The RF Spectrum On-Line

The Latest in Broadcast Technology - Fall, 1997

The History of Remote Broadcasting,

in 20 Words or Less

By Bill Hoisington, RF Specialties of Florida

The ability to broadcast from remote locations has changed a lot over the last 60 years. We started off with large, bulky remote trucks and tube-type equipment, which was connected to the studio via twisted pair telephone lines. A few early-day broadcasters used low frequency transmitters to get the signal to the studio. In the '40s, the wire recorder came into play, and by the late '40s, audio tape recorders. In the '50s we used two-way equipment for on-the-spot news broadcasting. Some broadcasters used telephone lines, and some would pay a little extra to the phone company to get equalized lines that significantly improved the audio quality.

By the late '50s, a fellow named George Marti had begun building tube-type equipment for the VHF band. The quality was great, and with a Yagi antenna, you could broadcast a whopping 20 to 30 miles from the studio. By the late '60s, Marti improved the system to include the UHF band. By then, tubes had been replaced by solid state devices.

In the '70s, equipment packages had gotten smaller and multichannel mixers had touch tone pads so you could dial the station direct and not have to lug a telephone with you. The '80s and '90s saw auto answer devices, and digital codecs permitted audio quality as good in the field as in the studio. Spread spectrum and frequency agile equipment now on the market will no doubt give broadcasters more options. But one thing hasn't changed: we still need people to do the broadcasting.

Bill Hoisington in our Florida office has probably logged more hours in the field as a broadcaster than most of us at RF Specialties. He's built and owned five radio stations in his time, sat behind the microphone as an announcer, and also spent a few years with McMartin Industries. He holds FCC General Class Commercial and Amateur licenses.