radio Reunion 2012 information:

WLCX / WLXR / HIT 105-FM
Radio Reunion
August 3-4, 2012

We are planning two informal gatherings. The first will be on Friday night, tentatively at Big Al’s on Third Street in La Crosse. The second will be Saturday night at The Freighthouse Restaurant on Front Street in La Crosse. Details are still being firmed up. You can visit the Reunion Schedule page for more information.

If you worked for WLCX-AM 1490, WLXR-AM 1490, or WLXR-FM 104.9 or know someone who did, please pass the word along. This summer’s La Crosse Radio Reunion will definitely be a fun time for all!

Amplitude Modulation – AM – Stations utilize 10Khz spacing in both North America and South America. In Europe and some other areas of the world, stations use 9Khz spacing. This allows more stations but compromises bandwidth and, by extension, signal and audio quality. Licensed power outputs range from 250 watts to 50,000 watts, depending on the frequency being used. Here are the legal AM broadcast frequencies used by broadcasters in the United States in kilohertz:

540 550 560 570 580 590 600 610 620 630 640 650 660 670 680 690 700 710 720 730 740 750 760 770 780 790 800 810 820 830 840 850 860 870 880 890 900 910 920 930 940 950 960 970 980 990 1000 1010 1020 1030 1040 1050 1060 1070 1080 1090 1100 1110 1120 1130 1140 1150 1160 1170 1180 1190 1200 1210 1220 1230 1240 1250 1260 1270 1280 1290 1300 1310 1320 1330 1340 1350 1360 1370 1380 1390 1400 1410 1420 1430 1440 1450 1460 1470 1480 1490 1500 1510 1520 1530 1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1620 1630 1640 1650 1660 1670 1680 1690 1700

Note: 1610Khz is NOT a legal frequency for commercial broadcasters. It is used by Travelers Information Radio Stations (TIS.) Typically, these stations relay highway and road information to motorists located in the immediate area. Power is limited to 10 watts output using inefficient loaded whip antennas. However, DX’ers have received these stations from distances of several hundreds of miles during nighttime hours when AM skywave reception is possible. On the low end of the band, 530Khz is also used by TIS stations in some areas.

The frequencies 1620-1700Khz are known as the “AM Expanded Band.” These channels were opened up for commercial broadcasters in the mid-1990s by extending the upper end of the AM band from 1600 to 1700Khz. Originally, only existing daytime stations with restricted directional antenna patterns and/or operations which were causing significant interference to other stations were allowed to “migrate” to the extended band. Their old facilities were then turned off and dismantled, reducing interference with remaining stations. Recently, though, this rule has been loosened somewhat.

Frequency Modulation – FM – Stations utilize 200Khz spacing in both North and South America. Stations may broadcast in monaural or (usually) stereo multiplex. Licensed power outputs range from 10 watt LPFM stations to 100,000 watt regional powerhouses. Output is measured as ERP, or effective radiated power from the antenna. Here are the legal FM broadcast frequencies used by broadcasters in the United States in megahertz:

88.1 88.3 88.5 88.7 88.9 89.1 89.3 89.5 89.7 89.9 90.1 90.3 90.5 90.7 90.9 91.1 91.3 91.5 91.7 91.9 92.1 92.3 92.5 92.7 92.9 93.1 93.3 93.5 93.7 93.9 94.1 94.3 94.5 94.7 94.9 95.1 95.3 95.5 95.7 95.9 96.1 96.3 96.5 96.7 96.9 97.1 97.3 97.5 97.7 97.9 98.1 98.3 98.5 98.7 98.9 99.1 99.3 99.5 99.7 99.9 100.1 100.3 100.5 100.7 100.9 101.1 101.3 101.5 101.7 101.9 102.1 102.3 102.5 102.7 102.9 103.1 103.3 103.5 103.7 103.9 104.1 104.3 104.5 104.7 104.9 105.1 105.3 105.5 105.7 105.9 106.1 106.3 106.5 106.7 106.9 107.1 107.3 107.5 107.7 107.9

The frequencies 88.1-91.9 are reserved for non-commercial FM stations. Originally, these were NCE or Non-Commercial Educational stations. These days, religious broadcasters and other non-commercial entities are also allowed to use these channels.

You will occasonally come across an FM station transmitting on 87.7 or 87.9Mhz. These have become favorites of unlicensed broadcasters in recent years. The audio portion of TV Channel 6 used to be located on 87.75Mhz. Because of this, many FM radios were and are able to tune as low as 87.7. In 2009, all TV stations in the U.S. converted from analog to digital transmission. Because digital signals generally propagate poorly on the low VHF channels, nearly all former Channel 6 telecasters have moved to either the high VHF or (usually) to the UHF band. Faced with today’s crowded band conditions in most markets, FM pirates have taken to “squatting” on 87.7 and especially 87.9 in recent years. Personally, I don’t believe this is a very smart practice. Since these frequencies are not used by licensed stations, an 87.7 or 87.9 broadcaster sticks out like a sore thumb to FCC enforcement personnel and to commercial broadcasters who are likely to report such unauthorized broadcasts. It is perfectly legal to listen, however, and the unlicensed broadcasts heard on these frequencies are often quite interesting and entertaining.

Since a station’s Legal ID (call letters followed immediately by city of license) are only required once per hour, most stations use a moniker as their primary identifier. Typically, this is a combination of their format and dial position or a portion of their call letters and dial position. News Radio 990, Sports Radio 107.1, News Talk 1230, Hot Talk 100.3, etc., are common identifiers for news/sports/talk stations. Music stations used to commonly use one letter and either round up or round down their frequency. KXEZ-FM 94.7 became “Z-95.” In today’s world of digital tuners and closely spaced stations, most broadcasters will now disclose their complete frequency in their on-air monikers: Q-102.1, Hot Hits 96.9, Sunny 630, Bull Country 103.3, Oldies 1340, Hot Rockin’ 104.1, Super Hits 99.9, and so on and so forth. With the advent of the Internet, it has become easier for DX’ers to identify these “non-ID” stations since they can usually be tracked down using the search engines. In the world before computers, it was frustrating since these stations only used their Legal ID once an hour and it seemed the signal would always fade out or incur interference during those few seconds!

Hopefully, this list of AM & FM broadcast frequencies in the United States and related info will help you ID those elusive signals that are fading in and out of your radios. Happy DX’ing!

Scottsdale, Arizona police Sergeant Mark Clark said that a note was found in the hotel room and they believe it was a murder-suicide. Sergeant Clark would not say what the note said. Bill Heywood became a long-time morning personality on KTAR-AM 620 after several years on the air at KOY-AM 550.

Prior to his recent departure, Morris had spent the previous 17 years at KDWB. Congratulations, Rob!

This is Drew, the ‘head geek’ here at RadioGeekHeaven.com! Thanks so much for making this site part of your radio hobby this past year. Whether your interest is current broadcast radio news, classic radio airchecks, CB radio, scanning, AM/FM/TV DXing, or any other aspect of the radio world, I’m glad you chose to spend some time here.

My New Year’s resolution is to devote more time and effort to this site in 2012. During 2011, I was busy with several other projects, so I didn’t get to spend as much time on Radio Geek Heaven as I would have liked. In 2012, I will strive to put some more emphasis on this little corner of the Internet universe. If you have comments, suggestions, or submissions, by all means, please contribute! Without your readership and interaction, this site would not be possible. Feel free to use the comment section, located below each posting. If you’d rather not comment publicly, use the e-mail link, located in the ‘About Drew’ section.

Thanks again for making 2011 a great year for RadioGeekHeaven.com. Here’s to an even better 2012. Happy New Year, fellow radio geeks!

“Steve Woodbury, the President and CEO of Northern Lights Broadcasting announced today a shift in programming direction for its Twin Cities radio station, 96.3 NOW, KHTC FM, January 1, 2012. “There is a real opportunity for a locally owned and operated radio station that can personally connect with Twin Cities’ listeners. With the exception of a hand full of Twin Cities’ commercial stations, most are currently owned and operated by large, national radio groups that are programmed and supervised from a national platform.”

On Sunday, KHTC FM, (96.3 Now), will be changing its call letters to heritage call letters, KTWN FM (96.3 K-TWIN) and adjusting its music format from Rhythmic CHR to Adult Top 40. In addition, the station will be introducing a new morning show on 1/4/12 which will feature extensive news, weather, sports, traffic and fun conversation and will be hosted by 12 year KARE 11 news and sports anchor, Eric Perkins & Tony Fly, 20 year Twin Cities radio personality. KTWN FM radio personality and former Miss Minnesota International, Danni Starr will also be a part of the new morning show.

According to Operations Vice President, Sam Elliot, “an extensive research study was done in the Twin Cities in September of this year to determine new opportunities for music and personalities. The move to Adult Top 40 music offers the listener today’s guitar based, pop alternative music as well as similar, gold based, hit music from 1985 to the present. Artists include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Adele, Linkin Park, Daughtry, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, U2, Nickleback, Soul Asylum, Coldplay, Maroon 5, and Foster the People.” According to Elliot, “70% of the songs heard on the new 96.3 K-TWIN will be music that isn’t currently being played in the market”.

Elliot also stated that “in addition, the September research indicated that listeners want more local news, weather, and sports from local personalities they know and trust…and…from people who have homes, raise families, and work in the Twin Cities. In addition to morning show personalities Eric Perkins, Tony Fly, and Danni Starr, KTWN FM’s other shows will be hosted by Twin Cities’ talent Lisa Wright, Dan Riggs, B Wright, and Dan Jordan. Former KARE 11 news anchors Rick Kupchella, Amy Hockert, and others will deliver the local and national news, weather, and sports hourly throughout the day.”

Northern Lights Broadcasting, KTWN’s parent company is locally owned by the Pohlad Family which is known for having extensive community involvement with their various companies including the Minnesota Twins and the Pohlad Charitable Foundation. As Woodbury stated, “We intend to have KTWN FM mirror the community and be responsive to its entertainment and information needs.” KTWN FM will be: ‘Your Town, Your Friends, Your Hits’.”

Clear Channel had been testing the waters for Kiss Country on the 95.7 frequency, licensed to Anamosa. Unfortunately, the 95.7 signal proved too weak in Cedar Rapids to compete effectively against Cumulus’ KHAK-FM 98.1. By contrast, the WMT-FM signal is a full 100,000 watts and will have coverage parity with KHAK.

For the immediate future, the new Kiss Country will be simulcast on 96.5 and 95.7. The station is currently running jockless, but is expected to add a local morning show in January, 2012.

I’ve received several e-mail requests for current Mall of America security and police scanner frequencies. I have to admit, I haven’t kept up on Mall communications and are unaware of what type of equipmeny they are now using. I know they utilize a trunked system, but am not sure whether it is analog or digital. Do you know? If it’s a digital system, is it encrypted or “in the clear” and thus able to be monitored with a consumer grade digital scanning receiver? Information on talkgroups and active frequencies would also be appreciated.

First song played: Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!