Inovonics AARON 656 FM/HD Radio™ Dual Tuner Rebroadcast Receiver

Inovonics AARON 656 FM/HD Radio™ Dual Tuner Rebroadcast Receiver

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.

• 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.

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

I/O

• 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)

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

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.

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)