california kilowatt
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An amateur radio broadcast strength exceeding the legal limit of one kilowatt, or (by extension) a transmitter broadcasting in this manner.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
A few nights ago conditions on 20 were at their usual level, the California kilowatts were in full charge, the 50 watt diehards were busy calling endless CQ's, and the DX stations were reaping the harvest.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “california kilowatt” mean?
An amateur radio broadcast strength exceeding the legal limit of one kilowatt, or (by extension) a transmitter broadcasting in this manner.
Is “california kilowatt” formal or informal?
california kilowatt is generally slang.