Sigmacom Broadcast EtherMPX NG | MPX over IP STL , Studio to Transmitter link/ Audio link

EtherMPX is an IP STL system designed to transport real time MPX with RDS or L/R signal from studio to transmitter, through TCP/IP network. An affordable direct replacement of your analog STL, with higher performance!

Professional IP STLs must deliver uncompromised quality, no modulation overshoots, no audible latency for live on- air monitoring and time accuracy for SFN operation. Should be made of high reliability and dedicated hardware, unlike ordinary computer systems, and specifically designed to operate in harsh environment like the mountains where the transmitters are located.

EtherMPX is an IP STL designed exactly with these principles. It has the advantage to transparently transport Analog or Digital MPX with 2.5mS latency, and Analog or Digital L/R discrete channels over uncompressed linear PCM 24bit 48kHz (L/R mode) or 24bit 192kHz (MPX mode). State-of-the-art components for the analog section provide high end quality, with DC coupled inputs & outputs.

With EtherMPX and the flexibility of IP transmission, you can now make complex configurations that could never be imagined with traditional STLs. Feed unlimited number of EtherMPX decoders with only one encoder operating in multicast mode. Synchronize all your transmitters with the SFN option of EtherMPX, without the need for GPS receivers and antennas deployment

Key Facts

•  Broadcast quality, real time, uncompressed linear PCM codec
•  Dedicated hardware – no computer inside or other kid toys
•  Transparent, MPX-HD transmission – no MPX destruction and recreation
•  Support for Digital MPX (MPX over AES3) and MPX over AES67
•  Adjustable bit rates, down to 1.1Mbps for MPX
•  Can be used with high quality 802.11a/n Ethernet links
•  Very low audio latency: down to 2,5mS in MPX mode
•  DC coupled analog balanced inputs / outputs for minimal overshooting
•  Unicast (1-on-1) or Multicast (1-to-Unlimited) transmission modes to feed unlimited number of decoders
•  Maintenance free, 24/7 reliable operation in harsh environments – like TX sites are
•  Extremely low power consumption (7W typical)
•  On air in 5 seconds after switching on the power
•  User selectable formats:
•     • One broadband channel (MPX), or
•     • Two discrete narrowband channels (L/R)
•  Decoder provides simultaneously Analog & Digital output for transmitter redundancy
•  Embedded hardware Silence Detector (user configurable) in Decoder
•  Analog AUX input when IP feed is lost
•  Secondary Ethernet port for SNMP management (out of band MGMT)
•  Centralized remote control & management software (EtherMPX NMS)

GENERAL Model name EtherMPX NG
Dimensions 19” 1U chassis
Power supply 230VAC 50Hz, 12W per device
Operating temp -20 to +60 Celsius
Transport protocol Proprietary UDP Unicast or Multicast based on RFC2365 and IGMPv2 (RFC2236). AES67 compatible in specific modes.
QoS management IETF RFC2474 compliant
Audio compression None (Linear PCM) in Legacy, HD or AES67 Proprietary lossless / lossy in other modes
Audio sample rate 8 – 192kHz input for Digital L/R input 48kHz internal for Analog L/R input 128–192kHz input for Digital MPX input 192kHz internal for Analog MPX input
Audio latency L/R mode: 10.0–125.0mS, user adjustable MPX mode: 5.0–62.5mS, user adjustable Low Latency Option: Down to 5.0mS (for L/R), 2.5mS (for MPX) Network usage L/R mode: 0.59 – 2.44 Mbit/s selectable MPX mode: 1.11 – 4.89 Mbit/s selectable
Audio monitor Stereo ¼” Female jack in front panel
User interface / control Locally: Front panel UI (LCD + rotary knob) Remotely: EtherMPX NMS NG Software
Input SYNC for SFN (Option #1) 10MHz sine or square, 0dBm typical, and 1PPS square TTL 3.3V 10kOhm typical
Output SYNC for SFN (Option #1 with #6) 10MHz TTL 3.3V, +14dBm @ 50Ohm, and 1 PPS TTL 3.3V @ 50 Ohm
GPS RF In (Option #6) -165dBm for 30sec to lock GPS + GLONASS <100ppb holdover for 12 hours
ETH port (for audio) RJ45 female, IEEE802.3, 10/100Mbps MDIX

DECODER
Output name Port A
Output type Digital electrical interface
Connector XLR-3 male
Impedance 110 Ohm balanced – transformer isolated
Supported formats AES3, IEC60958, S/PDIF Audio sample rate 32 – 192 kHz (128 –192kHz for D-MPX)
Audio sample resolution Up to 24 bit
Output name Port B
Output type Analog electrical interface – 2 outputs, 1input Connectors 2 x XLR-3 male (balanced R, L/MPX) output 1 x BNC female (unbalanced MPX only) output 1 x BNC female (unbalanced MPX only) AUX in **XLR is DC coupled, BNCs are AC coupled Impedance 100 Ohm
DAC resolution 24 bit
DAC sample rate 48kHz for L/R input, 192kHz for A-MPX
DAC THD+N -108dB (0.0004%) at 48kHz L/R output -96dB (0.0015% at 192kHz MPX output
DAC Dynamic range Max 129 dB (A-weighting) at 48 or 192kHz
Channel separation 124 dB typical
Reference output 4.37Vpp (+6dBu) for 0 dBFS
Input BW @ 48kHz SR -0.1dB @ 21.8 kHz
Input BW @ 192kHz SR -0.1dB @ 87.2 kHz

Encoder
Input name Port A
Input type Digital electrical interface
Connector XLR-3 female
Impedance 110 Ohm balanced – transformer isolated
Supported formats AES3, IEC60958, S/PDIF
Maximum data rate 12.3 Mbit/s typical
Audio sample rate 32 – 192 kHz (174–192kHz for D-MPX)
Audio resolution Up to 24 bit
Input name Port B
Input type Analog electrical interface – 3 inputs
Connectors 2 x XLR-3 female (balanced R, L/MPX) input 1 x BNC female (unbalanced MPX only) input **XLR is DC coupled, BNC is AC coupled
Impedance 1 kOhm
ADC resolution 24 bit
ADC sample rate 48kHz for L/R input, 192kHz for A-MPX
ADC THD+N -106dB (0.0005%)
ADC Dynamic range 121 dB (no weighting)
Channel separation 135 dB typical
Reference input 3.47Vpp (+4dBu) for 0 dBFS
Input BW @ 48kHz SR -0.1dB @ 20 kHz
Input BW @ 192kHz SR -0.1dB @ 80 kHz