Read the article here.
A ham software application has been developed that implements the new super-efficient Codec2 audio codec. The software is called FreeDV and is freely available with the open source codec. Speech is compressed down to 1400 bit/s then modulated onto a 1100 Hz wide QPSK signal which occupies half the space of a conventional analogue SSB transmission.
We've covered alternative codecs in previous DRMNA posts. What this means is that not only can digital voice be sent and received using off the shelf equipment, but if this were implemented into DRM, a multiplexed signal with with even more voice channels would be possible. The improved intelligibility, higher compression and narrower bandwidth betters all previous voice codecs by a significant amount.
Here is an opportunity to push-the-envelope and make an even more robust and higher-utility implementation of DRM. Will it happen? We shall see. It does follow the "open source" rubric we always hear from the DRM Consortium.
