Broadcast Electronics, which recently came under new ownership, will introduce an AM transmitter platform called AMX, highlighting its compact design and efficiency.

The new product, scheduled to ship later in the year, will be built in the BE factory in Quincy, Ill. “This a ground up design by the BE team,” President/CEO Rich Redmond told Radio World.

“The Broadcast Electronics AMX is a next-generation AM transmitter platform that is based around ultra-high efficiency, scalability, modularity, simplified maintenance and significantly reduced footprint,” the company said in a release.

The AMX provides 5 kW in a chassis that is five rack units tall and can ship via UPS or FedEx, which BE calls an industry first. It is suitable for analog, HD Radio or DRM broadcasts, and will be highlighted at the NAB Show.

“AMX is first to market with silicon carbide MOSFET RF amplifier and modulator modules, leveraging proven technology deployed in electric vehicle drives for nearly 10 years,” BE said.

“Silicon Carbide has numerous advantages over conventional MOSFETs used in all prior AM transmitter designs such as increased voltage and current capability, reduced capacitance and increased robustness.”

Features include redundant auto-ranging power supplies for single- or three-phase power configurable at the transmitter; integrated Modulation Dependent Carrier Level, adjustable up to 6 dB of carrier reduction for power savings; and a wideband power amplifier, exciter and control system.

“AMX’s exclusive modular harmonic filter makes field frequency changes a simple matter by replacing the harmonic filter and doing a quick calibration all in less than 30 minutes,” BE said.

Also, the transmitter is available with an “Orban Inside” processing option, the first in the market for an AM transmitter.

BE recently was acquired from Elenos by an ownership group led by Redmond and majority investor The Alzana Group.

NAB Show Booth: C1646

The post BE Introduces AMX Transmitter for AM appeared first on Radio World.

Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are testimonials intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on transmitters.

Deep into its migration from tube transmitters, K-LOVE Radio is gaining early returns from modern solid-state FM technology from GatesAir.

Recent upgrades at stations in Billings, Mont., and Tremonton, Utah, highlight how modern transmitter design can deliver measurable operational, sonic and business benefits.

In January, K-LOVE installed a new GatesAir Flexiva GX FM transmitter at KLRV(FM) in Billings, replacing a rack-hungry system. Shortly thereafter, a Flexiva FAX FM and HD Radio-ready transmitter was installed at KNKL(FM), replacing an aging tube transmitter and dramatically modernizing an RF site that covers listeners Salt Lake Valley and north to near the Idaho border.

“These are the first solid-state GatesAir transmitters we’ve deployed in this part of the K-LOVE network,” said Ron Huckeby, field engineer for Montana and Wyoming.

“It’s part of a broader transition. The goal is to retire almost all tube transmitters by 2027.”

Physical footprint and operating efficiency were major drivers at KLRV. The Flexiva GX5K’s compact, rack-mounted design allowed engineers to reclaim significant rack space while avoiding increased lease costs.

“The GX is about a third of the size of the transmitter it replaced,” Huckeby said. “That power-to-size ratio is impressive and it’s very lightweight. One person can lift a 10 kW unit before adding power supplies.”

At KNKL, the benefits were audible, Huckeby said. The new Flexiva FAX10 transmitter replaced a tube-based system that relied on older excitation technology.

“The transmitter and exciter cleaned up the audio considerably,” Huckeby said. “The adjacent modulation monitor data told the story right away: cleaner baseband, better stereo performance, and less distortion.”

Beyond sound quality, Huckeby points to reliability and maintenance as key advantages. Solid-state architecture minimizes catastrophic failures, while modular PA design and off-the-shelf power supplies simplify service.

“Unless it’s an exciter failure, most solid-state issues won’t take you completely off the air,” he said.

Huckeby praised the Flexiva GUI, calling it intuitive and well-suited to today’s IT-centric engineering environment. “The interface is user-friendly and outshines competitive solid-state GUI designs,” he said.

Supporting the transition is GatesAir channel partner SCMS, which provided sales and pre-installation support. “Our representative Doug Tharp answers his phone,” Huckeby said. “He is attentive and understands the business of transmission.”

The K-LOVE upgrades mark a step toward greater efficiency, improved audio performance and a future-ready RF infrastructure without the operational burdens of tube technology.

Info: www.gatesair.com

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Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are testimonials intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on transmitters.

The author is director of engineering at LECOM Radio.

LECOM Radio has deployed a new Ecreso FM AiO Series 2 kW transmitter at station WVIJ in Port Charlotte, Fla., part of a five-station simulcast of WSRQ Sarasota, serving southwest Florida. 

The installation marks a significant milestone as the first Ecreso 2 kW AiO transmitter on air in the Americas, reinforcing LECOM Radio’s commitment to modern, efficient and highly integrated broadcast infrastructure.

The 2 kW model completes the Ecreso FM AiO Series power range, joining the 100 W, 300 W, 600 W and 1 kW versions. Designed as am integrated, software-defined platform, the transmitter combines multiple broadcast functions into a compact 3RU, 50-pound chassis, dramatically reducing footprint, external equipment and overall system complexity while delivering outstanding on-air sound quality.

LECOM Radio deliberately waited for the AiO version of the 2 kW model, receiving one of the first units from the second production run. This timing proved advantageous, as several refinements were incorporated following the initial rollout. 

Prior to delivery, the transmitter was tested and licensed at WorldCast Systems’ Miami facility, where the Extreme software package was enabled and verified before installation.

The Extreme bundle activates the full feature set including a built-in five-band audio processor, AoIP decoder compatible with APTmpX and uncompressed PCM, AES192 MPX inputs, integrated RDS/RBDS encoder, stereo generator, surge protection and an extended 10-year warranty. 

Importantly, the AiO platform allows broadcasters to upgrade functionality at any time via simple software licensing, with no hardware changes.

Replacing a 2005-era solid-state transmitter of the same power level, the Ecreso unit delivers dramatically improved performance at a fraction of the size and cost. 

Efficiency has been particularly impressive, with measured performance of 83 percent PA efficiency and 95 percent power supply efficiency, translating into reduced operating costs and thermal load. Maintenance is simplified through front-access fan and power supply replacement, and excellent internal access for modules and boards.

Installation was straightforward, completed by two people. The system is fed via AES192 over the public internet, using dual ISPs for redundancy, with additional PCM and analog audio paths configured as backups. 

Monitoring and control are handled through the intuitive web-based GUI, complemented by SNMP support and GPIO integration with LECOM Radio’s Burk remote control system.

Technical support from WorldCast Systems’ Miami team proved responsive and knowledgeable, with local inventory of spare parts and repair capabilities ensuring long-term operational confidence.

After several weeks on air, the Ecreso FM AiO Series 2kW has exceeded expectations. Its combination of efficiency, integration sound quality, and software-driven flexibility positions it as a compelling solution for broadcasters seeking a future-proof FM transmission platform. I believe we will have many years of excellent service from this new 2kW AiO series transmitter.

Info: www.worldcastsystems.com/en

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Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are testimonials intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on transmitters.

Prairie Winds is a regional broadcasting group with stations covering the Dakotas and western Minnesota. 

“I’m the president, GM and owner, which means I also change filters, mow, shovel and make the coffee,” said Brian Lundquist, owner of Hub City Radio and Big Stone Broadcasting.

“We have a very capable chief engineer, Don Brintnall, who handles our transmitters, among other duties.”

Over a dozen years, the company has been migrating its stations to Nautel transmitters, starting with an NV20 in 2012. 

“We now have FM NV^LT, VX, VS and GV units, and AM NX and J1000 transmitters, and upgraded an NV15 to a GV20.”

A pending order with Broadcast Supply Worldwide for two more NV^LT 20s will equip KGIM-FM and KNBZ(FM) in Aberdeen, S.D. With the latest order, Prairie Winds will raise its total to 16 Nautel units.

“Installing Nautel transmitters has been, overall, a smooth process. One of our most challenging installs was challenging only because it was difficult to get the old tube-type transmitters out of the way! They are much bigger and heavier than the new Nautel units.”

Another installation had them scratching their heads over rack space, but it could be solved more easily with the space-efficient designs.

“We love our Nautel units. They are easy to use, low maintenance, extremely efficient and have outstanding reliability. We are also impressed with Nautel customer service. They’re always there whenever we have a question. With our most recent purchase, we are almost 100 percent Nautel … only one more station to go.”

Info: www.nautel.com

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Network security improvements are a notable part of the latest software update for Ecreso AiO Series transmitters.

WorldCast Systems announced the release of version 3.4.0, which is free to current users.

“The AiO Series takes a decisive step forward, combining advanced network security with major enhancements to its integrated IP codec and audio capabilities, making it the first FM transmitter in the world to natively embed APTmpX technology,” it said.

Version 3.4.0 introduces LDAP authentication, which it says enables integration with centralized IT environments and strengthens access control policies across an organization.

“Combined with SYSLOG support, your transmitter can now send events directly to centralized monitoring systems, ensuring full traceability and faster incident response. Enhanced logging gives IT teams the tools they need to monitor, audit and protect critical broadcast infrastructure.”

WorldCast said these improvements significantly reinforce the resilience of a broadcast network.

Also, with the implementation of APTmpX V2, the AiO Series now supports MPX compression with RDS at 300, 400 and 600 kbps, which the company says provides precise adaptation to various network conditions.

“This evolution improves bandwidth optimization while enhancing robustness and operational flexibility. By embedding APTmpX directly inside the transmitter, broadcasters benefit from a simplified architecture, fewer external devices, and stronger end-to-end reliability.”

Version 3.4.0 also enhances the built-in Icecast and Shoutcast player. It now supports both MP3 and AAC formats.

“This improvement allows broadcasters to use web streams as a reliable backup source while maintaining optimal audio performance.”

NAB Show Booth: C2250

Info: www.worldcastsystems.com/en

The post Ecreso AiO Adds Native APTmpX and Enhanced Security appeared first on Radio World.

Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on transmitters.

ScarboroughRadio’s KFII(FM) is a start-up Class A station in Hugo, Colo., that came about via FCC Auction 109 in 2021. 

It is a classic hits station that provides coverage of an area southeast of Denver, stretching from the Colorado Springs-Falcon area to Stratton along I-70. 

At first owner Scott Scarborough used an older Armstrong tube transmitter but says he had issues including a plate voltage transformer failure. “The station stayed on, but it would frequently fail.”

He decided to buy a new transmitter and shopped for a year, looking for a model suitable for reliable operation in Colorado’s drastic weather swings. 

That climate has proven a challenge. Scarborough said he has relied on retired engineer Ray Ubrecken, Hugo resident and shopkeeper Fred Lundy, engineer Vlad Fomitchev and contract engineer Kit Haskins to help with problems involving internet, coaxial line and the tower structure.

Also, this transmitter site is at the base of Flagler Cooperative’s grain elevator, adding an extra layer of dust. 

ScarboroughRadio chose a Bext XL 3000 purchased from Technical Account Executive Colin Courtney.

“The transmitter was powered on within two hours,” Scarborough said.

“It comes with a 7/8-inch flange and a very nice AC power harness. You can get RDS as a paid option. The manual is shipped on a jump drive. As most manufacturers recommend, save the box if it needs to be returned.”

The model is available with an optional multiband audio processor. Other options include AES-EBU digital audio input, Dynamic RDS/RBDS encoder, AoIP and SNMP2.

Scarborough said he has directed his sales team to fund the purchase of another XL 3000 as a spare. 

The unit comes with a two-year warranty, with longer coverage available as an option.

Scott Scarborough said he would like FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to explore a possible A-10 power increase. 

“At 92.3, KFII(FM) could go up to 10 kW without interference. The station could ask to become a 6 kW Class A or consider a Class B power increase.”

Info: https://bext.com

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