'67 AM-FM radio question...

[Patrick T.]

Why is it that during the daytime hours, I can't get an AM radio station but at night time I can get loads of AM station's? Does it have something to do with FCC rules regarding power output on AM stations? Thanks, PT

[Jack H.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

The FCC allows SOME stations to re-orient their broadcast antennas to boost signal strength at night. But, if you're in a major metro area, I suspect there's something else going on.

Do you have a portable AM/FM radio? The set in your Corvette ought to deliver comparable performance in your neck of the woods.

[Bill I.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Pat, it's actually the reverse, I used to work in radio in the late 60's as a DJ. AMpower drops at local sunset, HOWEVER, at night, the atmospheric conditions improve considerably, thus allowing even weaker AM stations to reach a greater distance. The info re: antenna orentitation is also correct. Hope this helps, Bill.

[Harry S.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

I agree with Bill, as a kid living 6 miles outside of New York City, at night I could get great stations out of Buffalo, NY. That is a long ways away.

[Bill I.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Ah Harry, you listened to 'The Hound" on WKBW, Buffalo. Bill

[Harry S.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Bill, U B correct, great R&R as I recall.

[Bill I.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Harry, I knew George Larense, ( The Hound) Long deceased. Do you remember his main sponsor. 'Mamma Goldstein's Famous Kosher Wine' Bill.

[Wayne M.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Ah Harry, you listened to 'The Hound" on WKBW, Buffalo. Bill

Ahhh ... memories -- as a teenager in a small town in northern Ontario, Canada, at night I could pull in stations from all over the US (thousands of miles away), with a 20 foot horizontal wire nailed to the wall serving as antenna on my transistor radio (which I still have). WKBW was one of my favorites, as well as WLS Chicago. Was listening the night that Richie Valens and the Big Bopper went down.

Technical phenomenon is (was) called "skip" and has to do with the upper atmosphere becoming ionized after the sun goes down, and essentially bouncing the AM signals from far away.

[Patrick T.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Thanks for your comments. I currently live up here in the Catoctin Mountains next to Camp David, so that might be part of the problem. I've always lived in Maryland. When I was a kid, I had an AM transistor radio and at night I could get WBZ radio in Boston and WABC in New York...I liked to listen to Cousin Brucie!

[Steven B.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

I strung alot of copper wire in the attic, connected it by alligator clip to my home built chrystal set in the upstairs bedroom of my far NE Indiana house and listened to Wolf Man late at night---until Dad yelled to turn the _P)(&$#&_)*__*&&$# thing off. The tower was in Mexico going beyond the 50,000 watt local station (WOWO)

[Dale S.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Steve, Ever get station KOB 50K watts in Albuq. N.M? I got it driving one nite out side Vancover BC. I was in my 61 F--d. Dale

[Jim T.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Most distant radio station at night I ever picked up was KOMA out of Oklahoma City, OK. I was in San Diego, CA. This was back in 66-67.

[Ray G.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Ahhh ... memories -- as a teenager in a small town in northern Ontario, Canada, at night I could pull in stations from all over the US (thousands of miles away), with a 20 foot horizontal wire nailed to the wall serving as antenna on my transistor radio (which I still have). WKBW was one of my favorites, as well as WLS Chicago. Was listening the night that Richie Valens and the Big Bopper went down.

Technical phenomenon is (was) called "skip" and has to do with the upper atmosphere becoming ionized after the sun goes down, and essentially bouncing the AM signals from far away.

Hello;
WLS seemed thousands of miles away in the R&R fifties.
Was it KCMO in Kansas City? The sixties are a little clearer in memory.
Thanks for the flashback.
Ray

[Richard S.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Back in the early 60"s I used to fall asleep listening to my tiny transistor radio....the adventure and excitement of picking up a baseball game or hockey game from Fort Wayne, Indiana was a real thrill....Indiana is a long way from Montreal....now my 66 AM/FM hardly picks up Montreal stations....LOL.

[Wayne M.]

Re: '67 AM-FM radio question...

Ah Harry, you listened to 'The Hound" on WKBW, Buffalo. Bill

I'm betraying my 65 years, but I now recall the disc jockey at WKBW Buffalo NY -- it was Dick Biondi (sp ?) This must have been mid 50s to early '60s.