While high-end and Internet versions of DRM radios have been available, proponents of the digital radio technology say the radios shown at a consumer electronics show in Germany this week were the first affordable units.
Manufacturers at IFA unveiling radios capable of decoding a Digital Radio Mondiale signal include Sangean, Roberts, Morphy Richards, Bosch, Panasonic, Visteon and CT/AFG/Himalaya.
Texas Instruments and RadioScape introduced three multi-standard, tabletop consumer radios with DRM, Eureka-147, FM – RDS, LW, MW and SW capabilities, using RadioScape’s RS500 module and TI’s DRM350 multi-standard digital radio baseband. The Roberts receiver offers digital pause and rewind and stereo speakers, and runs on batteries or electricity. The Morphy Richards receiver has mmc or sd card storage, and is capable of record or playback. Sangean’s radio features MP3, plus mmc or sd card storage.
Coding Technologies, with AFG Engineering GmbH and Himalaya Electronics, demonstrated a DRM-capable radio based on Analog Devices’ Blackfin. Additionally, Fraunhofer IIS has developed a DRM processing chain for integration into a DRM-only or multi-standard receiver IC, supplemented by Coding Technologies’ Audio Decoder Library.
Robert Bosch GmbH presented a modified car receiver with DRM capabilities. Visteon Corp. and RTL Group demonstrated the Visteon in-vehicle DRM/AMFM/CD tuner. Panasonic showcased a prototype OEM DRM-capable car radio.
Many of these products also will be shown in Amsterdam at the International Broadcasting Convention, which runs Sept. 9-12.
Less-Expensive DRM-Capable Radios Unveiled at IFA
Less-Expensive DRM-Capable Radios Unveiled at IFA
