KDHX
Encyclopedia
Independent Radio
Independent radio indicates a radio station that is run in a manner different from usual for the country it broadcasts in. In countries where there exist government-run radio stations that served as the primary or only the variety of licensed broadcaster, the term independent radio generally means...
, non-commercial
Non-commercial
Non-commercial refers to an activity or entity that does not in some sense involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis...
, listener-supported community radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
located at 88.1 MHz FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
offering a full spectrum of music along with cultural and public affairs
Public affairs (broadcasting)
Public affairs, a broadcasting industry term, refers to television programs which focuses on matters of politics and public policy. Among commercial broadcasters, such programs are often only to satisfy Federal Communications Commission regulatory expectations and are not scheduled in prime time...
programming since 1987. KDHX broadcasts 24 hours a day online and with 42 kW of effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
in stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
with RBDS data.
Station background
KDHX is licensed to the Double Helix CorporationDouble Helix Corporation
The Double Helix Corporation is a non-profit organization which owns and operates KDHX TV cable channel 21 and KDHX 88.1 FM in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It also operates Public-access television cable TV channel 22 for the city....
, a 501(c)3 non-profit arts and educational organization with a mission to foster community participation, knowledge and training in and through mass media, with the values of developing volunteer participation, supporting cultural diversity, promoting local talent, providing a forum for public discourse, and providing education through programming and training. The Double Helix Corporation was formed after the demise of KDNA
KDNA
KDNA is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Variety format including music , children's programming, local and international news and a unique show each weekday morning highlighting employment opportunities in the Yakima area, all in Spanish. Licensed to Yakima, Washington, USA, the station...
, a countercultural community-radio station that operated in St. Louis's Gaslight Square district in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The corporation is independent of any governmental entity and is not affiliated with any religious or educational organization. The KDHX offices and studios are located at 3504 Magnolia Ave. in the Tower Grove East neighborhood; its tower is located in the northern part of Jefferson County, MO.
At the time of KDHX's founding, frequency 88.1 MHz in the greater St. Louis area was occupied by 10-watt, Class D station KHRU-FM, operated by Clayton High School
School District of Clayton
School District of Clayton includes all of Clayton, portions of Richmond Heights, and a portion of unincorporated St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. The district is located immediately to the west of the City of St. Louis. As of 2005 the school district had 2497 students, 219 full-time teachers, and...
in Clayton, MO only from 5-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri. during the school year. It was the only station in St. Louis operating on that frequency. Double Helix tried to work out a cooperative arrangement with the Clayton School District to share the frequency, but the school district was unwilling to accept any frequency-sharing proposal. Eventually Double Helix sued in federal court, resulting in a decision that stations had to "use it or lose it" with regard to frequencies. After that decision, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) revoked the KHRU license and awarded the frequency to Double Helix Corporation
Double Helix Corporation
The Double Helix Corporation is a non-profit organization which owns and operates KDHX TV cable channel 21 and KDHX 88.1 FM in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It also operates Public-access television cable TV channel 22 for the city....
.
External links
- KDHX - Myspace.com page.
- STLradio.com, Contains many articles on the history of St. Louis radio broadcasing including one on the history of KDNA under "Call Letter History". Originally from St. Louis Journalism Review.
- KDNA and KDHX archival materials and addendum at the Western Historical Manuscripts Collection.
- KDNA and KDHX archival materials at the Saint Louis Public Library.