Elenos Group Unveils Innovative Technology to Help AM Broadcasters Save Big on Energy Costs

Elenos Group, a leading broadcast equipment manufacturer, is thrilled to announce the launch of MDCL+, a cutting-edge technology designed to help AM broadcasters save significant amounts of money on energy costs. This innovative solution is compatible with both old and new BE AM transmitters and will be showcased at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

MDCL+ uses modulation-dependent carrier-level algorithms to analyze modulation characteristics and adjust transmitter power accordingly. By doing so, it reduces power consumption and cooling costs, potentially saving stations more than 50% on their electricity bills. For a 10kW AM station in the United States operating continuously at an average electricity rate of 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, annual savings could exceed $12,000. Stations in areas with higher electricity rates, such as Alaska and Hawaii, may see even greater savings.

The system operates by lowering power during louder audio segments and increasing it during quieter moments, ensuring that any increase in received noise is masked by the program content. It can be installed on most BE transmitters in under 30 minutes and slightly longer on other modern brands post-2000. MDCL+ requires minimal adjustments to audio processing to maintain audio quality while maximizing power savings.

Rich Redmond, President and COO of Elenos Group, stated that “We understand that all broadcasters are looking for ways to make the most out of their investment in infrastructure while keeping operating costs down without having to replace their transmitter entirely.” He added that MDCL+ was designed to enable AM broadcasters to cost-effectively upgrade existing equipment without having to undergo a major overhaul of their transmitter site. With long operating lifecycles for transmitters being major purchases, Redmond said they were pleased to offer operators an opportunity to extend their investment while reducing costs simultaneously.

Broadcast Electronics will showcase MDCL+ at booth W3151 during the NAB Show