AARON FM/HD Radio™ Dual Tuner Rebroadcast Receiver

Model 656

UPC: 850025677509

FM/HD Radio™ Dual Tuner Rebroadcast Receiver

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The AARON 656 features an advanced SDR-based FM/HD Radio™ receiver that utilizes Maximum-Ratio Combining (MRC) technology. The AARON 656's MRC Dual Tuner constantly monitors the SNR of Antenna 1, Antenna 2, and Both-Antennas-Combined, and automatically selects the cleanest signal. In addition to FM and HD1-8 program sources for rebroadcast, the 656 accepts analog, AES-digital, streaming program inputs and 4GB of memory for audio playback with fallback-priority selection. Outputs are FM-stereo-multiplex (MPX) as well as both analog and AES digital program line outputs and output streaming. Automatically returns to the programmed frequency and reception mode following a power interruption for hands-off remote reliability. 7-inch Touchscreen and Front Panel Meters and Alarm LEDs.

In addition to FM and HD1-8 program sources for rebroadcast, the 656 accepts analog, AES-digital, streaming program inputs and 4GB of memory for audio playback with fallback-priority selection. Outputs are FM-stereo-multiplex (MPX) as well as both analog and AES digital program line outputs and output streaming.

Automatically returns to the programmed frequency and reception mode following a power interruption for hands-off remote reliability. 7-inch Touchscreen and Front Panel Meters and Alarm LEDs.

Features

Specifications

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Features


  • The AARON 656 is a ground-breaking FM/HD Dual Tuner SDR-based receiver featuring MRC (Maximum-Ratio Combining) technology for superior FM and HD reception. The advanced tuner in the 656 constantly monitors the SNR of Antenna1, Antenna 2, and Both Antennas Combined and automatically selects the cleanest signal on the fly. On HD signal, tests show a 3dB Cd/No improvement just by adding a second antenna.

  • The AARON 656 FM/HD MRC Dual Tuner SDR-based receiver accepts FM & HD1-8 program sources for rebroadcast, as well as HTTP/HTTPS streaming, analog, AES-digital inputs and 4 GB of memory for audio file playback with fallback-priority selection. Audio Processor with 5-Band Multiband Compressor & 4-Band Parametric EQ. Web interface permits total remote control of the unit from any PC or mobile device, along with remote monitoring.

  • The AARON 656 includes a powerful 5-Band Audio Processor employing a 4-Band Parametric Equalizer offering continuous control over the audio signal's frequency content with 5-Bands of Dynamic Compression and selectable crossovers. Audio processing includes High-Pass Filter, Phase Rotator, AGC, Leveling, Stereo Enhance, Wideband and HF Limiter, Stereo Generator. Factory and User Presets.

  • The 656's versatile RDS Encoder is designed for static or dynamic operation: update DPS and RadioText via TCP/UDP ports, HD PAD metadata, stream metadata, or backup player filenames. All alarms are fully configurable, full SNMP support, GPIO: 14 assignable outputs, 4 assignable inputs HTTP/HTTPS web server for remote control and monitoring, including streaming audio. Analog and Digital inputs and outputs on StudioHub connectors.

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Specifications


*Note: Some Specs Subject to Change - Pre-release

RECEIVER PERFORMANCE

Tuning Range

87.5MHz - 107.9MHz in 100kHz steps

Sensitivity/Noise Performance

5dBμV for 50dB unweighted, monaural analog-FM SNR

Off-Air Frequency Response

  • Analog-FM: ±0.5dB, 20Hz - 15kHz
  • HD Radio™: 20Hz - 20kHz (per certification spec.)

FM De-Emphasis

75μs or 50μs, menu-selectable

Stereo Separation (at 1kHz)

  • Analog-FM: >50dB
  • HD Radio™: >90dB

Radio Data System

  • Analog-FM: RDS/RBDS, menu-selectable
  • HD Radio™: “PAD”

Program Signal Latency (Delay)

  • Analog-FM or Line-In Sources: 3.7ms to analog line out, 4.53ms to digital line out, 4.1ms to MPX out
  • HD Radio™ Source: typically 8 seconds to any output

INPUTS & OUTPUTS

Antenna Input

Dual 50Ω (N)

Composite/MPX Output

75Ω (BNC); 1V p-p - 6V p-p for ±75kHz FM carrier deviation

Program Line Inputs

  • Analog: inputs and outputs on StudioHub connectors–accepts ‘0VU’ line levels between –15dBu and +15dBu; +24dBu clipping
  • AES Digital: inputs and outputs on StudioHub connectors–accepts peak line levels between –30dBFS and 0dBFS at sampling rates between 32kHz and 96kHz
  • IP Streaming: Supports HTTP/HTTPS, Icecast, HLS; wav, flac, mp3, aac, vorbis, opus streams.

Program Line Outputs

  • Characteristic: Analog and digital program line outputs may be switched between FM-pre-emphasized or ‘normalized’ (flat) response
  • Analog: Active-balanced (XLR) delivers –12dBu to +18dBu at 100% modulation; +18dBu clipping; 200Ω source
  • AES Digital: (XLR) 24-bit, 44.1kHz sampling; delivers –30dBFS to 0dBFS at 100% modulation
  • Streaming: MP3-encoded for remote IP/browser monitoring

Network Port

RJ45 jack TCP/IP network connection for complete remote setup and operation of the AARON 656; supports SNMP

GPIO

4 GPI, 14 GPO screw-terminal connections, all assignable with selectable logic polarity; enable contact-closure control of certain setup and operating functions and provide local external alarm tallies or connection to remote control systems

Headphone Jack

¼-inch front-panel (TRS)

FAILOVER AUDIO PROTECTION

Four progressive (sequential) failovers may be selectively programmed to respond to carrier loss, audio loss, FM pilot loss, HD loss, stream loss or RDS mismatch as appropriate to the source fault.

AUDIO PROCESSING

AGC

Gated, ‘gain-riding’ AGC with ±15dB capture range; dualrate ‘windowed’ operation

Leveling

Variable ‘syllabic’ 2:1 compression normalizes dialog and music sources

Parametric Equalization

4-band parametric EQ, each with variable frequency, ‘Q’ and gain

Compression

5-Band Audio Processor includes HPF, Phase Rotator, AGC, Leveling, Stereo Enhance, 4-Band Parametric EQ, 5-Band Multiband Compressor with selectable crossovers, Wideband and HF Limiter, Stereo Generator, Factory and User presets

Final Peak Control

Feed-forward final peak limiting eliminates flat-top clipping; independent HF limiter for pre-emphasis protection

Processing Presets

10 factory, 10 user-defined presets

RDS/RBDS ENCODER

Fields Supported

PI, PTY, PS, RT, M/S, TP, DI, CT, AF

HD ‘PAD’ to RDS

HD Radio™ Name, Slogan, Artist, Title, Album and Genre may be converted to the RDS scrolling-PS and RT fields

Streaming Audio Metadata to RDS

Streamed Name, Metadata, Description and Genre may be converted to the RDS scrolling-PS and RT fields

Backup Filename to RDS

Backup filenames can be converted to the RDS scrolling-PS and RT fields

Telnet to RDS

Accepts dynamic PS and Radio Text updates via IP

BANDSCANNER™

A built-in spectrum analyzer utility sweeps the entire FM band (or a selected portion) and presents a graphic display of all signals received, including RSSI values and HD Radio™ transmissions.

MISCELLANEOUS

Alarms

Fault alarms include radio audio loss, analog audio loss, digital audio loss, stream audio loss, low signal, RDS error, stereo pilot loss and HD Radio™ channel loss. Alarms trigger front-panel indications, local (GPO) closures, browser interface notations, SMS/email dispatches, SNMP.

Alarm Logs

Alarms are logged and may be downloaded as daily, weekly or monthly CSV files.

SNMP

All setup and operating controls and alarm functions of the AARON 656 are under SNMP management.

Internal Test Tone Generator

20Hz - 20kHz; programmable frequency and amplitude

Power Requirement

88VAC - 264VAC, 48Hz - 63Hz (‘universal’); 12 watts

Size and Weight

H: 1¾”/44mm, W: 19”/483mm, D: 9½”/240mm (1U); 9lb/4kg (net, 12lbs/5.4kg (shipping)

Environmental

Continuous operation at ambient temperatures between 32ºF/0ºC and 122ºF/50ºC; 0-95% relative humidity, non-condensing, altitudes to 10,000ft/3,048m.

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