Inovoncs 640 AARON FM Re-Broadcast Receiver

Inovonics’ AARON 640 is a new premium FM rebroadcast transmitter/receiver developed for challenging broadcast applications. The on-air applications are of broadcast quality and not comparable to a consumer tuner. The AARON 640 has many of the features of its big brother AARON 650, but at a budget-friendly price.

The extremely sensitive and selective front-end of the AARON 640 digitally decodes the entire analogue baseband. Outputs are MPX, balanced analog and AES digital signals with low latency for Re-broadcasting

The rear panel provides a 50 Ohm (N) antenna connection, a true (off air) composite output, balanced analog and AES digital audio and IP access for remote control. Back panel and self-logging alarms that continuously monitor for Audio Loss, RF Loss and RDS Loss (or ‘hijacking’). When off air, warnings can be sent by email or text message. The front panel displays left and right audio metering, local LED alarms and an LCD screen with jog wheel for advanced control and editing of all re-broadcast applications.

AARON 640’s “responsive” web interface allows control of the device via your PC, tablet or smartphone, and reliable 2-way connectivity is assured with a built-in Dynamic DNS utility. Advanced off air measurement functions include an FM BandScanner and FFT of the MPX area. Receive bandwidth, auto-mixing and many other receiver parameters are controlled via manual or automatic receive processing.

FEATURES

• High-performance ‘Software-Defined-Radio’ design.
• Synchronous (low-latency) off-air composite output.
• Balanced Analog and AES-Digital Program Line outputs.
• Active reception processing for Bandwidth, Stereo Blend, HF Blending and more.
• Advanced metering includes an FFT Spectrum Analyzer for the MPX, Left/Right XY plots and audio levels over time.
• BandScanner for onsite RF Spectrum Analysis.
• Local alarm tallies plus self-logging alarms constantly check for Audio Loss, RF Loss and RDS Loss.
• Web interface for remote control and off air notifications by email and SMS.

Tuning Range: 

Extended FM band: 65.0MHz–108.0MHz

Sensitivity/Noise Performance:

• Unweighted monaural SNR for AES Digital and L/R Analog line outputs referenced to ±75kHz carrier deviation at specified RF input levels:
  • >82dB Digital, >80dB Analog at 60dBμv
  • >78dB Digital, >76dB Analog at 40dBμv
  • >60dB Digital/Analog at 20dBμv
  • >50dB Digital/Analog at 10dBμv
  • >43dB Digital/Analog at 0dBμv

Selectivity:

• Selectable IF bandwidths :311kHz, 287kHz, 254kHz, 236kHz,217kHz, 200kHz, 184kHz, 168kHz, 151kHz,133kHz, 114kHz,97kHz, 84kHz,72kHz, 64kHz and 56kHz

Frequency Response:

• Composite/MPX Output (pass-through): ±0.5dB, 20Hz–100kHz
• AES Digital & L/R Analog Line Outputs: >±0.2dB, 20Hz–15kHz

Stereo Separation (at 1kHz):

• Composite/MPX Output: >45dB
• AES Digital & L/R Analog Line Outputs: >50dB

Program Signal Latency (Delay):

• Composite/MPX Output: <250μs
• AES Digital & L/R Analog Line Outputs: <2.0ms

Regional Settings:

• Tuning Steps: 200kHz, 100kHz or 10kHz
• De-Emphasis (Line Outputs): 75μs or 50μs
• Radio Data System: RBDS or RDS

Antenna Inputs: 

50-ohm (N)

Digital Line Output:

The AES3 (XLR) stereo output is a 24-bit, 48kHz output that may be adjusted between –30dBFS and 0dBFS, corresponding to ±75kHz carrier deviation, with or without de-emphasis.

Analog Line Outputs:

Active balanced (XLR) outputs are adjustable between –20dBu and 18dBu ( 15.5dBm), corresponding to ±75kHz carrier deviation, with or without de- emphasis. Source impedance is 200 ohms.

Composite/MPX Outputs:

The unbalanced (BNC) output may be adjusted between 1V p-p and 6V p-p, corresponding to ±75kHz carrier deviation. Source impedance is 75 ohms.

Composite Audio Processing::

Up to 3dB of composite clipping may be applied to the composite/MPX output to better define the FM deviation limit. The 19kHz stereo pilot and the 57kHz RDS subcarrier are stripped, filtered and reinserted after the clipper. This clipping feature does not affect the demodulated L/R program outputs.

Network Port: 

An RJ45 jack accepts TCP/IP network connections for remote setup and operation of the AARON 640.

Headphone Jack (Front Panel): 

A quarter-inch (TRS) headphone jack mon- itors the off-air program signal. Head- phone volume is a menu item.

Front-Panel:

A front-panel graphic display and jog wheel allow easy, menu-guided in-situ setup and operation of the AARON 640. LED “VU” meters display L/R program audio levels.

Software Control:

The IP network port enables complete remote setup and operation of the AARON 640 over a local network or the Internet using any Desktop, tablet or mobile browser.

SNMP:

SNMP remote monitoring supported.

Test Tone Generator:

20Hz – 20kHz; 60dB attenuator.

AC Mains Requirements:

90–130VAC or 200–255VAC, 50/60Hz; 5W.

Size:

H: 1¾in/44mm, W: 19in/483mm, D: 9½in/240mm (1U).

Weight:

9lb/4kg (net), 12lbs/5.4kg (shipping).

Environmental: 

Continuous operation guaranteed at ambi- ent temperatures between 32°F/0°C and 122°F/50°C; 0-95% relative humidity, non- condensing; altitudes to 10,000ft/ 3048m.