Use of DRM as a utility mode

I don't know if you have been following the digital tests going on over The Mighty KBC, but they have gotten me to thinking of other uses for DRM. I've always felt that some transmissions on HF such as NAVTEX, SITOR, WEFAX and VOLMET could be incorporated into robust DRM transmissions instead.

Although there have been some tests (TDF sending photos and BBC's use of Journaline) I have never seen or heard true utility broadcasts being tried or tested.

Moreover, it seems that many of these traditional services are showing their age. Recently USCG threatened to eliminate some of their weather related HF services to which they received significant hate mail. The need is still there!

I recently read that the German military (their equivalent to AFN) were considering DRM for ships at sea and remote military installations. Why not and perhaps AFN might consider the same thing, as they seem to be phasing out the SSB feeders they have used for so long.

So once again, DRM offers the technology for service replacement, yet it is being largely ignored. OK, there is only one stand-alone receiver on the market. That could change if manufacturers thought they'd have a market. Any ideas how we can encourage these entities to investigate some of these options?

Antenna in a spray can?

Truly remarkable!

If their claims are true, the entire way we think about antenna technology may change. Check out this video.

I'll dedicate a wall of my house to testing if he'll send me a can!

DRM can be DIY

Our friend Alan Shea mentioned the need for some DIY posts on how to get started in the DRM monitoring hobby. I sent an email to another friend Crispino I5XWW. Crispino's IF converters were the first way I got active in DRM. Although Crispino doesn't promote himself much, his IF converters are top notch. I have used them with my Yaesu FT-817 and Icom PCR-100 with great success.

Here is an excerpt from him about what he is currently offering. I can tell you from experience that his boards are made of high quality components and excellent electronic craftsmanship. He will make sure you are happy and his prices are excellent.

An Open Letter to Canada

I was sent the following email by a DRMNA reader. What do you think guys?

"I am an Australian who has a great interest in digital radio. Australian regulators have ruled out any HDradio due to poor performance. This is what happens when you compromise.

Fun with Pappradio - Mobile DRM

Here is a repost since my first "fun with Pappradio" got eaten somehow!

Today I loaded my Asus Eee PC 901A, Pappradio and C. Crane FM modulator into my Honda and went for a drive. Disco Palace and TDP Radio were on so I knew I'd have nice signals to work with. I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

Stephan Schaa on what we need to see in DRM RXers

Our own Stephan Schaa (developer of the Pappradio) posts to the DRMNA Yahoo! Group about what is needed in DRM receivers, where we are, where we need to be and what can be done about it!:

Interview with Spanish DRM legends!

Once again I have the privilege of interviewing more DRM luminaries. Through the urging of my pal Benn, I contacted Dr. Pablo Angueira of the Department of Electronics & Telecommunication, University of the Basque Country, Spain. He in turn agreed to be interviewed tag-team style with his colleague and recent PhD graduate, Dr. Iván Peña. I posed several questions and below are their responses. I have to say, this may be the first time that these two illustrious gentlemen have been interviewed in English! So here we are with yet another drmna.info exclusive! Be aware that several articles about their extensive DRM research are cited in our Bibliography section.

Shared Apex Loop Array for DRM

Here is a write-up from DRMNA member Mark Bauman on his cool antenna design and excellent results using it for DRM reception. I asked him to write a bit about himself as an introduction. Please offer him your ideas and feedback via the DRMNA Yahoo Group. ...Ladies and Gentlemen - Mark Bauman, KB7GF :

Did you attend the DRM webinar?

I did! Not much in the way of new information, but I did find it interesting and enjoyable. I'll post a link to the transcript/webinar when it becomes available. See my previous post on this topic.

Pappradio January update

Here is a quick update from Stephan on the current status of the Pappradio project...

"We have been very busy with all the Pappradios over the last month. About 400 have been assembled and sent out to their new owners. We will get the next batch of PCBs in one or two weeks.

Wind up your radios!

Marvell has announced their new 1GHz Armada chip, said to only draw 2 watts and operate at much lower draw than AMD and Via processors. It will first be deployed in the new version of the OLPC XO. Have we got a winner to power our ultimate DRM receiver?

Anyone able to get a chipset for experimentation?

WE2XRH (DART) and NVIS

Interesting discussion here. Does anyone have any news about the DART project?

Quoting their site "Imagine camping along the Yukon River or fishing in Bristol Bay - your shortwave receiver not only picks up the current weather broadcast, but shows you the weather map and satellite image as well. Back at home you might be interested in receiving streaming text of the headline news or having your newspaper delivered electronically without the need for an internet connection or cell phone."

That sounds exactly like what I would like to do with DRM! Will we ever see it?

Local Community Radio Act passes Senate

The Senate passed this important local broadcasting provision. Read about it on the Prometheus website. This is a triumph for Community Radio in the USA! Could Prometheus become our ally in changing FCC regs to permit 26MHz local radio?

New Danish DRM site

Give this site a try. They are trying to offer practical bite-sized bits of information about DRM in 3 languages, Danish, English & German.

Sorry about the puns!

"FCC Launches Remake Of Radio Spectrum Technology"

Check out this article on the CommLawBlog.

Could this be our opportunity to comment on changing domestic SW Broadcasting regulations? What about opening 26MHz to domestic low-power broadcasting services? We will try and keep you updated when the comment period opens!

DRM Webinar

Per the DRM December newsletter:

Have your Burning Questions on Digital Radio Mondiale Answered
Date: Tuesday, 19th January 2011

Rescheduled: Tuesday, 25th January 2010 @ 13:00 GMT

Interview with Rafael Diniz of DRM-Brasil

I asked Rafael to tell us about himself, his work and the current status of DRM in Brazil. DRMNA.info is pleased to once again offer an English language exclusive! Although Brazil is not exactly NORTH America, Rafael's work is a testimony to what can happen in the Americas!

And now for something completely different...

Miss him...

R.I.P.
1940-1980

B&W LCD display for our DRM rxer?

Have you ever been to Kohl's, the budget retailer? They have (at least locally in Salem, OR) replaced their pricing signage with these LCD dot-matrix displays. The manufacturer touts 5 year battery life on them! What a great, low cost display for our "budget line" receivers! They appear to be manufactured for Altierre by Li & Fung Trading Ltd.

I think this photo is a simulation as the in-store signs look a bit more pixleated. Anyone have any idea as to what we might be able to use as an off-the-shelf equivalent? If Kohl's can put them on the shelf of every product in the store, they MUST be dirt-cheap!

IN OTHER NEWS: Stay tuned. I hope to soon be posting an interview with Rafael Diniz of DRM-Brasil. He is involved in promoting DRM to Brazil as they are making their digital conversion decisions. I think Brazil represents the only "American" country to be near to accepting DRM as their digital broadcasting format. The added bonus will be having his answers in English for us mono-linguists!

FOLLOW-UP: Yesterday I saw a greeting card that had a digital frame inside! $12.99 at our local Fred Meyer retail chain. These little displays have reached disposable status!

26MHz local broadcasting

I haven't heard much about them lately, but there have been quite a few 26MHz band DRM tests. What services would you transmit if 26MHz local broadcasting was an option in the USA? I can imagine multilingual channels to serve local ethnic groups, tourism support, weather and traffic broadcasts, local news, Diveemo of local events...

Check our bibliography for articles written about some of these tests. I for one love the idea of a single frequency network of low power transmitters utilizing DRM on 26MHz. We'd have to do some work on changing FCC regshttp://drmnainfo.blogspot.com/2010/10/let-change-domestic-broadcasting.html too.