Morehead State Public Radio had been operating with outdated equipment at its WMKY facilities for a long time, and after about 30 years, we finally performed a major upgrade. Our installation included a new dehydrator, switches, sensors, cables, line tubes, a new Omnia 9 audio processor, and two new Nautel transmitters along with multiple hardware/software components. This was the culmination of a multi-year planning project and required four grants to achieve our goal. Basically, everything except the WMKY antenna on the KET tower has been replaced and updated.
The Nautel NV20LT main transmitter and VX6 backup, purchased through Broadcast Supply Worldwide, replaced two transmitters with a combined age of more than 50 years.
“In choosing our replacement transmitters, we wanted reliable, energy-efficient units that are compatible with newer technologies that are now available.”
We took our time to research, plan, and implement this project. This was not just to be sure we had the funds, but more importantly, to ensure we had the right people and the most complete and dependable transmitter equipment available. Nautel checked all the boxes and once we decided on the NVLT series, there was nothing else to be considered for this project. We started with the decision to purchase the Nautel NV20LT and built everything else around that unit.
“Nautel is the gold standard, and we knew they would meet our needs for many years to come.”
Photo provided by Morehead State University.
Inrush Broadcast Services in Chicago provided consultation and installation on the project. Moving and electrical services were provided locally in Morehead (KY) by Tim Trenalone at Potter Electric. Special thanks to Sean Johnson at Kentucky Educational Television (KET) and Joey Boothe at Broadcast Supply Worldwide for their assistance. We also can’t thank our donors and supporters enough: The Public Media Company, The Corporation For Public Broadcasting (with three separate grants), and Morehead State University.
WMKY 90.3 FM became fully operational on the new system in July 2026.
Photo provided by Morehead State University.
“I honestly can’t believe how clear and crisp our signal now sounds—it just pops and sings beautifully!”
This transmitter project has secured our future and satisfied our broadcast needs for (at least) the next twenty years. We’re confident we’ll benefit from the strategies and equipment we’ve implemented. We’re excited for the future of broadcasting and the next great opportunity this medium has to offer, adapting to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Paul Hitchcock, General Manager
Morehead State Public Radio – WMKY
