From the Radio World “Who’s Buying What” page: Family Radio’s 93.7 WFRW(FM) in Kingston Springs, Tenn., has updated its transmitter to include HD Radio.
Family Radio acquired the signal from Educational Media Foundation last October, after it was originally sold to EMF by Salem Media.
WFRW serves Nashville and its western suburbs, including Franklin, where the nonprofit Christian radio network’s headquarters is located. That was part of the reason behind updating the Class A signal to HD, according to David Shantz, Family Radio’s director of engineering.
Tommy Jenkins, a Family Radio regional engineer based in Pensacola, Fla., handled the transmitter’s installation and setup.
The organization purchased a Nautel VS2.5 transmitter with the VS HD upgrade and the HD Multicast+ Importer/Exporter. WFRW uses an Inovonics JUSTIN 808 for time alignment and sync, as well as an Inovonics 552 HD modulation monitor to measure audio levels. For audio processing, WFRW deploys an Omnia.9 processor.
[Related: “HD Radio Blend Is Designed to Be Seamless”]
Shantz said Family Radio opted for an early delivery of the transmitter, so it was not set up at the factory for HD. Jenkins configured it separately with a cable.
“If you take the time to follow the instructions, the manual turning on of the HD will go smoothly,” Shantz said. He credited Jenkins for his diligence.
The upgraded signal with HD is now on the airwaves. Shantz received enthusiastic comments from Doug Hannah, Family Radio’s director of programming. The station plans to add HD subchannels at a later date.
This is Family Radio’s third HD Radio upgrade. Radio World reported on the 2023 install at 88.1 KEBR(FM) in Sacramento and its second was at 88.7 WJFR(FM) in Jacksonville, Fla.
Shantz said the organization has plans to upgrade more of its 62 signals to HD this year. Family Radio owns 39 full-power signals and 23 translators.
