Episodios

  • TWiRT Ep. 815 - LDMOS Technology in FM Transmitters with Paul Barzizza

    TWiRT Ep. 815 - LDMOS Technology in FM Transmitters with Paul Barzizza
    Aug 29 2026
    ow can a modern FM transmitter produce 10,000 watts of RF power from such a surprisingly compact package? On episode 815 of This Week in Radio Tech, GatesAir’s Paul Barzizza joins Kirk Harnack for a close look inside the company’s new GX Series of FM transmitters. Paul draws on his extensive radio and television engineering background to explain the GX amplifier layout and the powerful LDMOS field-effect transistors at the heart of the design. Because these devices spread heat across a larger area, they can handle substantially more power than earlier generations of transistors—giving transmitter designers a way to produce impressive RF output from a comparatively small cabinet. This isn’t merely a discussion of specifications and theory. Paul and Kirk recently installed a GatesAir GX10K—a combined FM exciter and 10,000-watt RF amplifier—at WIQQ-FM in Leland, Mississippi. They share photos from the project, examine how the transmitter is assembled, and talk through the technology that makes it work.
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    1 h y 7 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 816 - Deciphering FCC EAS Cybersecurity Rules with Shane Toven

    TWiRT Ep. 816 - Deciphering FCC EAS Cybersecurity Rules with Shane Toven
    Sep 5 2026
    The FCC has adopted new cybersecurity requirements for Emergency Alert System equipment—but turning the language of a Report and Order into practical procedures at a real broadcast facility isn’t always straightforward. What equipment is covered? What constitutes adequate protection? And how can broadcasters comply without making their systems needlessly difficult to operate and maintain? This […]
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    1 h y 21 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 814 - Amanda Hopp - Chief Engineer

    TWiRT Ep. 814 - Amanda Hopp - Chief Engineer
    Aug 21 2026
    Broadcast engineering is a family affair for Amanda Hopp and her father, Cris Alexander. Amanda is Chief Engineer for Crawford Broadcasting’s Denver stations, while Cris serves as Director of Engineering for the entire company. On this episode of TWiRT, they share Amanda’s path into engineering—and what her experience might teach others considering a career in the field. We also explore cybersecurity, IT and networking, the challenges of maintaining multiple transmitter sites, and Amanda’s inventive use of Raspberry Pis and other small computers for monitoring, control and automation. Along the way, we hear how Amanda draws on programming expertise from elsewhere within Crawford to create practical engineering solutions. Join us for an engaging conversation with two highly accomplished engineers who just happen to be father and daughter.
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    1 h y 12 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 813 - What is a Broadcast Engineer in 2026?

    TWiRT Ep. 813 - What is a Broadcast Engineer in 2026?
    Aug 14 2026
    Today’s broadcast facilities depend on far more than transmitters, RF systems and studio audio. Engineers are now responsible for Ethernet networks, Windows and Linux computers, cybersecurity, virtualization, streaming, metadata, AoIP, remote access, cloud services—and countless devices that are essentially computers wearing broadcast-equipment clothing. In this episode Kirk Harnack explores how the broadcast engineer’s job has evolved with an outstanding panel: Kevin Trueblood of WGCU Media, Geary Morrill, Northern Region Director of Engineering for Connoisseur Media, and Jeff McGinley, Vice President of Engineering at SummitMedia. How much must one person know about RF, audio and IT? Where should a market engineer’s responsibility end? When hiring, is technical knowledge more important than natural troubleshooting ability? And can a skilled IT professional be developed into a great broadcast engineer? Our guests bring similar—but distinctly different—perspectives to these increasingly important questions. Check out this episode of This Week in Radio Tech and join us as we ask: What is a broadcast engineer in 2026?
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    1 h y 17 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 812 - Texas Association of Broadcasters - 2026

    TWiRT Ep. 812 - Texas Association of Broadcasters - 2026
    Aug 10 2026
    This Week in Radio Tech – Episode 812 takes us to Round Rock, Texas, for the 2026 Texas Association of Broadcasters convention! With two full days of engineering sessions, new technology, and plenty of conversations on the expo floor, TAB once again brought together some of our favorite broadcast engineers and industry friends. We caught up with Michael Patton, Dustin Tatro, David Smedley, Chase Daniels, Fred Morton, and Dave Kerstin for their perspectives on radio engineering, technology, and the industry we all enjoy being part of. It’s a great collection of conversations with the people who keep broadcasting working—and moving forward. Join us for TWiRT 812, recorded at the Texas Association of Broadcasters convention in Round Rock!
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    1 h y 12 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 811 - Advances in Audio Processing with Matt Levin and Hans van Zutphen

    TWiRT Ep. 811 - Advances in Audio Processing with Matt Levin and Hans van Zutphen
    Jul 31 2026
    On This Week in Radio Tech Marianne Seidler, Matt Levin, and Hans van Zutphen join us for “Advances in Audio Processing”—Episode 811. Marianne adds some class, history, and great processing advice to the conversation, while Matt and Hans explore the latest developments in StereoTool, including an optional approach that combines multiband A‑G‑C, compression, and limiting […]
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    1 h y 28 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 810 - Speaker Design & Technology with Lars-Olof Janflod

    TWiRT Ep. 810 - Speaker Design & Technology with Lars-Olof Janflod
    Jul 24 2026
    Few studio monitors are as instantly recognizable—or as trusted—as those made by Genelec. On episode 810 of This Week in Radio Tech, our guest is Lars-Olof Janflod, Genelec’s Strategy Advisory Officer and a member of the company’s team since 1992. We trace Genelec’s story from its origins in Finland through the development of the distinctive, rugged monitor designs that have become familiar sights in studios and broadcast facilities worldwide. Lars-Olof explains the thinking behind Genelec’s unusual speaker designs and how the company has maintained its reputation for accuracy and reliability across three decades of technological change. We also explore today’s Smart Active Monitoring systems, which combine onboard DSP with automated calibration to optimize each loudspeaker for the room in which it is actually installed. It’s a fascinating conversation about loudspeaker engineering, acoustics, innovation, and the pursuit of truly trustworthy monitoring. Join us for TWiRT episode 810—listen or watch wherever you enjoy This Week in Radio Tech.
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    1 h y 12 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 809 - Public Radio Studios in Knoxville with Tim Berry

    TWiRT Ep. 809 - Public Radio Studios in Knoxville with Tim Berry
    Jul 18 2026
    Our guest on This Week in Radio Tech episode 809 is Tim Berry, Chief Engineer at WUOT-FM, the public radio station at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. WUOT combines NPR news with classical and jazz music, much of it still played live from CDs and occasionally from the station’s enormous collection of LPs. Tim gives us a tour of the control room, performance area, technical center, and an extraordinary music library that also includes thousands of historic 78 RPM records. We’ll see one of Tennessee’s earliest Audio over IP installations, built around Axia Livewire technology and operating for about 15 years. Tim also maintains more than 20 analog and digital amateur radio repeater sites throughout East Tennessee. Join us for a fascinating look at preserving broadcasting’s rich history while planning the technical upgrades that will carry WUOT into the future.
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    1 h y 7 m