Avion AV-DR-1401 first impressions

Here is a taste of a user's first impression of the Avion. This comes to us from our colleague Philip in Newfoundland, Canada. He writes:

I am playing with an Avion DRM receiver now. I received it Friday (three days ago). 

I suspect that in an environment like India, where there are (comparatively) a lot of not-too-distant DRM signals to be received, it will work fairly well.  It is not a dx-ers radio and it works less well than other sets in my environment (Eastern North America, near the most easterly point of Newfoundland).

When the Avion receives DRM it seems to do so well, with DRM-quality audio.  On this set, I have heard only  All-India Radio in DRM mode and AIR's audio is somewhat compressed and clipped anyway.  Because I have not heard a better-quality DRM signal (like RRI's broader audio range), I don't know if some DRM signals are better than what AIR produces on the Avion;  I expect they would be. 

The Avion has tiny speakers so the sound coming from the set is not especially good.  With a patch cord to better speakers (even my computer speakers are better), its FM sound is quite good.  Medium-wave sound is not improved much by external speakers.

The radio, as a radio, has two problems. One is its general insensitivity (which can be overcome on shortwave by adding an antenna, though I haven't figured out how to improve things on FM and medium wave). The other is its tuning.  It does have direct access tuning via a remote, replete with 41 buttons, but its tuning knob is compromised by the fact that it does not register a frequency (and thus receive its audio) until you stop for a few seconds, even in AM mode. When it gives the audio, the tuning knob becomes a volume knob again which means you have to push it in again to bring it back to being a tuning knob. That takes two hands and a lot patience.  It's complicated.

Its signal processing in AM mode is less sophisticated than that of the MorphyRichards 27024 which I am comparing it with.  The MR produces audio that is very pleasant and -- except for the digital squawks it periodically produces when signals dip too low -- produces very few noises extraneous to the audio (hisses, hets, etc.). Such noises do come through on the Avion.   I have not heard the MR's digital sqawks on the Avion;  I suspect that is because it does not have (the same) DSP at the detector stage.

I am still learning how to use the radio.  I suspect I will have some different opinions in a few weeks, and especially if Avion comes up with a firmware upgrade for some aspects of the operation.

Thanks Philip for his insight. DRMNA will gladly post more details as your (or other Avion users) experience dictates!

DRM Continues to Expand Across India

Here is a brief piece in Radio World about DRM's continued expansion in India. Anyone tried the new Avion AV-DR-1401 mentioned in the article? Care to contribute a review to DRMNA, if so?

Avion DRM Receiver available NOW!

20150810 18:00UTC UPDATE: Now showing as unavailable...

 The Avion AV-DR-1401 DRM reciever is available now on Amazon in India. Price comes in at 15,000 Rupees (I think), which is a scale-tipping $235 USD! Is that right? Specs say:

• India's 1st Digital Radio DRM receiver AV-DR-1401
• supprts xHE-AAC code, DRM text messages, Scrolling messages, Service mode , AFS (Alternate Frequency Switching)
• 10 hour power back on single charge, 3.7V @6000mAh Li-Pol battery (Lead Free)
• 3.5" TFT LCD capable of rendering more than 1,000,000 colors, DRM Emergency Warning alerts ( even if the radio is OFF) 
• Digital Audio output, Journaline data, Program recording , EPG (Electronic Program Guide),MOT Slide show

Let's all hope performance meets expectations. I for one am looking for good news about this receiver. India is ready AND it has been a long time coming. I'll gladly review this unit, if I can get my paws on one. Thanks to my anonymous source for the tip!

Exclusive interview with Indian DRM manufacturer Ankit Agrawal

Ankit, How long has Avion been working on DRM receivers? What other products do you manufacture?

It's been more than 16 months that we have been  working on this DRM radio and very soon you will see it in the market as well. We are doing Analog radios (3 band) for the past 20 years for the African market under the "Makula" name. We have about 8 models for this particular segment.
 
We also manufacture Color TVs of 14" & 21". Still the market in India is big for this product. With CTV we are also doing LED TVs of various sizes such as 16", 20", 24",29",32", all made in the factory under Communication Systems Inc.

Up close and personal with the new Indian DRM receiver

Alokesh scoops it! Check out these great new images of the Avion receiver. We hope to hear more about it soon. He notes that this was a rush prototype and may differ from the final unit, due December 2014.

Great News: India's first DRM receiver!

Indian manufacturer Avion Electronics debuted their first DRM receiver at this week's IBC in Amsterdam. See more photos from the Consortium here.

Communications System Incorporated director Ankit Agrawal was quoted as saying:

"Our receiver performed very well and its audio quality, extra features and ease of use received a lot of positive feedback.  IBC participants particularly liked the extended battery life of the receiver and its emergency warning capability.  With small adjustments we plan to make the receiver available for order in the next few months...

(The new AV-DR -1401 is a ) stereo model (that) can receive digital DRM SW and MW, as well as analogue AM and FM, and offers some of the extra features that make digital superior to analogue, including more choice in perfect sound (MPEG audio), multimedia applications and local interactive text and media (Journaline), automatic tuning by station rather than frequency, and emergency alert capability."

Price and availability details will be forthcoming. See the DRM Consortium September newsletter for further details. DRMNA will work for an interview with Mr. Agarwal and hopefully a review model in the near future.

20140920 Update: Check out this Radio World article about the new Indian made receiver.