Tag Archives: DRM

Frank hears Bureau Met in DRM

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drmlogoFrank writes:

Hello Thomas,

This afternoon I came across ‘Bureau Met’ on 5960 [kHz]. I have been listening since 0800Z today, 24th Feb. SNR is a constant 19/20dB (RNZI peaks at about 17 on a good day. ). Content is a speech by Martin Luther King, ‘ one small step for mankind’, a speech by Churchill, more Apollo mission, Bill Clinton apologizing to the nation, and similar stuff repeating about every 40 minutes..

I suspect this is a Radio Australia test tx from their Canberra transmitter.

No station ID on the hour.

Cheers
Frank

Thanks, Frank! Has anyone else caught this DRM broadcast?

The Mighty KBC’s holiday broadcasts include DRM

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MightyKBCIn this series of special holiday broadcasts, The Mighty KBC is targeting different regions of the world.  See how many you can hear:

The following broadcast times and frequencies are valid for December 22, 23, 25 and 26

Targeting Europe
9835 kHz, 1500 – 1600 UTC, Non Directional, 125 kW

Targeting USA
21600 kHz, 1500 – 1600 UTC, 300°, 250 kW

Targeting Asia/Australia
15470 kHz, 1500 – 1600 UTC, 75°, 250 kW

The KBC will also broadcast in DRM on December 22, 23, 25 and 26
9755 khz 16.00 – 17.00 UTC from Bulgaria with 100 kW and we are using a curtain antenna.

NASB: Special DRM broadcasts for Wavescan

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(Source: NASB via Alokesh Gupta)

The “Wavescan” DX program which is a joint production of NASB members Adventist World Radio and Radio Miami International, will be included in a new series of four DRM (digital) shortwave transmissions called “DRM Mix” sponsored by Spaceline in Bulgaria which will take place on 22, 23, 25 and 26 December, 2012. Wavescan will air from 17.00 – 17.30 UTC on those days. The frequency will be 9755 kHz from Bulgaria, covering Europe with 100 kW. Wavescan QSL cards are available for reception reports on these broadcasts. The program content will include information on the history of broadcasting in Bulgaria.

The Mighty KBC to broadcast in DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale)

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DRM propagation map for Europe (image courtesy: The Mighty KBC)

The Mighty KBC has announced that they’re going to broadcast in DRM again on the 22, 23, 25 & 26 of December from 16:00 – 18:00 UTC. This is in addition to their previous announced December specials. The DRM broadcasts will come from a 100 kW transmitter and curtain antenna in Kostinbrod (Sofia) Bulgaria on 9,755 kHz DRM.

Tune in and let us know if you heard The Mighty KBC in DRM.

Radio World looks at DRM

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(Source: Radio World)

By: Ernie Franke

Once touted as the “Savior of Shortwave,” Digital Radio Mondiale has not lived up to its hype. Proposed in 1988, with early field-testing in 2000, inaugural broadcasting in 2001 and its official rollout in 2003, DRM has had a lackluster career over the last decade.

With the allure of FM-quality audio and fade-free operation, it had appeared that DRM might revive the shortwave community. Unfortunately, it has been overcome by other events, some technical and some social. The main weakness has been alternate sources of information and entertainment, fueled by the very technology that gave DRM hope.

Additionally, in areas of the world without ubiquitous social media, DRM has yet to realize receivers at a moderate cost with adequate battery life. The very processing technology that allows improved operation using the more complex DRM waveform costs more and consumes more power than the standard AM receiver. A quick look at standalone DRM receivers over the past decade shows almost a dozen companies entering the market, only to retreat when the promise didn’t materialize.

[…]The rise of the Internet has influenced many broadcasters to cease their shortwave transmissions in favor of broadcasting over the World Wide Web. When BBC World Service discontinued service to Europe, North America, Australasia and the Caribbean, it generated many protests. The shifting of resources from shortwave to Internet and television by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees U.S. international broadcasting, further reduced broadcasting hours in the English language. […]Although most of the prominent broadcasters continue to scale back their analog shortwave transmissions or completely terminate them, shortwave is still common and active in developing regions, such as parts of Africa and South America.[…]

The article then goes into an in-depth look at both the reasons for and technology behind Digital Radio Mondiale–both on the broadcasting and receiving ends.

Read the full article at Radio World’s website.

DRM Consortium publishes the DRM Introduction & Implementation Guide

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The DRM Consortium has made their DRM Introduction & Implementation Guide available for download on their site. The  guide is intended for management of broadcasting organizations, “in areas of policy making as well as in program making and technical planning.” I imagine a few SWLing Post readers will enjoy it too.

Thanks to DRMNA.info for the tip!

Download the DRM Introduction & Implementation Guide via the DRM Consortium (PDF).

North Korea is testing digital shortwave broadcasting via DRM

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As Vatican Radio pulls out of DRM, North Korea moves in. What a strange and shifting international broadcasting landscape:

(Source: North Korea Tech)

North Korea appears to be testing digital radio broadcasting.

Hiroshi Inoue, a radio monitor in Japan, received on Wednesday the country’s international radio service, Voice of Korea, broadcasting on shortwave using DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale). DRM is a digital broadcasting technology developed for use on AM and shortwave services.

[…]The broadcasts are taking place on 3,560MHz, a frequency used by the Voice of Korea in the past for conventional analog shortwave broadcasts.

[…]North Korea’s testing of DRM comes at a time when the country appears to be upgrading its international radio broadcasting system.

In mid-June 2011 the country’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications signed a deal with Beijing-based BBEF Tech for several new radio and television transmitters. The Chinese company trained North Korean engineers in how to install them.

At least one of those transmitters now appears to be on the air. North Korea’s transmissions on 11,680kHz shortwave are now broadcast spot-on that frequency. In the past they drifted a little either side of the correct channel. (Thanks to DX Aktuell for the tip!)

DRMNAinfo comments:

Here are some cool videos of the English language June 7th broadcast and the June 8th broadcast in Korean. As you will hear, the high production values, overly aggressive compression and sibilant laden distortion present in VOK analogue broadcasts translate well to the digital medium of DRM. Now all we have to do is convince Kim Jong-un to aim the antennas our way for some NA reception opportunities!

Additional info here.

I would like to thank Kim Elliott for the news tip on North Korea.

Note that this will be a difficult broadcast to hear and decode in North America, but many regions within Asia will be within the broadcast footprint.