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 David Iurescia, Alan, and Frank (SWL F14368) for the following tips:
SSB DXCC SWL Contest
Many thanks to Frank (SWL F14368), who shares the following announcement:
Hi Thomas
I have organized another SWL contest for 2025! The goal will be to listen a maximum number of DXCC entities in eight months but only in SSB mode (USB or LSB).
Best 73 de Frank SWL F14368
Digital Radio Mondiale Releases the DRM Consumer Radio Receiver Functionality Recommendation (DRM Consortium)
The DRM Consortium (www.drm.org) releases today its DRM Consumer Radio Receiver Functionality Recommendation (rxspec.drm.org). The document describes and defines the core functional parameters of consumer radio receivers capable of receiving DRM radio broadcasts. As DRM is being increasingly rolled out, adopted and demonstrated globally such a document is necessary to offer a guide to receiver manufacturers, but also broadcasters and regulators, so that consumers get a common and consistent DRM digital radio experience.
[…]The DRM Receiver Functionality Recommendation applies to all types of consumer-targeting DRM radio receivers, with detailed application-specific requirements for automotive receivers, personal mobile devices (such as mobile, feature, and smart phones or tablets incorporating built-in radio receiver functionality for terrestrial broadcast radio), and general-purpose receivers (all types of stand-alone receivers, including home and desktop radios).
The Consumer Receiver Recommendation builds upon the more technical DRM MRR – Minimum Receiver Requirements Specification (mrr.drm.org), which must be implemented and followed by any DRM receiver.
The new Consumer Receiver Recommendation covers DRM digital radio in all broadcasting bands: in the LW, MW, SW and VHF bands (Band I, II and III) and analogue AM and analogue FM radio. [Continue reading…]
WorldDAB Summit: Ensuring Radio Stays Prominent in the Car (Radio World)
Summary: At the WorldDAB Summit 2024 in Zagreb, industry leaders emphasized the importance of keeping radio front and center in the evolving connected car landscape. Gregor Pötzsch of Volkswagen Group’s CARIAD stressed the need for easy findability and engaging multimedia content, while Tomas Granryd of the EBU Connected Car Playbook highlighted the challenges posed by hidden FM/DAB buttons, voice activation inconsistencies, and increasing competition from global digital platforms. With 70% of in-car audio still coming from radio, broadcasters have the leverage to shape dashboard integration, ensuring seamless hybrid reception and intuitive voice control. Read the full article at Radio World.
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Alexander
Australia was the first location to transmit DAB+ as a permanent high powered broadcasts In 2009. In our major cities there are either 2 or 3 transmitters carrying 18 or more programs each. All programs except for talk programs are in stereo. The antennas are on tall TV towers with an effective radiating power of 50 kW each. Coverage radii around 60 – 70 km. Virtually all of the power is in the data. For a 50 kW AM transmitter the sound is only 16 kW maximum.
In 2017 Norway converted its main broadcasts to DAB+ only and now Switzerland has followed suite.
The coverage radius of the Australian transmitters is around 70 km. We also have repeaters which receive the on air signal and retransmit it into blackspot areas on identically the same frequency and program content.
https://www.drm.org/drm-in-the-world/broadcast-schedule/ shows DRM broadcasts around the world including Europe.
0000-2400 h Funklust 15785 kHz Daily German Nuremberg area Erlangen, Germany 0.2 kW Non Directional Also the 100 kW high frequency transmitters in Nauen Germany. The BBC World Service transmits in your direction and Radio Romania.
Now DRM can use a single VHF transmitter on any frequency between 47 – 230 MHz carrying 18 programs in 40 % of the bandwidth that DAB+ uses.
Like DAB+ where the receiver has to be scanned to find stations, which the user selects the program stream from a list; DRM can do this as well, and with AFS a DRM/DAB+/FM/AM receiver can switch to the most reliable version of that program from one of the modulations above.
The email address for the SSB DXCC SWL Contest bounced back:
“Your message wasn’t delivered to [email protected] because the address couldn’t be found, or is unable to receive mail. “
Additional: I think the SSB DXCC SWL Contest is a great idea because any SWL with SSB capability can take a crack at it.
Cheers, Jock
Thank you, i am Frank SWL F14368/FØDUW contest organizer. [email protected] is the good email address.
Frank,
Thanks!
Email sent.
Cheers, Jock
Pardon me if these are too strong words, but the activity of the DRM Consortium is becoming beyond pathetic. DRM has been standardized in 2001 and now, 24 years later, they are issuing recommendations for receivers? What on earth they were doing all this time??? They are even claiming that “DRM is being increasingly rolled out, adopted and demonstrated” – but where? Reading these baseless exaggerated claims about DRM supposedly taking over the world of radio broadcasting I feel like I’m living on a completely different planet! This organization is becoming terrifyingly similar to these DPRK traffic ladies directing non-existent traffic. They are boasting about new receivers that can be seen only on trade fairs and online pictures, bragging about endless DRM tests that lead to nothing, now issuing recommendations for receivers that no one makes.
DRM, DAB: At least here in Europe DRM is dead: Most countries turned off their AM transmitters a long time ago. Shortwave is mostly unknown. The first countries are switching off their FM infrastructure and move to DAB+ exclusively.
This does not mean that this is a good development: By design a DAB transmitter should cover an area with a 30 km radius. For emergency situations this is bad. A high-power AM transmitter can cover an area with a 200 km radius.
Other side of the pond here, in Cincinnati OH, where at night I can pick up 770 khz WABC in NYC some 700 km away…
-As my car is currently in the shop, I am driving a loaner, a ’25 model and the radio is infuriating… At least there is AM and FM, along with Sirius satellite, but one must interact with the large, distracting screen to pick a channel… Watch where your finger goes – if you want Studio 54 but accidentally land on Nu Country, yuck!!! you’ll be scrolling and fumbling for a good while, swerving all over the place trying to get rid of that gawdawful nu country!!!
I think most states have outlawed texting and driving, but interactive screens are tantamount to the same thing as poking on a ‘smart’ phone. Bring back the good-old analog dial. The hand stays on the knob and turns without needing to look while finding a station.
As for voice activation – I don’t talk to robots.