Inovonics, FM/HD Radio Rebroadcast Receiver

Inovonics' AARON 655 is an HD Radio receiver in the firm’s line of rebroadcast (translator) products. The AARON 655 employs a sensitive FM / HD Radio SDR-based receiver that invariably returns to the programmed frequency and reception mode following a power interruption. In addition to FM and HD1-8 program sources for rebroadcast, the 655 accepts analog, AES-digital and streaming program inputs with fallback-priority selection. Outputs are FM-stereo-multiplex (MPX) as well as both analog and AES digital program line outputs and output streaming.

IP connectivity with a Web-browser interface permits total remote control of the unit from any PC or mobile device, along with remote audio monitoring. Local GPIO failure alarms are augmented with email notifications, alarm logs, and full support for SNMP operation.

Comprehensive audio processing includes gated and ‘windowed’ AGC, a unique ‘syllabic’ leveler, three bands of compression, and both wideband and independent HF limiting. 4 sections of parametric EQ, a ‘Bass Punch’ utility, independent Density and Loud/Smooth adjustments, and variable composite processing round-out the processing function. The AARON 655 includes an onboard RDS encoder that can either pass or regenerate incoming RDS, and can also reformat HD Radio ‘PAD’ data for RDS retransmission.

Features:

• Uncompromising DSP-based (SDR) receiver performance
  
• Accepts program audio from analog FM, digital HD1 through HD8 programs, streaming sources and analog or AES-digital line inputs, all with assignable failover audio backup
  
• Audio processing with AGC, parametric EQ, bass ‘punch’ enhancement, multiband compression, independent broadband / HF peak control and composite clipping
  
• A regenerated and peak-controlled composite/MPX output, plus balanced analog and AES-digital program line outputs for exciters with built-in stereo generators
  
• An internal RDS/RBDS encoder that can customize incoming off-air RDS data, convert HD Radio PAD to RDS, convert streamed metadata to RDS, or receive IP Telnet data
  
• An intuitive remote-control Web Interface with remote audio monitoring; self-logging reception alarms give instant email and text notification
  
• SNMP remote monitoring and control of all AARON 655 functions
  
• A built-in BandScanner™ for a snapshot of the local RF spectrum

Specifications:

RECEIVER PERFORMANCE

Tuning Range

• 87.5MHz - 107.9MHz in 100kHz steps
  

Sensitivity/Noise Performance

• 5dBμV for 50dB unweighted, monaural analog-FM SNR
  

Off-Air Frequency Response

• Analog-FM: ±0.5dB, 20Hz - 15kHz
  
• HD Radio: 20Hz - 20kHz (per certification spec.)
  

FM De-Emphasis

• 5μs or 50μs, menu-selectable
  

Stereo Separation (at 1kHz)

• Analog-FM: >50dB
  
• HD Radio: >90dB
  

Radio Data System

• Analog-FM: RDS/RBDS, menu-selectable
  
• HD Radio: “PAD”
  

Program Signal Latency (Delay)

• Analog-FM or Line-In Sources: 3.7ms to analog line out, 4.53ms to digital line out, 4.1ms to MPX out
  
• HD Radio Source: typically 8 seconds to any output
  

INPUTS & OUTPUTS

Antenna Input

• 50Ω (N)
  

Composite/MPX Output

• 75Ω (BNC); 1V p-p - 6V p-p for ±75kHz FM carrier deviation
  

Program Line Inputs

• Analog: Active-balanced (XLR) accepts ‘0VU’ line levels between –15dBu and +15dBu; +24dBu clipping
  
• AES Digital: Balanced (XLR) accepts peak line levels between –30dBFS and 0dBFS at sampling rates between 32kHz and 96kHz
  
• IP Streaming: Accepts Icecast/SHOUTcast MP3, Ogg and AAC streams
  

Program Line Outputs

• Characteristic: Analog and digital program line outputs may be switched between FM-pre-emphasized or ‘normalized’ (flat) response
  
• Analog: Active-balanced (XLR) delivers –12dBu to +18dBu at 100% modulation; +18dBu clipping; 200Ω source
  
• AES Digital: (XLR) 24-bit, 44.1kHz sampling; delivers –30dBFS to 0dBFS at 100% modulation
  
• Streaming: MP3-encoded for remote IP/browser monitoring
  

Network Port

• RJ45 jack TCP/IP network connection for complete remote setup and operation of the AARON 655; supports SNMP
  

GPIO

• 4 GPI, 6 GPO screw-terminal connections, all assignable with selectable logic polarity; enable contact-closure control of certain setup and operating functions and provide local external alarm tallies or connection to remote control systems
  

Headphone Jack

• ¼-inch front-panel (TRS)
  

FAILOVER AUDIO PROTECTION

• Four progressive (sequential) failovers may be selectively programmed to respond to carrier loss, audio loss, FM pilot loss, HD loss, stream loss or RDS mismatch as appropriate to the source fault.
  

AUDIO PROCESSING

AGC

• Gated, ‘gain-riding’ AGC with ±15dB capture range; dualrate ‘windowed’ operation
  

Leveling

• Variable ‘syllabic’ 2:1 compression normalizes dialog and music sources
  

Parametric Equalization

• 4-sections of parametric EQ, each with variable frequency, ‘Q’ and gain
  

Bass ‘Punch’

• Variable bass enhancement accents the initial bass attack
  

Compression

• 3-bands of r.m.s. and peak compression with selectable crossover frequencies, variable master and individual band drive controls
  

Final Peak Control

• Feed-forward final peak limiting eliminates flat-top clipping; independent HF limiter for pre-emphasis protection
  

Composite Clipper

• 0dB - 3dB adjustable MPX clipping depth (excludes stereo pilot and RDS subcarrier)
  

Processing Presets

• 10 factory, 10 user-defined presets
  

RDS/RBDS ENCODER

Fields Supported

• PI, PTY, PS, RT, M/S, TP, DI, CT, AF
  

HD ‘PAD’ to RDS

• HD Radio Name, Slogan, Artist, Title, Album and Genre may be converted to the RDS scrolling-PS and RT fields
  

Streaming Audio Metadata to RDS

• Streamed Name, Metadata, Description and Genre may be converted to the RDS scrolling-PS and RT fields
  

Telnet to RDS

• Accepts dynamic PS and Radio Text updates via IP
  

BANDSCANNER™

• A built-in spectrum analyzer utility sweeps the entire FM band (or a selected portion) and presents a graphic display of all signals received, includinag RSSI values and HD Radio transmissions.
  

MISCELLANEOUS

Alarms

• Fault alarms include radio audio loss, analog audio loss, digital audio loss, stream audio loss, low signal, RDS error, stereo pilot loss and HD Radio channel loss. Alarms trigger front-panel indications, local (GPO) closures, browser interface notations, SMS/email dispatches, SNMP.
  

Alarm Logs

• Alarms are logged and may be downloaded as daily, weekly or monthly CSV files.
  

SNMP

• All setup and operating controls and alarm functions of the AARON 655 are under SNMP management.
  

Internal Test Tone Generator

• 20Hz - 20kHz; programmable frequency and amplitude
  

Power Requirement

• 88VAC - 264VAC, 48Hz - 63Hz (‘universal’); 12 watts
  

Size and Weight

• H: 1¾”/44mm, W: 19”/483mm, D: 9½”/240mm (1U); 9lb/4kg (net, 12lbs/5.4kg (shipping)
  

Environmental

• 32°f/0°C - 122°F/50°C; 0% - 95% non-condensing relative humidity; 10,000ft/3048m