Company History

Microwave Radio Communications (MRC) designs, markets and sells wireless solutions into the worldwide television broadcast, public safety and military markets. We offer portable Electronic News Gathering (ENG) and fixed infrastructure Studio to Transmitter Link (STL) products from 2 GHz to 23 GHz. COFDM modulation, MPEG encoding, High Definition (HD) transmission as well as TCP IP connectivity are examples of the many key features found in our products. We also offer point-to-point and multipoint solutions for mobile high quality video applications such as SWAT, Fire and Emergency Response. These assets can be deployed in a number configurations including airborne, ground based and command center applications.

Microwave Radio Communications was started in 1963 as the Communications Equipment Division of Microwave Associates Incorporated. A year later, the company launched the first all solid-state microwave portable, and two years later, the first solid-state STL. These accomplishments were followed by a series of successful new products over the next decade that propelled the company into the number one spot in video microwave. By 1975, the division had become a rapidly growing business center, and was elevated to group status within the corporation. In 1978, M/A-COM was formed by the merger of Microwave Associates and Digital Communications Corporation as part of a diversification strategy. A year later, the Communications Equipment Division became Microwave Associates Communications, or simply MAC.

Microwave Radio Corporation was formed late in 1986 by M/A-COM employees that acquired the MAC portable product line. The MAC point-to-point fixed products were also acquired by MRC four years later. In 1992 MRC was sold to California Microwave, Inc., and became an operating division. In 1999, California Microwave was renamed Adaptive Broadband Corporation after a complex series of acquisitions and divestitures, and the MRC identity became less prominent in the process. On July 28, 2000, Adaptive Broadband completed a planned divestiture of its legacy businesses by selling MRC to Vislink plc, who re-established the company as Microwave Radio Communications.

Vislink plc (www.vislink.co.uk), with home offices near London, is a major provider of RF systems for television broadcasting applications, including microwave links, television transmitters, and satellite newsgathering systems. Today MRC has the largest share of video microwave systems in domestic and global broadcast markets. Serving most major television broadcasting networks, MRC has an installed base of over 100,000 microwave radios in over 60 countries around the world. MRC has been ISO-certified since 1994 and is dedicated to providing exactly the kind of round-the-clock, round-the-globe support that television broadcasters require.

Market Sectors
MRC continues to develop world class products to address the needs of television broadcasters, public safety, and tactical clients in every corner of the globe. Recently, a suite of new and enhanced microwave systems were introduced to support the Nextel 2 GHz BAS relocation program, which will take place over the next two years. These products and enhancements are focused on easing the broadcaster’s transition into the newly narrowed 2 GHz Broadcast Auxiliary Services band. The change in bandwidth is required by the FCC to make room for new advanced wireless services, like Nextel, in a portion of the original broadcast band. Our broadening market focus now includes:

• Broadcast
  STL, Intercity Relay, ENG, SNG, D-ENG, D-SNG, Portable, Airborne, Wireless COFDM Camera mounted transmitter.
• Public Safety
  Airborne video surveillance, Command Van Systems, Wireless Cameras, Suitcase receivers, Hand-held receivers with video monitors, Video-Vest man-pack portable systems.
• Tactical
  Hardened portable microwave systems for data, video, and radar remotes, airborne video, wireless cameras, ultra portable satellite uplinks for LAN, voice and video.

History of Technology and Innovation
MRC has been the acknowledged leader in video microwave for over four decades. From the first solid-state FM portable systems to the first COFDM systems for ENG, MRC is well recognized for its long history of product innovations. The company has set many industry trends, being among the first to develop solutions for broadcasters, including:

1964 –	First all solid state portable video microwave systems; MA-2 & MA-7
1965 –	First all solid state microwave video STL systems MA-2A & MA-7A
1967 –	MA-2/7/13B portable & fixed systems, designed to replace RCA & Raytheon tube equipment
1969 –	MA-13BX economy CARS Band Systems for cable TV market
1970 –	First MA-G system introduced
1971 –	First solid state IF heterodyne system
1973 –	First interactive distance learning video system to interconnect computers in different cities
1975 –	First fully integrated microwave ENG system
1976 –	MA-13CP “Window” microwave for ENG
1977 –	MA-12X Ultra Low Cost Gunnplexer system
1978 –	First digital audio subcarrier system; DATE, shipped to PBS
1978 –	VR-3 & VR-4 C Band Satellite video receivers for CATV
1979 –	FML-12 Multi-channel CARS band microwave system
1982 –	First millimeter wave systems
1993 –	Introduction of Troposcatter Support Radio (TSSR) for tactical applications
1996 –	First analog to digital video STLs; FLH-DAR
1998 –	First dual-carrier analog + digital STLs (TwinStream)
1998 –	First COFDM news gathering systems
1999 –	NAB Pick Hit Award – CodeRunner
2001 –	First fully modular, fully configurable portable with integrated MPEG/ COFDM capability
2002 –	CodeRunner deployed in first mobile microwave video telemedicine program
2003 –	Government Video NAB Award – QuikVue, first commercial COFDM Hand-Held Receiver
2004 –	Government Video Award – Body Worn Vest & Camera
2004 –	First HDTV – ENG airborne system for daily use
2005 –	NAB Pick Hits Award: CodeRunner 4 and MRX4000 Decoder-Demodulator