TWiRT 796 - What's Next, Live at PREC

This week on This Week in Radio Tech, we’re coming to you live from the Public Radio Engineering Conference (PREC) at the Tuscany Hotel in Las Vegas, just ahead of NAB. We’re talking with leading technology suppliers about practical solutions for terrestrial distribution of both long-form and short-form programming—tools that are already making their way into public radio operations. We’ll also explore emerging captioning technologies designed to help stations meet upcoming regulatory requirements for captioning of both live broadcasts and on-demand content like podcasts. Plus, we sit down with the president of the Association of Public Radio Engineers for insight into where the industry is headed. Join us for a fast-moving, on-the-ground look at the ideas and innovations shaping public radio’s future.

Guests:
Bill Bennett - Product Design & Solutions Manager at ENCO Systems
Mike Pilone - Senior Software Architect at NPR
Scott Fybush - All-Purpose Broadcast Consultant
Scott Hanley - President, Association of Public Radio Engineers
Alex Hartman - Broadcast Equipment Designer and Partner at OMG
Dan Merwin - Owner at Broadcast Telecom
Michael Chase - SVP, Technology at Spectroteld

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
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Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.
Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-air
The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU

 
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TWiRT 796 - What's Next, Live at PREC

TWiRT 795 - You Might Need a Data Center with Chris Tarr

Episode 795 of This Week in Radio Tech—“You Might Need a Data Center”—features Chris Tarr explaining how a smart infrastructure decision transformed operations across an entire station group. As VP of Engineering at Magnum Media, Chris made the case to centralize automation, file servers, and metadata systems into a purpose-built data center with robust backup power and redundant connectivity. The result? Greater efficiency, fewer site visits, and a more resilient, well-controlled technical environment. In this episode, Chris walks us through what a private data center can do for broadcasters—capabilities that often go beyond what cloud solutions can offer—and gives a live tour of the racks, systems, and network design. Join us to see how centralization, done right, can streamline your entire operation.

Guest:
Chris Tarr - Field Engineer at KLOVE / Air1

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.
Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-air
The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU

 
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TWiRT 795 - You Might Need a Data Center with Chris Tarr

TWiRT 794 - Embrace Podcasting Now with Mike McVay and Craig Bowman

Radio broadcasters can’t ignore the shift to on-demand listening—and podcasting is a key part of that evolution. On this episode of This Week in Radio Tech, we hear compelling insights from Mike McVay on why embracing podcasting is no longer optional for stations that want to stay relevant. Craig Bowman from Futuri Media joins us to explain how technology is making it easier than ever to turn broadcast content into compelling digital assets. Together, they outline both the strategic importance and the practical pathways for getting started. If you’re thinking about extending your station’s reach beyond the airwaves, this episode is a must-listen.

Show Notes:
Why Radio Needs to Embrace Podcasting - by Mike McVay
Craig talked about POST, an appliance and workflow to turn broadcasts into podcasts.
A Futuri article emphasizing time as being a broadcaster’s most valuable resource.

Guests:
Mike McVay - President at McVay Media Consulting
Craig Bowman - Senior Vice President at Futuri

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.
Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-air
The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU

 
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TWiRT 794 - Embrace Podcasting Now with Mike McVay and Craig Bowman

TWiRT 793 - Deciding on New or Used Equipment

We’re tackling a question every broadcast engineer faces: should you buy new equipment, or can used gear deliver the performance and value you need? We’re on location inside the MaxxKonnect used equipment warehouse in Birmingham, Alabama, where Josh Bohn gives us a firsthand tour of aisles packed with everything from mic preamps to full transmitters. We also hear from Adam Robinson on the financial tradeoffs, and Mike Hutchens on real-world engineering use cases where used equipment makes solid technical and operational sense. Whether you’re planning a new build, a backup system, or a budget-conscious upgrade, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately. Join us for a candid, informative look at how smart engineers balance cost, performance, and reliability.

Show Notes:
Many broadcast equipment dealers stock at least some used or “b-stock” broadcast equipment. Other companies specialize in pre-owned broadcast gear.
MaxxKonnect publishes a list of their pre-owned equipment inventory here.

Guests:
Adam Robinson - Director of Sales, Marketing, and Business Development at MaxxKonnect
Josh Bohn - President/CEO at MaxxKonnect
Mike Hutchens - Director of Technical Services at MaxxKonnect

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.
Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-air
The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU

 
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TWiRT 793 - Deciding on New or Used Equipment

TWiRT 792 - SBE Self-Inspection Guides with Ched Keiler

On this episode of This Week in Radio Tech, we dive into the practical side of regulatory readiness with Ched Keiler, who joins us to discuss the SBE Self-Inspection Guides. Developed by the Society of Broadcast Engineers in partnership with the NAB and industry experts, these guides are quickly becoming essential tools for ensuring FCC compliance across AM, FM, LPFM, and television facilities. Ched walks us through how to effectively use these guides, what a proper self-inspection process looks like, and how both engineers and station management can benefit from a structured approach to compliance. With strong early adoption and hundreds of downloads right out of the gate, these guides are already making an impact. Join us for a highly useful and timely conversation that can help your station stay inspection-ready.

Show Notes:
SBE Self-Inspection Guides for AM, FM, TV, and LPFM stations
(Must be logged in as an SBE member for download)

Guest:
Ched Keiler - CPBE, 8-VSB, ATSC3, CBNE; Principal Engineer, E Three Services

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.
Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-air
The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU

 
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TWiRT 792 - SBE Self-Inspection Guides with Ched Keiler