Rohde & Schwarz presents the new R&S THU9, the most efficient high-power transmitter on the market

09/27/2011

To achieve higher levels of economy, broadcast network operators must reduce the energy consumption and infrastructure costs of their systems. Rohde & Schwarz has the ideal solution: the new R&S THU9 high-power transmitter offers the highest efficiency, the most flexible configuration and the highest power density in its class.

The R&S THU9 from Rohde & Schwarz boasts the best energy efficiency values for solid-state TV transmitters. Efficiencies of up to 28 % for COFDM standards and up to 30 % for ATSC standards including the cooling system significantly reduce energy costs. The transmitter can handle all common digital and analog TV standards.

Rohde & Schwarz used innovative approaches for transmitter system configuration to achieve this unrivaled level of efficiency. Attenuation was significantly reduced throughout the whole RF chain, and the amplifier integrates advanced efficient power transistors in 50 V LDMOS technology. Specially developed power supplies are another key aspect of the design. They allow the transmitter control unit to optimize the transistor supply voltage, which results in exceptionally high efficiency.

Another decisive factor for boosting efficiency is the liquid cooling system. The pumps operate in active standby, increasing transmitter availability. Coolant flow is calculated based on the system configuration and the number of amplifiers. Pump speed is adapted to the coolant flow, saving energy and extending transmitter life.

With 15 kW total output power for COFDM standards in a single rack, the R&S THU9 provides market-leading power density. The maximum output power per rack is 18.5 kW for ATSC and ATSC Mobile DTV, and 30 kW for analog TV. The high power density makes the R&S THU9 the most compact system in its class. Depending on the configuration, as many as four single transmitters can be accommodated in one rack. If necessary, they can be combined into an N+1 system. The MultiTX concept makes optimal use of floor space and cuts down on infrastructure costs. Even when configured as a single transmitter, the R&S THU9 requires less space than competitive products. In such an all-in-one configuration, the pump unit and the bandpass filter are integrated in the rack.

The new R&S TCE900 transmitter control exciter also contributes to the system’s exceptional flexibility because it can be configured as a transmitter control unit or as an exciter using plug-in boards. Since the base unit is always the same, the network operator can change the functionality directly at the transmitter site. The exciter can be software-switched from analog to digital TV standards such as DVB-T/-H, DVB-T2, ATSC, ATSC Mobile DTV and ISDB-T/ISDB-TB. Multiple transmission standards can be installed on one exciter. The transport stream can be fed to the R&S TCE900 exciter via the conventional ASI interface or via Gigabit Ethernet. External IP ASI gateways are no longer required, saving additional space and money. Thanks to these features, the R&S THU9 is an investment that will pay efficiency and economy dividends well into the future.

The operating concept is based on user experience and feedback and is therefore exceptionally practical and convenient. The ergonomic operating terminal is easy to access. The display unit with touchscreen retracts into the rack when not in use. After sliding it out, the operator can rotate it so it can accommodate a wide variety of viewing angles. Intuitive menus make operation extremely easy. The GUI of the R&S THU9 is straightforward and provides different views, allowing the user to check system status at a glance. A configuration guide leads the user step-by-step through all the menus required to accomplish a specific task. This ensures fast operator training. A LAN port and a USB interface are provided for exchanging configuration data.

The new R&S THU9 high-power transmitter and the R&S TCE900 transmitter control exciter are now available from Rohde & Schwarz.

Company profile:  Rohde & Schwarz