Here’s something that broadcast TV stations eager to transition to the ATSC 3.0 broadcast TV standard may get excited about.
GatesAir has introduced a new version of its Maxiva XTE software-defined TV exciter with “XTK,” a new model primarily developed for the global broadcast community ready to bring “NEXTGEN TV” to greater audiences.
The Maxiva XTK boasts a modern FPGA-based platform and is a 1RU exciter that builds on the ATSC 3.0 modulation software introduced at the 2025 NAB Show. The product comes standard within GatesAir’s latest high-efficiency TV transmitter models, including the UATK-OP and UATK low-power UHF series.
In its now-productized form, the XTK also extends ATSC 3.0 capability to GatesAir’s VATK-OP and VATK low-power VHF transmitters. Its backwards-compatible design brings operability to previous-gen Maxiva UHF/VHF transmitters and many Harris legacy DTV transmitters.
Same as the XTK, the exciter’s software-defined architecture optimizes signal performance and accelerates the transition between digital standards through firmware updates in the field, GatesAir says.
Beyond ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 transitions, the Maxiva XTK’s support for the ISDB-Tb DTV standard makes it a potentially beneficial product for Brazilian broadcasters now preparing for ATSC 3.0 transitions. The XTK also comes standard in GatesAir’s PMTX-1-UK outdoor transmission systems; it is used in flexible installation options (including pole mounts) and has a weatherproof, low maintenance design.
“We see the XTK as the next step in GatesAir’s software-defined exciter innovation, building on the proven reliability and flexibility of our XTE platform,” said Steve Rossiter, TV Systems Applications Engineer at GatesAir. “Broadcasters now have a forward-looking solution that can be deployed across our latest Maxiva systems while remaining fully compatible with earlier-generation Maxiva transmitters and legacy systems. We designed the XTK to deliver the processing power, precision, and upgraded flexibility that today’s ATSC 3.0 networks demand.”
