RADIOKVMW AM 1670

Tips for a good station signal

The station antenna is based on Western Hills. Since by definition this is a low-powered community radio station we cannot exceed a power level of one tenth of a watt. The publicly licensed Mineral WElls radio station run 250 watts.

The useful range of the signal is deemed to be 1 to 2 mile radius from Western Hills. Here are some tips help you receive a clear station signal within the listening area.

Car Radio

The easy, fast way to hear a clear KVMW Radio signal is to listen on your car radio. A good car radio can pick up the station over most of the city of Mineral Wells.

Boom Box with Antenna

Boom-boxes with extendable antennas works both indoors and outdoors.

Home

Reception in homes using the am tuner that comes with the standard stereo set up is best with a good antenna. A lot of systems have no antenna or an inferior one because of the lack of interest in am radio. Loops are often supplied and can work but have to be correctly orientated for weak stations. Other low power radio stations had good test results with a Radio Shack AM/FM loop antenna #15-1859 (cost $ 25) on top of a cabinet containing the tuner.

An external antenna will generally give good results: if you live in a stucco house it will probably be the only way to get a good signal. The metal screen supporting the stucco may shield you from the radio station.

Clock radios and small handheld radios will probably only be useful in the immediate area of the station. Some older radios will not tune above 1600 KHZ. Your best location for your radio inside your home, may be in a room closest to Western Hills....less 'stuff' for the signal to have to work through inside your home.

Others Factors

Other factors affecting the signal, particularly at night In a room, cell phones, fluorescent lights and power supplies (like for a laptop) can also create localized static. Static from a variety of sources and interference from other radio stations at night, are more of a problem with am radio than fm radio. Power lines, automobile engines, traffic lights and lightening during thunderstorms are just a few additional sources of static noise. Reception of other stations on 1670 KHZ at night is is generally only a problem at outside limits of the listening range, although you may notice a some background noise