{"id":41149,"date":"2019-12-12T08:26:41","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T12:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=41149"},"modified":"2019-12-12T08:26:41","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T12:26:41","slug":"cambridge-consultants-design-a-prototype-10-drm-receiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/cambridge-consultants-design-a-prototype-10-drm-receiver\/","title":{"rendered":"Cambridge Consultants design a prototype $10 DRM receiver"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

DRM broadcast (left) as seen via a KiwiSDR spectrum display.<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Michael Bird, who shares the following news via Cambridge Consultants<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Digital launched, ever so long ago, with TV and radio. So what\u2019s the big story? It\u2019s that the last piece of the digital jigsaw is finally in place: a system called Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), designed to deliver FM-radio-like quality using the medium wave and short wave bands.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re familiar with AM on medium wave and accustomed to the horrible buzz, splat, fade away and back again. But it does have a great advantage in that it will reach for hundreds of miles from a single transmitter. That\u2019s a lot easier than FM or DAB, which both need transmitters every 30 or 40 miles. No fewer than 443 DAB transmitter sites are needed to cover the UK alone.<\/p>\n

So take a modern digital scheme, apply some clever (and low cost) computing power, and you can get good sound for hundreds of miles. You get to choose radio stations by name instead of kilohertz, and you can even receive text and pictures. Emergency warning and information features are also built into DRM.<\/p>\n

Great technology. But will it fly? Is it available for everyone?<\/p>\n

The new news is that India, through its national broadcaster All India Radio, has invested in and rolled out a national DRM service, live today. Just 35 transmitters cover that large country. New cars in India have DRM radios in them now. Other countries like South Africa, Malaysia and Brazil are likely to follow India\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n

But something\u2019s missing. The radios that can receive DRM are still prohibitively expensive, especially for those markets that would benefit most. So vast swathes of the world remain unconnected to the services that DRM can provide. Where\u2019s the cheap portable that you can pick up from a supermarket to listen to the news or sport?<\/p>\n

Cambridge Consultants has just held its annual Innovation Day, where we throw open our doors to industry leaders and reveal future technology. One of our highlights was the prototype of a DRM design that will cost ten dollars or less to produce, addressing that vital need for information by the 60-ish per cent of our global population that doesn\u2019t have internet or TV. It\u2019s low power, so can run from solar or wind-up.<\/p>\n

This design will be ready in 2020, available for any radio manufacturer to licence and incorporate into its own products. We\u2019re doing our bit to make affordable radios for every corner of the globe!<\/p>\n

Click here to read this post at the Cambridge Consultants website.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael also shares this piece from Radio World<\/a> regarding this project.<\/p>\n

I must admit: there have been so<\/em> many proposed low-cost DRM receiver designs that never came to fruition, it’s easy to be skeptical. I assume the $10\/9 Euro design will be for the receiver chip only–not the full portable radio, of course. They plan to bring this to fruition in 2020, so we’ll soon know if they succeed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Bird, who shares the following news via Cambridge Consultants: Digital launched, ever so long ago, with TV and radio. So what\u2019s the big story? It\u2019s that the last piece of the digital jigsaw is finally in place: a system called Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), designed to deliver FM-radio-like […]<\/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":[1114,54,836,3,43],"tags":[8188,980,4083,7554,634],"class_list":["post-41149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digital-modes","category-drm","category-new-products","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-cambridge-consultants","tag-digital-radio-mondiale","tag-drm","tag-michael-bird","tag-radio-world"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aHH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41647,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/tim-whittaker-explains-route-from-proof-of-concept-to-development-of-low-cost-drm-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":41149,"position":0},"title":"Tim Whittaker explains route from proof of concept to development of low-cost DRM receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"January 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: Here's some new news about low-cost DRM receiver advancement, and links to an audio presentation explaining the route from proof of concept to development of a low-cost prototype DRM receiver by Cambridge Development. SWLing Post readers might find it interesting: (Source:\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\/2009\/11\/drmlogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59999,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/06\/video-new-drm-module-covers-150-khz-to-108-mhz\/","url_meta":{"origin":41149,"position":1},"title":"Video: New DRM Module covers 150 kHz to 108 MHz","author":"Thomas","date":"June 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan, who shares the following video via Cambridge Consultants: https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tua6xKalgZ0?si=iSKCyqYhmMnfczbU Description: Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is the only universal digital radio broadcasting system that can broadcast on all frequencies, offering unparalleled audio, coverage, cost-efficiency and sustainability when compared to legacy analogue radio services \u2013\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\/2024\/06\/Screen-Shot-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screen-Shot-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screen-Shot-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screen-Shot-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screen-Shot-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36041,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/radio-world-china-makes-its-drm-move\/","url_meta":{"origin":41149,"position":2},"title":"Radio World: “China Makes Its DRM Move”","author":"Thomas","date":"February 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Michael Bird) The nation becomes world\u2019s leading Digital Radio Mondiale shortwave broadcaster in just one year Hans Johnson BEIJING \u2014 It appears as if China has jumped into Digital Radio Mondiale shortwave broadcasting with both feet. Some DRM infrastructure has been in place for over a\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\/2019\/02\/China-National-Radio-Test-Transmission-e1549971192464.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/China-National-Radio-Test-Transmission-e1549971192464.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/China-National-Radio-Test-Transmission-e1549971192464.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36889,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/radio-republik-indonesia-plans-to-purchase-drm-capable-mw-transmitters\/","url_meta":{"origin":41149,"position":3},"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":[]},{"id":40814,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/hungary-conducts-low-power-drm-tests\/","url_meta":{"origin":41149,"position":4},"title":"Hungary conducts low-power DRM tests","author":"Thomas","date":"November 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Michael Bird) BUDAPEST, Hungary \u2014\u00a0Digital Radio Mondiale\u00a0transmissions began from Budapest, Hungary, last June. Although two Hungarian broadcasters previously tested DRM on medium wave, the transmissions are the country\u2019s first DRM trials on shortwave. The Department of Broadcast Info-Communications and Electronic Theory at the Budapest University of\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\/11\/Budapest-Hungary-By-Dan-Novac-1024x686.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Budapest-Hungary-By-Dan-Novac-1024x686.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Budapest-Hungary-By-Dan-Novac-1024x686.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40113,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/drm-a-solution-to-the-medium-wave-problem\/","url_meta":{"origin":41149,"position":5},"title":"DRM: a solution to the “medium-wave problem”–?","author":"Thomas","date":"October 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(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\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\/2019\/05\/inntot-DRM-receiver-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/inntot-DRM-receiver-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/inntot-DRM-receiver-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41149","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=41149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41149\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}