Q-FM/KARC/KLSI -- November 29, 2011

Mike H. in Linda Mar (the QFM "janitor) wrote recently and asked if their new Optimod, an audio processor, had a beneficial effect on their signal. I would say yes. Within their coverage area, the signal is crystal clear. I can crank up the car radio and it sounds great. Several Pacifica businesses run commercials on the station. One sponsors a Beatles hour on Sunday morning. It's nice having a local radio station.

KLSI ==> KARC - September 21, 2010

Last week while driving home, I heard a station id on Q-FM and I thought the announcer had given different call letters. I listened every day after that and finally heard another station id. The new call letters are KARC. I don't know why or when they changed.

KLSI 89.3 FM #4 -- July 16, 2010

I have written about KLSI before. KLSI Moss Beach used to be associated with two other stations, WAZQ in Key West, Florida and KAQQ in Midland, Texas. Midland has been gone from their announcements for a while. Some time they also lost Key West and stopped playing Florida commercials. Now they call themselves "Pacifica's Only Local Radio Station" and have their own minimal website: http://893qfm.com/

The Giants had a nice ceremony before the game to honor Jon Miller, who is going to the Hall of Fame. Lon Simmons spoke. Miller introduced his three children and one sang the National Anthem.

KLSI 89.3 FM #3 - January 31, 2008

I wrote about KLSI in back in August and October. KLSI Moss Beach is or was associated with two other stations, WAZQ in Key West, Florida and KAQQ in Midland, Texas. There have been some developments.

The music has shifted more toward contemporary songs and away from oldies.

In November someone commented that KAQQ had become a Christian station, KLPN.

Also in November, a public radio station in Marin interfered with it almost every day.

At some point, the announcement changed from "KLSI Moss Beach" to "KLSI Moss Beach, San Francisco." I have found so far that I can only get the station while driving along the Great Highway in San Francisco. I guess that counts.

During the big storm in January and for a while after, the station may have been off the air.

I noticed recently that the music sometimes stops then starts again. My wife said it sounds like streaming audio. That may be how they are distributing the broadcast from Florida.

I have heard more commercials, all for Key West businesses.

Speaking of storms, we had violent rain this afternoon. I got soaked coming home.

KLSI 89.3 FM #2 - October 13, 2007

I wrote about KLSI Moss Beach -- Q-FM -- back in August. Since then, I have heard from two people in Texas who listen to one of its sister stations, KAQQ. The primary station in the group is WAZQ Key West. Along with the two people in Texas, I have heard two brief announcer-read commercials, one for Ashley Furniture in Key West and one for Domino's Pizza. The announcer pronounced Domino in a funny way (Dah - mee -no?). Maybe it wasn't for the chain. Two infrequently-heard commercials can't be enough to pay the bills.

Announcements are now done by the deep male voice and a female voice ("We're not just radio -- We're Q-FM"). Weather reports are definitely for Key West. I think I have noticed that they are including more recent music in the mix. At the end of the string of stations they announce, they now say "KLSI Moss Beach/San Francisco". I doubt the station can be heard in San Francisco. I'll have to try it tomorrow.

Here is the Q-FM website, which is not very informative: http://qfmmusic.com/

KLSI 89.3 FM #1 - August 4, 2007

FM radio reception is limited in Pacifica by our surrounding hills. Last year I was lying in bed dialing between KQED and KCSM and heard a station I had never heard before. It was playing some strange trance music. There were no live announcers, but there was an occasional taped announcement like "WAZQ Key West, KAQQ Midland, KLSI Moss Beach". At some point, the station switched to 1940's music, then it went away.

Last week or so, it appeared again. Now the taped announcements refer to "Q-FM", and give the same list of stations. Now they play 1970's or 1980's-type oldies. I heard a weather announcement one day while listening in the car.

There are no commercials and no pledge breaks. Where does the money come from? A Google search lists it as being licensed to "EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, INC." It doesn't sound all that educational or public.

I wonder what is coming next.