Nielsen PPM encoding is now built into the Optimod XPN-AM processor from Orban Labs, at no additional charge, according to the company.
Users who already have an Optimod XPN-AM can contact the company for information on a free upgrade.
Orban Labs issued a press release saying that stations that are now handling Nielsen PPM encoding via XPN-AM include KHTK in Sacramento, KSL in Salt Lake City, KKYX in San Antonio and WSB in Atlanta.
The announcement included endorsements from Bonneville’s Jason Ornellas, director of engineering for Sacramento, and Aaron Farnham, its DOE in Salt Lake City.
[Read: User Report: Orban XPN-AM Improves Coverage for Rural AMs]
“We are broadcasting HD Radio AM using MDCL that gives us additional power savings [at KSL],” Farnham told Orban, highlighting cost savings of having Nielsen encoding built in. “It gives you the ability to process and then encode so you don’t damage the quality of the encoding.”
The XPN-AM Audio Processor is based upon an AM-optimized version of Orban’s MX limiter technology. Orban highlights its ability to generate greater density with lower distortion, saying this can significantly reduce power consumption for users of transmitters equipped with Modulation Dependent Carrier Level. The processor is available in AM and AM/HD Radio versions.
