AirMedia Products

AXON 50-1

Low Power Broadcast 50W FM Transmitters - Exciter Radio Station

The SYNAPSE exciter family is a compact FM exciter with strong performance at a low cost, designed for cost-effective low-power stations and as a driver for low and medium power transmitters. It is built in 30 W and 50 W output sizes and housed in an ultra-compact one-unit cabinet. SYNAPSE is also available in JPN and OIRT frequencies. Output power can be set from 0 to the nominal power.

To keep the price practical, SYNAPSE is available in two versions: MONO/MPX and STEREO. The stereo coder can be upgraded on site after the first installation. Useful options include an integrated RDS encoder and FCC station coding.

The integrated CPU card monitors a large number of parameters. A clear two-row LCD and user-friendly menu set the working parameters and show the operating values.

Main Features

Nominal RF output power: 50 W
Compact size: only one 19" rack unit
Very low signal to noise: typ. 80 dB
High stereo separation: typ. 65 dB
Low distortion: THD, IMD and TIM typ. 0.05%
Total spectral purity: > -100 dBc spurious, > -75 dBc harmonics
Remote control: DB9 telemetry port
Full-range power supply: 90–260 VAC mains voltage
Compliant with ETSI, CCIR and FCC

Options

Digital stereo coder for superior stereo quality
Full-featured RDS/RBDS coder, programmable by PC
OIRT and JPN frequency band versions
LPFM code station for FCC identification codes

Front Panel

USB port: USB connector for upgrade function
LCD display: Two-row, sixteen-character LCD display
Encoder: Rotary encoder
RF monitor: RF output monitor, BNC female (50 ohm)

Rear Panel Connectors

RF OUT: RF output, N-type female (50 ohm)
AES/EBU input (optional): Digital input, balanced BNC / TOS optical input
Right/Left – Mono input: Analog audio input, XLR 3-pin male
MPX input: MPX unbalanced input, BNC female
AUX input: BNC female
19 kHz pilot output: BNC female
RDS/external input: RDS input, BNC female
AF monitor: BNC female
WEB telemetry (optional): RJ45 for LAN connection
RS485: RJ45 for RS485 connection
Reading: DB9 female connector
RDS programming (optional): 6.3 mm jack, stereo female
Telemetry: DB25 female connector
DC input (optional): Amphenol eco-mate series C16-1
AC mains: AC main source, VDE mains socket

General

Power output: 50 W, adjustable from the front panel
RF output impedance: 50 ohm
RF output connector: N-type
Monitor RF: -46 dBc, BNC connector
VSWR: 1.5:1 maximum, with automatic fold-back at higher VSWR
Frequency range: 87.5–108.00 MHz. On request 66–74 MHz (OIRT) or 76–90 MHz (JPN). Programmable in 10 kHz steps
Frequency stability: ±1 ppm from -5 to 50°C
Frequency control: Synthesizer, microprocessor control
Type of modulation: Direct frequency modulation of the carrier, F3E stereo and mono
Lock-in time: Typ. 4 seconds
Off-lock attenuation: ≥ -60 dBc
Modulation capability: ±150 kHz
Modulation mode: Mono, stereo, multiplex, aux
Pre-emphasis: Flat / 50 / 75 µs, selectable internal jumper
Asynchronous AM S/N: -80 dB below reference carrier with 100% AM modulation at 400 Hz, without FM modulation
Synchronous AM S/N: -65 dB below reference carrier with 100% AM modulation at 400 Hz and FM modulation ±75 kHz at 400 Hz
RF harmonics: Exceeds EBU/CCIR/FCC requirements
RF spurious: Exceeds ETSI/CCIR/FCC requirements

Monaural Operation

Audio input impedance: 600 ohm balanced, 10 kohm unbalanced
Audio input level: -3 to +9 dBm
Input connector: XLR female
Audio frequency response: ±0.1 dB, 30 Hz to 15 kHz
THD + noise: 0.05% at 400 Hz
Intermodulation distortion: 0.05%, 1 kHz / 1.3 kHz, 1:1 ratio
Transient intermodulation: 0.05%, 2.96 kHz square wave and 14 kHz sine wave
FM S/N ratio: -82 dB RMS, -80 dB at ±75 kHz deviation, 50 µs de-emphasis, weighted

Multiplex Operation

Composite input impedance: 1.2 kohm unbalanced
Composite input level: +6 to +12 dBm
Input connector: BNC female
Composite amplitude response: ±0.2 dB, 30 Hz to 100 kHz
THD + noise: 0.05% at 400 Hz
Intermodulation distortion: 0.05% at 400 Hz, 30 Hz to 15 kHz
Transient intermodulation: 0.05%, 2.96 kHz square wave and 14 kHz sine wave
FM S/N ratio: -83 dB RMS detector, -80 dB at ±75 kHz deviation, 50 µs de-emphasis, weighted

Stereo Operation

Audio input impedance: 600 ohm balanced, 10 kohm unbalanced
Audio input level: -3 to +9 dBm
Input connector: XLR female
Audio frequency response: ±0.1 dB, 30 Hz to 15 kHz
THD + noise: 0.05% at 400 Hz
Intermodulation distortion: 0.05%, 1 kHz / 1.3 kHz, 1:1 ratio
Transient intermodulation: 0.05%, 2.96 kHz square wave and 14 kHz sine wave
FM S/N ratio: -73 dB RMS, -71 dB at ±75 kHz deviation, 50 µs de-emphasis, weighted
Stereo separation: 30–80 Hz ≥ -50 dB, 80 Hz–15 kHz ≥ -60 dB (typ. 65 dB)
Crosstalk attenuation: Main to sub -50 dB, 30 Hz to 15 kHz (typ. -55 dB, 100 Hz to 8 kHz)
38 kHz suppression: ≥ -65 dB (typ. -80 dB)
Pilot frequency: 19 kHz ± 1 Hz
Output pilot: 1 Vpp, BNC female
Audio filter attenuation: ≥ -44 dB at 19 kHz, > -27 dB from 20 kHz to 100 kHz
Modes: Stereo, mono

Auxiliary Input

Input impedance: 3 kohm
Input level: -3 to +6 dBm
Frequency response: ±0.2 dB, 40 kHz to 100 kHz
Input connector: BNC female. Most SCA, RDS and AUX performance figures are set by the generator used

Telemetry

Connector: DB9 female on the back panel for remote connections

Electrical

AC input power: 90–260 VAC, 50/60 Hz, single phase
Apparent power: 70 VA at 30 W
Active power: 60 W at 30 W
Cooling: Forced air with an internal long-life brushless ball-bearing fan
Acoustic noise: < -56 dBa at 1 metre

Environmental

Operating temperature: -10°C to +50°C
Max operating altitude: 3000 m
Relative humidity: 0 to 95%, non-condensing

Physical Dimensions

Mounting: Standard 19" chassis, 1U rack
Size: 485 mm W × 405 mm D × 44 mm H
Weight: About 4.0 kg