[cma-l] DRM+

[Tony Bailey]

I'm struggling with Lol's 8 track cartridges - weren't they a learjet 
budget version of the tomcat jingle cart?  I know that if I try to play 
one now the loop join sticker comes off - leading to a fun half hour 
trying to get the tape back into the box... I think people are being a 
bit unfair about DAB, after all it's main claim to fame is as a single 
frequency national network where it's streets ahead of simplex fm. 
Rather like a certain Kent ex-mp, it was dragged around the dance floor 
of local multiplexes by the radio mafia and dressed up for the popular 
vote.  We can only hope that it doesn't get into the final!

Welcome to another year of radio politics.

Tony Bailey

LOL GELLOR wrote:
>   Good and knowledgable over view Clive as always - for those old enough 
> - there we have it DAB an 8 track cartridge being presented as VHS 
> whereas DRM gets lined up as the Betamax - that is to say DAB outdated 
> and expensive (to recieve and broadcast) gets marketed to death (not 
> soon enough though)  - the more efficient, greater potential and cheaper 
> system (DRM) hovers marginalised on the peripherary of the dance hall 
> like a gorgeous thing with all kinds of concealed charms aching to have 
> her day - but no she's just not one of the "in" crowd. Does this sound 
> familiar? 
> 
> --- On *Mon, 10/1/11, Clive Glover /<clive.glover at lineone.net>/* wrote:
> 
> 
>     From: Clive Glover <clive.glover at lineone.net>
>     Subject: Re: [cma-l] DRM+
>     To: "mark polden" <markianpolden at hotmail.com>
>     Cc: "CMA-L" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>     Date: Monday, 10 January, 2011, 17:54
> 
>     I understand that DRM+ has multiplex capabilities so it is possible
>     to include more than one broadcast service within a transmission.
>     However, part of the design criteria is that it can be used by a
>     small station for a single service without significant changes to
>     the existing FM system or huge extra costs. It has been suggested
>     that a DRM+ transmitter should cost no more that 20% more than an
>     equivalent FM one.
> 
>     If you have an existing FM transmission site you would need to add a
>     second transmitter (for DRM+) and a second antenna (assuming DRM+
>     would be using the same VHF Band II frequencies of 88-108 MHz). The
>     DRM+ signal would need to be on a different frequency (perhaps
>     adjacent or perhaps all grouped together within a sub-band) and you
>     would need a lower powered transmitter to get the same coverage area
>     as the existing FM signal.
> 
>     I am not a broadcast engineer but I have been discussing this with
>     one who understands all this (and has experimentally set up a DRM+
>     system to try it out). I conclude that implementing a DRM+ service
>     would be fairly easy, certainly in comparison with DAB where you
>     need to be able to send your signal to a remote central multiplex
>     which, assuming you want it to be a decent quality signal, is costly.
> 
>     Of course, the big problem is finding listeners with DRM+ radios (of
>     whom there are basically none at present!). The chips in DAB/DAB+
>     radios are capable of handling this in theory but it will need all
>     manufacturers to be told to switch on this capability for future
>     receivers. So any introduction of DRM+ or any other new digital
>     system will take many years, just as DAB has.
> 
>     Not really a practical solution then!
> 
>     regards,
> 
>     Clive Glover
> 
> 
>     On 9 Jan 2011, at 21:29, mark polden wrote:
> 
>>     Correct me if I am wrong but I always understood that DRM was not
>>     a multiplexed system so therefore the cost would remain with the
>>     broadcaster, which would be better for this sector although you
>>     would all have the same problems as we are having with MW in
>>     siting an antenna with planning permission and greenbelt
>>
>>     Mark Polden
>>     Flame CCR
>>
>>     


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