[FireBeyond]

> Broadcast stations are some of the highest-power radio transmissions around us, typically thousands of kilowatts (for example the rock station near me transmits at an ERP of 51,000 watts[0]).

I don't think so.

Not "thousands of killowatts" transmitted. Your example is as you say, an ERP of 51kW.

But even ERP doesn't refer to the transmitter. An ERP of 51,000W is most likely a 5-10kW transmitter, with a gain factor of 5-10.

[TylerE]

Back in the pirate radio days 100 and 250kw transmitters were common.

Back in the '30s a few AM stations ran at 500kw, and could be picked up on other continents.

[FireBeyond]

AM? Definitely, but even that is 100, 250, 500. Not "thousands of kW".

[amatecha]

Oh sorry, I doubled up my units of measurement there, yes, tens of kilowatts haha :) (unfortunately too late to be able to edit that comment)