It has a 110,000-watt Class B signal atop San Bruno Mountain, allowing this NPR Member station to cover nearly all of the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose market. That said, the Bay Area is notorious for its hills and valleys, which can make FM reception particularly troublesome.
KQED-FM is now acting to resolve that problem in East Bay communities by partnering with GeoBroadcast Solutions.
The implementation of a GBS MaxxCasting system has taken place, under a license agreement between KQED and GBS. The system, currently operating with four MaxxCasting nodes, is designed to enhance FM signal coverage in communities such as Concord and Walnut Creek. With K201BV at 88.1 MHz in Benicia and Martinez, the main signal at 88.5 MHz has a 75-watt FM booster in Concord; a 140-watt FM booster in Alamo, serving Danville; and a 450-watt booster atop Vollmer Peak in Orinda, further assisting Concord.
“The implementation of MaxxCasting aligns with FCC regulations governing public broadcasting and is focused on improving coverage consistency in areas affected by signal challenges, including dense topography and high population density,” GBS explains.
Prior to the boosters, KQED listeners in Walnut Creek, Concord, and Pleasant Hill experienced inconsistent reception due to the region’s terrain. “Every market has unique needs,” said John Paul Littleton, Chief Technology Officer at GeoBroadcast Solutions. “With KQED, our focus was on overcoming specific signal challenges in densely populated areas. The result is a solution that meets regulatory standards and improves coverage in areas previously plagued by signal blockages.”
