This Week In Radio Tech (TWiRT)

Artificial intelligence isn’t here to replace radio — but it is coming for the audience’s attention, and it’s doing so on radio’s most important turf: deep personal connection. Dan McQuillin, Managing Director at Broadcast Bionics, joins Kirk to explore how AI and large language models can augment radio production rather than compete with it. Dan shares the fascinating “DanGPT” experiment — an AI version of himself so convincing it won over his wife of 34 years — as proof that AI can be just as personal and engaging as traditional radio. Together, they discuss how radio’s greatest strengths — shared experience, belonging, and community — remain central, and how embracing AI as “Augmented Intelligence” can amplify those qualities. With a growth mindset, AI becomes more than a cost-cutting tool; it’s a creative partner that makes the once-impossible possible. As Dan puts it, we used to have more ideas than time — now, thanks to AI, ideas are the only limit.

The Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic is where broadcast engineers and technologists gather each year to learn, share, and connect. Hosted in Wisconsin, this premier event features deep-dive sessions on both cutting-edge and legacy technologies, a vibrant trade show floor, and plenty of opportunities to network with peers from across the Midwest and beyond. Jointly organized by the Wisconsin and Minnesota Broadcasters Associations along with SBE chapters from both states, it’s a true collaboration for the industry. This year, TWiRT is once again going live from the trade show floor—right in the middle of the action—bringing you the latest insights, innovations, and conversations from one of the broadcast community’s most valuable gatherings.

On This Week in Radio Tech, we’re joined by veteran broadcast journalist Scott Fybush, publisher of NorthEast Radio Watch and Fybush.com, and the well-known Tower Site Calendar. Scott unpacks the FCC’s new deregulation initiative, popularly nicknamed “Delete, Delete, Delete”, which proposes removing a range of legacy rules. We also explore the sobering reality of declining radio station values, what’s driving the trend, and how it’s reshaping the broadcast landscape. On a lighter note, Scott shares details about a different kind of stage performance — a comedy act with his wife that will soon debut at Rochester’s Fringe Fest. It’s an episode that blends policy, economics, and a dash of humor — all through the eyes of one of radio’s most trusted observers.

We tend to live, work, and observe within the circles of friends and colleagues that we already know. The TWiRT podcast strives to introduce radio engineers and creators who bring new ideas, technologies, and techniques to our thinking. Juan Punyed and Caroline Delamarque are visiting and talking with Latin American broadcasters every day, and frequently visit radio stations with huge audiences in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Brasilia, Panama City, and Bogatá, among others. What are broadcasters doing technologically in these places? And how are engineers implementing and supporting these advances in broadcasting? Juan and Caroline give us a taste of what broadcasters are doing - and perhaps not doing - in Latin America.

Stereotypically speaking, broadcast engineers may not fit the “leadership” mold. Many of us are perfectly comfortable dealing with equipment, and not with leading other people. While some engineers are naturally also fine leaders, many who aspire to a leadership role may need a mentor, or an example, or perhaps a “baptism by fire”. Kevin Trueblood has leaned toward filling responsible positions throughout his career, and he brings his thoughts and advice on the topic in this episode Moreover, Kevin was just elected by his peers as President of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). We discuss some SBE plans as well, and get some great advice on backup (or primary) Internet service for critical infrastructure sites.

Brett Gibson explores the topic of vertical real estate and tower leasing on this episode of TWiRT. What are the structural concerns for adding antennas and feedlines to existing towers? How can a structural analysis set the course for seeking tower space clients? And what should renters be looking for in a tower situation, including the lease agreement? Plus, Brett shares insights on IP connectivity among studios and transmitter sites.

Explore the broad array of virtual processing platforms available for Radio broadcasters and hear the real-world experience of planning, installing and operating a cloud-based audio processing and distribution system from someone who’s already done it. Clay Walker is here to talk about what Audacy is doing now with cloud-based broadcast operations. Clay’s unique position at Audacy places him squarely between broadcast content and broadcast engineering and IT. He and Chris Tarr compare notes and progress regarding virtualized broadcast operations, when it makes sense to implement it, and whether to go with public cloud services, local data centers, or on-premises deployments.

TWiRT is live at the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) 2025 convention. This year TAB chose the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, TX, for their convention location. What a huge turnout of radio and TV broadcast engineers! It’s a social event, learning event, BBQ eating event, and a time to meet with broadcast technology manufacturers. Join us as we talk with nine broadcast engineering and tech professionals who are attending, speaking, and displaying the latest tech at this year’s TAB Convention.

Dave Anderson, Chief Broadcast Engineer at WUSF, Tampa - brings us two tales of two fibers. One tale surrounds the fantastic utility, capability, and flexibility of using fiber to connect different radio studios to the central rack room. The other tale describes the dangers of having diverse IP connection services that all use the exact same cross-country or last-mile fiber bundle. Either way a fault in the fiber can take out multiple services that were thought to be “diverse”. Dave shares his recent experience and advice for using fiber’s clear advantages while avoiding service pitfalls.

Most of us radio people - whether engineers, owners, programmers, or sales reps - tend to work in the same market for quite a while. It’s rare that we get a chance to listen to many other stations in other markets to see what’s going on in programming, processing, transmission, and so forth. Nick Dee, however, is making a career of traveling thousands of miles every month and listening - really listening - to hundreds of radio stations on each trip. This exposure to many stations in many markets gives Nick a unique perspective on what’s right and what’s wrong with radio programming, audio, and transmission. With his engineering education he understands when something isn’t right, and even carries a spectrum analyzer to make quick analyses on stations that seem to be transmitting a little more than they should.

Chris Tarr is one of the busiest broadcast engineers you’ll ever meet. He loves radio engineering, and he’s highly motivated to work hard and keep learning more about his profession. Chris has assembled some recent experiences into some lessons for all of us on this episode. From guiding some new broadcasters into legal and effective operations to modifying an older FM transmitter for additional years of reliable service, Chris has a lot to share this week.

This Week in Radio Tech dives into how broadcasters can build rock-solid, multi-layered broadcast plants that keep them on the air and their audiences happy, even when equipment fails. Chuck Bullett, Director of Technology at Audacy San Francisco, shares his modular “backup B and C” philosophy—designing independent, mutually exclusive systems that can stand in when […]

As we celebrate the 4th of July - Independence Day - in the United States, we’re reminded of the relative freedoms we enjoy here in the realm of broadcasting. In our case we’re speaking of radio broadcasting. Dr. Andy Gladding teaches broadcasting at Hofstra University, plus he’s the Market DoE for the Salem radio stations in New York City. Additionally, Andy is the new owner of WKZE-FM in Saulsbury, Connecticut. His work (and working vacations) have taken Andy to several other countries where he gets to know and understand the radio broadcasting landscape. Who better to compare and contrast broadcasting rules and practices with those in the USA? Join us for a fascinating look at radio broadcasting in a few other countries as we celebrate Independence Day in the USA.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is launching a rare program to train students in broadcast engineering. The emphasis followed years of planning and consultation within the RTF department and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. William Kerkhof and Andrew Smock join Chris Tarr and Kirk Harnack to reveal the motivations and planning going into this new program. And we get an introduction to some of the courses and emphases available through this degree program.

Join us for a special on-location episode of This Week in Radio Tech, recorded at the historic Armstrong Tower in Alpine, New Jersey—the birthplace of wideband FM broadcasting. We’re joined by electronics designer and radio historian Steve Hemphill, along with Chuck Sackermann, whose company owns and oversees this iconic site. Together, we explore the groundbreaking legacy of Edwin H. Armstrong and the enduring impact of his tower and technology. Tim Braddock also joins us with comments about the famous Alford Antenna, in service for over 50 years on the Empire State Building.Don’t miss this fascinating journey through radio history, innovation, and preservation!

The spark, motivation, and process for invention is absolutely fascinating! This week we got lucky and found two gentlemen who epitomize the spirit of invention. They often do this by asking, “What is it that we’re really trying to do here?” Sometimes the answer results in new approaches to the problem or task. Mike “Catfish” Dosch and Cornelius Gould are working on some projects at Angry Audio. This provided a perfect opportunity to interview them together and discuss the inventor’s process.

On this episode of This Week in Radio Tech, we welcome a true legend of the newsroom—Bob Hardt. From his early days at WXYZ to anchoring at WABC and ultimately rising to the top at ABC Radio News in New York City, Bob shares a career shaped by storytelling, breaking news, and the evolving tools of the trade. Host Kirk Harnack dives into how technology changed the game—from cart machines to digital editors—and how those shifts made newsgathering faster, sharper, and more agile. If you’ve ever wondered how great radio news gets made, or how the newsroom adapted from analog chaos to digital speed, this conversation with Bob Hardt is one you won’t want to miss.

Seven hundred and fifty episodes of TWiRT! Wow! It’s my honor today to welcome two innovative broadcast engineers and businessmen - and business partners with Telos Alliance - Tyler Everitt and Grant Biebrick. We’re learning about the practical equipment and systems that their company, Pippin Technical Service (PTS) brings to Canadian broadcasters. Tyler and Grant reveal the innovative networked devices and systems that PTS has developed and installed at hundreds of facilities in Canada.

Oakwood University, located in Huntsville, Alabama, is renowned for its significant contributions to gospel and Christian music, particularly through its alumni who have achieved fame in these genres. Groups like Take 6 and soloists such as Brian McNight are alumni of Oakwood, along with many, many more. Oakwood is also home to WJOU-FM, and we all know that university-owned radio stations often go a couple decades between serious studio upgrades. WJOU is overdue for new equipment, and not just for the sake of newness. Indeed, the station’s leadership staff recognizes the need for more diverse music and talk programming, but one signal isn’t enough. So, WJOU-FM is remodeling and building new studios to accommodate four different formats, and finishing an HD Radio transmission system to accommodate them. Good leadership and big upgrades go hand-in-hand, so on this episode we’re meeting with Dawna Baker and Dammeon Malone from WJOU, and with broadcast system integrator, Josh Bohn and field engineer Mike Hutchens from MaxxKonnect. Together they’re give us a worthy overview of this major upgrade process from the perspectives of management, operations, and engineering.

The Story of the Broadcast Cart Machine is fascinating, especially to those of us who used them on-air, or installed and repaired them as engineers. Andy Rector, who was heavily involved in the business of broadcast cart machines, joins us for Part 2 of our exploration into this history. We’ll go through the 1970s and 1980s, as new broadcast cart machines were developed and deployed. We’ll follow this story arc right up to the late 1990s, when Andy says was really the end of that cart machine era.