It seemed like only yesterday that KPRI -- formerly known as Sets 102 -- had a small but dedicated band of listeners from Del Mar to

Escondido. That's because it was yesterday. And the year before last. And tomorrow, too.

But after more than a decade of existence, the only major radio station geared toward North County is ready to leave the nest. If all

goes well, KPRI will soon move its transmitter and boost its signal, allowing it to easily reach radios in San Diego and points south.

In other words, our baby will be all grown up.

"We expect the move will approximately double the number of people we can reach with our signal," said station co-owner and show host Bob

Hughes. "At the very least, it will make KPRI more listenable in more places, more consistently for more people."

KPRI is awaiting federal approval of its application to boost its signal from 14,500 to 30,000 watts and move its transmitter from a mountain in San Marcos -- you can see it as you drive by on Highway 78 -- to Mount Soledad in La Jolla.

Hughes said most problem spots for KPRI reception should vanish, such as downtown San Diego, East County, South County and

Interstate 15 around Rancho Bernardo. (Some car and home stereos can easily pick up KPRI's signal in those areas, but reception varies and depends on factors such as the quality of your radio and its antenna.)

KPRI could use a bigger audience. Despite being the only station in town other than FM 94.9 to directly appeal to rock connoisseurs, KPRI

has never been a huge player in the local ratings. It consistently attracts an estimated 1.5 percent to 2 percent of the San Diego radio audience, placing it in around 20th place overall.

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If you're having trouble receiving reception for KPRI or any other radio station, there a few things you can do. First, try a different radio, if you have one. A portable radio or a car stereo may do a much better job pulling in signals because they're designed to be used in "difficult (reception) environments," Hughes said, as compared to, say, a home stereo.

Second, give your antenna a boost. For a few bucks, you can pick up an FM antenna at an electronics store and attach it to your radio if

there's a hookup plug. (Look for the antennas that are long, T-shaped, pink-colored cords.)

"If you can get us on a portable or in your car parked at home or work, you should be able to get us inside," Hughes said.

If that doesn't work, you can try other options, like buying a full-fledged radio antenna.

Third, think about the logistics if you're in your car. Hughes said you'll get worse reception if your antenna is embedded in the defroster wires on your back window. That's because your car will block signals coming from the direction you're traveling. "Mast" antennas, the old fashioned kind that stick out of the car and make a nice "thwannnnng" sound if they get snapped back and forth, are better but rare these days.

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Lose one, win won -- sort of. After bidding farewell to San Diego's only left-leaning talk station, local liberals now have a new talk station

to turn to. On it, they'll find one of the top liberal talk-show hosts of all time, a man who may have plenty of trouble making a splash in the 21st century.

The host's name is Michael Jackson. If you listened to Los Angeles talk radio between the late 1960s and the 1990s, you know he's not the

strange pop star but a thoughtful and earnest British interviewer.

In other words, just the kind of host that radio talk shows left behind some 15 years ago in favor of bloviating gasbags.

He's been back on the air in Los Angeles for a month on KGIL, and now sister station XESURF -- at 540 AM -- is simulcasting its programming.

XESURF's transmitter is in Mexico and it can be heard all over San Diego County.

Other hosts on the station, which is embracing both left and right, include Neal Boortz, "Dr. Drew" Pinsky (of the sex advice show "Loveline") and, in another blast from the radio past, CNN's Larry King.

In recent years, XESURF has zipped through a variety of formats, including golden oldies, country and classical. None of them has made much of an impact among local listeners. My guess is that Jackson's quiet ways, along with the eclectic nature of the rest of the station's programming, won't resonate with modern listeners. For better or worse, the AM dial is no longer a place for quiet, refined discussion of current affairs.

Quickie

Jennifer White, former sidekick on 91X's morning show, is moving across town to female-oriented rock station Sophie@103.7, where

she'll begin hosting a morning show later this year.

Randy Dotinga wishes the other Michael Jackson would host a talk show. E-mail him at NCTimesRadio@aol.com.