Date: 17/09/2012

Rohde & Schwarz’s TMU9 & THU9 transmitters reduce energy costs

The costs incurred on energy in the broadcast transmitter networks constitutes to the lion’s share of operating costs. Rohde & Schwarz introduces the R&S TMU9 air-cooled transmitter which is the first to use Doherty technology to significantly increase energy efficiency. The R&S THU9 high-power transmitter has also been equipped with Doherty technology to increase its efficiency by another third. Network operators can therefore reduce their energy costs with each of the two transmitters by more than 40 percent, claims R&S.

The new R&S TMU9 UHF medium-power transmitter and R&S THU9 UHF high-power transmitter clock in with high energy efficiency scores and they offer an efficiency of up to 38 percent for COFDM standards.

Doherty technology is used by Rohde & Schwarz to achieve these performance values in both these transmitters. The basic principle is to split signal amplification between two paths. The advantage is that the carrier amplifier amplifies only the average signal. As a result, this path does not require any reserve capacity for power peaks. The peaking amplifier, on the other hand, only operates when the power level peaks, which saves energy in both amplifiers.

The new R&S TMU9 transmitter attains output power levels ranging from 570 W to 2.85 kW for the DVB-T, DVB-H, DVB-T2, ATSC, ATSC Mobile DTV and ISDB-TB standards. These output powers are achieved using only a single rack and hence saves space at the transmitter site. This permits network operators to decrease their infrastructure costs. More than 50 different system configurations let a customized solution for any application. The MultiTX system makes it possible to install up to six single transmitters in a single rack. An N+1 system can also be accommodated in one rack.

The R&S TCE900 platform also plays a part in the flexible system configuration of the R&S TMU9. It can be configured either as a transmitter control unit or as an exciter using plug-in boards. It is possible to use only one platform for both functions. The flexibility and compact size of the R&S TMU9 keep investment costs low.

The system configuration permits a quick startup. For example, all components are prewired, and the self-engaging connection of the amplifiers requires no additional cabling. Various solutions for increasing availability ensure reliable operation – for example, the tried-and-tested backup exciter redundancy concept, which has been enhanced for the R&S TMU9. It achieves exciter redundancy using only two exciters.

The liquid-cooled R&S THU9 transmitter has a system configuration that provides an unique level of flexibility, power density per transmitter rack and an user-friendly operating concept.

These devices are available now.