Non-commercial community station brings new transmission technology to mid-Missouri listeners.
Quincy Illinois, July 22, 2026 — Broadcast Electronics (BE), a global leader in designing and manufacturing broadcast products—including AM, FM, HD Radio®, TV transmitters, and media software—announces that KOPN Community Radio in Columbia, Missouri, has selected and successfully deployed the STX 10 FM Transmitter as part of a major station upgrade.
The new solid-state transmitter replaces an older BE FM10S transmitter. Highlighting the legendary durability of Broadcast Electronics technology, the legacy FM10S remains operational at full power and will transition to serve as the station’s dedicated backup system, ensuring unbroken broadcast continuity for the mid-Missouri region.
KOPN is a non-commercial community radio station serving Columbia, Missouri, and the surrounding area with a diverse mix of local programming, national news, independent talk, and a wide range of musical genres. Seeking a technology refresh that would lower operational costs while securing their signal for the future, the station’s leadership initiated a rigorous engineering evaluation in 2025.
Ed Herrmann, KOPN board member, and Dylan Martin, Designated Chief Operator, served as the primary technical contacts, working closely with BE’s Quincy-based design and support teams. A standout feature during the evaluation was the STX 10’s built-in IP connectivity. The engineering team was highly impressed by the intuitive, browser-based HTML5 graphical user interface, which allows secure, multi-level password-protected monitoring and control from anywhere in the world.
KOPN has been a vital voice in mid Missouri since 1973, and having a reliable transmitter is crucial to serving our listeners,” said Ed Herrmann, of the KOPN Board of Directors. “It was time to replace our old BE FM10S, and after a year of research, we chose the STX 10. The team at BE walked us through the options and answered all our questions. With BE’s help, the installation went smoothly and we were off the air only a few seconds. Beyond the hardware, the web interface is a nice upgrade. It will save engineering trips to the tower and make it easier for our volunteer programmers to take readings. We are also happy that the BE FM10S, which had served reliably for almost 20 years, will stay on as a full-power backup.”
The STX family represents a massive leap forward in operational efficiency, delivering up to 72% AC-to-RF efficiency to lower power utility bills, alongside a state-of-the-art Direct-to-Channel (DTC) digital modulator for unrivaled precision and sonic clarity. Built with hot-pluggable power supplies and front-access RF modules, it guarantees maximum uptime and simplified field maintenance.
“Under new ownership, Broadcast Electronics is executing a renewed energy focused on investing in next-generation products and deep industry partnerships,” said Rich Redmond, President and CEO of Broadcast Electronics. “KOPN’s transition to the STX 10 underscores what we are hearing from broadcasters globally: stations want high-efficiency technology that drives down total cost of ownership, backed by a team committed to keeping them on the air. We are proud to support KOPN as they step into the future of digital-ready broadcasting, while continuing a 67-year legacy of manufacturing American-designed broadcast innovations right here in Quincy, Illinois.”
About Broadcast Electronics
For the past 67 years, Broadcast Electronics has been providing high-tech solutions for broadcasters in over 170 countries. Located in Quincy, Illinois, Broadcast Electronics is a proud US-based designer and manufacturer of media and broadcast infrastructure solutions for the global marketplace. Customers spanning the globe, from New York City to Johannesburg to New Delhi and everywhere in between and ranging from large media conglomerates to individual radio stations, all rely on BE’s innovative transmitter systems and enterprise class media management software solutions to reliably create, distribute and transmit high-quality content to their listeners. All of their products and services come from a heritage of creativity and innovation unmatched in the industry. Visit www.bdcast.com for more information.
