The website of Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) carries the following announcement:
RNZI Power Supply Problem
06 Mar, 2010 22:51 UTC
Due to the failure of a Mains Breaker at the RNZI transmission Base we are only able to operate one transmitter at the moment. This means we have had to reduce the hours we broadcast in AM and in DRM .
The AM service will available from midnight to 0550 NZ time, 0750-0950, 1050-1400, 1500-1600, 1700-2400 [1100-1650, 1850-2050, 2150-0100, 0200-0300 UTC]
DRM will be available from 0550-0750, 0950-1050, 1400-1500, 1600-1700 NZ time. [1650-1850, 2050-2150, 0100-0200, 0300-0400 UTC).
We regret these interruptions and hope to have normal services back to normal as soon as the repair work is completed.
(Source: RNZI website)
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 15:02
There’s an internet stream at http://www.rnzi.com/pages/audio.php which also has a Listen Again facility.
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 17:42
DRM broadcasts can be dropped easy, no receivers, no audience, just a waste of energy and money.
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 18:02
Ruud, although generally I would agree with you, RNZI is in a rather different scenario. They specifically installed a DRM transmitter to feed better quality audio to their partner stations in the Pacific, which had been taking AM shortwave feeds. RNZI installed DRM receivers at its partner stations for this purpose. It works out cheaper, also for the partner stations, than using a satellite feed. I suppose the times when they do DRM are the times when most of the partners are rebroadcasting the signal on local AM/FM. RNZI was one of the stations, along with RNW, that worked on developing the DRM standard, and they spotted a niche opportunity. So the DRM signal is essentially a point to point feed rather than a service for the general public.
on Mar 10th, 2010 at 07:45
But there is no doubt that DRM receivers will eventually become available for the public to listen to these transmissions.
on Mar 10th, 2010 at 15:27
Thanks for your comment Andy, I did not know that.
Still I wonder if a DRM feed is better in terms of audio quality, sability and cost effect then a satellite feed.
on Mar 10th, 2010 at 21:44
Using DRM to link transmitters over costlier satellite links seems a more economical method because you dont have the costly expense of leasing satellite uplinks and airtime for it.
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 06:49
However, the sales of DRM recievers is still increasing and some countries will replace the old am tx to drm tx instead. Especially drm on SW in cars is great.
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 07:16
But Roy there are no DRM equipped car stereos around in shops at present;I have written to Panasonic UK with some detailed plans for a DRM equipped car stereo with a view to manufacturing and developing such a hybrid set with DRM/DRM+ via FM/DAB/DAB+/full AM coverage 150-30000kHz via LW/MW/SW/FM hybrid car stereo/CD player and they wrote back saying they have no plans just yet to introduce such a set, but they have passed my ideas onto their R&D department so something could well happen in the future as far as a new fully equipped high spec DRM equipped car stereo coming out onto the market.
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 09:19
Antony, i do have a drm reciver in my car and it work great to RTL and other stations. A few stations beam their target area to scandinavia. Non car radio is aviable with am,fm,drm,dab+ yet, but coming up in a few years. The new law in EU oppens up all broadcasting bands below 30 MHZ to private broadcasting in AM/DRM. Sorry, but lobbyists DAB\’s are working against DRM and DRM+ wich is better. RL i do pick up and 1296 in the evenings. DRM can replace the AM on SW in the first step.