KUAZ

KUAZ and KUAZ-FM are public radio stations in Tucson, Arizona, owned by the University of Arizona. KUAZ transmits on 1550 kHz on the AM dial, and KUAZ-FM is at 89.1 MHz on the FM dial. The stations simulcast a radio format of news and information, as a member of National Public Radio. KUAZ-AM-FM carry such popular NPR shows as "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition," "1A" and "Fresh Air with Terry Gross."

KUAZ/KUAZ-FM
KUAS-FM
Broadcast areaKUAZ-AM-FM: Tucson metropolitan area
KUAS-FM: Southeastern Arizona
FrequencyKUAZ: 1550 kHz
KUAZ-FM: 89.1 MHz (HD Radio)
KUAS-FM: 88.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Programming
FormatPublic radio
AffiliationsNational Public Radio
Public Radio International
Public Radio Exchange
Ownership
Owner
KUAT-FM, KUAT-TV
History
First air date
KUAZ: June 26, 1961 (1961-06-26) (as KFIF)
KUAZ-FM: April 27, 1992 (1992-04-27)
KUAS-FM: October 11, 2018 (2018-10-11)
Former call signs
KUAZ:
KFIF (1961–1968)
KUAT-AM (1968–2000)
Call sign meaning
KUAZ-AM-FM: University of Arizona
KUAS-FM: "KUAZ secondary"
Technical information
Facility ID1550: 2723
89.1: 3383
88.9: 173449
Class1550: D
89.1: A
88.9: C2
Power1550: 50,000 watts days only
ERP89.1: 1,600 watts
88.9: 1,700 watts
HAAT89.1: 187.0 meters (613.5 ft)
88.9: 675.1 meters (2,215 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
32°22′21″N 111°5′52″W KUAZ (AM)
32°12′53″N 111°0′21″W KUAZ-FM
31°28′51.7″N 109°57′31.3″W (KUAS-FM)
Translator(s)K283DC (104.5 MHz, Catalina)
K202EM (88.3 MHz, Bisbee–Douglas, rebroadcasts KUAS-FM)
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteRadio.azpm.org/KUAZ

By day, 1550 KUAZ is powered at 50,000 watts, the maximum for AM stations. But because 1550 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for Mexico and Canada, KUAZ is a daytimer, required to go off the air at night to avoid interference. The transmitter is off Interstate 10 near the Tucson Premium Outlets Mall in Marana.[1] KUAZ-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,600 watts. The FM transmitter is on Tumamoc Hill Road in Tucson.[2]

Programming is also heard on KUAS-FM at 88.9 MHz in Sierra Vista, as well as two FM translators that fill in service gaps around Tucson and Southeastern Arizona.

History

As a construction permit, 1550 AM began as KSWC, but changed its call sign to KFIF before signing on the air on June 25, 1961 (1961-06-25).[3] It was owned by the Southwest Broadcasting Corporation.

In 1967, John B. Walton, who had bought KFIF in 1965, also bought a station at 580 AM, which he would christen KIKX. The station on 580 could operate 24 hours a day. Walton then donated 1550 AM to the University of Arizona. The station became KUAT on October 7, 1968.[4] KUAT initially had a format of classical music and jazz. When KUAT-FM went on the air in 1975, the FM played all classical music and the AM went all jazz.

The U of A put 89.1 FM on the air in Sierra Vista on April 27, 1992. It took the call sign KUAZ-FM, so as to distinguish itself from KUAT-FM.[5] The AM station adopted the KUAZ calls on August 11, 2000.

Repeaters

On October 11, 2018, after an 11-year process, KUAS-FM 88.9 came to air for the first time, broadcasting to Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Benson, Huachuca City, and Douglas. Previously, Sierra Vista received KUAZ via translator K217GI (91.3 MHz).[6]

A second translator, K283DC at 104.5 MHz, fills service gaps in the Catalina and Saddlebrooke areas to the north of Tucson and began operating in 2019.

Broadcast translators for KUAZ-FM
Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)ClassFCC info
K217GI 91.3 FMSierra Vista, Arizona82DFMQ
K283DC 104.5 FMCatalina, Arizona250DFMQ

References
  1. "KUAZ-AM 1550 kHz – Tucson, AZ". radio-locator.com.
  2. "KUAZ-FM 89.1 MHz - Tucson, AZ". radio-locator.com.
  3. World Radio History
  4. World Radio History
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2022-02-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "AZPM Launches New Radio Station in Southeast Arizona". Arizona Public Media. October 30, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
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