Taiwan lights-up their DRM transmitters toward Germany

We brought you the news about Taiwan  in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Now we see there is some more action! 

(Klick hier für Deutsch)...

"German Service of Radio Taiwan International to Broadcast in AM & DRM

The German service of Radio Taiwan International will have special broadcasts in AM & DRM during August, September and October 2016 directly from Tamshui transmitter site in Taiwan.

Reception reports will be verified with a special QSL-card.

Schedule as follows:  Frequency: 11665 kHz

July 22, 2016 at 1600-1610 UTC in AM and at 1620-1630 UTC in DRM (Test)

August 26, 27, 28, 2016 and September 02, 03 and 04, 2016 all at 1600-1700 UTC AM

October 01, 02, 03, 08 and 09, 2016 all at 1000-1100 UTC in AM

October 10, 2016 at 1000-1100 UTC in DRM"

RTI test ID seen on West Coast

I had reception of this ID from today's DRM test by Radio Taiwan International on 11665 kHz.

Our friend Terje in Sweden reported regarding yesterday's broadcast:  

"Radio Taiwan International... at 1600 UTC in German! Yesterday I got about 98% CDA here on 11665 kHz." 

This is a great sign from our Taiwanese friends! Those Ampegon transmitters are being put to good use. Let's hope this means DRM from Taiwan to North America!

Taiwan an RF superpower? THIS makes me happy!

Quoting a famously despised US President..."Bring 'em on!"  

The best DRM news I've heard in a long while!

This will add capacity, particularly for Asia but worldwide with implications for brokering DRM and AM shortwave broadcasting.

 Ampegon has been contracted to supply the full turnkey system

Turgi, Switzerland, July 18, 2013.

Ampegon has received the third part of an ongoing contract by RTI Radio Taiwan International to upgrade two radio transmission sites in Taiwan. In cooperation with the local partner Techway Engineering Ltd, Ampegon will manufacture, install and commission a total of ten 300 kW DRM shortwave transmitters and twelve rigid dipole broadcast antennas HR2/2/0.3 securing low and efficient maintenance works.

The transmitters are manufactured in Turgi, Switzerland while the antennas are designed in and delivered from Schifferstadt, Germany. At the first site near Taipeh four transmitters and two antennas will be installed, at the second site six transmitters and ten antennas. The new infrastructure is partially on air since May 2013 with two most modern transmitters and antennas and planned to be completed in several steps until autumn 2014.

Chi-Ming Wang, Director Engineering at RTI, is extremely satisfied with Ampegon as partner for the project: “Ampegon is very experienced and has delivered shortwave transmitters for us thirty years ago that still work to our full satisfaction. Ampegon offers a complete solution approach including transmitters, antennas, control systems and DRM integration. In addition Ampegon provides the best price/performance ratio”.

Significant benefit for the customer is a reduction in energy consumption by replacing the old equipment which leads to operation at higher efficiency rates. Savings in other operational costs are reached by a fully automated transmitter based on StationMaster Plus control system and because of a decrease in the amount of spare parts due to the market leading technology selected.

The challenges of this project are short delivery periods and the management of local logistics including building and feeder line modifications, while keeping existing old transmitters and antennas on air.

This is the largest contract for Ampegon since execution of the name change in November 2012. It means a significant factory load through 2014 for the locations Turgi and Schifferstadt. The project highlights that AM / DRM radio broadcasting keeps its important role in Asia and other areas of the world.

Tel. +41 58 710 44 00
info@ampegon.com

Ampegon reports first Shortwave Transmitter ready for delivery

Ampegon is the new iteration of Thompson, with offices in Germany, Switzerland and China. This press release reports five 300kW DRM capable transmitters are ready to go (as well as 5 antennas and 2 control systems). Based on this image's file name, they are headed for Taiwan. I'm not sure, but capacity like that could make for some excellent DRM listening!

Full text of press release:

"21.12.2012 First Ampegon Shortwave Transmitter ready for delivery

After the successful introduction and launch of Ampegon in November 2012, we are delighted to present the first Ampegon shortwave transmitter ready for shipment.

The 300 kW shortwave transmitter supports both AM analog and DRM digital operation and is a part delivery for an important radio broadcast modernisation project in Asia. The full turnkey system which has been contracted to Ampegon includes the supply, installation, commissioning and acceptance of a total of five 300 kW shortwave transmitters, five rigid dipole antennas as well as two broadcasting control systems. The complete installation will be operational mid 2013."