FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Axcera to Introduce Frequency Agile DTV Translator/Booster at NAB 2004

New Product Will Serve the Burgeoning DTV Translator Market

LAWRENCE, Pa., U.S.A. April 15, 2004 – Axcera, a leading provider of transmission equipment for the television broadcast and broadband wireless access industries, today announced that it will introduce a new frequency agile DTV translator/booster, based on its industry-leading Innovator™ LX low power television transmitter line, at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show next week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The new translator/booster product is available in both an RF-Baseband-RF and an RF-IF-RF configuration. Both configurations allow rebroadcast of the entire, intact DTV signal, including full HDTV retransmission.

The RF-Baseband-RF product receives and demodulates the incoming off-air DTV signal to an ATSC-compliant SMPTE-310M bit stream before modulating the signal to a 44MHz intermediate frequency (IF) This allows PSIP virtual channel table (VCT) updates and baseband signal correction for the best possible signal to noise ratio (SNR). The RF-IF-RF variant accepts the off-air DTV signal and downconverts it directly to IF for signal processing.

In both versions, the IF signal is applied to the IF processor stage for non-linear pre-correction and then upconverted to any user-selectable UHF channel by Axcera’s new low phase noise, synthesized, frequency agile upconverter. The upconverter output feeds broadband LDMOS power amplifiers, which operate on any UHF channel without retuning.

“As DTV enters the mainstream, it is clear that translators and boosters will play a critical role in its success,” said Richard Schwartz, Axcera’s director of marketing and product management. “By taking a leadership role in the development of advanced distributed transmission networks (DTxN), pioneering the concept of distributed translator networks, and now adding the Innovator™ LX translator/booster to our product line, Axcera is committed to enabling the distribution of uncompromised, intact DTV signals to all markets.”

The new frequency agile upconverter is also available in Axcera’s full line of Innovator™ LX digital and analog transmitters, helping to minimize spare parts stock for multi-station broadcasters, while at the same time simplifying channel changes.

About Axcera
Axcera (www.axcera.com) is a premier provider of RF transmission equipment and systems for the television broadcast and broadband wireless/MMDS industries. Carrying on the tradition of offering the best RF products for more than 20 years, the company has earned its reputation as a high-quality manufacturer focused on meeting customers’ needs. Today Axcera provides the most complete line of television transmitter systems available from any manufacturer, as well as end-to-end broadband wireless/MMDS solutions, including complete network planning, design and integration services.

Contact

Axcera
Rich Schwartz, director of marketing and product mgt.
724-873-8100 ext. 263
rschwartz@axcera.com