The BROADCAST FAQ List

by Barry Mishkind (The Eclectic Engineer) and a host of friends

The FAQ has been updated as of 6/24/18.

This FAQ is designed to help answer many of the frequently asked questions about the broadcast industry.

An important note about this resource:

We have used many sources, including FCC files, university lecturers, historical publications and more, and have tried to be as accurate as possible, not repeating many of the myths of the industry (such as the Uncle Don Story) nor histories "manufactured" by promotion departments. However, I can not and do not guarantee total accuracy of what is in the FAQ. If you do see an error or omission, please inform me at:

The accuracy and expansion of this resource depend upon our SHARING our efforts.

As it turns out, I get a lot of email from people indicating they have enjoyed this FAQ. I also get a lot of email (sometimes 3 to 5 a DAY) from students (many in college) with assignments. Some say "I've got a paper due tomorrow (or Friday). I've searched the net and can't find anything." Folks, if it was only one request every blue moon, there'd be no problem. But, the Internet community is now in the multi-millions around the world. PLEASE, tell me where you've looked and what you've already found. This will save me a lot of time and typing only to repeat what you've done.

Don't forget the responsibility you take on when seeking assistance from another person. Tell me who you are, and where you are. (email addresses like "da24@aol.com" don't tell even your first name!) And, PLEASE, share something back to the rest of us. Just send what you found to me at:

 

Thanks very much for your consideration and interest in the Broadcast FAQ!

• General Questions
  • 1) How and when did Broadcasting begin?
    • a) Definitions
    • b) Beginnings
  • 2) OK, so which station was the first to "broadcast"?
  • 3) What frequencies were used by early broadcasters?
  • 3a) ... and how come the stations changed frequencies in 1928 and 1941?
  • 4) When and what was the first radio commercial?
  • 4a) When and where was the first "all commercial" radio?
  • 5) Who were the first fulltime radio announcers?
  • 5a) Who were some of the first women in radio?
  • 6) What are some early "bloopers?"
  • 7) How was early radio regulated?
    • Licensing of Stations
    • Licensing of Operators
  • 8) Miscellaneous broadcast terms:
    • a. What are "DX" and "QSL"?
    • b. What is a "NEMO"?
    • c. What is an SCA?
    • d. What is a kHz?
    • e. What is a MHz?
  • 9) What is Conelrad? EBS? EAS?
  • 10) Where did the "W" and "K" call letters come from?
  • 11) What are some famous "K" Calls and their meanings?
  • 12) What are some famous "W" Calls and their meanings?
  • 13) What's this about a "wandering call sign?"
  • 14) Hoary Hoaxes of Broadcasting Explained.
    • Did Uncle Don *really* say *THAT*?
    • Was David Sarnoff the man who heard the SOS from Titanic?
    • Did David Sarnoff predict the radio industry?
    • Did WEAF run the first commercial?
    • more
  • 15) Other "Firsts"
    • a.Programs
    • b.News
    • c.Sports
    • d.Miscellaneous
  • 16) Longest Running
  • 19) How can I get a license to broadcast in my area?

• AM Issues
  • 20) What does the "AM" in AM Stations mean?
  • 21) What is the highest power used by an AM station?
  • 21a) What station uses the largest number of towers?
  • 22) Why do some stations reduce power at night?
  • 22a) Where was the First Directional Antenna installed?
  • 22b) Are there any stations that increase power at night?
  • 23) What use of subcarriers has there been on AM?
  • 24) The growth of the Standard Broadcast Band.
  • 24a) The beginning of the Expanded Band, 1995.
  • 25)  The Sad AM Stereo Saga
  • 26)  Digital Audio on AM, including IBOC
  • 27)  Some interesting AM stations

• FM Issues
  • 30) What is "FM" broadcasting?
  • 31) When did FM broadcasts begin?
  • 31a) Wait a minute, did you say FM was at 42.1 MHz? How did it get to 88-108 MHz?
  • 32) What is the highest power used by an FM station?
  • 33) What is the tallest FM tower, above ground level? sea level? average terrain
  • 34) Are there any directional FM stations?
  • 35) When did FM Stereo start?

• TV Issues
  • 40) Is TV AM or FM?
  • 41) When were the first experimental TV broadcasts?
  • 42) When were the first regular TV transmissions?
  • 43) When were the first regular Color TV transmissions?
  • 44) What about DTV transmissions?
  • 44A) The Great Digital Change
  • 45) What happened to channel 1?
  • 46) Miscellaneous TV issues.