Harris Completes Tests of AM DRM Transmitters

Harris says it has successfully conducted China’s first over-the-air Digital Radio Mondiale demonstration on the AM broadcast band. The demonstration was conducted in late August at the SARFT transmitter site outside of Beijing.
DRM is a digital system for short-wave, medium-wave/AM and long-wave that uses existing frequencies and bandwidth.
According to Don Spragg, director of high-power radio and programs for Harris Corporation’s Broadcast Communications Division, a Harris DX200, 200kW transmitter was prepared for DRM transmission in less than an hour for an extended over-the-air DRM broadcast. “The testing purpose was two fold: to assist SARFT with the first MW DRM demonstration in China; and to prove that Harris’ DX line of 10kW through 2000kW transmitters operating in the field are indeed DRM ready.”
Spragg said Harris’ goal during this stage of the DRM development process has been
to assure DX users that they are ready for DRM-even if they installed their transmitters several years ago. Earlier this summer, Harris conducted tests at its Quincy, Illinois, factory to prove DX transmitters are DRM-ready. The China demonstrations were Harris’ first at an actual customer site.
Harris has transmission equipment for IBOC and Eueka-147 digital radio technologies and is now adding DRM to its product lineups. Harris is developing a DRM exciter and transmitter upgrade kit to be introduced before the commercial launch of DRM receivers in 2004.
Harris is founding member of the DRM Consortium, and its representatives serve on the DRM board as well as on various technical subcommittees.