Eddystone XE40 – 40 Watt FM Exciter

Overview – Eddystone XE40

Eddystone XE40 is a fully featured 40 Watt FM broadcast exciter that can also operate as a low power stand-alone transmitter for smaller coverage areas or as a high quality driver for larger amplifier stages. Operating across the standard 87.5–108 MHz band in fine frequency steps, it is designed for professional broadcasters who need clean modulation, rock-solid frequency stability and dependable protection in a compact 1U package. Typical users include community and regional FM stations, backup transmitter chains and sites where a robust exciter is required to feed Eddystone modular amplifier systems or third-party PA racks.

Performance and key features

Eddystone XE40 delivers adjustable RF output from around 4 W up to 40 W, allowing it to serve both as a standalone transmitter for low power services and as a precise driver for higher power transmitters. A direct-synthesis frequency system with tight stability keeps carrier drift well within broadcast specifications, while the wideband MPX input offers flat response across the FM multiplex baseband for optimum stereo and RDS performance. The exciter’s VSWR cut-back circuitry protects the power amplifier by automatically reducing output into mismatched loads, and advanced low-pass and harmonic filtering help maintain spurious levels well below regulatory limits for clean spectrum performance.

Applications and use cases

Eddystone XE40 suits stations needing a flexible 40 W FM platform that can scale from small services to driving larger transmitters.

• Primary low power FM transmitter for community, campus or backup services operating directly from Eddystone XE40.
• High-quality exciter and driver stage feeding Eddystone modular FM amplifiers or third-party PA systems in main transmitter plants.
• Redundant exciter in multi-transmitter sites, providing a hot-standby drive source for critical on-air continuity.
• Laboratory, test bench or temporary event installations requiring a compact, frequency-agile 40 W FM exciter.

What’s included and integration

Eddystone XE40 is supplied as a 1U 19-inch rack-mount chassis with front panel LCD display, jog-wheel control and status LEDs, plus rear panel RF output, wideband MPX input and balanced audio connections depending on configuration. Standard AC mains input covers a wide voltage range, and optional input modules can provide additional audio, composite or remote control interfaces to match different studio and transmitter layouts. Integration is straightforward: engineers simply rack-mount the unit, connect the MPX or audio feed and route the RF output to the antenna system or PA input, relying on the built-in protection and metering to keep Eddystone XE40 running safely in daily service.