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DRM - Digital Radio Mondiale - Reception in New Zealand
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4:38am NZST 
Sat, 04 Sep 2010 

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DRM™ - Digital Radio Mondiale - Reception in New Zealand

This page documents some of the experimenting I have being doing with reception of digital shortwave broadcasts from my home in Wellington, New Zealand. To date I have been able to receive broadcasts from transmitters located in the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Portugal, the UK, Luxembourg, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Thailand, The Netherlands, Germany, Russia, China, France, Sweden, Norway, Chile, Austria, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, India, Ecuador, Bulgaria & Romania.

About DRM™

Digital Radio Mondiale, DRM™ for short, is a method of broadcasting on AM radio using digital signals rather than analogue - it's like listening to an audio stream on the Internet, but broadcast on medium or shortwave radio rather than via the net.

In addition to potentially crystal-clear reception, DRM™ signals can also carry multimedia information in addition to the audio signal, or to carry multiple program streams on one signal:


Screen capture of multi-media DRM broadcast
(courtesy Michael Dressen, Germany)


Screen capture of DRM broadcast from DW Sines using multiple streams to carry news in four different languages

DRM™ can also send web pages via shortwave:


VT Merlin test website broadcast images
(courtesy Richard Beales, UK)

Amateur radio operators are also using DRM™:


Screen capture of ham radio DRM test broadcast on 3605 kHz
(courtesy Carsten Knütter in Germany)

Screen capture of 1st HamDream intercontinental QSO
PY4BL - HB9TLK 14255 kHz

More information about ham application of DRM visit the HamDream web site.

I have also experimented with transmitting DRM around my house using the DReaM software, which includes a transmitter option, and a Jackson Harbor LF to HF Converter module which converts the sound card IF output up to the HF range. This has a range of only a couple of meters, but I have been able to transmit data and audio from my own LPFM radio station, WorldFM around the house. You can see some screen shots of weather station data being broadcast here.

You can learn more about DRM™ at these web sites:

The DRM logo is a trade mark of Digital Radio Mondiale Association and is used under license. DRM logo ©DRM Association 1998

My Receiving Setup

I am listening from Tawa, a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It's a residential area with houses filled with TVs, computers and other noise-generating electronics. My house is no exception!

The receiver I am using is a Yaesu FRG-100/DRM supplied by SAT-Service Schneider in Germany. You can see the range of DRM™ products that they offer on this web page: SAT-Service Schneider DRM page. The FRG-100/DRM is fitted with a 12 kHz IF output and has bandwidth filter changes to receive DRM™ broadcasts. In my receiver I've had the wide AM filter bank used for DRM™ - this results in AM Wide being *really* wide when used for normal AM transmissions.

In December 2004 I also purchased a Digital World Traveller receiver from Coding Technologies. This is a small MW/SW/FM & DRM receiver that is designed for connection to a laptop or PC via USB.

In March 2007 I purchased a Morphy Richards DigitalRadio 27024, primarily for monitoring DAB test transmissions, but it also receives DRM quite well. I wrote a review of this radio for the April 2007 issue of the New Zealand DX Times magazine.

Thanks to RNZI, I have also had the use of a loaned SAT-Service Schneider DRT1 receiver, and a UniWave Di-Wave 100 receiver.


Yaesu FRG-100/DRM
i
Morphy Richards 27024

Digital World Traveller

DRT1


My own DX setup

My antenna is a 30 metre wire in the garden. This feeds my receiver through a JPS (now Timewave) ANC-4 noise reduction unit to help cut down some of the local noise from my PC (though it appears to make little, if any, difference to DRM reception quality).

I have also fitted SAT-Service Schneider DRM IF modules to my AOR AR-7030 and McKay Dymek DR33C receivers. Both perform well, but overall I find I use the Yaesu most.


SAT-Service Schneider DRM Mixer

I'm running the "DRM Software Radio" program on a dual processor 1 GHz Pentium III computer running Windows XP/Pro to decode and listen to the broadcasts.


"DRM Software Radio" Main Screen

Schedules

Current DRM Transmission Schedule

Recent Reception Results
Here are some examples of what I have been able to receive recently here in Wellington, New Zealand. Feed of latest logs: 

DRM™ Reception at Wellington, New Zealand
Date
(year/month/day)
Time
UTC
Frequency
kHz
Broadcast Details Screen/Graph Audio
(ogg)
Solar Indices
SF/A/K
Log File
2010/08/14 06:56 11900 BNR Digital, Bulgaria. 23.5k EEP AAC+ mono audio, Horizont service programming. Nice sounding audio, despite the long distance. Ogg (DRMSWR)
Ogg (Dream)
84/3/0 view
2010/07/21 08:44 13810 BBC/DW Channel via Sines, Portugal. 17.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo service with BBC programming. Ogg 87/4/2 view
2010/07/21 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 87/4/1 view
2010/07/14 00:27 15720 RNZI recorded using my CT DWT receiver while on holiday in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. 17k AAC+ mono audio of domestic Radio NZ National relay. Ogg   view
2010/07/03 08:33 11995 RDPI Portugal. 18.36k EEP AAC+ mono service. No audio captured due to operator error.   73/10/3 view
2010/06/28 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 73/11/2 view
2010/06/26 04:37 3995 BBC & DW Channel, 16.92k AAC+ p-stereo audio via Sines, Portugal. Just a few seconds decodable. Ogg 75/7/3 view
2010/06/23 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 73/5/1 view
2010/06/19 11:00 12080 Radio Australia, Brandon, Queensland. Rarely seen signal here, 20.46k UEP (12.1%) AAC+ mono, but far too weak for any decoding.   71/4/1 view
2010/06/18 04:00 9400 BNR Digital, Kostinbrod, 23.6k EEP AAC+ mono Bulgarian service to Europe. No decoding possible.   70/10/2 view
2010/06/17 05:05 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Variable decoding today. Ogg 72/19/2 view
2010/06/17 04:37 3995 BBC/DW Channel, via Sines, Portugal. 16.92k AAC+ P-stereo signal, Just a few bits decoded. Ogg 72/19/2 view
2010/06/17 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 72/19/2 view
2010/06/16 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 70/10/3 view
2010/06/15 05:17 11675 RNZI 17.08k UEP (1.6%) AAC+ mono service to the Pacific. Just a few bits decoded. I'm normally in the skip zone for RNZI. Ogg 73/5/2 view
2010/06/13 05:00 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Variable decoding today. Ogg 76/2/1 view
2010/06/13 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 76/2/1 view
2010/06/12 05:00 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. No decoding possible today.   75/5/0 view
2010/06/12 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 75/5/0 view
2010/06/11 05:17 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Some good decoding to start with. Ogg 73/5/2 view
2010/06/11 04:00 9400 BNR Digital, Kostinbrod, 23.6k EEP AAC+ mono Bulgarian service to Europe. Some broken decoding possible. Ogg 73/5/2 view
2010/06/06 02:26 15720 RNZI 17k UEP AAC+ mono service to the Pacific. No decoding possible.   70/6/3 view
2010/06/05 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. The two glitches were due to my fiddling with the antenna. Ogg 72/18/2 view
2010/05/24 05:00 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Some fair decoding today. Ogg 75/1/0 view
2010/05/24 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. The two glitches were due to my fiddling with the antenna. Ogg 75/1/0 view
2010/05/23 06:00 11900 BNR Digital, Kostinbrod, 23.6k EEP AAC+ mono service to Europe. No decoding possible.   73/2/0 view
2010/05/23 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 73/2/0 view
2010/05/22 07:12 9545 BBC/DW Channel, via Sines. 17.8k AAC+ p-stereo. Little decoding possible. Ogg 71/4/1 view
2010/05/22 05:15 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Poor decoding today. Ogg 71/4/1 view
2010/05/22 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k EEP AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 71/4/1 view
2010/05/21 07:22 7440 RNZI 17k UEP AAC+ mono audio to the Pacific. Audio file was accidentally deleted.   69/10/1 view
2010/05/21 05:21 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Poor decoding today. Ogg   view
2010/05/18 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k AAC+ p-stereo, good reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg   view
2010/05/17 05:03 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Not good decoding today. Ogg   view
2010/05/16 05:47 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Not good decoding today. Ogg 70/2/1 view
2010/05/16 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 70/2/1 view
2010/05/15 09:15 11995 RDPI Portugal, Sines. 18.3k AAC+ mono, no decoding possible.   70/2/2 view
2010/05/15 05:02 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Some good decoding. Ogg 70/2/2 view
2010/05/15 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 70/2/2 view
2010/05/14 05:53 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Some good decoding. Ogg 69/2/0 view
2010/05/14 04:00 9400 BNR Digital, Kostinbrod, Bulgarian service to Europe. No decoding possible.   69/3/0 view
2010/05/12 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 74/8/2 view
2010/05/10 05:22 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Good decoding for two hours. Ogg 75/2/1 view
2010/05/10 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k AAC+ p-stereo, excellent reception, but audio only on one channel. Ogg 75/2/1 view
2010/05/09 21:11 9950 All India Radio, broadcasting to Europe. 11.6k AAC mono audio. Ogg 75/3/1 view
2010/05/07 08:25 9545 BBC/DW Channel, via Sines. 17.8k AAC+ p-stereo. Little decoding possible. Ogg 79/12/3 view
2010/05/07 05:00 9780 REE Spain, 17.4k AAC+ p-stereo Spanish service to Europe. Excellent decoding for most of the broadcast. Ogg 79/12/3 view
2010/05/07 04:00 11700 Radio Romania International, Tiganesti, 90kW Chinese service to Asia. 20.9k AAC+ p-stereo, audio only on one channel. Ogg 79/12/3 view
      This is what a digital signal sounds like on an ordinary radio in narrow AM mode.   Real mp3    

Earlier results can be found on these pages:

Reception in Europe

The BBC is running a DRM trial on mediumwave 855 kHz from BBC Radio Devon in Plymouth. Thanks go to Frank G0GSR for providing this recording of their test loop

Carsten Knütter from Germany has kindly allowed me to host these recordings of early test transmissions from RTL, Luxembourg, on 6095 kHz:

RTL_3_209.mp3 (1.220.023 Byte, 20,9kbps)
RTL_5_209.mp3 (862.041 Byte, 20,9kbps)
RTL_6_145.mp3 (991.818 Byte, 14,5kbps)
RTL_6_209.mp3 (1.005.609 Byte, 20,9kbps)
RTL_7_209.mp3 (1.704.020 Byte, 20,9kbps).
RTL_6_247.mp3 (998.713 Byte, 24,7kbps).
stereo_347.mp3 (2.383.621 Byte, 34,7kbps).

Chinese tests to Europe

These brief recordings are from CRI 27.4 kbps stereo tests to Europe, recorded by listeners in Europe.

easyfm.mp3
cri_274stereo.mp3

If you have any comments about this page, or DRM™ reception, please feel free to email me.

chris.www@owdjim.gen.nz (or chris@digitalradio.co.nz)


In This Section 

Recent Reception 
2010 Reception 
2009 Reception 
2008 Reception 
2007 Reception 
2006 Reception 
2005 Reception 
2004 Reception 
2003 Reception 
Reception Highlights 
All Reception Results 
DRM Schedule 
DRM on RNZI Mailbox 
RNZI DRM 
RNZI DRM Recordings 
DRM data images 
Tests on 657 kHz 

Other Links 

Digital Radio DR 
RNZI 
VT Merlin 
ABU DRM Page 
DW DRM Schedules 
IBC paper on DRM 
HamDream 
DRM in Germany 
HFCC Projects Page 
DRM Forums 


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