Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio
Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Mangosman, Benn Kobb, and Mark Fahey for the following tips:
CML Micro release the world’s lowest-cost Digital Radio Mondiale Broadcast Receiver module (CML Micro)
IBC Amsterdam 2023 – 16th September 2023 – DRM Consortium Showcase Event
CML Microcircuits (CML Micro) has announced at the IBC 2023 DRM Showcase Event, the full release of the world’s lowest-cost, lowest power, and smallest sized Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcast receiver module (DRM1000). DRM is the world’s leading digital radio broadcast standard able to provide rich, high quality digital content over vast areas using medium-wave (MW) and short-wave (SW). In addition to high-capacity local broadcasting at Very High Frequencies (VHF).
The DRM1000 is a complete ‘antenna to speaker’ module, containing all hardware, software, IP and patent licenses required for a radio equipment manufacturer to easily realize a dual mode (digital and analogue) DRM capable receiver.
The module offers a 60% cost reduction and 80% power reduction over existing DRM technologies in the market. The device can run effectively from solar or wind-up rechargeable batteries: in addition to small primary cells. Low power operation directly improves accessibility to vital educational and public digital radio services across many emerging nations and opens the great features of DRM to many millions of potential listeners around the world.
In offering the DRM1000, CML Micro wish to enable their customers to design a complete DRM /AM /FM broadcast receiver solution, which is attractive, highly featured and accessible for all. The module allows these innovative receivers to be manufactured locally in emerging nations in addition to traditional technology manufacturing locations.
In addition to announcing the availability of the DRM1000; CML Micro is also proud to announce that the device has been adopted by Gospell Digital Technology Ltd for two new DRM portable radio families to be shown for the first time at the IBC 2023 DRM Showcase Event.
Haochun Liu, Head of Research and Development at Gospell, said: “At Gospell, we’ve always held a steadfast belief in the pivotal role that the accessibility and ubiquity of DRM radios play in enabling people to access high-quality information. This unwavering commitment has driven us over the years to design and manufacture user friendly DRM receivers, constantly pushing the boundaries to make them more accessible and attainable for all. The introduction of the DRM1000 module, with its impressive low-power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and high performance, has been a game-changer. We are truly honored to collaborate with CML Micro in launching two groundbreaking DRM receivers based on the DRM1000 module, namely the GR-220 and GR-221. We’re confident that our combined efforts will not only deliver unparalleled value to people but also pave the way for the next chapter in DRM technology.”
One third of the world’s population remains without an internet connection. Many millions of people will benefit from widespread DRM adoption. Increasing access to DRM enhances public services in remote areas, or where an internet connection is very expensive. This includes a disaster and early warning service that can be used in the event of interruption to communications caused by natural disasters.
CML Micro’s VP of Global Marketing, Matthew Phillips, said: “The benefits of DRM are already being enjoyed by listeners in the Indian market with 70% of the population covered by DRM broadcast services and 6 million new cars already fitted with DRM capable receivers. We believe the market for DRM capable receivers is set for significant growth over the coming years. The DRM1000 provides an ideal platform to serve this emerging market with low cost, battery-powered portable receivers sold in millions of units.”
DRM in the medium-wave or short-wave band delivers FM-like quality to listeners spread over many thousands of square miles, from a single transmitter. This makes DRM the optimum digital radio solution for emerging nations. DRM uses existing long-, medium-, short-wave and very-high frequency (LW, MW, SW and VHF) radio frequency bands, operating seamlessly alongside current analogue services. [Continue reading…]
Gospell announces the latest DRM pocket radios (YouTube)
Click here to view on YouTube.
Mangosman adds:
A little background on the CML chip from a discussion forum:
https://groups.io/g/DRMNA/message/8528
Fourier analysis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_analysis This can transform a serial data stream into a parallel data stream using a different frequency carrier for each path. For example a 16 level quadrature Amplitude modulated data stream at around 99.4 kbit/s is carried on 213 carriers in a channel 95 kHz wide using a transmission frequency between 47 – 230 MHz.
DRM chosen by Indonesia as digital radio broadcasting standard for MW, FM, and VHF Band-III (Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union)
The Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) Consortium has welcomed the decision by Indonesian authorities to adopt the globally recognised, open, and ITU-endorsed DRM Digital Radio Standard for national implementation in a country with a population exceeding a quarter of a billion.
The announcement was made during the DRM IBC Showcase event in Amsterdam. DRM is the only digital radio standard capable of meeting all coverage requirements for national and local public radio stations, as well as commercial and community broadcasters. Moving forward, DRM-based digital radio services will be available in the medium wave (MW) and FM bands, and also in VHF band-III, across all 18,000 of Indonesia’s islands.
Some 275 million Indonesians will soon benefit from a transformative radio experience featuring enhanced audio quality and, importantly, an additional layer of disaster protection via DRM’s Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF). The introduction of modern digital radio services is set to invigorate the entire radio ecosystem and broadcast industry, thereby stimulating both Indonesian and global receiver manufacturing.
The DRM Consortium is keen to continue its close collaboration with Indonesian broadcasters, stakeholder groups, governmental agencies, as well as the receiver, automotive, and mobile phone industries in Indonesia. This concerted effort aims to ensure the successful nationwide roll-out of DRM digital radio services, for the benefit of the entire Indonesian populace.
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Do we have any stats for number of actual DRM-ready radios are in use in the various countries that have broadcasts available?
I also struggle to find many actual reviews of DRM-capable radios online which points to an – at present – very niche audience.
The cheapest model I can find is more than £200.00 so more affordable radios is a good thing – I just wonder when they will become available, and for how much.
Paul,
There are 5 million new cars in India which have DRM installed at no extra cost on the production line. This is continuing to grow at an exponential rate. https://www.drm.org/products-solutions-and-technologies/
Most sales are aimed at India because it is covered by high powered signals in the medium frequency band. They do have some HF broadcasts. When they are digital only they commonly have a pair of audio programs coming from a single transmitter.
If you to get a taste of DRM http://kiwisdr.com/public/ for free. You need to select DRM mode which they all have. Unfortunately these receivers only decode audio don’t contain Journaline or image decoding.
https://www.drm.org/what-can-i-hear/broadcast-schedule-2/ will give you some idea of when to listen. Yes the BBC does transmit DRM to Europe.
India is already covering 1,399 million people with DRM broadcasts. Now Pakistan, 248 million people, has commenced a roll out using van extremely high powered medium frequency transmitter which can also cover adjacent countries. China 1 413 million and Indonesia 279 million have adopted DRM this makes a total of 3,339 million people once fully rolled out.
By comparison USA has 340 million, Canada 39 million and Mexico 130 million have HD radio.
The European Union a population of 451 million and the UK 68 million which are using DAB+.
Now it is obvious that a low cost DRM/DAB+ receiver is viable with the advantage that no wasteful carrier signal is radiated, reducing transmission costs and pollution even when compared to the digital t4ransmissions used for the wireless internet.