{"id":40113,"date":"2019-10-10T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=40113"},"modified":"2019-10-10T07:45:55","modified_gmt":"2019-10-10T11:45:55","slug":"drm-a-solution-to-the-medium-wave-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/drm-a-solution-to-the-medium-wave-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"DRM: a solution to the “medium-wave problem”–?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: Radio World<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Is medium wave in decline? Some people think so.<\/p>\n

In the 1950s radio was declared mortally wounded by TV. But then FM with its new music rescued it, becoming one of the most successful technologies and platforms ever. Radio survived and thrived but AM should have died at the hands of the nimbler, younger and more attractive FM.<\/p>\n

Only it did not and the medium reinvented itself by using presenter-led programming, commercial music and sport. In the United States it took until the end of 1990s for the FM and AM audiences to be equal and to this day the big AM stations are going strong, bringing in the ad dollars.<\/p>\n

REASONS<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s undeniable that the whiff of decline has enveloped AM in the past two decades. The reasons are well-known: Analog medium wave doesn\u2019t always deliver the best sound, it can suffer from interference, it can behave annoyingly different by day and night and even by season. Medium wave mainly appeals to a maturing population (a global phenomenon, considered shameful by some!) using aging receivers (this is bad!).<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

THE SOLUTION<\/p>\n

Recently cricket fans were able to enjoy an open-air demonstration of three different DRM programs on one frequency ahead of an important match in Bangalore. The fans also received data (stock exchange values) available on radio screens. This demonstrated that digital DRM is a game changer for medium wave.<\/p>\n

In DRM the crackling audio disappears as sound is as good of that on FM. The electricity consumption and costs decrease, the spectrum is trebled and reception, even in cars (as available in over 1.5 million cars in India currently) is excellent, too.<\/p>\n

If it is so good then why isn\u2019t DRM medium wave conquering the world faster? Maybe it\u2019s about confidence in a new platform. Broadcasters and governments need to market DRM digital radio once signals are on air in their countries.<\/p>\n

As for receiver availability and their costs, let us remember how many receivers were on sale in the 1970s when FM was taking over the world. Nowadays, many listeners consume radio in their cars rather than sit in front of a retro looking wooden box. Digital receivers (DRM alone or DRM\/DAB+) are a reality and a bigger push for digital would help with volumes sold thus bringing down the prices.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at Radio World.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: Radio World) Is medium wave in decline? Some people think so. In the 1950s radio was declared mortally wounded by TV. But then FM with its new music rescued it, becoming one of the most successful technologies and platforms ever. Radio survived and thrived but AM should have died at the hands of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,1114,54,433,3],"tags":[980,4083,4099,634],"class_list":["post-40113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-digital-modes","category-drm","category-mediumwave","category-news","tag-digital-radio-mondiale","tag-drm","tag-mediumwave","tag-radio-world"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aqZ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24717,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/all-india-radio-investing-heavily-in-drm-tranmitters\/","url_meta":{"origin":40113,"position":0},"title":"All India Radio investing heavily in DRM tranmitters","author":"Thomas","date":"March 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Pradip, who shares the following story from Radio and Music Biz online: AIR has acquired 37 DRM transmitters, in talks to get cheaper radio sets NEW DELHI: All India Radio (AIR) has introduced digital radio technology in the AIR Network by installing new state\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/newdelhi90zu.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41711,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/am-revitalization-drm-consortium-asks-fcc-to-adopt-drm\/","url_meta":{"origin":40113,"position":1},"title":"AM Revitalization: DRM Consortium asks FCC to adopt DRM","author":"Thomas","date":"January 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan, who shares this editorial from Radio World that features edited comments filed with the FCC by the DRM Consortium. The following unedited letter was taken directly from the FCC comments database: (Source: FCC Filing [PDF]) In your document (FCC19-123) you rightly highlight the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DRM"","block_context":{"text":"DRM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/drm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57774,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/radio-waves-drm-edition-gospell-drm-pocket-radio-indonesia-chooses-drm-standard\/","url_meta":{"origin":40113,"position":2},"title":"Radio Waves (DRM Edition): Gospell DRM Pocket Radio & Indonesia chooses DRM standard","author":"Thomas","date":"September 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Mangosman, Benn Kobb, and Mark Fahey for the following tips: CML Micro release the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Digital Modes"","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7496,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/all-india-radio-publishes-a-tender-for-800-drm-receivers\/","url_meta":{"origin":40113,"position":3},"title":"All India Radio publishes a tender for 800 DRM receivers","author":"Thomas","date":"October 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The DRM Consortium has posted an All India Radio\u00a0(AIR) tender for 800 DRM AM\/FM\/Shortwave receivers. AIR is seeking a DRM receiver with a feature set that would include: DRM decoding on both shortwave and medium wave (AM broadcast) bands 1 kHz tuning increments on DRM bands (with DRM auto lock)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"drmlogo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/drmlogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48555,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/radio-waves-dirty-transmitters-world-amateur-radio-day-electronic-echoes-drm-via-android-and-10-more-bbc-am-services-close\/","url_meta":{"origin":40113,"position":4},"title":"Radio Waves: Dirty Transmitters, World Amateur Radio Day, Electronic Echoes, DRM via Android, and 10 More BBC AM Services Close","author":"Thomas","date":"April 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/WHKY-AM-Towers-Transmitter-Site.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/WHKY-AM-Towers-Transmitter-Site.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/WHKY-AM-Towers-Transmitter-Site.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/WHKY-AM-Towers-Transmitter-Site.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/WHKY-AM-Towers-Transmitter-Site.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36889,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/radio-republik-indonesia-plans-to-purchase-drm-capable-mw-transmitters\/","url_meta":{"origin":40113,"position":5},"title":"Radio Republik Indonesia plans to purchase DRM-capable MW transmitters","author":"Thomas","date":"April 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Michael Bird) Radio Republik Indonesia has revealed that it plans to purchase four DRM-capable medium-wave transmitters. The public radio broadcaster says it intends to use the first pair to reach populated areas of the Southeast Asian archipelago, and the second pair for emergency warning in west\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/RRI-VoiceOfIndonesia.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40113"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40113\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}