HD Radio Is Here

The digital age is upon us, and KDHX is ready to bring our listeners the next generation of audio fidelity. Our new HD (digital) signal is broadcasting now! Get up to speed on digital radio with our HD Radio FAQ, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to our HD Radio Fund and view our photo journal to see what it takes to put in a new transmitter.

On the outskirts of Arnold, MO stands a 580 foot, 42,000 watt radio tower, which has been broadcasting KDHX 88.1 since October 1987. This fall the tower has had both a face lift and some major surgery. We've climbed up and down, painted and landscaped, installed a new electrical system and upgraded the air conditioning, added a new diesel generator and removed our trusty old Larcan transmitter (which may find a home to live again). And finally, we've installed our brand new Harris Z-16-HD transmitter.

After months and months of work and testing, our HD signal is live!

This is truly an investment in the future. KDHX will continue to broadcast at 88.1 on your analog dial. At the same time, we are broadcasting a digital signal with the exact same programming. So for those of you lucky enough to have a digital radio, you have a choice. No one knows just how long it will take for digital radios to be the norm, but whenever it happens, we will be ready.

What’s even more exciting is that HD radio gives us the ability to broadcast a second digital channel. The reason for our excitement is that this opens up new opportunities for training and education, more voices on the air and even more of the music you can’t get anywhere else. So, it’s not just the clear, clean digital signal, it is the expansion of our core mission to build community through media—and to bring you the best radio you've ever heard.

Here's a glimpse into the transmitter installation. For more pictures, visit Sara's KDHX Photo site.


The transmitter project started with a little landscaping.	Then the new generator was delivered.

Transmitters put out a lot of heat, so new ducts were installed.	This is a very big spool of 3" coax cable, which will be pulled up the tower to the antenna.

The antenna is assembled on the ground.	Then goes up the tower on ropes.

Tower crews mount the antenna.	Fully mounted and cabled antenna.

The trusty old Larcan transmitter, installed in 1987.	Our new HD Transmitter.

It takes several people to wrestle a 2,000 lb transmitter.	Larcan transmitter leaving for a new home.

The Larcan leaves Jefferson County for South Carolina.	The KDHX Tower.