Mystery Russian DRM test?

(see update below) Mystery DRM on 12025 kHz supposed to be Russian. Fun to decode using a Japanese SDR. Identified as possibly Komsomolsk Amur by @atake on Twitter.

I'm using http://jp7fso.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073/ SDR per @kaedotcom suggestion. Nice music with no voice IDs so far. Thanks to @terjeisberg for the great how-to DRM with DReaM on remote SDR https://hobbyradio.se/en/drm/kiwisdr.html

UPDATE 20190831:

Information located here: http://чукотка.рф/press-tsentr/novosti/?ELEMENT_ID=3498 posted to Twitter by @SWWINB

Translation: Short-wave digital broadcasting throughout Chukotka

"The authorities of Chukotka and specialists of the Far Eastern Regional Center of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network, a short-wave digital broadcasting throughout Chukotka, intend to implement the ambitious project. Governor Roman Kopin and Director of the Far Eastern Regional Television and Radio Broadcasting Center branch Stanislav Kuznetsov signed a Cooperation Agreement, which opens up prospects for future joint projects in the region and is a continuation of the effective cooperation of the parties in switching to digital broadcasting in the district, for which Chukotka is fully prepared. 

As the Head of the region noted, the restoration of short-wave broadcasting will provide communications to all of Chukotka, including geologists, miners, reindeer herders and hunters - therefore, the Government of Chukotka initiated such a difficult, but important project. 
- We constantly have in these remote places two thousand residents who need to be provided with communication services. Subsoil user projects are implemented outside the boundaries of settlements, transport communications are provided in remote areas that are not provided with communications. The Northern Sea Route also requires attention. These new solutions will allow to remove restrictions and provide communication where it is needed, ”said the Governor of Chukotka. 

- We are finishing the preparation of technical equipment and this document allows us to legislatively deal with issues by agreement with the Government of Chukotka. We hope that by the end of June we will be able to go on the air and get experiments - to what extent will our calculations on the effectiveness of closing the entire population of Chukotka with broadcasting programs with additional service be confirmed. It should be noted that this broadcasting will no longer be in the previous (analog) format, this broadcasting will be in a digital, most modern format, ”said Stanislav Kuznetsov, director of the RTRS“ Far Eastern RC ”branch. 

Today, the preparation of transmitters, antennas, technical systems and infrastructure of the radio center is nearing completion. It is planned to begin the first test cycle in the second half of the year. Testing will be carried out in 2 standards: classic AM and digital DRM. However, the main focus is a digital format. In addition to the goals of delivering a radio program to listeners, the project lays the foundation for creating a technology platform for global one-way data transfer similar to a one-way Internet. 

Using a DRM platform for data transmission reveals a considerable range of opportunities for additional services, in addition to simple broadcasting. The most significant are the CD-sound quality and the ability to synchronously transmit a copy of the base program in the national language. In addition, targeted notification, as well as the use of the platform for operational, duty, dispatch services and projects for the informatization of the Arctic territories, the waters of the Northern Sea Route. 

Another project is the public Internet. RTRS together with the Department of Industrial and Agricultural Policy of Chukotka is working on the issue of providing public Internet at the first 5 connection points in Anadyr."

DRM via online Kiwi SDR

Brother Terje offers the finer points on using the online Kiwi SDR network to decode DRM broadcasts at home. Give it a try! This is a great solution to hearing a DRM transmission from outside the broadcast area.

Titus SDR announces a ready for production Titus II multi standard digital radio receiver

Press release :

Titus SDR, PantronX, Jasmin-Infotech, TWR, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS have teamed up to make Titus II a complete media solution utilizing worldwide engineering in the USA, Germany, India, and Asia.

Titus II, the world's first consumer Software Defined Radio (SDR) digital receiver, is a highly innovative breakthrough platform supporting for the first time true multi-standard radio reception with DRM (AM & VHF bands), DAB(+) and core data applications.

These features are based on a custom Android tablet platform, which features multi-point touch, WiFi/Bluetooth and stereo sound. Titus II units will be soon available as a stand-alone product from Titus SDR, Inc., and from selected OEMs.
As a module, it serves as the full-featured basis for third-party product development Titus II unit is the team product of Titus SDR addressing the global market, of PantronX providing the platform and RF expertise, and of Fraunhofer IIS enabling the digital and analog radio features.

Titus II receiver features include:

• DRM in the AM bands (MW, SW, LW) and VHF bands (FM-band, VHF band-I, VHF band-III) with latest xHE-AAC audio codec.
• DAB Classic/DAB+ (VHF band-III).
• FM stereo with RDS (Service Signaling).
• AM with AMSS (AM Signaling Service).
• Integrated service list management and service selection.
• DRM/DAB Data Apps: Text Messages, Dynamic Label/DL+, Journaline, (Categorized) Slideshow,  EPG, Transparent File Transmission (e.g., for educational services), etc.
• Remote Radio Hotspot: Built-in WiFi hotspot feature, which allows any mobile device with an HTML5 web browser to connect to the Titus II via Wi-Fi, select radio services, listening to aud (HTML5 audio streaming) and accessing all the DRM/DAB data apps.
• Recording feature and Archiving interface to select existing recordings for playback.

About Titus SDR, Inc:

Titus SDR, Inc., a division of PantronX, Inc., markets globally digital media platforms which maximizes synergy of core engineering
performed in the USA with worldwide partners and manufacturing in Asia.
For more information visit the Titus SDR website at www.titusradio.com

About  Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS:
To learn more about Fraunhofer IIS, please visit www.iis.fraunhofer.de/broadcast

Gospell in-car SDR DRM adaptor - GR-227

Here is a press release supporting the new product to be unveiled at IBC. Looks like another game-changer from Gospell. SDR for the car!

"Gospell announces the imminent release of GR-227 digital radio adaptor 
  
Chengdu, China, September 04, 2017  - A new adaptor  specifically designed for  in-car use  that simplifies digital radio on the road will be introduced at IBC by Gospell. 

GR-227 is a small, low-cost adaptor  that acts as an aftermarket add-on to car stereos receiving high-quality digital broadcast programs and data application, and serving it to the car audio system over a USB cable. Based on software defined radio technology, GR-227 is compatible with DAB, DAB+, DRM and is DRM+ ready. It is also powerful enough to support digital audio decoding such 
as extended HE-AAC (xHE-AAC).   

GR-227 literally works with any kind of car stereos with a USB port. Our patent pending technology allows the adaptor to behave like a thumb drive when plug into a USB port and makes it compatible with most of the music players not only in car but also for home use. 

To make the most of GR-227, the Gospell Smart Tune App for Android has been included to add more features. When partnered with an Android powered car stereo, the App not only allows for playback of the broadcast audio program but data application which brings much fun to car entertainment.   

By connecting the supplied triple band active antenna which can be attached to the windscreen through the SMA antenna connector, the reception in DRM, FM and DAB bands can be significantly improved, offering maximum flexibility between different broadcasting standards. 

Installing the plug-and-play GR-227 adaptor to your car is easy and doesn’t require changing your car  stereo. It  is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your car  radio  to digital without replacing anything. 

The Gospell’s aftermarket car adaptor range starts with USB model but more will follow to support more car stereo types. 

Haochun Liu,  DRM director, Gospell, said: “By leveraging SDR, we can now combine multiple broadcasting standards together to offer flexibility and cost advantages, coupled with easy installation without the necessity of buying a new car stereo as in traditional solutions.”   

For additional information, please visit  www.goscas.com  or contact Gospell sales at linx@gospell.com. 

About Gospell 
Founded in 1993, Gospell Digital Technology Co Ltd (GOSPELL). is a private hi-tech enterprise with R&D, manufacturing, business consultancy and planning, trade, delivery, project implementation and after sales service, acting as a complete DTV and triple-play solution provider for Digital TV/OTT 
related projects. Headquartered in GOSPELL INDUSTRIAL PARK at Chenzhou, Hunan Province for CPE related production manufacturing, GOSPELL also has its office in Shenzhen for business/marketing management and administration, in Chengdu for R&D and headend/transmitter system production/debugging and Customer Service Center, and in 12 cities in China as well as international offices in India, Africa and Mexico."

DRMNA Exclusive - Interview with Mike of PantronX, maker of the Titus II

Loyal DRMNA readers... Here is an up-to-the-minute interview with Mike of PantronX. What you are reading is an Internet Exclusive! I am really enthusiastic about the Titus II and this interview does nothing to diminish that!

Mike, please give us brief background about yourself and PantronX:

Pantronx is a group of engineers, sales, marketing, and business people that specialize in OEM / ODM electronic controls and systems with a world wide customer base.  We generally design and manufacture electronics that are incorporated into our customer's products.   As the Chief Engineer, I have been designing all sorts of electronics for well over 35 years.

Can you tell us a little about the process taken to develop the new receiver?

We became aware of the need for a digital capable receiver by a visit from TWR representatives about three years ago. Having designed RF products and receivers in the past, it intrigued me that there were no low cost method to receive DRM.  This began research into the problem.  Initially we envisioned and designed what we call an ATU (Antenna Tuner Unit) that plugged into a 'standard' Android tablet.  Unfortunately as time and testing proved, ready made tablets had varying problems from vendor to vendor, model to model.  The decision was made about a year ago that we had to do our own Android 'tablet' and integrate the ATU into it.  Hence the Titus II was developed.

How long has PantronX been developing the DRM receiver?

Actually Titus II is not a DRM receiver.  In its present form it is a SDR (Software Defined Radio), so first and foremost it is a general purpose computer with a wide band receiver built in.  The application(s) - like any other app allow the computer to function as desired.  With that in mind, all sorts of RF applications are possible to run on Titus.  The DRM app is actually the open source Dream Linux app that was converted to run under Android.

Do you have any development / R&D partners?

Yes, our development partners world wide including America, India, United Kingdom, China, and lately Germany.  A true world wide effort.

What was the chief goal in this development?

To provide the world's first complete SDR appliance that redefines what radio is.  No longer is radio a fixed defined product that a manufacture dictates what it is and how it operates.  SDRs have been around for decades, but never in a complete consumer package at affordable price.  Although our initial market is for broadcast use, we have designed Titus to be 'hacker' friendly and allow RF hobbyist to utilize it as a low cost, high performance platform that we are sure many will port various RF application to.  A crazy idea that we feel will expand utilization of Titus to many RF uses and start many competitors with the same concept.

How do you feel Titus II compares to previous DRM receivers that have
been on the market (chiefly the Newstar, Uniwave, Morphy Richards, etc.)?

We have several of these models.  They are all dedicated appliances that do one thing and one thing only.  Titus can change formats, codecs, features as easily as installing a new app!  So today it can be an analog receiver, tomorrow a DAB receiver, and next week a DRM receiver ... or all three, and maybe an aircraft receiver, who knows!  There is no reason why not, just like on your computer,  you can have multiple apps to do different things.

What is the target price-point and what will it take to get you there?

We are working hard to keep the price of Titus II well under usd100.  With our unique marketing approach that eliminates middle men, high volume Chinese manufactures and sub-assembliers, to local assembly in various jurisdictions - everything has been on the table except lowering quality to achieve this low price.  With our various manufacturing partners all working to keep margins low, we can accomplish this price 'right out of the gate' ... no pie-in-the-sky wish of super high volumes.  We have been doing this for years.

How long will the unit operate on batteries? Are they dry cell or
rechargeable?

Like most tablets and portable computing devices, Titus utilizes lithium ion battery.  We expect the unit under normal conditions to operate 4 to 6 hours.  Depending upon pricing of the battery perhaps more as production ramps up. Prices change all the time.  Hopefully they drop and we will supply an even larger battery.

When will the set be available to the public and in which markets? Do
you have a retail price set?

We expect to complete a pre-production run of Titus II by the end of this year for samples and testing. One can place a non-binding pre-order at http://hfcc.org/ - price under usd100 plus shipping & duty. Full production fist quarter 2017.

Is the set's firmware able to be updated by the user?

Yes, just like any other Android device by WiFi, SD card, or thumb drive.

Does the set fully function as a legacy analogue receiver as well?

Yes

Do you think DRM30 has proven itself via the decade-plus of HF/SW and
AM/MW (and LW) testing?

Yes, time for testing is long over.  The format works rather well.  We released the Titus II at the HFCC conference in Miami FL a couple of months ago.  With an engineering model, we went outside the hotel and received flawlessly a DRM30 test signal from the Vatican in Rome some 5000 miles away in the afternoon.  It sounded like a local FM station.  Most likely, that same signal would have been heard as well into Panama and the eastern parts of the US.

Is there anything else you would like the readers to know? 

Well, they can find more info at http://titusradio.com/

Mike, as a DRM fan, I'm really excited! As an over-all "radiophile" this looks like an amazing "piece of kit". What more can I say except thanks for granting us an interview!

Thanks for the help and we appreciate all that you guys are doing.

Does Earl like DRM30?

I guess we won't know the answer until it is released, but what we do know is listed here. However it shakes-out, this is going to be one killer tool to take on the road.

There are hints from the developers that they will set-up the SDR to allow decoding of some HF data signals and the VHF side should be able to handle SAME from NWS/NOAA.

If nothing more, the "Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet" is a testimony to the power of crowd-source funding. They are already way over their goal and have more than a week until they close pre-orders.

At this point, ordering now ($249 for basic model) will get you 30% off the expected retail price. If you order one, tell them you heard about it on DRMNA and you want DRM decoding as an option! Porting DReaM to Android might just work if they make the IF or  I/Q available to the Apps.