Thomson Unveils Futhura Plus TV Transmitter

Thomson Broadcast has introduced the Futhura Plus ultra-efficient, high-power television transmitter. The Futhura Plus, Thomson says, offers broadcasters substantial energy savings, with a 50% improvement in efficiency over current standard transmitters on the market. It will be on display at IBC 2011, stand 5.A17.

With its drain modulation technology, the environmentally friendly Futhura Plus is designed to help meet lower energy consumption targets in the broadcast industry. Through its greatly reduced power requirements, the transmitter also delivers operational cost savings that Thomson claims “can have a considerable impact on the performance of a broadcast business, substantially outstripping the return on investment of any transmitter on the market today.”

For use in initial deployments or for extending existing digital networks, the UHF wideband Futhura Plus offers high-power capability suitable for HDTV and 3D services, with up to 35% transmitter efficiency and market-leading power density of up to 12.6kW OFDM. Equipped for all OFDM standards in the UHF frequency band, the Futhura Plus features Thomson’s latest software enhancements for the exciters, and a range of passive components including RF filters and new RF channel combiners.

Thomson’s fully automatic real-time Digital Adaptive Pre-correction (DAP) technology corrects linear and non-linear distortions, while low operating junction transistor temperature contributes to extended reliability. The transmitter has been designed to give easy access to all modules when replacement is required, and the Futhura Plus is the first transmitter to make use of standard mass-market power supplies. 

To help broadcasters achieve the best possible strategic solution for efficiency, Thomson Broadcast provides a package of services that includes technical consultancy for transmission network optimization, adaptive training, efficient coverage studies, and a preventive maintenance program.