The Innovator HX offers a modern design with a high level of versatility, allowing broadcasters to choose the configuration that best meets their individual needs. The advanced technology, along with Axcera's proven, industry-leading record of product support, ensures the highest level of service throughout the life of the product.

The Innovator HX is available in UHF, VHF, 8VSB, COFDM and analog versions and all digital and analog power amplifier modules are interchangeable. For analog VHF operation, both internally diplexed and externally diplexed configurations are available.

With a focus on the future, every Innovator HX uses an in-circuit programmable control system designed by Axcera, avoiding the obsolescence issues associated with proprietary third-party control systems. The HX power amplifiers are also capable of operation with RF transistors from multiple vendors, further enhancing longevity.

With its parallel amplifier design, every Innovator HX is perfect for long-term unattended operation. A dual exciter system with automatic switchover is available to suit the highest redundancy requirements. Available precise frequency control, which is especially critical in adjacent channel applications, allows the exciter to be locked to any precision 10MHz standard for precise frequency stability.

In digital ATSC configurations, the Innovator HX also includes Axcera Adaptive Correction Technology (AXACT(tm)), the industry's first fully automatic adaptive pre-correction system for both linear and non-linear distortions, thereby maximizing signal coverage.

For 8VSB operation, the Innovator HX uses the new Axciter digital television modulator, the most advanced ATSC exciter available today. Building on the field proven hardware platform of Axcera's digital exciter family, the Axciter offers terrestrial broadcasters the most flexible solution available. Because it operates using 100% digital signal processing, the Axciter can evolve as broadcast requirements change, helping to protect your investment for many years to come.

This unit utilizes a patented VSB modulation technique, which makes it possible to generate a virtually perfect 8VSB IF signal. Since the Axciter is a completely reprogrammable digital television exciter, it can be easily upgraded in the field with new software versions through the convenient front panel USB port. Critical parameters can conveniently be set and queried directly on the color LCD screen or through an interface to a personal computer.

The DSP circuitry also handles frequency offsets, allowing an unlimited number of user selectable offsets. In addition, asynchronous resampling techniques compensate for errors in the SMPTE-310M input sample rate, ensuring the best possible signal generation.

The companion upconverter accepts the standard 44 MHz IF output of the digital VSB modulator and produces on-carrier RF for any TV channel. The upconverter, which is based on proven frequency-agile dual-conversion technology using low noise PLL sources, requires no fixed channel filter in its signal path. This allows any channel to be selected directly from the front panel display with no tuning or hardware changes required, enabling a single broadband transmitter to back up multiple channels. This also simplifies spare parts stock as the hardware is the same for all channels.

Both the upconverter and the 8VSB modulator can be locked to an external 10 MHz reference for synchronization or precise frequency offset control. Non-volatile operation is achieved through flash-RAM, which instantaneously stores all digital settings for the entire exciter-modulator system. This ensures that, in case of power loss, the system will return to the previously selected settings when power is restored, saving time by eliminating the need to re-enter operating parameters.

For DVB-T and DVB-H applications, the Innovator HX is available with Axcera's DVB-compliant DVB1A-R COFDM modulator. This unit offers digital linear and non-linear precorrection for a high quality output signal. Other available features include DVB-H and SFN modes, hierarchical modulation and more. As with ATSC operation, the modulator feeds the Axcera digital upconverter for excellent performance.

For analog broadcasting, Axcera's modular, frequency agile exciter/modulator provides unequaled stability, performance and signal correction capability. Differential phase and gain correction is achieved in the modulator stage while the IF processor module provides the necessary signal pre-correction for linearity, ICPM and frequency response distortions.

Externally diplexed systems include separate visual and aural upconverter modules. For internally diplexed operation, the visual and aural signals are combined at IF, and pre-correction is applied to ensure intermodulation performance of better than 60dB below visual carrier. In both configurations, upconversion is achieved through a low phase-noise, dual-conversion, frequency-agile oscillator that covers all UHF and VHF frequencies with no component changes.

Stability is enhanced with an automatic level control (ALC) loop to the output of the IF correctors, maintaining consistent performance over environmental variations.

Every Innovator HX transmitter is comprised of highly reliable broadband amplifier modules operating in a parallel configuration. Each module uses the latest LDMOS UHF or MOSFET VHF transistors, providing very efficient and linear operation and ensuring future support. For convenience, each amplifier module operates independently, allowing easy removal and replacement while the transmitter is on the air, and all digital and analog power amplifier modules are interchangeable.

The extensive correction capability of Axcera's digital and analog exciters allows all stages of the final amplifiers to operate in the very efficient class AB mode, minimizing system power consumption.

The broadband amplifier design allows all modules to operate over the entire operating band without any retuning, helping to minimize spare parts stock for multiple station operators. This also provides for simplified channel changes, requiring only replacement of channelized filters.

The amplifier outputs are combined using a broadband modified-hybrid type combiner that also covers the entire operating band and, at the same time, minimizes the number of cables and connectors for excellent reliability.

For analog VHF operation, the Innovator HX is available in both internally and externally diplexed configurations. Choosing an externally diplexed configuration provides maximum efficiency and highest output power per cabinet.

Selecting an internally diplexed configuration, coupled with a digital mask filter that is tuned for analog rejection, can simplify a future digital conversion, requiring only the addition of a digital modulator. This provides a significant advantage to broadcasters expecting to return to a legacy channel for DTV broadcasting.

The Innovator HX uses a hollow-fin heat-sink design that minimizes the power amplifier module size without compromising cooling efficiency, resulting in a very small overall transmitter footprint. This unique low-pressure system provides higher efficiency and less blower noise than other designs. Choose the "Hush Mode" blower option and operation is nearly silent. By providing low junction temperatures for the transistor devices, this cooling system ensures that high reliability and optimal device life are easily achieved.

The special design and construction techniques employed in the amplifier cabinet and the use of conservatively dimensioned ducting ensures a uniform distribution of cooling air over the heat sinks. This provides uniform operating temperature levels for all power transistors, again improving system reliability.

For convenience and versatility, the cooling system is available with various blower configurations, allowing air to be ducted to the outdoors, directly into the transmitter room, or a combination of both. This provides the flexibility to choose the configuration that best fits the site without the need for additional construction, all with the use of simple air ducts.

Realizing that television transmitters may be operating in very challenging environmental conditions, Axcera has built a high degree of protection into all Innovator HX transmitters. From high RF environments to lightning prone installations, these products are designed to withstand adverse conditions and keep you on the air.

More than just VSWR cutback, Axcera's Intelligent VSWR Protection (IVP) actually recognizes the cause of VSWR and reacts appropriately in order to protect the entire transmission system while ensuring minimal loss of signal coverage. This unique feature determines whether the high VSWR is caused by a catastrophic problem like a transmission line arc, or if it is a temporary problem such as antenna icing. In the catastrophic case a typical transmitter may continue to produce power, resulting in expensive antenna, transmission line or RF system repairs. But with Axcera's IVP, the system will quickly remove drive to the final amplifier, avoiding further damage to the system components. For a temporary VSWR condition like antenna icing, the system will remain on the air at a reduced power level until the VSWR returns to a normal level, ensuring minimal coverage loss during the VSWR condition.

The Innovator HX also includes amplifier over-temperature protection which ensures that the amplifiers will survive even when exposed to extreme heat conditions. For an extra measure of protection, all amplifier circuits include over-voltage and over-current protection, minimizing the potential of a transistor failure while improving the long-term reliability of our products.

RF shielded circuit enclosures allow these products to operate free of interference, even in high RF environments. These transmitters also utilize bandpass, trap and/or harmonic filtering to minimize out-of-band products that could interfere with other broadcasters while simultaneously bringing an extra measure of lightning protection to the transmitter output devices.

By designing our standard products to operate under these conditions, we can better assure excellent performance at your location.

All control and monitoring functions of the transmitter are brought together in the in-circuit programmable control unit and can be accessed both through the full-color touch-screen graphical user interface (GUI) and the LCD menu located on the front panel of the controller.

Both the GUI and the LCD provide a window into all levels of the transmitter system including test values, status information, pre-sets, fault indication and diagnostics to the component level. Additionally, the GUI provides fault logging including fault description and time and date of occurrence.

The control system is an Axcera in-circuit programmable design using standard, off-the-shelf components. This avoids dependency on proprietary third-party controller designs and the associated obsolescence issues, further solidifying future product support.

For remote interface, the system can be accessed through an Ethernet connection or through a standard telephone line (POTS), offering all of the functionality of the local GUI. Remote access is also available through a traditional interface compatible with all major brands of broadcast remote control systems.

Standard on all Innovator HX transmitters that incorporate the Axciter modulator, our exclusive Axcera Adaptive Correction Technology (AXACT) provides dynamic digital pre-correction that automatically tracks and corrects for distortions, both linear and non-linear, in the complete transmitter system. All adaptive operations are performed in the high-speed processor, which is capable of equalizing a complete transmitter system in just sixty seconds, and completing a full system optimization in about two minutes.

The continuous, real-time, non-linear component of AXACT is by far the most critical element of the correction system. Since the majority of linear distortions are caused by factors external to the transmission system, ATSC set-top boxes are designed to correct for large amounts of linear distortions. However, since DTV receivers cannot correct for non-linear distortions, this must be handled in the transmitter system or coverage will be affected in the fringe areas.

To obtain the necessary data, AXACT continuously samples the transmitter system output, both before and after the mask filter, through a down converterintegral to the upconverter tray. The modulator processes the data and the necessary digital pre-correction is applied to the modulator output signal, resulting in consistent transmitter system performance, independent of enviromental changes.

The Axciter also performs over fifteen safety tests upon each adaptive correction run to confirm that the new correction values are appropriate before applying them to the on-air signal. This ensures that the signal will not be negatively affected by a failure of an RF component in the sample path, such as an RF coupler, connector, relay or cable.

Available on Innovator HX transmitters equipped with the Axciter modulator is Axcera's exclusive DTVision digital signal analysis and testing system. Designed to replace expensive DTV test equipment at a fraction of the price, this system samples the transmitter output and measures critical transmitter performance parameters. The information is then displayed in high-resolution graphical format on the modulator's full VGA front panel display - no external PC is required.

Available performance parameters include digital SNR, error vector magnitude (EVM), eye diagram, graphs of adaptive equalizer performance and RF spectrum, constellation diagram, and more.

• VHF Transmitters
  Analog Power Offerings to 60kW
  Digital Power Offerings to 30kW
• UHF Transmitters
  Analog Power Offerings to 40kW
  Digital Power Offerings to 20kW

• * Other power levels/frequencies available upon request. Please Contact the factory for more information.

• Broadband Capability
  Exciters, power amplifiers and combiners cover the entire operating band, minimizing spare parts stock and simplifying channel changes.
• Versatile PA Design
  Power amplifiers are identical for visual, aural and digital operation, and are designed to accept high power transistors from multiple manufacturers, minimizing spare parts stock and ensuring future support.
• Axcera-Designed In-Circuit Programmable Control System
  Ensures the greatest possible longetivity through the digital transition and beyond, avoiding dependency on proprietary third-party designs and the associated obsolescence issues
• Flexible, Forward-Thinking Configurations
  Internally diplexed configurations can be coupled with analog-tuned digital mask filters to simplify a future digital conversion for broadcasters expecting to return to legacy channel for DTV broadcasting

Axcera is the industry leader in ATSC exciter technology. The Axciter operates using 100% digital signal processing allowing it to evolve as broadcast requirements change.

Complete System Design & Integration

With over 23 years of industry leading design and integration experience, Axcera's applications and design engineers will work with you to create the best solution for your station's transmitter plant.

World-class support from a world-class organization. Axcera's support team is dedicated to you, the customer and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.