Tag Archives: Digital Radio Mondiale

October DRM Consortium news

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who shares the following news from the DRM Consortium via their newsletter:

Digital Radio Mondiale: Audio Codec xHE-AAC at No Additional Cost
to Boost DRM Receiver Industry

Via Licensing Corporation, a global intellectual property solutions
provider, announced that the highly efficient MPEG xHE-AAC audio codec
(Extended High Efficiency AAC) will become a default feature of the
popular Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) patent pool. The move to include
the XHE-AAC audio codec into the current patent pool at no extra cost,
is a move that could boost DRM receiver manufacturing. Read more.

DRM Delivers at IBC 2017

Following a very successful appearance at IBC 2017 in Amsterdam, with
many delegates attending the four successful DRM events hosted by
Gospell, Thomson Broadcast, Nautel and Ampegon, we have compiled a
slideshow from IBC to share. Click here to view.

DRM Delivers at IBC 2017

Following a very successful appearance at IBC 2017 in Amsterdam, with
many delegates attending the four successful DRM events hosted by
Gospell, Thomson Broadcast, Nautel and Ampegon, we have compiled a
slideshow from IBC to share. Click here to view.

All India Radio (AIR) External Services to Provide more Broadcasts

The External Services Division of AIR is to launch several new
services aimed at new overseas target areas. Read more.

US Coast Guard DRM Tests Continue

U.S. Coast Guard testing in DRM with Journaline Service continues and
the latest schedules can be downloaded here.

You can follow discussions on the project on the DRMNA Group here.

Fraunhofer Software Defined Radio (SDR) Digital Receiver Introduced
at IBC 2017

The Fraunhofer IIS audio blog published an article summarising the
products launched at IBC and powered by the Fraunhofer
MultimediaPlayer Radio App. Read more.

Radio Taiwan Carries Out DRM Tests

Radio Taiwan International carried out tests in DRM in German on Oct 4
and 10 from 1800-1900 UTC on 9680 and 12030 kHz from Tamsui. Read
more.

International Day for Disaster Reduction 13th October

On Friday 13th October, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction, explores how communities around the world are reducing their
exposure to disasters. In a recent blog “When digital is more than
just radio”, the DRM Chair, Ruxandra Obreja, outlined the considerable
benefits to be realised if Governments and manufacturers were to fully
exploit the emergency warning feature embedded in DRM and digital
radio technology. Read more.

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The GR-227: Gospell introduces a new SDR digital radio car adaptor

North Korea now broadcasting in DRM

3 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who writes:

A message to contacts in North Asia (Japan / Korea etc)…

North Korea is currently (right now 1430UTC) broadcasting in DRM format on 3560KHz. Listening to remote receivers in Japan I can see the signal is very strong in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas – I assume it will be strong in other parts of Japan as well. I have NOT been able to decode the DRM successfully, I have tried piping the audio to me here in my Australian location and demodulating it with a software DRM decoder – I just can’t get a lock on the signal. Do you have a DRM receiver – could you please try? If you do manage to receive the signal please don’t forget to record it!

I’m particularly interested to know if the transmissions are relays of KCBS Pyongyang, Pyongyang Pangsong or some other service. If you get a demodulated signal could you check to see if the program is parallel to KCBS Pyongyang on 2850KHz or Pyongyang Pangsong on 6400KHz.

I have a WinRadio Excalibur with DRM here in Australia, but the signal is very weak here – far too weak to lock.

Later, Mark shared the following video by “2010DFS” on YouTube:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Mark also notes that DRMNA.info is following this story very closely and suspects that the content server and or transmitter may be Chinese in origin:

NOTE: Same frequency and bitrate as the 2012 broadcasts so this may represent “Chinese assistance”. Can anyone confirm DRM equipment in Kujang?

20170902 Update: I have received anonymous details that indicate that at least the content server is of Chinese origin. Still no word on actual transmit location. Several other Japanese (and Terje in Japan) have successfully decoded these transmissions.

Click here to read full details at DRMNA.info.

Being a North Korean propaganda specialist, Mark added:

At the Freeman’s Reach monitoring station the bandwidth and microwave paths in are really being tested this afternoon with the full on activity.

All plans for the afternoon and evening now cancelled! YTN (South Korea) via Intelsat, KCTV Pyongyang via Thaicom, CNN International via Foxtel, CNN USA Domestic via Sling, Korean Central Radio and Pyongyang Pansong via KiwiSDRs – Busy!

All spectrum being captured, tonight the servers will be working hard, it will keep this place warm!

Post readers: please comment if you’re able to decode any of these North Korean DRM transmissions, and/or if you have further information about these DRM broadcasts from North Korea.

UPDATE: Mark has at least confirmed that the DRM signal is a relay of the KCBS Pyongyang national service (domestic) broadcast.

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Review of the Gospell GR-216 portable DRM multi-band radio

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes:

Here’s a review on a Swedish Hobby Radio website of the GOSPELL GR-216 MULTI-BAND AM / FM /Shortwave / DRM receiver, which you reported about on 9/6/2016 and is now is reportedly about to go into production:

http://www.hobbyradio.se/en/drm/gospell_en.html

The latest Mediumwave / Shortwave / VHF-FM receiver GR-216 from Gospell can receive both digital and analogue mediumwave and shortwave signals as well as VHF FM broadcasts. The software-defined receiver is based on a NXP chipset. The firmware may easily be updated over the USB connector on the front.

The size of the radio is 240 mm (w) x 120 mm (h) x 150 mm (d) (without the knobs). It is supplied with a 230 VAC power cord, a 230 VAC / 9 VDC power supply and a user’s manual. Its retail price is about xx USD.

The radio has a pleasant design like your favorite kitchen radio but it is also fit for any livingroom. Unlike other products the GR-216 has a soft and clean design and all buttons and controls are easy to operate. It weighs about 2 kg and sits firmly on a table or a shelf. Much of the weight comes from its large loudspeaker (77 mm diameter) and the mains transformer. The two strips on the bottom of the cabinet prevents the GR-216 from slipping around when tuning or pressing the pushbuttons. The AF output power amplifier is 4 W.

There is also a 12 or 24 hour clock and a dual alarm clock (radio or buzzer) and a sleep timer. In addition to the built-in AC/DC power supply there is a DC jack on the rear panel for an external 9 Volt DC power supply if so required.

Continue reading…

Thanks for the tip, Ed! Reading this, it’s most encouraging to see that Gospell reached out to radio enthusiasts and used their input for firmware and hardware upgrades prior to production.

This may be the most encouraging portable DRM receiver yet. Indeed, Paul Walker, has been enjoying his Gospell GR-216 tremendously and–using an external antenna–has captured a number of DRM broadcasts from Pennsylvania. He might produce a review of his own to post here soon.

If anyone else has notes about the Gospell GR-216’s performance, please comment! Could this finally be a DRM portable for the DXer?

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DRM test successful in crowded Johannesburg FM market

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(Source: Radio Mag Online via Larry W)

The trial has demonstrated that there is no interference with analog stations on either side of the digital signal in the crowded FM spectrum of Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Johannes von Weyssenhoff, representing the community station Wecodec in Johannesburg, presented the case of DRM to an international audience at the “Radio Days Africa,” an annual event taking place at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. His presentation also included results and findings of WECODEC’s ongoing DRM+ trial, the first of its kind on the African continent, according to DRM news.

The trial has demonstrated that there is no interference with analog stations on either side of the digital signal in the crowded FM spectrum of Johannesburg. The DRM power for the test is ¼ that of FM, giving similar coverage at 4QAM.[…]

Click here to read the full article.

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PantronX Titus II DRM receiver June 2017 update

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes:

Here’s an update on the PantronX Titus II DRM boombox from Mike at PantronX:

“We are first fulfilling large orders from international broadcasters. Individual orders most likely are late fall.

If you preordered someone will contact you when the order comes up. Sorry for the delays but demand has been almost overwhelming.

Thanks for your continued support.”

Thanks fo sharing this update with us, Ed!

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PantronX Titus II DRM receiver update via Wavescan

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who writes:

There was a segment on the latest episode of AWR’s Wavescan (9 April 2017) about the Titus II DRM receiver recorded during the recent HFCC meeting in Jordan. In it, it was stated that the shipment of the first 1500 units was expected at the end of March or by the first half of April. Included some discussion of added shielding to prevent digital noise and the high-sensitivity of the receiver compared to other DRM units. Streaming and download of the Wavescan episode is available here: