DUCHESNE COUNTY — King's Peak, located 80 miles east of Salt Lake City and 25 miles from the nearest town, is Utah's highest point at 13,528 feet above sea level. Because it's so high, people standing at the top might assume they could listen to any radio station they wanted.
But is that really the case?
The answer is no, at least during the daytime. During an Aug. 15 hike, I discovered there was access to only eight stations (three AM and five FM) around noon. Two of the stations were from Wyoming.
KSL (AM-1160) had strong reception on the mountain as did KXOL (AM-1660). On the FM side, KJQN (FM-105.1) came in loud and clear.
Those were the only Wasatch Front stations I could receive. Other stations that could be heard included KXRQ (FM-94.3), Roosevelt; KLGL (FM-97.5), Richfield; KNEU (AM-1250), Roosevelt; KQSW (FM-96.5), Rock Springs, Wyo.; and KYCS (FM-95.1), Green River, Wyo.
ANOTHER SUMMIT EXPERIENCE — KRCL (FM-90.9) recently held a drawing for a helicopter ride to the top of Farnsworth Peak (9,054 feet above sea level) where a new translator for the station will be installed.
Joaquin Galvan and Chris Warr were the winners, though Warr gave his ride to a daughter.
Farnsworth Peak is home to about a dozen FM station transmitters, as well as KSL-TV's transmitter — by far the most on a single mountain in Utah.
The two winners rode to the top Tuesday with Lewis Downey, KRCL's engineer, as the tour guide.
The drawing came at the end of an on-air fund-drive to raise money to replace 20-year-old equipment. KRCL, a community station, operates with 110 volunteers, six full-time and two part-time paid staff.
COOKIE-CUTTER RADIO — Critics of radio deregulation claim that today's radio playlists are bland and mostly the same at every big-name station. However, according to a recent "Airplay Monitor" story, these claims may not be valid.
While most radio reporters and industry observers expected the standardization in playlists to be 90 percent or more, Airplay Monitor found the standardization to be 63 percent.
"Though radio to varying degrees continues to be a hit-driven medium, claims of 'cookie-cutter' playlists have always been vastly overblown," Dennis Wharton, senior vice president for the National Association of Broadcasters, said in a press release. "The Airplay Monitor report goes a long way in exploding the myth."
RADIO HAPPENINGS — Amanda Dickson, morning co-host of KSL's "Grant and Amanda" show, remains one of the most active of radio personalities. On Wednesday she'll discuss "Joy in Your Work" with Salt Lake County Community Resource employees. On Thursday, she and Grant Nielsen will also participate in a tailgate party prior to the BYU football opener.
— Mark and Gayle Van Wagoner and Danny Kramer aren't the only personalities on KKDS (AM-1060). Jeff Rollins does the early morning show, and Chick Watkins is on from 10 a.m. to noon. Hank Hathaway does a shopping show from noon to 1 p.m., and Ed Brand is on the air from 2-3 p.m. In addition, Dr. Joel Wallach does a show from 6-7 p.m., and Mark Haden is the evening radio personality.
— KQMB, "Star 102.7," has an all-request lunch hour each weekday at noon, hosted by J.J. Riley.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com