The Munich-based company Rohde & Schwarz is one of most important manufacturers of communications equipment and has an excellent reputation in the field of aeronautical radio as well as in the development of VHF broadcasting transmitters.

With the heavyweight EK07, Rohde & Schwarz in 1956 had developed a communications receiver which rivalled the equipment from the USA. With the EK070 appearing in 1979, Rohde & Schwarz became on of the world leading companies in the development of communications receivers for commercial and military use. Excellent successors were the EK085 and the completely digitally controlled sets of the EK890 series, the same basic unit could be used in different configurations and with different front panels, the EK896 with DSP technology is reminiscent of the „boatanchors“ era only with regard to its 19-inch rack dimensions and is used in monitoring stations of commercial radio services.