LO2: Investigate technologies for multiplatform radio broadcasting

Radio shows can be distributed through different media platforms such as online, through websites or on the radio. They can be promoted and advertised to their audience through different below the line methods like social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook. Other types of advertising can be below the line methods such as through billboards posters and leaflets. 

The transmitter is the key part of broadcasting any radio station. It takes your broadcast signal, then encodes it and transmits it as radio waves that then can be picked up by any reciever. There is several types of radio transmitters available from Progressive Concepts. There are large FM transmitter for the full power radio station as well as there are medium to low power FM transmitter such as the ones used on LPFM stations.

The receiver then picks up the encoded broadcasted signal, then decodes it and allows listeners to hear it. This allows your radio to pick up the signals for playback.

The broadcast antenna sends and receives the different radio signals. The Progressive Concepts then help determine the FM Broadcasting Antenna that is best for the particular application.

The audio processor improves and optimises the sound quality. There is a range of audio processors available from Progressive Concepts, but most stand alone processors are connected to the FM transmitter. The component can be replaced by software on the computer-based radio broadcasts.

A mixer allows operators to combine multiple audio signals and can control various aspects of how they sounds as well as the level and equalization.

Speakers are required to hear the contents for the broadcast. The speakers which are used are recommended to be designed for music studio use, so they give the most accurate representation of the signal.

So the signal can flow from one piece of equipment to another, you use audio link to link various components.

The transmission line transport your signal locally from one location to another. E.G. the FM transmitter up to the tower to the FM antenna, which these lines usually form coaxial cables. these are a short range of transmitter used in AM and FM broadcasting. This means it can take the broadcast from the studio to the location of the transmitter. Which can be known as STL transmitter.

There are various options available for audio playback, depending on what you intend to broadcast on the radio station. This includes CD players, vinyl record players and tape machines. More modern radio stations use a computer in conjunction with one ir all the previous mentioned playback devices.