In article , Karl Graff wrote:
Please excuse any ignorance I am going to show- you have helped me a lot as
I learned to DX and what kind of radio gives the most bang for the buck.

What is the real deal with DRM? Are analog SW radios going away? Have any of
you invested in a DRM capable receiver and how are they? Should I begin to
move towards DRM and if so, what receivers will pick up and decode those
signals? What are the limitations, or the cons if any, of DRM?

This is totaly my opinion:

Shortwave broadcasting is used for two things.

1. To reach an audience outside of one's country to for propaganda,
cultural or relegious purposes.

2. To spread news, etc inside a country where there are large areas with
poor communication, e.g. Northern Canada, India, Russia, China.

DRM is a way of providing high (sound) quality programing using existing
shortwave transmission facilites. It is not compatible with older recivers
and therefore requires the listener put up money to hear it.

In some places it will take off. For example, I assume that shortwave
broadcasting in remote parts of Canada has been replaced by the internet
where possible. Where there is no internet access, DRM will move in to
fill the niche.

In other places such as India or Africa, where the population is poor and
can't afford batteries yet alone radios, good old fasishioned AM will remain
for many years.

Relegious brodcasters already use shortwave, satelitte tv and the internet,
some will add DRM as way of reaching a larger "flock".

The only reason I see DRM taking off in poorer countries is because being
digital it can be encrypted. For example, a someone could produce
DRM radios that only play signals encrypted with a certain key.

How about that for VOA or Radio Moscow only radios?

Geoff.

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Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem Israel
IL Voice: 972-544-608-069 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838