[cma-l] [comradio-l] Fw: DRM+ successfully trialled in Paris

[Bill Best]

Alan

Many thanks for your email.

Of course Ofcom is very much aware of the DRM+ platform and its
variants.  To clarify things a little, I understand that Ofcom's
stance is 'technology neutral', and Ofcom works in partnership with
the BBC and commercial broadcasters regarding the viability of
different digital broadcasting platforms.

As technology advances there will always be better solutions for
broadcasting that are not currently being used.  For example, the
systems that are currently in place for television broadcasting are
not 'leading edge', and there is always going to be a gap between the
widespread deployment of a particular technology and the most
up-to-date technical solutions that have been developed.

The drawbacks of DAB broadcasting are widely known and few, if any,
community broadcasters will ever find it a suitable platform.  But
community radio is here to stay and for the foreseeable future that
will remain on AM and FM.

Lord Carter's Digital Britain report published today will outline a
future for broadcasting in the UK and community radio will certainly
be present in that.  The CMA has been very interested in DRM+ for some
time and we will continue to investigate this platform and feed back
more results from our counterparts in France, and continue to work
with Ofcom to ensure that there is a future for digital community
broadcasting in the UK.

Best regards

Bill
--
Technical Manager
Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media

Canstream Online Multi-Media Solutions
http://www.canstream.co.uk/

2009/6/16 Alan Coote <alan.coote at btinternet.com>
>
> Let's hope that Ofcom finally realises that DAB is NOT a viable platform. A fact which has been obvious to many for years.
> Unfortunately Ofcom have encouraged the radio industry at large into a technical cul-de-sac,  from which it's difficult to get out.
>
> Let's hope someone in Ofcom has got the, proverbial, to admit that there are much better digital solutions for the radio industry.
>
> Somehow I doubt it though.
>
> Alan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: comradio-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:comradio-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of
> CMA-L
> Sent: 15 June 2009 15:36
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk; comradio-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: [comradio-l] Fw: DRM+ successfully trialled in Paris
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: boutterin <snrl at online.fr>
>
> DRM PRESS RELEASE
> Date: 12.06.2009
>
> DRM+ SUCCESSFULLY TRIALLED IN PARIS
>
> Paris, 12th June 2009: The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) technology for
> broadcast at higher frequencies was successfully trialled in Paris on
> Thursday. The DRM+ signal was broadcast on 64.5 MHz from Tour Pleyel,
> North of Paris, and was received at the office of Conseil Supérieur de
> l'Audiovisuel (CSA) which regulates the various electronic media in
> France. The CSA is located 10 km away from the transmitter but the
> signal strength was good with only 400 watts of radiating power.
>
> This positions DRM+ as a perfect solution for stations not able to
> join multiplexes, even in places where the FM band is full.
>
> DRM+ extends the DRM standard which is the open, universal, digital
> radio standard for broadcast bands, to frequencies up to 174MHz
> including the FM spectrum from 87.5MHz to 108 MHz. DRM+ offers a range
> of features and benefits for radio stations’ around the world and can
> lead to a cost-effective migration to digital. It was first
> successfully tested on the FM Band in Kaiserslautern, Germany last
> year, but this is the first time DRM+ has been used in Band 1.
>
> DRM+ has distinct advantages over conventional FM, it needs lower
> transmission power for same coverage, opens up new audio possibilities
> like 5.1 surround sound, increases spectrum efficiency and offers
> electronic data services such as programme guide and supporting
> information.
>
> David Blanc, SNRL (Syndicat National des Radios Libres) says:
> “Professor Dr Andreas Steil and his team (Mr. Schad and Mr. Köhler)
> from the University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern, was able to
> put together a complete DRM+ broadcast system on Band 1 and agreed to
> test it in Paris. SNRL, which gathers over 300 local stations in
> France, has been trying to find a technical solution for the many
> stations which cannot join multiplexes for various reasons, including
> coverage area, cost and desire to remain in control of their broadcast
> operations".
>
> “DRM+ seems to be an excellent choice, offering over 100 kbps of
> usable bit rate, enabling CD audio quality, slideshow and other data
> to be broadcast from a simple privately-owned transmitter. We now
> recommend integrating DRM+ in all digital radio receivers, from 60 to
> 108 Mhz.”, he added.
>
> This test was performed by the help of University of Applied Sciences,
> Kaiserslautern and Fraunhofer IIS, Erlangen.
>
> Ruxandra Obreja, Chairman, DRM Consortium says: “Through this trial in
> France, we have yet another proof that the DRM standard can offer a
> most versatile, economical range of options for big and small
> operators for the benefit of audiences that want good quality radio.
> We hope that the trial in France will be positively noted and actioned
> by the French radio authorities. It is an excellent extra step that
> will preface the expected all- band extension of the DRM global
> standard.”
>
> About DRM and DRM+
>
> DRM+ uses the same audio coding, data services, multiplexing and
> signaling schemes as the established part of the DRM standard for
> short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz, but operates in higher
> frequencies between 30 and 174 MHz (including the broadcasting bands
> Band I and Band II). The DRM Consortium has completed the technical
> development of DRM+. The technology enhancement to the DRM system
> specification is currently in the ETSI standardization process.
> Digital Radio MondialeTM (DRM) is the digital broadcasting system for
> the broadcasting bands below 30MHz (long, medium and short wave). DRM
> has near-FM sound quality plus the ease-of-use that comes from digital
> transmissions, combined with long range and low power consumption.
>
> For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or
> subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice at drm.org
>
> For more information on SNRL : (33) 4 91.55.56.85, snrl at online.fr, and
> http://www.snrl.org
>
> \\
>
> Community Media Association
> --
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/
> http://twitter.com/community_media