DRM+, the DRM technology for radio broadcasts at frequencies up to 174 MHz, was presented to a select audience in Hannover, Germany, on 19th August 2009. This event was organised by Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt and University of Hannover.
Representatives of the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (Rundfunk & Telekom Regulierung-GmbH), Swiss Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM), local radio stations in Austria and the Association of Citizens’ Media and Education (Bundesverband Bürger-und Ausbildungsmedien), Germany, attended the presentation and discussions.
The focus of this event was digital broadcast options for regional and local radio stations. The quality of DRM+ digital broadcast featured at the event was much appreciated.
It was noted that, while some European countries are going ahead with their digitisation plans, questions raised by small regional and local radio service providers unable to join multiplexes, remain unanswered. DRM+ provides the optimal solution for local and regional radio stations. With its small bandwidth, DRM+ fulfils their requirements while these stations do not need to share big multiplexes with other broadcasters.
The discussions concluded that broadcasting extra digital radio programmes in addition to analogue broadcasting in Band II is not possible in middle-Europe where Band II is fully occupied. The broadcasters and engineers present at the event concluded that what is required is to explore the possibility of using Band III (174-230MHz) for DRM+.
(Source: DRM Consortium)
on Aug 27th, 2009 at 13:09
And please, dear Germans, STOP DRM on AM bands, you are causing a lot of interference on analogue channels here in Holland, like 1602 and 1584, by 1593 WDR2
on Aug 27th, 2009 at 13:41
The audio quality is better in DRM on long and mediumwave than on DAB.
DRM is the future and best in the 11-m band. run audio up to 2x 20 kHz.
DRM is great on band l wich is 47-68 MHz with DRM 5,1 surround radio.
on Aug 27th, 2009 at 14:41
I have heard the classical music test WDR DRM transmission after dark in stereo on 1593kHz MW at Accrington,Lancashire NW England on my Technisat Multyradio and I have to say that it’s excellent! It’s almost as good as FM stereo and doesn’t drop out that much.
on Aug 27th, 2009 at 15:30
Anthony,
please be aware of the groundwave and the skywave on higher end of mediumwave.
Skywave comming up 1 hour before sunset mostly.
on Aug 28th, 2009 at 07:00
Roy,it is possible after dark to hear DRM-MW stations from continental Europe in the United Kingdom,dependent on atmospherics and propagation conditions, this will inevitably increase in Winter after the clocks have gone back late October with earlier sunsets from mid afternoon which means I should be able to pull in the 1440kHz MW-DRM tx of RTL Radio from their 120kW outlet at Marnach,Luxembourg around 3pm UK(4pm CET/2pm UTC), there is a video on YT showing Tipex in Barcelona Spain picking the WDR MW-DRM transmissions up on 1593kHz MW after dark, and I have to say it’s pretty damn good for quality and reception in the MW band way outside Germany in SW Europe! So it is possible after dark to hear MW-DRM transmissions(and indeed SW-DRM and LW-DRM transmissions) way outside their coverage zones dependent on conditions.
on Aug 28th, 2009 at 13:49
There they are again, the DRM receiver owners, only thinking about themselves
on Aug 28th, 2009 at 14:19
I unlike you, Ruud, believe in the Digital Radio Mondiale format and know by regularly listening to the DRM transmissions on the AM bands of LW/MW and SW that they CAN and do work when things are executed and carried out right by the broadcasters and third party transmission providers. There are one or two videos on YT showing the success and quality of DRM transmissions on Himalaya and Technisat DRM radios;with some of the aural results showing hardly any dropouts,good quality audio and a better listening experience overall, this proves that DRM is a BIG step forward of analogue AM in terms of quality/reception and ease of use. It’s a format that deserves to succeed(and it should do). People have abandoned AM radio because of quality and reception issues and the industry’s answer to that is a digital radio system that improves the quality of reception and audio quality of AM radio services below 120Mhz and that is DRM(Digital Radio Mondiale). Internet radio isn’t the be all and end all of things;there will still be people wanting to access their radio who don’t have 3G phones/computers via traditional AM/FM/DAB/Dsat/Dcab/DAB/DAB+ methods.
on Aug 31st, 2009 at 12:23
Dear Anthony,
just this message,
there is more in the world then just technology.
DRM might work fine, technically, fine.
Other systems work even better
But it al has to do with people, consumers, listeners, market, broadcasters and content.
In the USA analogue AM is stil working fine, in major markets AM’s in the top 5 ratings, in Cincinnatti WLW stil on 700 no 1.
AM sound quality can be improved by changed rules and regulations and alowing more bandwith. This is compatible for all billions of receivers.
I have a small station running wich sounds excellent, even better then many FM’s.
But it is hinderend by DRM transmissions from Germany nobody listens to and will.
on Sep 1st, 2009 at 06:25
But Ruud the 9kHz AM channel spacing cannot be changed owing to technical limitations etc in the specifications of the AM format and by rules and regulations set by frequency planners and AM frequency spectrum planners, and there is NO plans to change it now. If we didn\’t have as many AM stations in Europe,Russia,the Middle East,Africa and beyond transmitting on the same frequencies as the stations in the UK and European countries there would not be quite as much of a problem with interference at night, but frequency and spectrum planners allocate and give frequencies to existing and new stations and set limits on transmitter powers etc to reduce to chances of interference during daylight hours because MW/LW radio signals tend to keep to ground level during the day and bounce in and out of the ionosphere at night causing fading/whistling and severe interference at night from other stations on the same frequency as the station you\’re listening to spoiling the listening experience.
on Sep 1st, 2009 at 12:12
I have news for you Anthony
Many stations are already exceeding the 9 kHz bandwith.
Sounds great……..
BTW in the US the spacing is 10 kHz, but the allowed bandwith for many stations is 20 kHz.
So it IS all about rules and regulations.
The decreasing demand in AM frequencies can also be used in its advance by having less stations but with larger bandwith.
Certainly in Europe many things can be improved, even day/night bandwith has never been used here.
Antenna patterns are quite often ND, with Directional you can do more and more efficient
etc.
on Oct 29th, 2009 at 00:07
I have to agree with Ruud!
all that DRM is, is a way to force people to waste money or new equipment when there existing equipment performs more than satisfactorily!!
we have this at the moment in the UK!
the analog television service is being replaced by a VASTLY inferior digital system!
PAL encoded analog video produced significantly better pictures when they contained ANY fast motion! compared to any current consumer level digital broadcast system
it is all about MAKING MONEY and the consumer comes last in the equation!
and BTW DRM has plenty of bad characteristics of it\’s own replacing one type of distortion with another is of NO benefit!
on May 6th, 2011 at 16:58
If we do not have as many AM stations in Europe,Russia,the Middle East,Africa and beyond transmitting on the same frequencies as the stations in the UK and European countries there would not be quite as much of a problem with interference at night…