Veteran Broadcast Engineer John Bisset Dies at 73

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 9, 2026 | 2:21pm CT

John Bisset

John Bisset, a longtime broadcast engineer, industry educator and author of Radio World's popular "Workbench" column, has died following a period of illness. He was 73, according to Radio World, which reported his passing October 8.

Bisset spent 55 years in broadcasting, building a career that included engineering, consulting, equipment sales and technical education. He was widely recognized for sharing practical engineering knowledge and helping generations of broadcasters maintain and improve their facilities.

His greatest contribution to the industry may have been "Workbench," the Radio World column he authored for nearly 36 years. First introduced in August 1990, Bisset began writing the feature that November and went on to produce approximately 920 installments.

The column became a favorite among broadcast engineers for its practical troubleshooting advice, equipment maintenance tips and innovative solutions contributed by readers. Its technical content also qualified for Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) certification credit.

Throughout his career, Bisset worked with numerous broadcast equipment manufacturers, including Harris, Dielectric, Broadcast Electronics, Nautel, Tieline, Elenos and Telos Alliance. At Harris Broadcast, he earned three sales awards and established a company record by selling 55 transmitters in a single year.

Bisset began his broadcasting career at age 16 as a summer relief announcer at WFAX-AM in northern Virginia. He eventually became the station's chief engineer and later worked in engineering management for Metroplex Communications in the Washington, DC, market.

In 1990, he co-founded Multiphase, a broadcast engineering services company. He also served as regional RF sales manager for Broadcast Electronics and helped develop several products at Dielectric, including the Dielectric Pattern Viewer.

Education remained a central part of his career. Bisset presented and moderated Radio Transmitter Workshops at NAB conventions and frequently participated in SBE Ennes Workshops and local chapter meetings. In 2007, the SBE honored him with its Educator of the Year Award.

Beyond his technical expertise, Bisset was known for encouraging cooperation between engineering departments and station management. He frequently emphasized the importance of documenting technical work, communicating the value of engineering investments and maintaining safe working conditions.

"It is really important to let the people above you, the managers, the owners, know that you are taking care of their facility and are doing a good job with it," Bisset once said during an appearance on "This Week in Radio Tech."

Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane said "Workbench" will continue, as Bisset had wished, with a new author to be announced.

Bisset had continued writing the column until taking a hiatus this summer to address health concerns. He is survived by his wife, Diane.

Source: Radio World, reporting by Nick Langan.