Axel Technology - Lynx

The LYNX does more than simply select an FM station: it allows you to observe precisely what is actually happening on the frequency. Axel Technology has developed it as a broadcast tuner designed for receiving, listening to and, above all, monitoring the various components that make up an FM signal. Measurements are carried out in real time across several levels, from the RF signal right through to the RDS data.

The tuner section covers the 87.5 to 108 MHz band with a 10 kHz step size and a tuning stability of ±500 Hz. In particular, the LYNX measures the RF level, carrier offset, multipath, and the levels of adjacent and alternative channels. The IF filter bandwidth can be adjusted manually or automatically to adapt the analysis to reception conditions.

Processing does not stop at the radio frequency. The MPX module allows monitoring of MPX power, the 19 kHz pilot level and the RDS level, whilst the audio section provides left and right levels as well as various parameters for detecting imbalance or the absence of a signal. Stereo reception is also monitored.

RDS decoding is another key feature of the LYNX. PS, PI, PTY, PTYN, RT, RT+, AF, TA, TP, CT, EON, TMC and other services can be decoded and analysed. RDS statistics allow for a more in-depth analysis of the transmitted stream and the identification of errors or anomalies.

All this information is accessible via the built-in web server, allowing multiple users to view the tuner’s settings from various devices connected to the network. The LYNX can also output the received audio via its analogue XLR, AES/EBU and headphone outputs, or transmit it over IP.