GatesAir has applied the technology unveiled last year in its Maxiva PMTX-1 outdoor transmitter series for UHF TV broadcasters to DAB radio.
Gates says the PMTX-1’s rugged, telecom-grade enclosure makes it impervious to weather elements, with adaptability to any climate or outdoor environment thanks to its sealed protective shell. The DAB version is viable for countries that have adopted DAB/DAB+ as its digital radio standard in regions outside North America, with especially strong business opportunities in Europe and APAC. In Europe, the PMTX-1 simplifies DAB broadcast service for tunnels, complex terrain that limits coverage, and areas shadowed by buildings and other obstacles.
The PMTX-1 provides a host of new deployment options to simplify network coverage and penetrate these hard-to-reach areas in ways that make financial sense.
Ted Lanz, GatesAir
Ted Lantz, vice president, Product Line Management at GatesAir, says, “If you look at DAB networks in Europe, we have many customers seeking better ways to add low-power transmitters to road tunnels to ensure uninterrupted service for travelers. They also want cost- and power-efficient options to install low-power transmitters and gap fillers outdoors in very remote, often harsh climates to cover small villages and populations. The PMTX-1 provides a host of new deployment options to simplify network coverage and penetrate these hard-to-reach areas in ways that make financial sense.”
In addition to pole-mount configurations, the PMTX-1 also mounts securely to building structures and traditional broadcast towers, providing broadcasters and network operators with numerous outdoor installation scenarios. The Maxiva PMTX-1’s one-piece design, which removes all moving parts and air filters to eliminate most maintenance requirements, simplifies field operations. The sealed metal housing efficiently removes heat from the internal circuitry and performs well in extreme temperatures and humidity levels. This innovative and practical approach to heat management maximizes efficiency and keeps utility costs low.
“These additional inputs are also very helpful for solving coverage problems,” adds Lantz. “By adding a satellite card, we can receive content from satellite and retransmit that information to a local population. That is very helpful for DAB Radio, where we see a lot of very remote sites that lack a network or microwave connection, and satellite is the only option.”