KNSJ Radio

KNSJ IS BACK ON AIR AFTER ANTENNA REPLACEMENT

By Susan Taylor

Miriam Raftery contributed to this report

 

May 21, 2023 (Descanso) -- You might not know that KNSJ 89.1 FM, the station that brings you East County Magazine’s radio show, broadcasts from atop Monument Peak in the Laguna Mountains, a 90-minute drive from its studio in City Heights.  A drive to the mountaintop will reveal its beautiful site and fantastic view, but the location can also wreak havoc on cell and radio towers.  Last year’s severe winter storms battered the station’s antenna with ice, knocking it off air for weeks.

The good news is that the antenna has been replaced and listeners can resume hearing their favorite shows.

Transmitter replacement was no easy matter and involved money, brave climbers, and a need for constant maintenance.  Martin Eder, CEO of KNSJ, hired Soelberg Construction Company to do the work.  Owner Victor Soelberg and his two sons shimmy up antennas when repairs of this type are needed, which can be quite frequent. Eder and two other volunteers with the station supervised and tested the reception from the control room next to the antenna before driving down.


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KNSJ RADIO NEEDS FUNDS AFTER ICE STORM DAMAGES ANTENNAE

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2019 (Descanso)—The worst ice storm in decades knocked East County’s nonprofit community radio station, KNSJ 89.1 FM, off the air for weeks, damaging its antennae atop Mt. Laguna. East County Magazine’s radio show airs on KNSJ, along with many other local and national shows providing independent news, views, music and culture.

Thanks to a board member’s $5,000 loan, the station is back on the area—but urgently needs donations recoup those costs for repairs and buying an ice shield, as well as thousands of dollars in more equipment recommended to improve reliability, boost the signal and prevent future disruptions during emergencies when people need news most.

You can help KNSJ’s “people powered radio” station by making a donation at www.KNSJ.org/donate.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

LISTEN NOW: OUR MAY 2017 RADIO SHOWS ARE NOW ONLINE

 

 

July 2, 2017 (San Diego's East County)-- Our May  2017 radio shows are now online. For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics an interviews,  click here, or click "read more" and scroll down. (Sound files may take a few moments to load).

Our newsmaker interviews included  author Mollie Moon, author of Five Wishes, Ammar Campo-Najir, Congressional candidate running against Duncan Hunter, paleontologist Tom Demere from the Natural History Museum on a discovery suggesting early man occupied our area thousands of years earlier than previously believed,  Mark Hanson and Terri Steele from Heartland Youthbuild  on opportunities for young people locally thanks to a federal grant.

Plus we  have highlights of last year’s Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest with clips from winner Shira Ellison and national champion Matt  Hartz.  We also had coverage and analysis of hot national issues including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey’s testimony,  and hot local issues ranging from a gas pipeline proposed in Santee to toxic vapors in El Cajon to a revival of La Mesa’s summer car shows.

 The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Read more and listen to our May shows:

Audio: 

Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-1-17.mp3
Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-5-17.mp3
Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-12-17.mp3
Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-16-17.mp3
Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-19-17.mp3
Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-22-17.mp3
Download: Audio icon ECMShow5-27-17.mp3

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

BREAK-IN TAKES COMMUNITY RADIO KNSJ 89.1 FM OFF THE AIR: BROADCAST EQUIPMENT STOLEN & VANDALIZED

 

 

East County Magazine Show is among programming knocked off air; funds urgently needed to restore broadcasting

 

June 7,2016 (San Diego)—Community radio station KNSJ 89.1 FM Descanso has been temporarily knocked off the air after a break-in and theft. KNSJ's transmitter site on Monument Peak in the Laguna Mountains was broken into, with vandalism intentionally disabled broadcasting on Thursday, June 2nd at 7:05 p.m. PST. The immediate impact of this crime is loss of the FM broadcast and service as an emergency alert system. KNSJ continues to stream 24/7 online, but not over the public airways. Because this break-in occurred on federal land and interrupted a licensed FCC full-power FM station, this forced entry is a considered a federal crime.

KNSJ is making a public appeal to raise $5000 to get the station back on the air.

Donations are needed to replace equipment, upgrade a security system and the speedy return of this non-profit radio station to regular programming. Tax-deductible donations can be made at KNSJ.org KNSJ is an all volunteer station relying primarily on donations.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

EAST COUNTY MOVERS AND SHAKERS TURN OUT FOR PEOPLE’S BALL TO SUPPORT KNSJ RADIO

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Melody Ponchot and Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2013 (San Diego) – Community members , activists and political leaders from across East County were among hundreds in attendance at the People’s Ball Saturday night at the World Beat Center.  The event raised over $4,000 that will be matched by an anonymous donor, leaving just $5,000 left to raise for a transmitter to put KNSJ radio on the air in East County.

Prominent East County residents in attendance included Lemon Grove Councilman George Gastil, Boulevard Planning Group member Melody Ponchot, who rocked out on the dance floor, and Ben Kalasho, who narrowly missed winning his race for El Cajon Council.  Musicians, artists, and groups ranging from human rights advocates to Green Party members also turned out to support KNSJ, which will reach portions of San Diego in addition to a vast area in East County.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

2 LIVE COMEDY EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR KNSJ RADIO JULY 15 AND 22

July 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Brew Ha HA comedians will host two live comedy events aimed at raising money to help a new radio station get on the air in East County.  KNSJ Radio, FM 89.1, has been approved for an FM license to broadcast from Descanso and also streaming live broadcasts online.  The network will focus on social justice issues while also providing an on-air forum to showcase community news, highlight local musicians’ works, and air local emergency alerts.   


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

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