Features

• Unexcelled off-air reception of analog-FM broadcasts with highly-accurate displays of total modulation and other measurements, even in the presence of on-channel or adjacent-channel HD Radio carriers at any level.

• Intuitive, menu-driven setup from the front panel, or remote setup and operation with the built-in Webserver that may be addressed over any IP network by computer or mobile device. The 541 supports full SNMP remote control and monitoring.

• Graphic front-panel and remote display of all level metering; FFT spectrum analysis of IF passband, MPX baseband and program audio; oscilloscope display of program audio and stereo XY.

• Alarms for a range of signal faults, with tallies and SMS/text or email message dispatches to specific individuals for various alarm conditions. All alarms are logged chronologically as well.

• Analog, AES3-digital, HTTP/UDP Web-streaming and independent AoIP-streaming program audio outputs, plus an FM composite/MPX baseband output.

• The BandScanner™ utility scans the FM spectrum and displays each station with its signal level, PI code and call sign.

• StationRotation™ mode enables automatic sequential monitoring of multiple station presets.

• Collects and logs a history-over-time of FM and audio signal parameters..

• Accurate program loudness measurement to the human perception ITU-R BS.1770 (‘LU’) loudness specification.

• Stays on-channel and retains measurement setups through signal and power losses.

Specifications

541 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PLEASE NOTE: Specifications tabulated here are actual, real-world measurements, not optimistic allusions to theoretical ideals. Measurement results should be repeatable when using the appropriate, laboratory-grade test equipment.

RF & RECEPTION

• Tuning Range: Tunes 76.0 MHz–108.0 MHz in 100 kHz steps.
• Antenna Input: 75-ohm (F), 1 VRMS max.
• High Level RF Input: 50-ohm (BNC), 5 VRMS max.
• Off-Air Sensitivity (for 50 dB monaural SNR):
  5 dBµV or better with de-emphasis.
  15 dBµV or better unweighted.
• Reception Modes: Stereo / Forced Mono / SCA Program Audio

FM BASEBAND

(Off-Air or High Level; (D) indicates measurements taken with de-emphasis.)

• Frequency Response: ±0.25 dB, 10 Hz–100 kHz.
• Signal-to-Noise (D): >83 dB.
• Distortion (D): <0.01% THD+N; <0.01% IMD (SMPTE, 60 Hz/7 kHz, 4:1).
• FM Deviation: Indicates composite (total) and independent positive and negative deviations.
  ±75 kHz = 100% Modulation; 0–200% metering with ±1% accuracy.
• AM Noise (D): Measures down to 87 dB below 100% AM Modulation.
• FM Stereo Pilot: Indicates 0–15% pilot injection; pilot frequency readout has ±0.1 Hz accuracy.
• FM Subcarriers: Indicates percent injection of 38 kHz (residual), 57 kHz RDS, 67 kHz/92 kHz SCA subcarriers.

FM AUDIO PERFORMANCE

(Off-Air or High Level; taken with de-emphasis.)

• Frequency Response: ±0.1 dB, 20 Hz–15 kHz

• Signal-to-Noise:

  • Analog Out: >90 dB
  • Digital Out: >90 dB

• Distortion:

  • Analog Out: <0.01% THD+N; <0.02% IMD (SMPTE, 60 Hz/7 kHz, 4:1).
  • Digital Out: <0.01% THD+N; <0.01% IMD (SMPTE, 60 Hz/7 kHz, 4:1).
• Stereo Separation: >64 dB, 20 Hz–15 kHz
• FM Stereo Crosstalk (Main→Sub or Sub→Main): >67 dB, 20 Hz–15 kHz.
• FM De-emphasis: 75 µs / 50 µs / None.

INPUTS, OUTPUTS AND PORTS

• MPX Output: (BNC) Select either MPX or 19 kHz stereo pilot sample; adjustable from 1 VPP to 6 VPP in 0.01 V steps; ±0.25 dB, 10 Hz–100 kHz.

• Program Audio Outputs: May be assigned to the FM-stereo program or to SCA audio. Unless otherwise noted, performance parameters reflect FM Stereo Performance cited above.

  • Balanced Analog: (XLR) Left and Right outputs adjustable from –15 dBu to +15 dBu in 0.1 dB steps; 600 Ω resistive source.
  • AES Digital: (XLR) Adjustable from –30 dBFS to 0 dBFS in 0.1 dB steps; user-selected 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz sample rate; 110 Ω transformer-coupled.
  • Dante/AES67 Compatible AoIP Port: (RJ45) Output at 44.1 kHz (Dante-only) or 44.1 kHz/48 kHz (Dante/AES67); AoIP utility has independent IP, Audio Format and Transmit Flow settings; level adjustable from –30 dBFS to 0 dBFS in 0.1 dB steps.
  • UDP Stream: ADTS or ADTS in MPEG-TS transport.
  • HTTP/Icecast ‘Casual’ Listening Stream: Web browser remote-listening stream employs HE-AACv2 encoding, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz sample rate, bit-rates from 18 kbps to 64 kbps; accommodates up to 10 simultaneous listeners. HTTP/Icecast and raw UDP streams are available simultaneously.
• Headphone Jack: (¼” TRS) Menu-adjustable listening level.
• LAN Port: (RJ45) LAN connection to local network or Internet provides remote monitoring, control, listening and full SNMP implementation; user-programmable network setup and streaming parameters.
• General Purpose Outputs: (Barrier Strip) Six individual open-collector NPN transistor closures to ground are associated with alarm functions. Each is programmable for GPO assignment and logic polarity. Outputs sink 100 mA, 40 Vdc max.

DISPLAYS AND DISPLAY OPTIONS

• Bargraph & Numerical Level Metering: Carrier Modulation • Stereo Pilot & Subcarriers • MPX Power • Demodulated L/R & L+R/L–R • Stereo Separation • Stereo Crosstalk • BS.1770 Loudness • SCA Levels • Synchronous & AM Noise.
• Graphic Displays and History Plots: IF Spectrum • MPX Spectrum • Audio Spectrum • Audio Oscilloscope • Audio XY • FM Modulation History • Audio Level History • RF Metrics History • BandScanner™ utility.
• RDS Fields Displayed: PS • PI • Call • RT • RT+1 • RT+2 • PTY • PTYN • CT • M/S • DI • TP • TA • AF • ODA • Block Error Rate • Groups & Group Use Statistics.

TIMEKEEPING AND ALARMS

• Real-Time Clock: Auto-sets to Internet time; auto/manual DST setting; battery backup.
• Local & Remote Alarms: Carrier Overmod • MPX Power • Audio Loss • Low Signal • Pilot Loss • Multipath • RDS Loss • RDS PI Error • RDS RT • RDS CT • RDS TMC • Pilot Loss • MPX Power • FSK ID Error.
  (Most alarms have multiple parameter settings. All alarms can send text or email notifications. Alarms are automatically logged daily, weekly and monthly.)

POWER, ENVIRONMENTAL, MISCELLANEOUS

• Power Requirement: 88–264 VAC, Single-Phase; 12 W.
• AC Mains Power Factor: Better than 0.6 / 0.9*
  *Upon customer request
• Operating Environment: 32 °F / 0 °C – 122 °F / 50 °C; 0 %–95 % non-condensing relative humidity; 10,000 ft / 3048 m.
• Size and Weight: 3.5″ H × 19″ W × 9″ D; 12 lbs. shipping weight.
• Conformances: EN50081-1 / EN50082-1 • 93/68/EEC • 2002/95/EC