SENDER

SENDER S.A.

SENDER A.M. Transmitters

 SENDER

SENDER S.A.
• Company was created in 1997 by a group of engineers and
technitians with long experience in Solid state A.M.
Transmitters.

• Located in Santiago Chile, with 25 employes.

40% of them are shareholders.

• Main activity: Design and manufacturing of A.M. transmitters,

antenna tuning units, duplexers and triplexers.

• First transmitter in operation Nov 1997.

• Transmitters sold up to now:127 from 1 KW to 12.5 KW.

 SENDER

Product Line
AM 1500 SS 1.5 KW/1.1 KW, single phase / 2 power
amplifiers

AM 3000 SS 2.25 KW/3KW, single phase or 3 phase / 4

power amplifiers.

AM 7500 SS 5.5 KW/ 7.5 KW, 3 phase or single phase / 7

power amplifiers.

AM 15000 SS 11 KW/13 KW,3 phase / 14 power

amplifiers

AM 25000 SS 22 KW/26KW, 3 phase / 28 power amplifiers

 SENDER

Product highlights

• Solid State. Modular / redundant

architecture
• High efficiency. PWM & class D R.F.
amplifiers
• Hot plug in power amplifiers with Mosfets.
• Simple design with standard components.
• Totally rustproof cabinet made of iridated
aluminum with stainless steel hardware.
• Excellent specs and audio quality.
• Outstanding factory support.
• Very competitive price.
 SENDER

Basic specifications
Frequency range: .53 MHZ to 1.7 MHZ.

Input voltage: 110V or 220 V single phase, 220V or 380V 3 ph

+or - 10%. Line frequency 47HZ to 63 HZ.

Efficiency: 75% or better for single phase transmitters,

80% or better for 3 phase transmitters.

Frequency response: Better than +or- 1 dB 30 Hz to 10 KHZ.

Distortion: Less than 1% at nominal power and 90% modulation.

Harmonics and spurious:- 73 dB or better for AM 1500 SS,

- 80 dB or better for other models.
 SENDER

Frequency stability:+- 5 Hz.

Output impedance: 50 Ohm

Dimentions and weigths:

AM 1500 SS W=44 cm,H=62.5cm
D=60 cM , 100 Kg.
AM 3000 SS W=44 cm,H=65.5cm
D=60 cM , 160 Kg.
AM 15000 SS W=80 cm,H=181cm
D=81 cM , 500 Kg.
 SENDER

Standard features:
2 power level with independient adjustment
and modulation autotracking.
Start, stop,power level selection and power
level adjustment remotely controled.
Automatic alarm reset.
Positive and negative limiter.
 SENDER

Basic block diagram

A1

Synth
A2
Combiner Output
Filter
PWM Out

An

PWR
Control
Supply
 SENDER

Relationship with
RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS

• Exclusive representation for Asia and other specific countries.

• Joint project to manufacture transmitters in U.S.A.

• Sender sells Omnicast F.M. Transmitters in Latin America.

• Excellent level of personal contacts .

 SENDER

Near future projects

• FCC type acceptance.

• Frequency agile 1.5 KW transmitter.

• IBOC compatibility.

• Inboard audio processor and modulation monitor.

• Higher power amplifiers

 SENDER

Reliability in A.M. stations

 SENDER

Introduction

Station Concept
• Harmonic set of:
– Transmitter
– Radiating system
– Energy System
– Auxiliary Equipment
 SENDER

Experience with stations using Solid

State A.M. Transmitters
• Very high reliability if precautions related with the
following topics are considered:
Antenna discharges
A.C. Source transients and discharges
A.C. Source voltage limits
Load stability
Interference from nearby stations

Reliability is reduced in unprotected stations

 SENDER

Basic elements of a station

ANTENNA
Audio &
STL Rem. Ctrl.
RX
RF
H.V
TRANSF.
DISTR. TX
BOARD T.P. ATU
A.C.

GROUND PLANE
 SENDER

TRANSMITTER BASIC BLOCKS

• POWER SUPPLY
• PWM MODULATOR
• R.F. DRIVER
• CLASS D or E
• R.F. OUTPUT FILTER
• CONTROL,PROTECTIONS,SIGNALING
• EXTERNAL INTERFACE
 SENDER

PWM MODULATOR

• GENERATES D.C + A.C. VOLTAGE FOR

THE R.F. AMP.
• SWITCHING DEVICE, HIGH EFFICIENCY
• A FILTER IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE
SWITCHING FREQUENCIES
• CONMUTATION FREQUENCY IS 72 KHZ.
 SENDER

PWM (PULSE WIDTH MODULATION)

SIMPLIFIED DIAGRAM:

R.F.
AMPLIFIER

D.C. SUPPLY Switch

PWM FILTER LOAD
(Mosfet)
 SENDER

PWM BASIC OPERATION

• Between 1) y 4) duty cycle is increased
• Mean voltage in the load increases proportionally
• A filter is required to remove high frequency components

F = 72 kHz PWM waveform Filtered output voltage

1)

S 2)

V RL 3)

4)
 SENDER

PWM Frequency spectrum

Amplitude
D.C Component PWM 0°

Audio

72 kHz 144 kHz Frecuency

 SENDER

PWM Frequency spectrum

Amplitude
D.C. component
PWM 180°
Audio

72 KHZ components out of phase

144 kHz Frecuency

72 kHz
 SENDER

PWM filter diagram

 SENDER

PWM filter frequency response

 SENDER

PWM filter response sensibility

to load changes

Rload +/- 15%

 SENDER

Load change consequences

• With reduced load (Rload< Rnominal)

transmitter will produce high frequency
submodulation
• With increased load (Rload>Rnominal)
transmitter will show high frequency
overmodulation
• Distorsion will increase if filter is not
propperly loaded.
 SENDER

Modulated class D R.F. Amplifier.

+V

T1 T3
RL

T2 T4

PWM filter
 SENDER

Class D r.f. Amplifier diagram

 SENDER

Class D Bridge parasitic

elements
V+

Cgd Cgd
Cds Cds
Cgs RL Cgs

Cgd Cgd
Cds Cds
Cgs Cgs

Ciss = Cgs + Cgd Crss = Cgd Coss = Cds + Cgd

 SENDER

Mosfets drive

Vgs Dead
V+
time

T1 T3 Vgs(thr)
RL

time
T2 T4

Vgs peak = 13V

 SENDER

R.F. drive circuit

• Ls and Cs series resonant

• Lp paralel resonant with mosfet input
capacitance (Partially)
Ls Cs MOSFET drive
Drive signal

Lp Cgs
 SENDER

Class D bridge current paths

V+ V+

T1 T3 T1 T3
RL RL

T2 T4 T2 T4
 SENDER

Class D bridge undisered current

paths.
V+ V+

T1 T3 T1 T3
RL RL

T2 T4 T2 T4
 SENDER

Class D Amplifier basics.

• Low impedance driver required for:

– Fast switching
– Low Vgs modulation by Crss
• Tuned load to produce sinusoidal current
• High efficiency (>95 %)
• Duty cycle should be < 0.5
– Avoid transversal currents
– Coss charge and discharge through Rl
Class D R.F. Amp typical
SENDER

waveforms.
 SENDER

MOSFET characteristics

• No secondary breakdown
• positive temperature coeff. Of Rdson
(Simplify parallel operation)
• Voltage controled device (Vgs)
• Driver impedance dependent switching
times.
• Intrinsic antiparallel diode
 SENDER

IRFP350 MOSFET
• Rdson = 0.3 ohms
• Vdss = 400 Vdc
• Vgs = +/- 20 Vmax Vth = 3 V Vsat = 9 V
• Id = 16 A @ Tc=25ºC 10 A @ Tc=100ºC
• Idmax = 64 A
• Capacitance @ f=1MHz, Vds=25V , Vgs=0V
– Ciss = 2600 pF (2400 pF for Vds>40V)
– Coss = 660 pF (200 pF for Vds>40V)
– Crss = 250 pF (50 pF for Vds>40V)
 SENDER

Class D amplifier example

SENDER
 SENDER

Class D Simulation
(1/2 bridge,Vmax<400x.75/2.5)

• Cicuit data • Operational data

– Vdc = 110 V – RL = 15 ohms
– F = 1600 kHz – Po = 132.36 W
– d = 0.43 – h = 97.93 %
– Transistor IRFP350
• Rdson = 0.3 ohms
•Transistor stresses
• Ton = 16 ns – Vmax = 110.81 V
• Toff = 40 ns – Imax = 4.12 A
• Coss = 200 pF
– L2 = 7.04 uH
– Pdis = 0.70 W x2
(1.4 Wtotal)
– C2 = 1.55 nF
*Simulated with HB plusfrom Design Automation
 SENDER

Class E Amplifier diagram

 SENDER

Class E amplifier example

 SENDER

Class E amplifier basics.

• R.F.Choke large enough to produce constant

current
• High Q series resonant circuit to produce
sinusoidal current
• Vds y dVds/dt =0 prior to starting conduction
• High efficiency (>95%)
– if special high voltage transistors with low Rdson
are used
 SENDER

Clase E Waveforms
 SENDER

Clase E Simulation
(Vmax<400x.75/2.5)
• Circuit Data • Operational Data
– Vdc = 33 V – RL = 7.3 ohms
– F = 1600 kHz – Po = 125.27 W
– d = 0.48 – h = 90.53 %
– Transistor IRFP350 • Transistor stresses
• Rdson = 0.3 ohms – Vmax = 118.79 V
• Ton = 16 ns – Imax = 9.84 A
• Toff = 40 ns – Pdis = 6.55 W x2
• Coss = 200 pF (13.1 Wtotal)
– L1=12.3uH L2=3.7uH
– C1= 4.1nF C2=4.9nF
*Simulated with HEPA Plus from Design Automation
 SENDER

Passband Output filter

• Reduce R.F. Harmonics
– High third harmonic att > 80 dB
– Medium second harmonic att. > 40 dB
– Higher harmonics att > 70 dB
• Permits impedance matching between
amplifier and load.
• Atenuates low frequency components
(Lightning protection)
 SENDER

Output filter

• Design oriented to protect R.F.amplifier

– Low frequency attenuation
– Inductor input
– Strategically located sensors:
• Spark Gap °Transient suppressor
• SWR °Overpower
• Overcurrent °Phase
• Input transient suppressor(Active or pasive)
 SENDER

Output filter diagram

 SENDER

Output filter frequency response

 SENDER

Real and imaginary part of filter

input impedance
 SENDER

Protections integrated in the

output filter

SENDER

SENDER
 SENDER

Posible Transmitter Agresions

• Antenna
– Impedance change and discharges
• A.C. Supply
– Voltage variation and transients
• Program signal
– Level variations and transients
• Ground
– Transfered potentials and high ground currents
 SENDER

Antenna related problems

• Impedance change
– Low heigth antennas are particularly
unstable
• Restricted bandwidth
• Interference from other stations
• Discharges
 SENDER

Short antenna example

60 m tower operating at 700 kHz

ZL = 8 - j160
Q = 20
Electrical length = 50.4º
 SENDER

Type T -90º Standard A.T.U.

4.55uH 40.9uH
j20 j180

Zin
11.37nF ZL
50+j0
-j20 8-j160
 SENDER

A.T.U.Sensibility to antenna
impedance changes
Change in XL (+/- 10 ohm=6%)
if ZL=8-j150 Zin=19.5-j24.4 SWR=3.26
if ZL=8-j160 Zin=50+J0 SWR=1
if Zl=8-J170 Zin=19.5+j24.4 SWR=3.26

Change in RL ( +/- 1 ohm =12.5%)

if ZL=7-j160 Zin=57.1+j0 SWR=1.14
if ZL=9-j160 Zin=44.4+j0 SWR=1.14
RL and XL simultaneous variation
if ZL=7-j150 Zin=18.8-j26.8 SWR=3.52
if ZL=7-j170 Zin=18.8+j26.8 SWR=3.52
if ZL=9-j150 Zin=19.9-j22 SWR=3.10
if ZL=9-j170 Zin=19.9+j22 SWR=3.10
 SENDER

Complex A.T.U. (dual T)

-j44.9 j50.5 j5 j145

Zin ZL
50+j0 -j92.5 20-J13 j37 8-j160
-20° 20°

Variations in XL
if ZL=8-j150 Zin=50+j62.5 SWR=3.26
if ZL=8-j160 Zin=50+j0 SWR=1.00
if ZL=8-j170 Zin=50-j62.5 SWR=3.26

Note: SWR of 8+/-j10 refered to a 8+j0 is 3.26 !

 SENDER

Load ladder
RF amplifiers
Z1 50 Ohm Antenna
1
combiner filter A.T.U.
Zn
n
15 Ohm

Extreme values for SWR 1:1.5, refered to 50 Ohm, are:

33.3+j0 75.0+j0
50-j20.4 50+j20.4
 SENDER

Load variation effects

Class D amplifier

Load VSWR  (%) P (1/2 Vmax (V) Imax (A)

bridge)
15 1 97.93 132.36 110.81 4.12
15-j6.1 1.5 96.55 151.92 109.80 57.77
15+j6.1 1.5 97.83 93.00 110.83 3.44
22.5 1.5 98.47 96.08 110.02 13.89
10.0 1.5 96.94 165.02 110.84 5.66
 SENDER

A.T.U. And amplifier stresses

A)ZL=50-J62.5
20°+20° Eff=93.5% Po=4.5W Ip=15.5A

B) ZL=50+J62.5
Eff=90.9% Po=2.02W Ip=1A

C) ZL=19.5+J24.4
90° Eff=84% Po=44W Ip=105A

D)ZL=19.5+J24.4
Eff=93.8% Po=395W Ip=73.7A
 SENDER

Class D waveforms
Ro=15 VSWR=1:1
 SENDER

Class D waveforms
Ro=15-j6.1 VSWR=1:1.5
 SENDER

Class D waveforms
Ro=15+j6.1 VSWR=1:1.5
 Class D waveforms
SENDER

Ro=22.5 VSWR=1:1.5
 SENDER

Class D waveforms
Ro=10.0 VSWR=1:1.5
 SENDER

Atmospheric discharges

• At the antenna
• In A.C.lines
• In telephone lines

Characteristics
Imax: 200 kA Itypical: 10 a 20 kA
dI/dT typical: 10 kA/useg
Risetime: 2 useg Decay time:40 useg to 50%
 SENDER

Criteria to minimize damages

• Disipators
– Avoid charge acumulation using sharp points
– or active systems
• Well designed grounding system
– Low impedance direct paths
– High impedance undesired paths
– Radial equipotential conections
– Antenna and ground conection closely located at
TX
 SENDER

Discharge probability function

N = 15 L (C·H+h)2 ·10-6

N = Discharges per year

L = Ceraunic level (Nº of days per year when thunderstorms
are heared)
C = Site topographic index (0 to 0,3)
H = Site mean heigth above surroundings (1 to2 km)
h = Antenna heigth
Example: C=0.1 L=50 H=100m h=120m
N = 12.7 discharges per year.
 SENDER

Discharge current 1 17

circulation 2
3

1. Strike
4
2. Antenna
3. Discharge through the antenna
4. Guy
5. Isolator
6. Spark gap
7. Ground rod
9
8. Base insulator 15 14 13 12 11 5
9. Cnecting Loop 6
16 8
11. A.T.U. isolator
12. A.T.U. 7
13. Ferrite core 10
14. Coaxial cable
15. Discharge current in caxial cable
16. A.T.U. Spark gap
17. Disipator
 SENDER

Equipment Instalation
Reference ground Coaxial cable

A.C. Line transient protector

A.C. mains

Panelboard
Ferrite
toroids

Ground to
auxiliary Transmitter A.C. line
equipment

Building ground
 SENDER

Ground system equivalent circuit

 SENDER

Discharge voltages and currents

 Interference SENDER

1.- Intermodulation products are generated

2.- SWR protection is desensitized

3.- Dangerous voltages at the R.F. Amplifier and

output filter maybe generated.
 SENDER

Transmitter Protections

•A.C.input • R.F.
Overload Overcurrent
Short cicuit SWR
Transients Phase
Overvoltage overpower
Undervoltage Transients
Assimetry

•D.C.supply • Internal
Overload R.F. Drive
Transients Temperature
Failure PLL
 SENDER

Factory tests to ensure transmitter

reliability
• Power amplifiers
– Long time operation at 150% modulation
• Output
– Open cicuit
– Short circuit
– Simulated lightning strike
– SWR
• A.C. input
– Phase failure
– Simulated transient
– Voltage variationSENDER
 SENDER

Conclusions

Reliability in a transmitting sytem is a function of

• Transmitter intrinsic reliability

– Power stages regimes much lower than devices
limits
– Simple low power stages with low number of
components
• Rational protections adjustment
 SENDER

Conclusions

• High quality station engineering

– A.C. Transient protection
– Antenna discharges protection
– Well dimentioned and coordinated grounds.
– Stable radiating sysytem.
– Interference filtering
• Coordination with the manufacturer
 SENDER

Recomended instrumentation for

test and adjustment

1.- To measure resonance:

1.1 R.F.Generator
1.2 Oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer

2.- To measure R.F.impedance:

2.1 R.F. bridge (General
Radio 1609 or Delta OIB-3)
2.2 R.F. generator (Delta RG3-A or
similar)
2.2 Spectrum analyzer
(HP 8553B or similar) or detector
included in RG3-A
 SENDER

2.3 An H.P. vector impedance meter

may be used instead of 2.1,2.2 and 2.3

3.- To measure power:

3.1 R.F. Dummy load,non inductive or with
a tuning network to adjust it to 50+J0
Ohm.
3.2 R.F. Ammeter (Delta TC-1 or similar)
or R.F. Wattmeter

4.- To measure frequency response and distortion:

4.1 General purpose oscilloscope, 2 channel
4.2 Audio analyzer (Audio precision Portable
One or similar)
4.3 Modulation monitor (H.P. 8901 A or B , Belar
AMM3, TFT 923 A.M. or similar.)
 SENDER

5.- To measure spectrum.-

5.1 Spectrum analyzer 100KHZ.to 50 MHZ or more
TEK 2711, H.P. 8553B plus display unit or similar).
5.2 R.F. atenuator.
5.3 OPTIONAL. Notch filter to remove the carrier
frequency and avoid intermodulation

6.- To check efficiency.

6.1 A.C. Analyzer.(To measure A.C. voltage, current,
power and power factor
 SENDER

7.- To measure transmitter carrier frequency.

7.1 Digital frequency meter up to 10 MHZ.
Or higher frequency, time base 1 P.P.M. or less.

8.- To measure temperature.

8.1 Infrared temperature measuring unit with suitable
digital multitester. (Fluke).

9.- For general voltage and current measurements:

9.1 True RMS digital multimeter, suitable to operate
in high R.F. fields. (Our best experience is with Fuke
Digital multimeters.)
 SENDER

10.- For long run test.

10.1 USASI Noise generator. (Delta SNG-1).
 SENDER

SENDER

Pablo Phillips D.
Agosto 1999