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GatesAir Expands Outdoor Transmitter Series for VHF TV and DAB Radio Broadcasters
Introduced for UHF broadcasters last year, the self-contained, modular Maxiva PMTX-1 provides network operators and local broadcasters with versatile options to provide low-power service and fill coverage gaps in dispersed regions
Cincinnati, OH, December 06, 2022
GatesAir, a Thomson Broadcast subsidiary dedicated to wireless content delivery, continues to shape the future of over-the-air infrastructure with unique transmitter designs that solve coverage challenges old and new. GatesAir last year unveiled its Maxiva PMTX-1 outdoor transmitter series for UHF broadcasters, establishing a new era of transmitter design initiatives with the broadcast industry’s first self-contained, fully weatherproof transmitter series. The company now takes its successful innovation to VHF TV and DAB Radio broadcasters, providing more customers with a versatile transmitter series built for challenging coverage areas and unusual install points.
Same as its UHF predecessor, the Maxiva PMTX-1 integrates a low-power transmitter or transposer/translator to support a diverse array of VHF and DAB use cases, from filling coverage gaps to delivering focused broadcast content as a spot transmitter. Its rugged, telecom-grade enclosure makes the PMTX-1 impervious to weather elements, with adaptability to any climate or outdoor environment thanks to its sealed protective shell. The VHF version covers channels 7 through 13 and is mainly marketed for use in North America and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In mixed spectrum networks, broadcasters can take in a UHF signal and translate it to a VHF output, for example.
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.
“We work with many TV broadcasters in the western half of the United States and Canada that rely on signal hops between multiple sites to cover broadcast markets challenged by mountainous terrain or widely dispersed territories,” said Ted Lantz, Vice President, Product Line Management, GatesAir. “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 very hard-to-reach areas in ways that make financial sense.”
Lantz cites one example where broadcasters can save money by using the pole-mount installation option. “We are working with a customer in the US that intends to add a single-bay VHF dipole antenna to the side of a cellular tower and mount the PMTX-1 on an adjacent pole,” he said. “There are no facility costs involved; the broadcaster is simply renting the tower space at a very reasonable cost.”
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 seemingly endless outdoor installation scenarios. That makes the PMTX-1 ideal for single-frequency network (SFN) configurations where multiple transmitters operate on the same frequency to maximize signal penetration. The PMTX-1 is also available for analog TV networks (100 W), with a field-upgradeable path to DTV (50 W for ATSC, DVB-T, DVB-T2 and ISDB-Tb).
Field operations are also simplified through the Maxiva PMTX-1’s clever one-piece design, which removes all moving parts and air filters to eliminate most maintenance requirements. The sealed metal housing efficiently removes heat from the internal circuitry and performs well in extreme temperatures and humidity levels. This innovative and effective approach to heat management maximizes efficiency and keeps utility costs low.
The PMTX-1 VHF and DAB version is almost analogous to the UHF version in design characteristics and componentry, with the mask filter and power amplifier as the only exceptions. The PMTX-1’s optional RF receiver input supports flexible options for translator and transposer configurations and will reliably regenerate content for very targeted coverage areas at low power levels. Broadcasters can add optional inputs to support DVB-S/S2 receivers and IP transport streams, and accept broadcast content and data from alternate sources.
“These additional inputs are also very helpful for solving coverage problems,” added 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. This is all about solving problems for our customers no matter where their viewers live.”
About GatesAir
GatesAir, Inc. provides complete solutions for over-the-air radio and television broadcasting, leveraging wireless spectrum to maximize performance for multichannel, mission-critical services. Powering over-the-air networks worldwide with unparalleled reliability for 100 years, GatesAir’s turnkey solutions enable broadcasters to create, transport and transmit radio and TV content. With customers in more than 185 countries, the company leads the industry in innovation and design breakthroughs, improving efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership with all products designed and assembled in the USA. Visit www.gatesair.com for more information, Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gatesair, and follow us on Twitter at @GatesAir.
About Thomson Broadcast
Thomson Broadcast is headquartered in Paris, France and maintains U.S. operations in West Palm Beach, Florida. Thomson Broadcast has deployed more than 50,000 equipment installations in more than 170 countries, actively participating in the evolution of television and radio transmission technologies. Through the development of Pulse Step Modulation (PSM) for radio and creating automatic Digital Adaptive Pre-Correction (DAP) for television, Thomson Broadcast continues to help shape the global broadcast transmission market. Thomson Broadcast’s award-winning technologies have earned more than 50 patents and have become fundamental to the broadcast industry. Visit www.thomsonbroadcast.tv for more information, connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/thomson-broadcasttv and follow us on Twitter at @ThomsonBRCST and Instagram at @thomson_broadcast.
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