Energy-Onix Announces 80 Station Conversion to FMeXtra™

April 14, 2006
Energy-Onix, a manufacturer of radio broadcast equipment and representative for Digital Radio Express, Inc.(DRE) FMeXtra™ digital radio system announced that the ‘Idea Bank’ consortium of broadcasters have selected DRE’s FMeXtra digital subcarrier system as part of their digital radio strategy. Energy-Onix President Bernard Wise said, “ The Idea Bank consortium represents nearly 500 radio stations across the U.S and meets twice a year to discuss issues that impact the future of radio. This week at their Atlanta Ga meeting it was announced that the group plans to initially convert 80 stations to FMeXtra this year as a step in their overall plan for digital radio future. This group represents the forward thinking necessary to insure a bright future for terrestrial radio”. Over the air FMeXtra broadcasting was displayed at the meeting from WREC 91.1 in Atlanta with 2 digital channels of stereo audio simultaneously with the primary stereo analog channel and RDS. DRE President Norman Miller, said, “FMeXtra converts the previously underutilized subcarrier spectrum into valuable high quality digital channels capable of providing text, speech, music and video content.” FMeXtra is compatible with digital IBOC and when operated on an IBOC station provides a significant increase in the number of digital channels available to the broadcaster.

The total cost for the hardware for the DRE system is less than $9,000. The system utilizes the existing analog transmitter, antenna and STL equipment. The total time for installation of the equipment is less than 30 minutes. There are no injurious effects to the existing FM stereo analog system. Production receivers will be available by the end of the 2nd quarter.