This Week In Radio Tech (TWiRT)

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

“TWiRT” is your go to show if you want to get behind the scenes on what makes broadcasting possible. The show addresses common issues as well as explaining past experiences from a wide array of hosts who each come from a different background in radio technology. This show is a must for any tech geek or for anyone who is interested in what goes on behind the boards and wires.

Listen to episodes

12 recent

October 16, 20261 hr 0 min

TWiRT Ep. 822 - Live from OAB EXCHANGE

This Week in Radio Tech hits the road for episode 822, recorded live at the Ohio Association of Broadcasters’ OAB Exchange in Newark, Ohio! The new location outside Columbus provided a welcoming setting, with plenty of laughter, good conversation, and broadcasters comparing notes between sessions. Engineers, station managers, and sales professionals all had opportunities to learn something useful and catch up with their colleagues. Engineering sessions covered everything from HLS studio-to-transmitter links and cybersecurity to audio processing, antenna troubleshooting, and staying safe at transmitter sites.

October 9, 20261 hr 13 min

TWiRT Ep. 821 - What's the State of My Empire?

On This Week in Radio Tech, we're exploring how cloud-based monitoring, intelligent alerting, and centralized site management are changing the way we maintain broadcast operations. Mike Hutchins, Director of Technical Services, and Josh Bohn, President and CEO of MaxxKonnect, join us to explain what's possible today and where this technology is headed. It's TWiRT episode 821, "What's the State of My Empire?"

October 2, 202657 min

TWiRT Ep. 820 - Home Grown Radio with Bruce Roberts

What can a recording engineer teach a radio engineer—and what can radio teach someone behind the recording console? On episode 820 of This Week in Radio Tech, Bruce Roberts joins Kirk Harnack to explore how working in both worlds sharpens his ears, strengthens his technical skills, and helps him make better audio. Bruce owns and engineers ARP Studio in Charleston, South Carolina, and is the co-founder and engineer at Home Grown Radio. His passion began before age eight, running sound for his church’s radio broadcasts, and grew into a 50-year career recording artists, building audio equipment, and keeping radio stations on the air. Along the way, his work has included projects for NPR and the BBC, plus dialogue recording for Bill Murray and Army Wives—and an attempted retirement in 2021 that led to a new adventure with Homegrown Radio. Join us for a conversation about recording, broadcasting, and the lessons that travel both ways between the studio and the transmitter!

September 25, 20261 hr 12 min

TWiRT Ep. 819 - AI and Pi with Bill Eaton

Bill Eaton has long been the sort of broadcast engineer who puts new technology to work early—going all the way back to one of the first DOCSIS cable modems bringing Internet service into the home. Today, as Chief Engineer at Oyster Radio, Bill is especially excited about practical uses for AI in broadcast engineering. He uses ChatGPT to take copious notes during transmitter-site visits, documenting maintenance already performed, work still needed, and even clues that another tenant may have changed something at the site. Bill also uses Google Gemini to analyze raw data from test equipment such as the PIRA P175 FM modulation analyzer. And he’s still building, too, recently putting together an FM audio processor using StereoTool software running on a Raspberry Pi. Join us for TWiRT Episode 819 as Bill shows how AI, affordable computing, and an engineer’s curiosity can make everyday broadcast work smarter and more productive.

September 18, 20261 hr 13 min

TWiRT Ep. 818 - What's Next After C-Band Satellite?

For more than 40 years, C-band satellite distribution has been a workhorse for radio and television broadcasters — but another big chunk of that spectrum is going away - leaving almost nothing for program distributors to use. On TWiRT Episode 818, Mark Johnson, President of LinkUp Communications, and Marcos O’Rourke, Engineering Manager at LinkUp, join Kirk Harnack to explain what FCC 26-46 means for broadcasters still depending on C-band delivery. Mark gives us some history, explains how the FCC’s latest plans would eventually leave broadcasters with only about 40 MHz of C-band downlink spectrum, and walks us through the proposed transition timeline. We also look at alternatives already being developed, including increased Ku-band satellite distribution and terrestrial IP delivery using capabilities built into XDS receivers. The transition won’t happen overnight, but the direction is becoming clear: broadcasters using C-band need to start thinking about what comes next. Join us for TWiRT Episode 818 as we sort through the FCC’s plans and what engineers should be watching in the months ahead.

September 11, 20261 hr 9 min

TWiRT Ep. 817 - Early Access to IBC 2026 in Amsterdam

This Week in Radio Tech comes to you from IBC 2026 in Amsterdam, where the broadcast world is gathering to show us what comes next. In Episode 817, we get early access to some of the industry’s technical innovators and discover how they’re responding to a broadcasting landscape that seems to change almost by the day. Adam Robinson of MaxxKonnect joins us alongside Hans van Zutphen of Thimeo Audio Technology B.V. and Jay Tyler of Sales Call. We’ll also hear from Dan McQuillin of Broadcast Bionics and Dan Martin of Derby ONE and Aiir. Together, they offer a revealing look at the technologies, business ideas, and practical solutions shaping the future of radio and broadcasting. Join us in Amsterdam for TWiRT Episode 817—This Week in Radio Tech!

September 5, 20261 hr 21 min

TWiRT Ep. 816 - Deciphering FCC EAS Cybersecurity Rules with Shane Toven

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 […]

August 29, 20261 hr 7 min

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

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.

August 21, 20261 hr 12 min

TWiRT Ep. 814 - Amanda Hopp - Chief Engineer

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.

August 14, 20261 hr 17 min

TWiRT Ep. 813 - What is a Broadcast Engineer in 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?