The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium, All India Radio and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union will showcase DRM digital radio transmissions in the medium-wave band using single-channel simulcast and multi-channel simulcast technologies.
Proponents hope to demonstrate the feasibility of the SCS and MSC technology, while broadcasting analog and digital radio signals using only one transmitter, they said.
DRM is a digital broadcasting system for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz (long-, medium- and shortwave). The trial is targeted to medium-wave radio broadcasters, RF transmission equipment manufacturers, radio receiver manufacturers and retailers; it’s set to take place in Delhi May 7-12.
The showcase would also test local DRM radio transmissions in the 26 MHz band, near vertical incidence transmissions and DRM shortwave radio transmissions.
In addition to the DRM Consortium, ABU and AIR will be assisted by DRM members Thomson and Hitachi Electric Kokusai as well as Spain-based Universidad del Pais Vasco.
“Given that this region has some of the largest number of medium-wave radio broadcasters, we believe that successful trials and measurements will pave the way for easy and cost-effective transition to DRM transmissions,” stated Sharad Sadhu, head of transmission, technology and spectrum in the ABU.
An associated training workshop will help MW broadcasters plan similar trials in their own countries. The trial will be conducted on AIR transmitters in New Delhi where a new DRM-compatible MW transmitter has recently been commissioned.
