We are giving away a $25 Fry’s Electronics gift card to one lucky winner!
To enter, individuals must answer the question “How long have you been in the broadcast engineering industry?” in the comment section of this post on the SBE Blog. The winner will be drawn at random on July 3, 2012.
Tell us the year you entered the business, how many years ago you entered, or your whole professional life story. Either way, you will be entered to win a $25 Fry’s Electronics gift card.
Make sure to leave a comment in the reply section below this post. Or, comment by clicking on the quote bubble to the right of the post headline. Hurry, the contest ends July 2, 2012!
One entry per person. Contestants must enter to win by 4:30 p.m. EDT, July 2, 2012. The winner will be announced via the SBE Blog. Complete rules and entry requirements can be found on the SBE website.
I have been working in engineering for over 16 years, specifically broadcasting, I am still fairly new, only 3 years.
I got into broadcasting a little over 6 years ago (started in the promotion dept.’s street team) then got into the engineering side of things about 4 years ago.
I have been in the broadcast industry for only 17 years, since I started working at NAB. It seems like most of my friends and colleagues have been in the industry longer!
I have been in the broadcast industry for over 30 years. Started in High School doing internships at a very local library radio station (WHHJ) and at Huntington TV Cable Corp…both long gone. Met some very interesting folks along the way.
My “official” commencement into broadcasting began 29 years ago but I started much earlier with poolside “remotes” on my kitbuilt transmitter.
I have been in the broadcast business on and off but mostly on since 1976 when I designed my first STL microwave product. Developed that and one other analog radio and one digital radio before retiring in 2001.
I have been in some form of Engineering for 40 years, a “ham” for 43, but only in Commercial Broadcast for the last 3 years and having fun!
I have received my first phone in April if 1962 and have been active untill retirement in 2008. Still an active member of Chapter 1. Charter, Senior member.
I have been in the broadcasting business since 1971 and a ham radio operator since 1966. Although I was somewhat interested in engineering I was more interested in and began on the talent side. In 1993, I took the opportunity to slide over to the engineering department. Since then, at different jobs, I have been doing some each of engineering, operations management and on-air.
I have been working in broadcasting and related industries since 1984 (28 years). As for the “broadcast engineering” part, about 15-16 years.
I have been in the business for 28 years -never a dull moment.
I have a picture of me testing tubes when I was 1 year old. So that make 57 years for me.
I started working in broadcasting at KCBH FM (Crawford’s of Beverly Hills) in September of 1954 and retired as CE from KFI, Los Angeles in September of 2000, 46 years later. Shortly after retiring from KFI I stumbled upon a part time job at KBLA in Los Angeles, which I am still doing. Thus at the present time I have been working in broadcasting for 58 years and I am not finished yet. I enjoy this part time job as part of my retirement.
I started in broadcast engineering in 1973 and since then have worked on and off in radio/TV and telecommunicatons, with some IT department and college teaching mixed in.
Entered broadcasting in 1962 in college, left for 4 years as an electronics instructor in the AF, then back for a couple years as dj newsman and engineer, then 2 years Radio Shack management, 2 years as Pro Photographier then right back in to engineering. 50 years in December with most of it as some form of radio engineer. 30+ years as a ham. Loved almost every minute of it!
I have been an Engineer since High School startinging Radio at age 17 in my hometown Station. It has been a tough road with little pay and appreciation.
38 years…OMG! How did I do that? I started Broadcast engineering in 1974 under our contract engineer’s “wing”, earned my 1st 2 years later and never looked back. Still working on everything from Computers, Analog and Digital Consoles, STL’s Automation, and transmitters from 30 watts to 30,000 watts-and smilin’ on the good days…(no comment about those “bad ones” we all experience occasionally!).
Got my FCC First Class License 36 years ago during college in Eugene, Oregon. I was announcing at all-news station KASH near campus when the engineer quit and the GM asked if I wanted to take over the technical duties. I said “yes” and have been doing some kind of radio or TV engineering ever since.
For almost 6 years. Radio and television, mostly TV. Learning new things everyday.
Without giving my life story, I’ll just say I started in the broadcast engineering industry in 1979.
I started out in 1994 by going through an Army course – audio visual information operator / repairer course at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Started my first broadcasting job in 1975 at a 50 kW ND/DA-CR/10 kW DA-N
Been in the industry 33 years, and involved with engineering for 27 of those years.
Worked in Telekom Serbia for almost 15 years. Came to Canada in 2001 and worked in different areas of electronics (TV repair shop, DAQ panel wiring, network wiring, etc). Then, in 2006 went to SAIT Polytechnic and enrolled in the Broadcast Technology program (SBE certified). Got a job at CICT (Global Calgary) in 2008, right after the graduation. Lots of fun and excitement there. Now, I’m back at SAIT where I work as a Broadcast Tech in RTBN program (Radio, Television, Broadcast News) and helping out with Broadcast Technology program. So, total of 4 years in broadcast industry, but those are the best four years of my career. And more to come. Stay tuned!
I have been in the business since interning in college starting in 1990. First job in commercial broadcasting in 1994. Have worked in Radio and TV. Currently working in Radio in Champaign, IL.
Started in 1991 at KTFM/KTSA here in San Antonio with Waterman Broadcasting. Worked in Promotions and then switched to Engineering in 1995 with Cox Media Group.
I started in the broadcast industry in 1966 at WOSU-TV in Columbus, Ohio. I was put on swing shift in the video tape room with six quadraplex video tape recorders! What an education that was. I’m still working part-time for the University of Washington.
Bill MacDonald
I have been into broadcasting since 1949, at 12 years old, when I build my first transmitter and receiver to broadcast as a radio Amateur. I used my mothers bread pans as my first breadboards (sic). Build chan 45 TV and KPCW FM radio and police communications in Park City, Utah. Worked at various radio and TV stations. Currently working as Chief engineer for KMIK in Mesa az.
Wow.
I feel like a wee babe compared to William MacDonald!
I started in broadcasting in 1974 as a production intern at the local PBS station, and progressed from there.
30 years – dropped a 2 inch vtr reel onto my big toe – man that still hurts just thinking about it.
Haven’t been in the industry that long. Recently graduated from Northwestern College in St. Paul with a Broadcasting & Electronic Media degree. More or less got started as a part-time student in 2008, have had a full-time broadcast engineer position now for about 7 months.
My grandfather drove me to the FCC Field office in June 1974. I was still 14 years old and took the test for the 3rd class with broadcast endorsement. I passed. Later that year I started doing TV Production for the local cable company. My first engineering troubleshooting…a 75 ohm terminating BNC going bad. (yes I remember) It does not seem like 38 years ago.
I got my start in Broadcast Engineering in 1972 when I went through the US Army Television Equipment Repair Course (27T10) at Ft Monmouth, NJ. I stayed in the Army until 1980 when I was discharged and got out of broadcasting for about 5.5 years and then in 1986 I got back into Broadcast
Engineering and I am still working in the field as a Chief Engineer for The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority. When anyone asks how much longer I plan to keep doing this, I just tell them until I quit having fun.
I have been in the field for 4 years now, loving and learning every day, when you love your job is it really work?
Started in 1974. Next year will mark my 30th year with the same company. SBE Member since 1978.
My entry to broadcast engieering began in 1962 at the Northeastern University carrier current station, WNEU (570). My first position in commercial broadcasting was at WBZ, Boston in 1966.
I started in broadcasting the day I began classes at Ohio University’s stations WOUB AM/FM/TV in September 1976. In 1980 I joined NPR and have watched the industry change and grow. That’s a 36 year span, unless you count the years in high school when I tried to convince the school to start a class D station.
I have worked in the broadcast industry in radio and television for the most part since 1976. I took a little time out at one point. I guess It’s been 34 years. I have seen a lot of small market radio and television.
I started in college radio in 1982 and went to a “pro” station in 1983. So I have been doing this approximately 30 years.
I have been in the Broadcast Industry since 1974 in Anchorage Alaska. It’s been a wild ride.
I was ‘bit by the bug” at age 9, but started working ful ltime in radio in 1978, got my 1st Phone in 1980. What a ride, man…
I started in 1965. 47 years. I have loved every minute of it and I look forward to maybe another 20 years!
I’ve been engaging in engineering activities since I was about three… apparently, I have “the knack” (to borrow from Scott Adam’s Dilbert animated tv series), but I’ve been involved in broadcast engineering since 2002. Actually, it will be 10 years exactly as of this weekend. Thanks SBE for reminding me of this milestone! I can’t imagine a more fascinating/educational career, and I’m encouraged to read about efforts to recruit more young engineers into the field!
I have been in broadcasting since 1969. I got hooked on radio the first day of college when they were starting a Carrier Current station on Campus at Messiah College. Part way into my first year i “fixed” a vintage RCA tube radio console by replacing a tube, without turning the console off. I quickly realized that I would like to do this as a career, went to school, and got my associates degree and a First Class FCC license. I worked for 34 years at the local Public Radio TV station in both radio and TV, moved to the State Network, and now work for Commonwealth, in Media Services. It has been quite a ride.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon. I was in High School Electronics training. I found a broken color TV that July. I slaved for 16 days repairing that TV. The day of the Moon Landing the set worked! I graduated High School in June ’70. I then attended the UW-P, 4 years Sept ’70 to Dec ’74
Teleprompter Of Dubuque IA
January 1975 – June 1975 (6 months) Dubuque IA
I was hired the day after I graduated from UWP. My responsibilities were operation and maintenance of the local access channel. In April 1975 Teleprompter changed location, I designed and constructed the NEW local access facilities!
WISC-TV
July 1975 – December 1978 (3 years 6 months) Madison, Wisconsin Area
Master Control Op, Technical Director, Video Op, Audio Op, VTR & Telecine Op, You know small stations, you learn and do it ALL!
Maintenance Engineer
Seeburg Security Systems
January 1979 – April 1979 (4 months) Santa Monica CA
A brief 4 month interlude in life, while I waited for the real job at ABC Network to open up. My job task was repairing closed circuit security system cameras and related equipment.
Engineer
ABC Television Privately owned company.
April 1979 – March 1985 (6 years) 4151 Prospect Ave Hollywood CA 90027
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer,
Studio, Live Event, Sports Remote, Transmission Engineer,
Video Maintenance Engineer “General Hospital”
“Luke & Laura” ruled the soaps in the ’80’s!
Video Op, Audio Op, RF Operations
Broadcast Engineer
ABC Television The Capitol Cities years.
March 1985 – August 1995 (10 years 6 months) 4151 Prospect Ave Hollywood CA 90027
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer,
Studio, Live Event, Sports Remote, Transmission Engineer,
Certified Fiber Optic Installation Engineer
Video Maintenance Engineer “General Hospital” until 1990
Broadcast Digital Systems Installation Engineer
Video Op, Audio Op, RF Operations
Broadcast Engineer
Disney ABC Television Group
August 1995 – Present (16 years 11 months) ABC Network 4151 Prospect Ave. Hollywood CA 90027
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer,
Studio, Live Event, Sports Remote, Transmission Engineer,
Certified Fiber Optic Installation Engineer
Broadcast Digital Systems Installation Engineer
Video Op, Audio Op, RF Operations
Broadcast Engineer
Disney ABC Television Group
August 1995 – Present (17 years 7 months) ABC Network 4151 Prospect Ave. Hollywood CA 90027
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer,
Studio, Live Event, Sports Remote, Transmission Engineer,
Certified Fiber Optic Installation Engineer
Broadcast Digital Systems Installation Engineer
Video Op, Audio Op, RF Operations
Broadcast Engineer
Disney ABC Television Group
August 1995 – Present (16 years 11 months) ABC Network 4151 Prospect Ave. Hollywood CA 90027
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer,
Studio, Live Event, Sports Remote, Transmission Engineer,
Certified Fiber Optic Installation Engineer
Broadcast Digital Systems Installation Engineer
Video Op, Audio Op, RF Operations
It all adds up to 40+ years in Television!
My epitaph will read, “Geeze, did I ever have a great time!”
I have ben in the industry about 35 years. I was 12 years old when I went with my father to a station he was helping to get on the air and ran a camera live for their first news cast. Since then I have been involved in the remodel or construction of 27 different tv stations
This summer is my 29th year in broadcast engineering. A graduate from the school of hard knocks as well.
I have been in this business since 1968., 44 years ago….
I have worked in the production areas of Televison, perfomring on ari talent, engineering and just about any other position relative to broadcasting, including a two year stint as a Disc Jocky.
My father is still wondering when I am going to get a real job..
He is 92 by the way. I am 62.
Where has the time gone!
I have been is broadcasting for 28 years, starting at the local cable company. I have worked at 2 regional sports networks and 2 local TV stations (network affiliates.)
I’ve been in Broadcast Engineering since 1985
I have been a professional in broadcast engineering since 1979 (33 years) but I started doing radio engineering in college at the campus radio station at UW, Madison. I got pretty good at aligning audio cart machines about the time that technology was being replaced! Oh well.
I started in Broadcast Engineering as a Broadcast Technician at the local PBS Member Station in 2005. With the encouragement of colleagues, I earned SBE Certification in 2006.
Since 1957. Raised on mercury vapor rectifiers and 78 RPM turntables!
Started at WJJY-TV (now off the air) 14 in Jacksonville, IL in 1969 – worked thru WVEM-FM, WBHW-TV, WZXO-TV, WRSP-TV, WBAK-TV and various satellite and studio CE jobs. Just retired… *whew*. Now a quiet consulting engineer and member of CH-26 – Chicago. Been a real trip!
Well, it seems like “only yesterday” but I started in broadcasting in 1958 (54 years ago). My introduction to matters electrical started much earlier when, at the age of 4, I stuck a pair of mom’s tweezers into the electrical outlet on the wall. I learned about the theory of “cause and effect” at that time. A year or so later, I furthered my electrical education by sticking my finger into the socket of a lamp and playing with the switch on the side. I discovered the feelings of EMF. In high school I wanted to get into acting but was told that I had a face for radio. So, into radio, and later into TV, I went. Earning a First Class license in 1960 moved me into the Chief Engineer position and it has been quite a ride ever since.
I started as a weekend DJ in 1975 and in 1977 entered Univ Wis – Platteville for Broadcasting (with engineering emphasis) , graduating in 1982. I have been Chief Engineer of both radio and television. Moved to Alaska in 1985 where I’ve been every since. Presently a contract engineer.
I started in 1995 while at UMass supporting a distance learning facility. That was before online learning; we did it via satellite. Started at WWLP in Springfield, MA while in my senior year then in 1997 I moved to GroupW in Stamford, CT. In June of 2000 I took a position at ESPN and have been here for the past 12 years. It’s been a great career so far. It’s been fun, challenging, and rewarding.
I began working in the broadcast industry January 1978. Seems like yesterday … I was looking for a job to get through college when my car broke down in front of KBTX-TV. After a lengthy interview I began work as a TV Engineer. Loved it ever since. Worked in TV , Radio, and all related technology since then. Still working. Never got rich. Loved every minute of it. I suppose this is success.
I started at WJRT-TV Flint/Saginaw/Bay City thirty-six years, five months, and eleven days ago and have been having a great time ever since. My goal is to remain active and gainfully employed and in this wonderfully crazy business beyond my 50th anniversary!
I started repairing items around WEKY, Richmond, KY, in 1981. Started Harnack Engineering, Inc. in 1984, full-time. So, that’s 28 years ago. I’m still engineering for Delta Radio, LLC, and South Seas Broadcasting.
I started in broadcasting while I was a freshman in high school in 1946 and have been hooked on the business ever since. Here I am almost 80 years young and I’m still doing part time contract engineering. After 66 years you would think I would know better.
I started my broadcasting career at WFLA TV in Tampa Florida in 1981 and I still hear. Sure have seen a lot of changes in 31 years
Nearly 34 years. Started with a soldering iron and now worry about subnet masks.
I have been in Broadcasting since 1968. 44 years.
I started engineering broadcast stations in 1974.
I received my first official FCC license in 1964 as a novice ham, WN4VUH. Six years later in 1970 I received my FCC First Class Radiotelephone Operator’s License. My first job at a broadcast station was with WAVE-TV in Louisville, KY in 1972. I currently can be found at WHAS-DT, still in Louisville, or on the air as Extra Class amateur radio operator, N3VU. So I’ve been been chasing electrons now for 48 years.
Been making radio happen since 1975. I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from some pretty cool people in my career like John Heffelfinger, Al Warmus, Allan Brace, Steve Church, Frank Foti and many, many other notables who have made significant contributions to this industry.
And it’s still fun!
George. Been working for CBS for a little over 13 years now. Other than the first 9 years working the VERY early hours and weekends, I enjoy it much more than the consumer electronics industry I spent 15 years in. (Especially now that I only have to occasionally work a weekend day or one of the wierd shifts;).
I began as a radio engineer / announcer in 1972. I’ve been in either radio or television ever since.
Got my Third Class in 1975; my First Phone in 1976. Joined SBE in 1987; Certified as a Senior R-TV in 1989.
I started in the broadcast industry in July 2002.
I’ve been in broadcast engineering off and on for about 24 years.
I started to work for a station part time when I was in high school in 1955. I was a ham radio operator and was always interested in electronics. One day the station lost a power supply on the RCA 76B5 board and I was able to fix it and get them back on the air. The station was WJMJ in Philadelphia. I later became chief engineer at WIBF-FM in Jenkintown, PA.
I have been in the broadcast business on and off but mostly on since 1995.
My first TV job was at WCAX-TV in Burlington,
Vermont in 1958, although I did the weekend
shift while still in High School at WMLV in
Millville, NJ in 1956.
I began my career in broadcasting with an internship at a radio station in 1987
I started as a tape operator at WJKS in Jacksonville in 1982. The station is on its third owner and third call letters since then, but I’m still here.
I have been receiving a paycheck for 44 years… I received my 1st Class Ticket during a summer in HS and have enjoyed my many varied experiences in TV broadcast engineering ever since…
Got my first class phone license in 1960 while in high school. Worked relief at a 50KW AM then back to school for an EE degree. Now trying to finish a CCNA cert. If you can’t beat em, join em.
I started my career in broadcasting in 1972 as xmtr eng at KREY Montrose,Colo.1973 went to KBTV/KUSA Denver, Colo as a Eng.1984 went to KCOP Los Angeles, Ca Then KCOP?KTTV till
I retired in 2012……………
I started Broadcast Engineering in 1982 at age 15 helping my Chief Engineer Dad at KSO and KGGO. I have been the Chief Engineer for a 7 Station cluster in Des Moines IA for 22 years now. The Des Moines Radio Group is part of Saga Communications and a great group of people to work with.
I have been working in television since nineteen hundred and eight-eight.
Started in engineering in 1949 as board operator and engineerng remotes at WJRH Easton PA
Allen LeMelle
I started in Radio as a remote transmitter babysitter in April
1969.
I started in broadcasting as chief engineer at WDOR in Sturgeon Bay, WI 50 years ago, May 1962. Got hired because I was a ham, K9DKW, now K7OO.
And now you’re K9DKW again. What goes around, comes around. 🙂 73, Jim / W9JEF
I just started this year in January and just passes the General Radio Telephone license exam
I’ve been in broadcasting for 33 years. I started at KREZ-TV in Durango, CO on June 11, 1979 as a MC & Transmitter operator. You were required to have an FCC First Class license at the time. Currently, I’m the Manager of Broadcast Technical Services at KNME-TV, New Mexico PBS, in Albuquerque.
I have been a full time broadcast engineer since 1976 after working part time for 3 years while in college. AM, FM, TV. DJ to Chief Engineer. Also a commercial pilot & flight instructor with over 2,400 hours.
I started in TV in 1963 for the White House Communications Agency (after serveral years tv repair), worked at WTPA-TV Harrisburg, PA 1965-66, then NBC O&O WKYC-AM/FM/TV in Cleveland from 1966 to 1988, became Manager of Technical Operations there, then moved on to WJW-TV, Cleveland where I was Director of Engineering. Came to Phoenix,in 1996 and worked for KPHO-TV until 2002 when I retired.
Started in broadcasting in 1966 as a technician at San Jose State University Instructional Television Center. After graduation, worked at Ampex Corp for 15 years, developing magnetic tape products for broadcasting and recording. Now currently Engineering Director at a station group in Oregon. Thats 46 years and counting.
I started the Cable Radio Network in 1980 and used the sub carrier from WIBF to be the sound on the weather channel. We were able to connect the SCA receivers at the cable companies head ends to the weather audio with a 25 HZ tone generated from our studios and broadcasted six hours a day. I was the first one to interact 11 cable companies together for shopping specials and contests and to have Bingo players on all 11 cable systems.
33 years Engineering, almost 40 years overall.
I sat down at the wrong table in the dorm dining room at Montana Tech in September 1977. It happened to be several of the students that ran the student owned Class D FM, KMSM-FM (still on the air as a Class A). I finished my mining engineering degree in 1982, but have been full time in broadcasting since 1988, full time broadcast engineering since 1994.
Broadcasting is in my blood. As a 16 year old kid I already had a 3rd phone and engineered radio programs on a LA 100+KW non-com in 1968. 1978 started professionally helped build an FM and TV station in Colorado. After 20 years with Public Radio & TV, 9 years at Back to the Bible and 5 years in Commercial TV, I still love my work!
I started my life in Television as an intern at Royal Oak Cable, working with Midwest Communications. I am currently working as a Sales Support Engineer for Sony Electronics.
Started in San Diego Radio in 1963 (Born and raised here) Have worked for most of the radio stations and radio groups in So. Cal over that time period.
Currently C.E. for 3 stations in the San Diego Metro. Member of SBE #36 since 1987, Ham call K6OBS.
Leonard Wallace
Got my First Phone in 1961, worked in the high schools TV station, then other stations through college. Proud to be apart of the SBE chapter 109. A great bunch of guys!
Got my 1st phone in 1969, the same year I started in radio in Los Angeles as a part-time grunt.Moved back to West Virginia and am still in the business, now heading up 28 AM/FM stations and a state-wide news & sports network. Can’t retire, I still love it.
I started studying for my first phone license as a senior in high school in 1967. I passed the test and started working transmitter watch duty at directional station KBTR710 Denver that summer then became the chief engineer at KCSU-FM the campus FM station in FOrt Collins, CO in 1968. I have been here ever since now as an engineering consultant owning Vir James Engineers and owning stations KCEG 780 and KJME 890.
I started in TV broadcasting in 1983, helping to install The ACTS (American Christian Television System) Network Ops Center. Then I worked as a maintenance engineer until leaving that to become the television engineer for a non-profit production team until retiring in 2005.
In television maintenance engineering since 1981.
Started in 1997 as an operator at a 10kw day 1kw night AM station. Hope someone can come along and rejuvenate local radio again, I miss it and was a great way for me to earn some experience.
I started at KGW in Portland in 1984.
I started my first and only job in broadcasting at KEZI-TV in September of 1970 as a transmitter engineer. When we got a new transmitter in 1978 that no longer needed an on-duty engineer, I transferred to studio maintenance. I have been doing that and a lot of other duties ever since.
I’ve been in broadcasting since December 1971 when I started at Vanderbilt’s WRVU, proudly hanging my Third (with endorsement) on the wall in the tower at Neely Auditorium on the campus.
With the guidance of great people like George Hale and Watt Hairston, I did just enough technical work at Murfreesboro’s WGNS on the Gates BC-1T to know what an 833 is…and get zapped with B-plus voltage as my rite of passage.
Over the years, I become more involved with the IT side (hasn’t everyone nowadays?) and have been writing radio broadcast automation software, for SMARTS Broadcast Systems, on the Linux platform for 20 years.
I started in TV Broadcasting when I was 20 years old in 1966 at Metromedia, Inc.station WNEW-TV Channel-5 in New York City. 43 years later I was still at the same TV station but now it was owned by FOX Television, Inc. In that amount of time I worked 40 years as a transmitter supervisor and later as chief operator while at the World Trade Center facility and also the Empire State Building facility. In 1993 I walked down 110 floors during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and in September 11th 2001 I lost 5 of my fellow broadcast engineers and good friends who worked with me on the 110th floor of the World Trade Center. I was not scheduled in to work until 10:30 AM that day.
I started repairing TVs while in high school. My engineering career began in 1964, developing lighting and sound systems for rock groups, then designing computers in 1969. Received my Ham license in 1992, and got involved in broadcast engineering in 2003 when I helped launch LPFM station WSWO and became its Chief Engineer.
Began as announcer (weekends) at WKTS-AM in Sheboygan, WI, when having a First Class ticket was required for Directonal arrays. That was February 6, 1972 and First ticket arrived April 27, 1972. (I was 17) Got first Chief Engineer job at WGLB AM & FM in Port Washington, WI in September of that year, a station I would purchase in 1992-94. Mentored by one of the best, Chris Bauer of WHBL, who passed away five years ago. He was W9RF. I’m WB9RF.
45 Years ago (as of last month) I started in small market radio. I was 12. I watched a remote being setup. I asked if I could help and the guy said sure. He could have told me to get lost, but he didn’t. I returned nearly every day to help. Soon he was picking me up to help set up the remotes. Other guys started “letting” me help. Within a short time the station just had me setup the remotes myself and do engineering around the station. Over the course of 9 years I did just about everything at that station; engineering, design, repair, remotes, announcing (“color: announcer for sports, remotes, news, and DJ for many formats), and sales. I entered college for a BSEE. I continued to do local and major market radio engineering, taught audio production at the University of Illinois, and did free lance “talent”. I worked 19 years as an engineer and manager for CBS Television in New York. I have worked in various engineering positions for satellite uplinkers, Chicago television stations, and free lance.
I like the work, the people, the “culture”, and the humor. Who could ask for more?
I started out in commercial TV broadcasting in 1967 as an operating engineer at the age of 24 after serving in the U.S. Army as a radioteletype team chief in Korea. Over the past 45 years I have worked in the TV/Radio Broadcasting Fields in both commercial and non-commercial environments. Also including positions in educational television operations and broadcast/electronic equip.sales. I am presently working for a commercial TV broadcast station as their C.O.Ttransmitter Engineer at he age of 69 and still loving it!
Dennis, are you the same person who worked at WTCI-TV (PBS) in Chattanooga, TN in 1987?
I began my professional broadcast engineering work in 1969 with my first class license. Prior to that I worked at my college radio station (at Loyola University in Chicago) 1967-1968.
I handled recording studio, tv audio and combo opertor through college, then have been a broadcast technical engineer for 28 years, so I have been at this for about 32 years across all aspects of the business
After reading through the others, I should add that I have been “Captain Video” since at least the 4th grade. Was doing 1″ and 1/2″ BW TV back in 1973 in High School. Remember the U-Matic when it came out. Rewired my high school to make all the AV infrastructure work. Found you cant run 300 watts through 22ga wire.
I started my career in broadcast engineering in 1987 as an Electrical Engineering student at Florida International University, in Miami, Florida, where I and three other students built the university’s radio station facility. I also submitted the station’s FM license application and made sure it was approved by the State of Florida’s Board of Regents before I left. I am happy to see the University followed through and still supports the efforts of the student-run station at Florida International University.
I’ve been a broadcast Engr since 1981 in the Armed Forces Radio & Television Services for twenty two years. And another ten years with TV51 in Houston. However, I’m unemployed for over an year now after TV51 went out of business. At my age now 65, I intend to retired.
I have been in broadcasting since 1987. Prior to that I had been employed in various RF related industries: Motorola, Northrop Defense Systems, BRK Electronics, etc..
I began in broadcasting as an announcer on our college radio station (WEVC) in 1976. I worked mostly in TV production until 1986 when the boss at WPTD-TV offered me a move into Engineering. Engineering is way better!
I started working in the broadcast industry in 1991.
I came into the business later in my career, about 10 years ago. I have been a member of SBE for about 3 years now.
I got into the broadcast business 14 years ago, mostly because my original ambitions to be a music recording engineer were incompatible with other facets of my life. I ended up in public radio, recording local symphony, chamber music, and choral performances, editing news stories, and providing care, feeding, and support for the network’s Audiovault, Axia, EAS, streaming, and other IS-systems.
So, I still get paid to play with microphones, and I don’t have to regularly work over night, so life is pretty good right now.
I feel like I can’t remember a time I wasn’t working in broadcasting in some form or another. A lot of my time has been spent “on the air” in addition to “inside the transmitter.” Overall I’ve been in the industry nearly 20 years and I’ve been doing engineering on a contract basis since around 2000. I’ve loved (and still love) every minute of it!
I got started when I was in High School back in 1973 as a disc jockey/news reader. Left the biz when a GM in Muncie, Indiana told me “You got great pipes, kid, but you need more small station experience…”. Fast-forward 10 years to a EET degree, General Radiotelephone ticket, and a job in a UHF TV station where I advanced to transmitter wrangler and uplink guy. From there I went to the City of Indianapolis Cable Agency and engineered their Government Access Channel then came to Purdue in ’98 to run the TV repair shop and I’ve been here since. Still doing uplinks, too.
I first got involved in the technology of broadcasting when I became interested in ham radio somewhere around the age of 7, over 58 years ago. I remember at age 10 contemplating building a radio transmitter for my small home town using transistors (at a time when a CK-722 was a very expensive device). It took a lot longer than I would have guessed then for solid state transmitters to become practical.
It now seems that I really started in broadcasting when I got my First Class Radiotelephone and Second Class Radiotelegraph licenses one day at age 15 because the tests were there to take. I never really expected to use the tickets. That was over 50 years ago.
Three years later, in 1965, I got involved with engineering for college radio, which I suppose could be called the start of my career in broadcast engineering. In early 1967, I started full-time at WIP Radio in Philadelphia, making use of my First Phone ticket. I later moved to WHYY, working in radio and television. While there, I helped to form the Philadelphia SBE chapter in early 1968, and I’ve been a member ever since.
WHYY was followed by KYW Radio then television, from which I was transferred by Westinghouse Broadcasting to San Francisco to build a new television studio facility for KPIX. San Francisco was followed by a move to New York City to run Broadcast Systems Engineering for NBC at 30 Rock. That was followed by managing development for NBC of advanced television (later called HDTV and Digital Television).
I was first certified by SBE, at the level of Senior Broadcast Engineer in both radio and television, in 1980, when such certification first became available. I’ve always wondered if I was the first to be certified at that level in both. I took both exams in one sitting, as I had for my FCC tickets at age 15. I moved to the CPBE level as soon as that became available.
I’ve been an independent technical consultant in broadcast engineering and related technologies for the past 21 years, starting in 1991. So, depending on the point from which one decides to count, I’ve been involved with broadcast technology for 58 years, had the licenses to operate broadcast stations for 50 years, been working at broadcast facilities for 47 years, been employed in broadcasting for 45 years, or been SBE-certified for 32 years.
I started in the business 39 years ago at the same place I work again today. I’ve been other places held other jobs during that time. I got involved in engineering in 1978 helping build a new facility at another company.
Began in 1982 as the midnight to 6 AM “deejay” on the local FM station, WTOO. Guess I was the only one excited enough about radio to lose sleep – wait a minute – that’s still happening . . . . .
Got my first job in Radio at a 1Kw AM in Michigan in 1988. Did a lot of spinning and grinning on the weekends until I was named CE in 1990.
First radio experience: WVUM at the University of Miami in 1983. First paying radio job: WVCG-AM, Coral Gabels, FL in 1985.
Loved radio since I was three, but didn’t get my first ‘paying’ gig until December 9, 1968, at WSWM (now WFMK) in East Lansing, while still a student at Michigan State. Worked my way through school as an Engineer, then after graduation with MA in 1971 did my first non-Engineering gig. Became CE at then-KSNN Pocatello Idaho in 1975 then moved to Chicago market in 1976, and have been here ever since. Working for past 15 years full-time as CE at Crawford Broadcasting’s Chicago operations, love what I do and who I work for. 44 years in the business, 37 as either a CE or contract Engineer. Living the dream.
Thank you to everyone who entered. The comments were fun to read. Congratulations to Kirk Chestnut! Kirk was randomly drawn as the winner of the $25 gift card to Fry’s Electronics.
I received my FCC 3rd class radiotelephone in October 20, 1974 while attending Career Academy of Radio and Television Broadcasting,, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20016…!
This contest ended in 2012