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They don't. In the west (west of the Mississippi?) they start with K.

Not ALL do. This are applicable only in North America and codes assigned for different types of broadcasting - including commercial radio, and in different regions in North America.

When "radiotelephone" sets began to appear on ocean going ships, the operators pretty much made up their own identifications. As more ships came equipped, this practice soon became a major problem. It was then decided that transmitting and receiving stations be assigned call signs.

When land-based radio stations started up in the early part of the 20th century, the new Federal Radio Commission began to assign call letters- first in alpha-numeric variations (for experimental licensees) and three-and-four letter alpha identifications for commercial operations.

An international conference comprised of the major countries heavily into the development of broadcasting decided that North America would be assigned as follows:

"N" for U.S. Navy stations;

"W" for broadcast stations on the amplitude modulation (AM) band and later on the frequency modulation (FM) band east of the Mississippi River and "K" for those stations west of the river;

"C" would be assigned to stations originating from Canada;

"X" for Mexico

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12y ago
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11y ago

radio stations east of the Mississippi started with "w" and those west of the

aforementioned river started with "k" by order of the broadcast authority.

You mean like KDKA in Pittsburgh and WKY in Oklahoma City ?

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15y ago

When the first radio stations applied for licenses, (the ones listed) the government hadn't defined any specific requirements for the assignment. After the first few applications, the government has been assigning names starting with a W to stations East of the Mississippi and names starting with a K to those to the West for more than a century.

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10y ago

Back in the 1920s, when there were enough radio stations that governments

decided it was time to regulate them (to avoid having their signals devour each

other), there was an international conference to set up a workable worldwide

system, and unique station identifications for each nation were created. The

USA was allocated 'A', 'N', 'W', and 'K' as the first letter in all station call-signs

licensed in this country.

So far, commercial stations (AM. FM, TV) have been given call-signs beginning only

with the 'K' and the 'W', but ham stations and other services get calls beginning

with 'A' and 'N', in addition to 'W' and 'K'.

The 'W' and 'K' mean that the station with that call-sign is licensed by the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC) to operate in the USA.

Similarly, Mexico has 'X', Canada has 'C' and 'V', Spain has 'E', Germany has 'D',

Russia has 'U', etc. etc.

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Q: Why do radio stations begin with either a K or a W?
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What are some Christian radio stations for Northwest Indiana?

I listen to 89.7 Shine.FM and K-love 94.3.


What does the w and k stand for on radio stations?

Back in the 1920s, when there were enough radio stations that governments decided it was time to step in and regulate them (to avoid having their signals devour each other), there was an international conference to set up a workable worldwide system, and unique station identifications for each nation were created. The USA was allocated 'A', 'N', 'W', and 'K' as the first letter in all station call-signs licensed in this country. So far, commercial stations (AM. FM, TV) have been given call-signs beginning only with the 'K' and the 'W', but ham stations and other services get calls beginning with 'A' and 'N', in addition to 'W' and 'K'. To answer your question directly: The 'W' and 'K' mean that the station with that call-sign is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate in the USA. Similarly, Mexico has 'X', Canada has 'C' and 'V', Spain has 'E', Germany has 'D', Russia has 'U', etc. etc.


What does the W stand for in a radio stations call letters?

The International Telegraph Union assigned out the letters for call signs around 1927. The US was represented by the Army and Navy and so obtained the letters A and N. The K and W were derived by adding a Morse Code dash to A and N to get K and W, for civilian call signs. Canada was assigned C but for amateur radio the call signs begin with V (for Victoria...British Empire) as in VA and VE principally, though VY and CY and VO are also used. The VO in interesting in that it was assigned to Newfoundland when it was a colony of the UK, the call signs were retained after they joined Confederation in 1949. So, unlike the rest of Canada, the Newfie stations call signs still begin with VOCM, VOAR etc as they were in use long before Confederation. The reason I know this is I am attempting to get my amateur radio license, so I have been doing a bit of study!


Why are the call letters different for radio and television stations on each side of the US?

A long time ago, when commercial radio was just starting, it was evident that the stations needed to have some regulation. One of the things that made sense to them, back then, was to have call letters starting with "W" be on the east part of the US, and call letters starting with "K" being on the west half.


Why do radio stations start with k?

Back in the 1920s, when there were enough radio stations that governments decided it was time to step in and regulate them (to avoid having their signals devour each other), there was an international conference to set up a workable worldwide system, and unique station identifications for each nation were created. The USA was allocated 'A', 'N', 'W', and 'K' as the first letter in all station call-signs licensed in this country. So far, commercial stations (AM. FM, TV) have been given call-signs beginning only with the 'K' and the 'W', but ham stations and other services get calls beginning with 'A' and 'N', in addition to 'W' and 'K'. To answer your question directly: The 'W' and 'K' mean that the station with that call-sign is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate in the USA. Similarly, Mexico has 'X', Canada has 'C' and 'V', Spain has 'E', Germany has 'D', Russia has 'U', etc. etc.

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Why the broadcasting stations from the east coast start with the w initial and the west coast start with k?

In 1923 the Federal Communications Commission ruled that all radio stations west of the Mississippi River would begin with a K and east of the Mississippi would start with a W. This practice stems from early organizational structuring of radio station frequencies. In fact, each nation's radio stations begin with a different letter. More info: http://radio.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=radio&cdn=gadgets&tm=149&f=20&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.oldradio.com/archives/general/kwtrivia.htd


What are some Christian radio stations for Northwest Indiana?

I listen to 89.7 Shine.FM and K-love 94.3.


What are some national Christian Radio Stations that can be heard online?

Some examples of national Christian Radio Stations that can be heard online include K Love, Christian Teens and One Place. Another radio station you may be interested in is 1 Christan.


What is radio disneys number for California?

Except for the tiniest states, there are no radio stations that can cover a wholestate like California. Radio stations only cover one city and maybe some of theoutskirts around it.I'll give you the list of cities and radio stations in California. If you're not in oneof these cities, then you won't be able to hear Radio Disney on the actual radio.But since you have a computer, you can always hear it on-line. Go to the RadioDisney website, and the instructions are right there.Here's the Disney scene on California radio:Sacramento . . . K I I D, 1470 on the AM radio dialSan Francisco . . . K M K Y, 1310Los Angeles . . . K D I S, 1110Riverside . . . K K D D, 1290Fresno . . .used to have K A V T at 1680, but it's not there any more.I guess people didn't know how to find that number waaay up thereat the top end of the dial, so the station didn't have many listeners,and staying on the air was no fun any more, and they went off.


Why is K at the beginning of a radio station or news name?

Its amazing that I know this but I do, All stations that are west of the Mississippi ALL start with a K. Everything east starts with a W. I dont know why this is, mabey to group them easier


What lakes begin with a K?

What oceans begin with a k


What does the w and k stand for on radio stations?

Back in the 1920s, when there were enough radio stations that governments decided it was time to step in and regulate them (to avoid having their signals devour each other), there was an international conference to set up a workable worldwide system, and unique station identifications for each nation were created. The USA was allocated 'A', 'N', 'W', and 'K' as the first letter in all station call-signs licensed in this country. So far, commercial stations (AM. FM, TV) have been given call-signs beginning only with the 'K' and the 'W', but ham stations and other services get calls beginning with 'A' and 'N', in addition to 'W' and 'K'. To answer your question directly: The 'W' and 'K' mean that the station with that call-sign is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate in the USA. Similarly, Mexico has 'X', Canada has 'C' and 'V', Spain has 'E', Germany has 'D', Russia has 'U', etc. etc.


What does the W stand for in a radio stations call letters?

The International Telegraph Union assigned out the letters for call signs around 1927. The US was represented by the Army and Navy and so obtained the letters A and N. The K and W were derived by adding a Morse Code dash to A and N to get K and W, for civilian call signs. Canada was assigned C but for amateur radio the call signs begin with V (for Victoria...British Empire) as in VA and VE principally, though VY and CY and VO are also used. The VO in interesting in that it was assigned to Newfoundland when it was a colony of the UK, the call signs were retained after they joined Confederation in 1949. So, unlike the rest of Canada, the Newfie stations call signs still begin with VOCM, VOAR etc as they were in use long before Confederation. The reason I know this is I am attempting to get my amateur radio license, so I have been doing a bit of study!