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Nautel’s NX1 and NX2.5 AM transmitters will ship this fall.
Nautel will be expanding its NX series of AM transmitters into the low-power market, with two models that support both analog and digital broadcasting.
The additions are the 1 kW NX1 and the 2.5 kW NX2.5. Scheduled to ship in the fall, the transmitters will be exhibited at Nautel’s NAB Show booth.
“Low-power AM transmitters haven’t had these kinds of capabilities in the past,” said John Whyte, Nautel’s head of marketing and product strategy, in a release.
The transmitters are built on the company’s NX series architecture, which Nautel said accounts for approximately 40 MW of high-power AM deployments worldwide.
Both models contain a 250 W RF power module developed to bring the same performance in low-power configurations. The module includes ultra-linear modulation and digital precorrection.
The NX1 and NX2.5 support HD Radio, including MA3 all-digital operation, as well as current DRM modes. They also include Nautel’s digital modulation architecture for linearity and spectral cleanliness.
The models include front‑accessible, hot‑pluggable RF power modules that contribute the same to the final output. Nautel’s HTML‑based user interface provides local and remote monitoring, while built‑in RF instrumentation offers system visibility.
We’re previewing technical sessions and trends of the upcoming NAB Show.
NAB Vice President, Advanced Engineering David Layer will give talks about AM radio and hybrid platforms before and during the convention.
Radio World: What will your sessions be about?
David Layer: My presentation to the Public Radio Engineering Conference will focus solely on AM radio, and I plan to spend most of my time telling the audience about all the interesting AM radio-related work ongoing within the National Radio Systems Committee.
As it turns out, my colleague and good friend John Kean is presenting at the PREC as well, also about AM radio, so he and I will be coordinating our presentations as we work together on the NRSC projects. It’s fair to say that John is the brains behind a lot of this work, and we’re fortunate that he is “on the job” here.
This talk will include some of the material I’m discussing at the PREC, in particular on the NRSC’s AM booster project, targeted to a different audience. I also plan to discuss my thoughts on the importance of broadcasters using digital radio signals and why digital plus hybrid — over-the-air plus internet — technology is the best combination to keep their stations “looking as good as they sound.”
RW: The NRSC has been conducting research about AM single-frequency networks. What is the status of that work?
Layer: AM broadcasters are disadvantaged compared to FM and TV broadcasters in that they are not authorized by the FCC to make use of on-channel booster stations.
Also known as single-frequency networks or SFNs, main signal-booster signal combinations can help broadcasters reach listeners within a station’s service area that experience poor reception. Modern transmission technologies, including RF channel simulation tools that accurately model SFNs, and precise timing control between main and booster stations, are being used successfully in the support of SFNs in FM radio and broadcast TV services.
It stands to reason that AM broadcasters should also be able to employ these techniques and improve their coverage and service to listeners.
The NRSC is pursuing an AM booster project with the ultimate goal of developing a technical record to support adoption of a petition for rulemaking at the FCC that establishes rules for AM booster stations.
Station lists in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 with DTS AutoStage.
This project is expected to consist of a number of phases including laboratory testing of AM co-channel interference to develop parameters for booster station design; investigation into small antennas suitable for booster station operation; and ultimately construction and field testing of an AM radio SFN utilizing the learnings of the earlier work, under experimental authorization.
Our current challenge is identifying a full-service AM station that we can work with on booster experiments. We hope to identify a station in the Washington, D.C., area as that is where our testing resources are located. Once a plan is in place for conducting tests on a specific station, I expect the other parts of the project will move forward.
RW: Hybrid radio systems like DTS AutoStage are becoming more prevalent in automobiles. What do they portend for the way radio uses metadata and its broader user experience?
Layer: I am a big fan of hybrid radio systems, and DTS AutoStage is clearly leading in this technology. Well-designed hybrid radio systems give the AM and FM radio bands a totally consistent user experience with respect to metadata, where all stations in the band look great with station logos and station information.
NAB recommends that all broadcasters participate in hybrid radio and make the necessary investments to provide great metadata to listeners. At the same time, many broadcasters should also be thinking about how they can support digital radio (i.e., HD Radio) technology and start broadcasting in digital.
There are far more vehicles with HD Radio than with hybrid radio, and the radio “product” on the dash will look better and better as more broadcasters consistently transmit metadata using the HD Radio system.
RW: The number of AM stations in the United States has been declining, slowly but consistently, for some time. What role do you see the band playing in American life in another few years?
Layer: AM radio continues to play a vital role in the emergency infrastructure of the U.S. as the backbone of the Emergency Alert System. This is a role not easily replaced by other technologies, and NAB has been a strong supporter of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which recognizes this and would keep AM radio in vehicles for the safety of all Americans.
As an audio service, both AM and FM face challenges due to the increased competition that internet-delivered audio represents. I primarily focus on the technical aspect of these services in my role at NAB, and I expect NAB to continue to investigate and encourage use of technologies, like AM boosters and the use of digital radio, that help broadcasters to stand out in this ever more crowded field of choices.
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The Communicator First Issue of 2026Happy New Year! This first issue of 2026 spans 110 pages and
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Closing out 2025, here are the top five blog posts at k0nr.com during the year. Some people may see this as a lazy way to create one more blog post this year without much effort, and they would be right. These posts are the top five most viewed this year, but may have been written earlier. Top Five Blog Posts Continue reading Top Five K0NR Blog Posts for 2025→
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