Local radio, bless them!

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

We have more than enough of the big corporate radio stations around here but we also have a couple of privately owned "FM LP" stations. The "LP" is for "low power" and I think that means a five watt max transmitter output, so you just about have to see the antenna to get them most of the time. Because of the private ownership, they can, and do, play a lot of whatever they like.

With that as background, we learned Saturday that today's Memorial Day ceremonies at Riverside National Cemetery were canceled again this year due to COVID concerns. So our little station stepped up to the plate at noon, with their own Memorial Day special. They started with Taps, then branched out into each service branch's hymn, several John Philip Sousa marches, and a couple of other patriotic songs like "America the beautiful" and "America (My country, tis of thee...") Enough to fill a half hour plus without interruption.

Thanks guys!

Rick C

 

[gramps]

Good job!
gramps

 

[WAYNO]

Hi,

We have more than enough of the big corporate radio stations around here but we also have a couple of privately owned "FM LP" stations. The "LP" is for "low power" and I think that means a five watt max transmitter output, so you just about have to see the antenna to get them most of the time. Because of the private ownership, they can, and do, play a lot of whatever they like.

Rick C

That is way cool in two ways. The fact that the station exists at all, and that they chose the programming many of us still appreciate.

We also have a "hobby" FM station playing rock and roll from the fifties and sixties, underwritten by local and small businesses. They are specific in saying they cannot and do not accept advertising, other than publicly thanking the underwriters, by name. It's the only station in the area worth listening to. But as you said, you have to be pretty close to their tower to hear it. I'm twenty miles from the big city but at 500 feet. We still too often struggle to hear it.

 

[caryc]

Rick, what is the station? I'll see if I can get it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Rick, what is the station? I'll see if I can get it.

Hi,

Cary, here's a starting place (over the air): 92.5 FM KQLH They say they cover much of the area from Beaumont down to Hemet, but I've always lost 'em coming over Lamb Canyon out of Beaumont. I think they may be working on a second transmitter to cover your area.

If you can't get them on air, they stream online if you don't mind a little monkey motion to get there. They've got a handful of ways to listen online, and sometimes one of them actually works! Start here: http://kqlhradio.org/ and look for the various listen live buttons. I have the best luck going down the left side of the page this will open and clicking the tiny button about halfway down the page.

They also say if you have an Alexa smart speaker, you can listen, too. I don't have Alexa so I don't know.

Good luck!

Rick C