The swap has been made. "News Talk KTLK" has lost its high power FM frequency to KFAN (sports), leaving "us" with the old 1130 AM facility. My reception was a little scratchy this morning until sunrise when they bump up from the directional 25,000 watt night signal to their full 50,000 watts in all directions. Even so, it's still AM. It sounds like I'm at a lake cabin listening to a local 5,000 watt station.
Oh, but they also are on FM 103.5, which my home receiver gets pretty well. But not my Sony Walkman, where the signal cuts in and out with every step. On the bus this morning I had to prop it by the window and even there I picked up all kinds of interference. Both signals gave out as I entered my workplace office. I gave up and switched to MPR. Something else I noticed is that the AM signal is a good 10 seconds behind the FM signal. This suggests KTLK is using an old technology ISDN line to the AM transmitter, further limiting audio quality.
So as of now, Davis and Emmer is now primarily in podcast status for me, particularly when Bill Bennett actually shows up. FYI, Bennett has the worst substitute hosts on the dial, Rick Santorum on Fridays and his erudite producer Seth Liebsohn on other days off like today. Both are hopelessly dull on air.
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