Nautel Limited
The company was incorporated in Canada more than 30 years ago.
Headquarters are located in the village of Hackett's Cove, Nova
Scotia. NAUTEL activities are housed in modern research and
design laboratories and a manufacturing plant situated on a 60
acre site.
A wholly owned subsidiary manufacturing plant is conveniently
located in Bangor, Maine, U.S.A. within an industrial park
adjacent to the international airport.
In 1970 NAUTEL claimed technical leadership with the
introduction
of the very first solid state transmitter in the world for
aeronautical radiobeacon transmission. The seventies saw a range
of innovative solid state introductions by NAUTEL addressing
radiobeacon and marine transmitter requirements. The first solid
state AM Broadcast transmitters at 2 kW were delivered in 1974.
During the eighties new MOSFET devices became available and
enabled NAUTEL to successfully challenge the existing companies
in the broadcast industry. The first 10 kW modular solid state
AM
broadcast transmitter was introduced in 1982 followed by a 50 kW
model in 1985. NAUTEL continues to set new performance standards
in the nineties with innovative solid state transmitters for
both
AM and FM broadcasting.
While the company and product range have grown, the commitment
to
provide the transmitter customer with the most reliable state of
the art equipment remains the same. NAUTEL provides a team of
transmitter specialists available for customer support 24 hours
a
day, 365 days a year. Both NAUTEL manufacturing plants give
access to a complete emergency
support inventory of parts, modules and subassemblies dedicated
to customer service. Comprehensive training programs are
conducted focusing on theory, operation and maintenance of solid
state equipment. Special customer
needs can also be addressed.
NAUTEL stands prepared to put all resources to work for you.
NAUTEL specializes in the development and manufacture of high
power solid state radio transmitters and has earned an
international reputation as a world leader in this field. Major
products include AM and FM radio broadcast transmitters,
aeronautical radiobeacon systems, marine radiobeacons and MF
telegraph transmitters.
Company Details
Year Established:
1969
Total Sales ($CDN):
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000
Number of Employees:
110
Company Information
Scott Campbell
Title:
President
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(902) 823-2233
Fax:
(902) 823-3183
Jorgen B. Jensen
Title:
Manager
Telephone:
(902) 823-2233
Fax:
(902) 823-3183
Gary Manteuffel
Title:
Manager
Telephone:
(902) 823-2233
Fax:
(902) 823-3183
Sydney Swaine
Title:
Manager
Telephone:
(902) 823-2233
Fax:
(902) 823-3183
J. Jensen
Title:
Manager
Area of Responsibility:
Export Sales & Marketing
Telephone:
(902) 823-2233
Fax:
(902) 823-3183
Email:
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Products
Telecommunications Equipment, Nes
Radio Navigation Equipment, Nes
Antennas, Telecommunications, Nes
Transmitting Equipment, Radio Broadcast
Transmitter-receivers, Radio, Nes
Am & Fm Transmitters
Brand names - NAUTEL and AMPFET Broadcast Transmitters.
Nd Series Transmitters
NAUTEL AMPFET ND series transmitters are the most ruggedly
constructed solid state transmitters available
today with proven survivability in severe environments. No other
transmitter offers a better overall combination
of superior audio performance, low cost of ownership and long
term reliability.
A SINGLE FAMILY OF TRANSMITTERS
The elegantly simple solid state design is the same at 1 kW or 50
kW. All Ampfet ND transmitters
use identical broad band power amplifier modules. Amplifiers are
fully interchangeable without tuning
or component changes within any ND series transmitter regardless
of power level. This permits a
standardized spare complement and a single depot to support
multiple transmitters.
POWERFUL BUILDING BLOCKS
Power Modules are constructed to integrate several amplifier and
modulator sections with
independent air cooling in one compact unit. This arrangement
keeps cabling and interconnection
requirements to a minimum.
Should a Power Module fan fail, the amplifiers in that module
will shut off. Remaining modules will
continue to operate without any temperature rise or thermal
stress.
The solid state modules in a transmitter must be connected to a
power supply, input drive source
and RF output. Integrity of these connections is critical to safe
and reliable operation. Nautel uses
high-grade molded connectors with contacts rated for power
density applications. This ensures a
durable and secure connection highly immune to humidity,
corrosion and mechanical failure.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Transmitter power capability is determined by the number of
amplifiers being combined.
The AMPFET ND1 uses three PA's, the AMPFET ND50 uses 120 PA's.
At any power level and any
modulation level all the modules in a NAUTEL transmitter will
contribute equally to the final output.
Should an amplifier fail, operation continues at slightly
reduced power. No stress is imposed on the
remaining modules and spectral integrity is not compromised.
Repair or replacement is not urgent
and may be carried out whenever convenient.
STAYING ON THE AIR
The Power Modules combine the output of several amplifiers. Above
1 kW, transmitters further
combine multiple Power Modules to achieve the final transmitter
output power. NAUTEL's
combining techniques permit a Power Module to be removed from the
transmitter while any
remaining modules continue to operate. Therefore service may be
carried out during normal hours
without a moments interruption in broadcasting.
AUTOMATIC STANDBY
The most critical part of any transmitter is the exciter section
which provides coherent drive to all the
modules. These low level circuits generate the RF carrier and
modulation control signals. The
AMPFET ND5 and higher powered transmitters are unique in offering
complete duplication of these
circuits. Should a RF drive failure occur the transmitter will
automatically switch over to the built-in
standby exciter. This dramatically enhances the already high
operational confidencelevel enjoyed by
NAUTEL customers.
REDUCED COST OF OWNERSHIP
NAUTEL transmitters are extremely cost effective to own and
operate. Elimination of vacuum tubes
requiring routine replacement and transmitter realignment saves
both the cost of tubes and the
associated engineering expenses. Overall efficiency of the AMPFET
ND1 is better than 70% with
high power models achieving typical efficiencies up to 80%. This
represents significant savings in
power consumption. Additional savings may be realized in air
handling and ventilation costs because
of the very low waste heat dissipated.
The extreme reliability and stability of performance together
with a design which avoids reliance on
operator intervention saves valuable engineering time.
HANDS OFF OPERATION
NAUTEL transmitters are built to stay on the air without reliance
on a human operator. Full
operation even with antenna mismatch up to 1.5:1 VSWR does not
require manual tuning
adjustment. With more extreme VSWR power is automatically reduced
to a safe level. A unique
circuit dynamically stabilizes power output against AC line
voltage variations. Following AC power
loss, overvoltage or RF overload prior operating status is
automatically reinstated.
AM STEREO OR MONO...
THE PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE
There is plenty of reserve capability to meet or exceed maximum
legal modulation limits even when
operating with highly processed audio programming into
directional antenna arrays.
Occupied bandwidth, spurious and harmonic measurements
comfortably exceed the most stringent
international standards. Audio fidelity is exceptional with audio
response ruler flat across the band
and typical harmonic and IM distortion less than 0.5%.
The AMPFET ND transmitters are designed for AM stereo. An
internal AM stereo option allows
selection of either stereo or mono operation. The transparency
and freedom from drift of
NAUTEL's solid state design delivers the competitive edge in
performance demanded by today's broadcasters.ers.
Xl Series Transmitters
NAUTEL XL12 Features:
- A stronger signal with 145% positive peak capability at 12 kW
- Overall efficiency of 84% means lower power cost and less
waste heat
- Redundant modular design avoids emergencies
- Plug-in modules may be serviced anytime while transmitting
- Complete standby exciter section with automatic changeover
keeps you on the air
- Solid State interphase PDM design achieves signal transparency
for best audio quality
- Selectable mono or stereo mode with optional built-in AM
Stereo generator
- Direct Digital Synthesizer option facilitates future phase
coded transmission
Totally Solid State Medium Wave AM 30kW and 60kW Broadcast
Transmitter
Nautel XL 30 & XL 60 Features:
- A stronger signal with 145% positive peak capability at 30kW
or 60kW
- Overall efficiency of 85-88% means lower power cost and less
waste heat
- Redundant modular design avoids emergencies
- Plug-in modules may be serviced anytime while transmitting
- Complete standby exciter section with automatic changover
keeps you on the air
- Solid state interphase PDM design achieves signal transparency
for best audio quality
- Wideband highly linear modulator accommodates
In-Band-On-Channel digital transmission
- Direct Digital Synthesizer option facilitates future phase
coded transmission
- Selectable mono or stereo mode with built-in AM Stereo
generator
Na Series Transmitters
Powerful, Agile & Efficient Solid State Medium Wave Transmitters
100kW - 300kW
Nautel NA series solid state AM transmitters are available as
standalone units up to 300 kW.
Higher Power requirements can be met by combining of
transmitters.
All are designed for fast simple frequency change capability
without the need of special
tools or external test equipment. Transmitters can be field tuned
to meet full performance
specifications that match or supercede the best available in any
modern transmitter.
Overall efficiency of 85-88% means lower power consumption and
cooler operation. Even greater
power savings are available by selecting one of the dynamic
carrier control operating modes.
NA series transmitters use identical and interchangeable 6.25 kW
power modules. Any module
may safely be removed for service while the transmitter remains
in operation. Duplicate built-in
exciter sections with automatic changeover further contribute to
the high operational confidence level.
Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) technology is used to generate the
RF carrier at the selected frequency.
The integral 12 bit precision phase modulator may facilitate
future addition of phase coded simulcast
data transmission or possible digital transmission in existing
medium wave AM channels.
Nautel has over 25 years experience in design and manufacture of
exclusively solid state radio
transmitters with more than 4,500 in service worldwide.
Contact Nautel for more information about the high power,
frequency agile NA100-NA300 or our
full range of solid state AM and FM broadcast transmitters.
Fm Series Transmitters
High Operational - Confidence
Cool operation: high reliability
Soft failure techniques: few emergencies
On-air serviceability: daytime maintenance
Modular construction: ease of service
Significant Operational - Savings
High efficiency: low energy consumption
Less waste heat: reduced cooling
Elimination of tube replacement
Performance stability: reduced maintenance
Single cabinet: less floor space
Superior Performance
Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) Exciter: superb audio
quality
Near unity power factor: lower ac current ratings
Low line current distortion: compliance with IEEE
519-92
Combined 20 kW version available
NAUTEL Features and Advantages
The FM10 10 kW FM broadcast transmitter capitalizes on NAUTEL's
more than 25 years
experience designing and building solid state transmitters. Early
solid state FM transmitters
were primarily used as multichannel reserve transmitters because
of high cost and poor operating
efficiency. The NAUTEL FM10 is the first cost-effective solid
state design with emphasis on performance
and efficiency required for continuously operated main
transmitters.
NAUTEL Reliability
This solid state transmitter has exceptional efficiency compared
with other designs. Semiconductor
devices are mounted directly on the module heat sink rather than
resorting to pallets to overcome
critical thermal interfaces. Simply put, this solid state
transmitter has 40% less waste heat to dissipate
than other solid state designs.
Power Amplifiers, Power Modules and Switching Regulator Modules
use NAUTEL original soft failure
techniques. Loss or removal of a complete module only results in
a 1.3 dB reduction of output. This,
coupled with on-air serviceability, means repairs can be carried
out during the day, minimizing nighttime
or emergency service calls.
NAUTEL Savings
The high overall rf out to ac in efficiency produces 40% less
waste power than other solid state
designs, and results in significant direct energy savings and
indirect savings in cooling the building.
The solid state design provides measurable savings over a vacuum
tube transmitter. Vacuum tubes
wear out, MOSFET's do not. Neither do MOSFET's age, so routine
monthly adjustments and emergency
tube replacements become things of the past.
Power Amplifier repairs can be made by direct replacement of the
MOSFET's while remaining on-air.
NAUTEL Performance
The FM10 contains power supply improvements, which enhance
performance. While still retaining
an ac line transformer for isolation, the supply maintains a near
unity power factor at all output power
levels. This means a lower ac line current, and an excellent load
factor. A very low total harmonic
distortion (THD) of the ac line current reduces the risk of audio
interference and adverse reactions with
other equipment.
NAUTEL Digital Performance
The FM10 can be supplied with an integral NAUTEL Exciter, Model
NE50, featuring the exceptional
performance provided by Direct Digital Synthesis. This technique
eliminates the voltage controlled
oscillator (VCO) normally used to generate frequency modulation.
Such circuits have critical biasing
for linearity and are more susceptible to microphonics. The FM10
performance is specified as a complete
system with the NE50 Exciter operating with analog composite
input signals and mounted within the
transmitter rack.
The system FM signal to noise and distortion specifications
provide on-air signals without compromise.
Even better performance is attainable using a Digital Front End
by replacing the analog input card
with an AES/EBU digital input card.
NAUTEL 20 kW Configurations
The FM10 is also available in several combined configurations.
One features a simple combiner without
switches for an economical 20 kW system. Another configuration
features an automatically switched
combiner system and the option of main and standby Exciters with
automatic changeover.er.
Ne 50 Digital Exciter
The NAUTEL NE50 is a broadband, fully digital 50 watt FM exciter
utilizing Direct Digital Synthesis
(DDS) technology to generate the FM signal. This produces a
signal of exceptional spectral purity
and audio fidelity which does not degrade over time. The NE50
makes possible, an all-digital path
from the studio to the FM modulator. Simple front panel frequency
selection requires no tuning adjustment
and audio performance is not affected by channel selection. The
broadband solid state amplifier is
capable of up to 55 watts with adjustable output to 1 watt. The
NE50, which is illustrated in the block diagram,
provides numerous benefits and advantages for today's FM
Broadcaster.
Direct Digital Synthesis
DDS technology provides a 32-bit signal to digitally construct
the carrier signal with a numerically
controlled oscillator. Modulation in the digital domain provides
a perfectly linear system. With DDS,
low frequency modulation instability and signal degradation due
to aging and microphonics are
eliminated.
AES/EBU Digital Audio
AES/EBU digital audio may be input with a Digital Front End
(DFE). Multiple RDS/SCA inputs are
also possible with the DFE. Asynchronous reception of the AES/EBU
signal allows automatic
locking to any sample frequency between 25 kHz and 55 kHz.
Inputs to the DFE include an XLR connector for electrically
transmitted AES/EBU signals and a
TOSLINK optical interface for optically transmitted AES/EBU
signals. There are also three BNC
connectors for analog SCA signals.
Digital stereo generation is an integral part of the NE50 DFE. An
AES/EBU receiver demodulates
the data stream and a sample rate converter re-synchronizes the
audio samples to the exciter's
internal timebase. A 24-bit digital signal processor (DSP)
monitors, filters and interpolates the digital
audio and generates a digital stereo composite signal, which is
fed to the DDS FM modulator.
Digital stereo generation ensures linearity and superior
performance over analog generators. A digital
highpass filter in the DFE eliminates any DC component in the
digital data. Switches for on\off
selection of pilot, stereo and SCA are provided, as well as for
pre-emphasis settings of flat, 25, 50
or 75 microseconds.
The DFE continuously monitors the input data stream for lock,
parity, validity and CRC errors.
Alarm indication and output muting occur if a problem is
detected. A 19 kHz pilot signal is output for
RDBS operation.
In case the AES/EBU signal is interrupted, one of the existing
composite input ports can be used as
an analog input on an interim basis.
Analog audio may be input with the Analog Front End (AFE) to the
NE50 Exciter. The AFE accepts
standard wideband composite (balanced and unbalanced), mono and
SCA analog input signals.
The analog inputs are summed, digitized, conditioned and fed to
the DDS subsystem. NAUTEL's
digital conversion technique utilizes high speed digital signal
processing designed to ensure ultra
low distortion and intermodulation products.
Field Upgradable to AES/EBU Digital
For stations currently utilizing analog technology, but
anticipating a future upgrade to AES/EBU
digital technology, the investment in an NE50 today is secure. An
NE50 with an Analog Front End is
convertible quickly and easily with a field upgrade kit to a
Digital Front End that accepts AES/EBU
signals.
Upmixer and Filter
A unique upmix technique utilizes PLL technology to generate the
carrier in the FM band. The signal
is then filtered to provide a spectrally pure input to the RF
amplifier.
RF Amplifier
The RF amplifier is a 3-stage broadband amplifier capable of
producing 1-55 watts RF output.
Rugged MOSFET's and a CATV broadband amplifier generate the RF
power while maintaining
spectral purity and signal integrity. An RF monitor permits
modulation analysis.
Front Panel Control\Display
The front panel features an operating parameter set up mode,
alarm memory log and a
voltage\power meter. Power level, center frequency and automatic
level control (ALC) are
programmable via a simple, full function four-button control pad.
Modulation percentage is displayed
on an LED scale on the front panel.
Low Power Transmitter
The NE50 may be utilized as a low power FM transmitter, when
equipped with the optional
harmonic filter. The RF output level is adjustable from 1-55
watts.ts.
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