# Why is it a radio "station"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 6, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601 "2006-08-06T20:29:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601/1 "2006-08-06T20:29:19Z")

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Why that word? It could just as easily be a radio stream, or radio feed, terms which are used nowadays for internet-based media (yes, I _do_ know radio very much pre-dates the net. They’re still relevant terms).

Why “station”?

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601/2 "2006-08-06T20:58:41Z")

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Radio technology did not begin by broadcasting music, it started with Morse Code, & was called “wireless”, as in “wireless telegraphy”.

And it was used for navigation & military purposes.

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601/3 "2006-08-06T21:01:35Z")

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I would think the ‘station’ refers to the land base from which the broadcast comes from.

When you turn the dial (or press the buttons) you are tuning in the broadcase from that station.

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**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601/4 "2006-08-06T21:04:51Z")

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From Etymoline:

> [@](#):
>
> The meaning “place for a special purpose” (e.g. polling station) is first recorded 1823; radio station is from 1912.

> **[station | Search Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=station)**
>
> The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible...

‘Antarctic research station’…‘water station’ (I’ve seen that one for long-distance runs)…it’s all the same usage.

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**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-a-radio-station/367601/5 "2006-08-06T21:06:40Z")

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> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#):
>
> Radio technology did not begin by broadcasting music, it started with Morse Code, & was called “wireless”, as in “wireless telegraphy”.
> 
> And it was used for navigation & military purposes.

Hey, I may be young, but I know that much. 😉

On preview; thanks, **GorillaMan**.