A new state-of-the-art DRM digital radio receiver was unveiled to DRM members at the annual general assembly of the Consortium being held in Erlangen, Germany where the world’s two biggest broadcasting unions – EBU and ABU – re-iterated their support to the DRM Consortium.
The new DRM receiver is called ‘Di-Wave 100’ and has been developed by Uniwave Development SAS. This is the first DRM receiver with colour screen and will be in mass production from April 2009. The receiver has all the multimedia features offered by DRM technology including identification by station name, programme information, Journaline, MOT Slideshow and listening time shift.
Patrick Leclerc, Uniwave SA CEO with the receiver
The radio can receive DRM broadcasts on SW, MW and LW as well as analogue FM and can store 768 stations in its memory. The receiver also has a USB/SD card -reader and mp3/mp4 play-back. The 3.5 inch TFT display colour can display text in many different languages.
Patrick Leclerc, CEO of Uniwave said “The unique thing about the new receiver is that we have a clear road-map and plan to produce subsequent models with newer features like recording, EQ, DVD, GPS and navigation for an in-car version.”
The DRM General Assembly is being attended by members from all over the world and got support from the EBU and ABU. Sharad Sadhu, Technical Director of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union told the DRM members “It is the most suitable technology for MW broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific region and that the Consortium should have a ‘look east’ policy for the roll-out of DRM”.
Lieven Vermale, Technical Director of the European Broadcasting Union said “DRM is one of the critical technologies for converting analogue radio to digital and is being endorsed by several countries in the world. Both broadcasting unions are in favour of different digital radio bodies in the world working more closely together to give a unified message to the users.”
“We are really excited about the good news we are sharing with our members : major countries like India and Russia opting for DRM, up-to-date receivers ready to hit the market, completion of the DRM standard family with DRM+. The DRM consortium is in a good place, ready for cooperation and real activities to push the digitisitation of radio worldwide”, said Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairman.
(Source: DRM Consortium)
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on Mar 27th, 2009 at 14:50
Why did the phrase “flogging a dead horse” spring to mind whilst reading this report ..?
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 15:47
Looks like a promising kick up the rear end for DRM capable radios;lets see this thing take off and lets see more of them widely available worldwide!
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 18:15
Good news. Maybe we can get out of the chicken and egg situation DRM has been in for some years. If there\’s receivers are out there then more broadcasts should follow, likewise the more broadcasts the more people that buy receivers.
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 23:50
Hopefully the radio in Patrick’s hands in just a prototype. Are they really intending to release a radio with 1970 era silver plastic styling?
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 01:27
It\’s not really silver, this is just some reflection, probably from the flash. A better picture is here: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0023.html
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 22:20
They need to add DAB+ if they want to sell in numbers. Just like we have FM receivers with AM included. DRM should focus on getteing DRM into DAB radios. Then, and only the, it will be a success. Nobodywill be interested in av stand-alone DRM unit just like that nobody buys a AM-only receiver.
on Mar 30th, 2009 at 12:00
Tony,this receiver picks up existing MW/LW/SW and FM bands as well because not all radiostations use Digital Radio Mondiale on the AM bands. Perhaps they will bring out a full multiband set that features DAB and DAB+ as well later on, let’s see eh! But at least it’s a start.
on Apr 2nd, 2009 at 17:08
Hi you guys out there,
Someone here suggests adding DAB… Whatever for?
DAB has either never been introduced or is being abandoned by most countries.
I will certainly purchase that receiver as soon as it is available, but I don’t want to pay extra for any DAB rubbish fitted to it that is totally useless.
on Apr 2nd, 2009 at 17:09
Hmm a few dozen stations on AM in DRM mode in the UK and I would buy one…no recording facility also ? The Technisat Multyradio is available to buy for just over £100 from smartcard24 in Germany and this INCLUDES postage
on Apr 3rd, 2009 at 07:08
Dave,Uniwave DO have plans to introduce future models of DRM radio with SD recording and other features in time so wait and see would be the suggestion to you OK? And Remy, the UK is using DAB at the moment and the sales figures for DAB sets in the UK is constantly rising upward to a positive trend(even though the quality isn’t that good).
on Apr 3rd, 2009 at 08:08
It looks nice, but I agree, if you bring now something on the market it should receive all analogue and digital broadcasts.
At the moment you can buy a good Worldreceiver for 79 euro (Redsun / K-PO WR2100), so the price should be also competative.
on Apr 3rd, 2009 at 12:13
Anthony…
The UK is just about the only country that keeps DAB.
Here in France it has never been implemented and never will, other countries are either giving it up or not expanding their existing networks.
on Apr 3rd, 2009 at 13:16
What about australia who’ve just started using DAB?
on Apr 4th, 2009 at 12:34
France is implementing DMB-A, which is a DAB related standard. Together with DAB+ it appears on the European digital radio profile, unlike DRM. France did however authorise the use of DRM for their MF channels but I am not sure what licencing arrangements they have put into place, there are some broadcasters interested, for example Littoral Media who did some tests from Brittany in conjunction with Transradio.
Details of France\’s digital migration plan, announced earlier last month, can be found at:
http://www.worlddab.org/news/france
Details of the first stations in the roll-out will be announced this month.
on Apr 5th, 2009 at 15:04
From may this year, you can if you have a broadcasting licence in FM ,get a licence to test in DAB+ all over or part of Sweden.
Regulary licences ffrom 2010 in AM/FM/DAB+/DRM
on Jul 6th, 2009 at 11:46
chicken and egg…..
I would buy a DRM receiver right now.. if:
yes, if there was a proper DRM receiver on the market. Not such c**p as the Morphy Richards etc. And not only promises and announcements. I want a decent DRM receiver now and I’m willing to pay a decent price for it!
on Jul 7th, 2009 at 08:47
Zintus, go to http://www.sateuropa.co.uk tap in Technisat Multyradio to the sites search engine and you can mail order a Technisat Multyradio DRM/DAB/MW/LW/SW/FM set for £199.00, does that satisfy your lust for DRM mate?
on Jul 20th, 2009 at 07:57
Agree. It needs DAB+ as well as DRM. You wouldnt buy an AM or FM only radio these days. DAB+ is the standard used in Australia.
on Jul 21st, 2009 at 02:38
DRM hummm! DRM hummmm! Personally I feel DRM will never take off. how many years have they been at it? Where are the broadcasts? I always laugh when I see a DRM press release like one of the most recent ones about a dance music station from Europe on DRM to Asia. Great that exactly what I want to hear. The price of radios is out of reach for most people. If DRM was such a good system radios makers like Sangean and Tecsun would be coming out with them. DRM = Dumb Radio Morons
DRM I feel needs new management. The day I see VOA, NHK RJ, and others using DRM for regular broadcasts is the day I think it will fly. My view is DRM is just a European burocratic group.
on Jul 21st, 2009 at 20:25
A reciever without dab+ and drm isn’t a radio reciever, but needs AM/FM, too.
on Oct 13th, 2009 at 07:48
Australia has been testing DAB for over 10 years, and i have a feeling it isn;t going to be a huge hit in regional areas, simply vecause its being used on VHF. It\\\’ll be ok in the big cities, but in the bush?….They\\\’re wasting their money. DRM would be a much better option due to massive distances between towns. I hear DRM licences could be issued to broadcasters in country areas within 5 years. Radio Australia has been using DRM for around 6 years now. Radio New Zealand International is also on DRM. Check out their website for the mailboz segment, and you\\\’ll get a demo of what DRM sounds like after having travelled more than 20,000 kms. A very long path!
http://www.rnzi.com
on May 10th, 2011 at 12:51
Where can you buy a DRM receiver in Australia?