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Renaissance of MW SW radio
Digitalisation will initiate a world-wide renaissance of radio
By Erik Bettermann (specialist panel with the Director General of Deutsche Welle in the context of Medientage München) "Digital short-wave will revolutionise cross-border broadcasts and will initiate a world-wide renaissance of radio". This was the opinion of the Director General of Deutsche Welle, Mr Erik Bettermann, during a panel discussion at Münchner Medientage. Mr Bettermann, the head of the German international broadcaster and instigator of the event was not the only one to present an optimistic prediction of a "Digital Global Radio" development: The other panel specialists also emphasised the advantages of digitalisation in the so-called AM range, i.e. short-, medium- and longwave. The discussion was chaired by Peter Senger, Director of Distribution at Deutsche Welle and Chairman of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium; and next to Erik Bettermann, BBC representative Mike Cronk, Dan D'Aversa of RTL Group and Phil Laven of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) were also participating in the debate. Senger outlined the advantages of digital short-wave as follows: The world-wide accepted DRM standard provided an excellent audio-quality comparable to FM. In addition, the search for frequencies was obsolete, as the station identification tuned in to the designated frequency and automatically switched to the best one. In parallel, it allows for the sending of accompanying programme information such as text messages. "On top of everything, digital transmission technology saves a lot of energy and costs compared to the analogue one", Senger said. This would open up enormous opportunities, especially for international broadcasters. For several years, DW like many other broadcasters has noted that listeners migrated from short-wave to FM or other new distribution channels in digital quality, said Bettermann. Deutsche Welle had to stay abreast of these changes. "According to test transmissions being operated by Deutsche Welle, we anticipate large area coverage in almost FM quality without interference such as jitters, induced power-noise or fading", the General Director stated. At the same time, not only stationery indoor reception, but also mobile reception in cars and with small portable devices is possible. Admittedly listeners would need new receivers. As a consequence, the real challenge for the DRM consortium would be to achieve successful implementation, said Technical Director of the EBU, Mr. Philip Laven. The timetable for the introduction of digital services in the AM bands would in fact be set by broadcasters, "but the speed of the transition to digital will be set by consumers", stressed Laven. Dan D’Aversa of RTL Group sees the chance to develop pan-European coverage and that RTL Group would try to ensure "that low-cost DRM receivers will be on sale in time for Christmas 2005". Mike Cronk stated that the BBC had invested heavily in DRM and that they were now developing "a detailed strategy for its initial deployment, probably into Europe, in 2005". According to Cronk, DRM offered the unique combination of wide area short-wave coverage and FM usability and quality. As a consequence of using this digital medium, continuous direct delivery to the audience avoiding "political or other regulatory obstacles" will be possible. Bettermann, having also stressed the aspect of the impossibility to censor short-wave and, focussing on European implementation, announced that Deutsche Welle would gradually switch off its analogue short-wave transmissions. A pre-condition would be the world-wide availability of DRM receivers. 21 October 2004 |
#2
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I really have my doubts about this "world-wide renaissance of radio".
The average user of radio and especially SW isn't likely to go to the added hassle of DRM. I have played with DRM and I am very underwealmed. DRM radios consume much more energy, IE much shorter battery life, then analog. A lot of users have no access to "made" electricity and have to rely on batteries. The greater radio complexity also promises greater user headaches. Just my thoughts. Terry |
#3
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I've read that speech a couple of different times in the past month,
and I think I finally know why I am bothered by it. The speaker focuses on the benefits of digitalized broadcasts to the broadcaster and largely (but not completely)ignores whether all of this will be of any interest to the listener. It reads as though they don't really understand who their listening audience is. A listner of limited means in a poor country will hardly be in the position to buy a potentially very expensive digital receiver. A listener who is more well of financially will have access to information and music through an increasing number of sources right now. How would a digital shortwave and mw receiver improve either the quality of selection available right now. Tr wrote: Digitalisation will initiate a world-wide renaissance of radio By Erik Bettermann (specialist panel with the Director General of Deutsche Welle in the context of Medientage M=FCnchen) "Digital short-wave will revolutionise cross-border broadcasts and will initiate a world-wide renaissance of radio". This was the opinion of the Director General of Deutsche Welle, Mr Erik Bettermann, during a panel discussion at M=FCnchner Medientage. Mr Bettermann, the head of the German international broadcaster and instigator of the event was not the only one to present an optimistic prediction of a "Digital Global Radio" development: The other panel specialists also emphasised the advantages of digitalisation in the so-called AM range, i.e. short-, medium- and longwave. The discussion was chaired by Peter Senger, Director of Distribution at Deutsche Welle and Chairman of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium; and next to Erik Bettermann, BBC representative Mike Cronk, Dan D'Aversa of RTL Group and Phil Laven of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) were also participating in the debate. Senger outlined the advantages of digital short-wave as follows: The world-wide accepted DRM standard provided an excellent audio-quality comparable to FM. In addition, the search for frequencies was obsolete, as the station identification tuned in to the designated frequency and automatically switched to the best one. In parallel, it allows for the sending of accompanying programme information such as text messages. "On top of everything, digital transmission technology saves a lot of energy and costs compared to the analogue one", Senger said. This would open up enormous opportunities, especially for international broadcasters. For several years, DW like many other broadcasters has noted that listeners migrated from short-wave to FM or other new distribution channels in digital quality, said Bettermann. Deutsche Welle had to stay abreast of these changes. "According to test transmissions being operated by Deutsche Welle, we anticipate large area coverage in almost FM quality without interference such as jitters, induced power-noise or fading", the General Director stated. At the same time, not only stationery indoor reception, but also mobile reception in cars and with small portable devices is possible. Admittedly listeners would need new receivers. As a consequence, the real challenge for the DRM consortium would be to achieve successful implementation, said Technical Director of the EBU, Mr. Philip Laven. The timetable for the introduction of digital services in the AM bands would in fact be set by broadcasters, "but the speed of the transition to digital will be set by consumers", stressed Laven. Dan D'Aversa of RTL Group sees the chance to develop pan-European coverage and that RTL Group would try to ensure "that low-cost DRM receivers will be on sale in time for Christmas 2005". Mike Cronk stated that the BBC had invested heavily in DRM and that they were now developing "a detailed strategy for its initial deployment, probably into Europe, in 2005". According to Cronk, DRM offered the unique combination of wide area short-wave coverage and FM usability and quality. As a consequence of using this digital medium, continuous direct delivery to the audience avoiding "political or other regulatory obstacles" will be possible. Bettermann, having also stressed the aspect of the impossibility to censor short-wave and, focussing on European implementation, announced that Deutsche Welle would gradually switch off its analogue short-wave transmissions. A pre-condition would be the world-wide availability of DRM receivers. 21 October 2004 |
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#6
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dxAce wrote: craigm wrote: wrote: I really have my doubts about this "world-wide renaissance of radio". The average user of radio and especially SW isn't likely to go to the added hassle of DRM. I have played with DRM and I am very underwealmed. DRM radios consume much more energy, IE much shorter battery life, then analog. A lot of users have no access to "made" electricity and have to rely on batteries. The greater radio complexity also promises greater user headaches. Just my thoughts. Terry You are talking about the first generation of a technology. You could also say the same thing about digital displays on portable SW radios when they were first available. A portable CD player can run 50-80 hours on two AA batteries. Would you have expected that when CDs were first introduced? Think about where the technology could go. It can go to hell and take its QRM with it! Just my opinion. dxAce Michigan USA If it is anything like IBOC, they can keep it. While IBOC touts the benefits of their modulation scheme, they don't bother to tell anybody that their hybrid transmissions consume (yes consume) three channels of broadcasting space on the medium wave band. (I know I've said this before). All of this, and you get to pay a licensing fee! Pete |
#7
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I know, I have one of the first Diamond Rio MP3
players (PMP300?) and it did well to run for 4 or 5 hours on a "AA" cell. I treated myeself to a Rio Chiba, that has 8 times the built in memory, and will run on a "AAA" for at at least 20 hours. (I couldn't stand NPR or commercial AM/FM radio any more and I can't see trying to put a SW in a modern auto BTDT and still have the scrs!) But having said that, I just don''t see a market big enough to get the economies of scale to make it practical. By the time that happens, the "third" world will all have telephone and modest internet access. A lot of 3rd wrold places already have very deep cell phone penetration (I ownder why the market guys came up with that word?) Look at how many MP3 players have been sold. Then look at how many SW radio have been sold since radio began. I am willing to be a nice steak dinner that MP3 players have the lead, or will very soon. I know 30+ people who have MP3 players. Now some like my sister have a PDA that also is a MP3 player. I know, not counting the hams, maybe 4 poeple who have SWs. And one is my wife. The other 2 are people Ihave given my oldr rigs (RF2000) and Sony ICF?-7600 to. Everyone wnat a MP3 player. Only us nuts want a radio that requires a "long antenna wire". I still think it is a whizbang technical solution looking for a problem. Terry |
#8
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#9
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wrote in message
oups.com... I really have my doubts about this "world-wide renaissance of radio". I tend to agree, however... The average user of radio and especially SW isn't likely to go to the added hassle of DRM. I think they will. Being able to punch in a frequency and get high quality audio without fading, static crashes, etc. will sell people -- who can afford it -- on the technology. I have played with DRM and I am very underwealmed. DRM radios consume much more energy, IE much shorter battery life, then analog. This is mainly a question of how well integrated the radio chipsets can be made; very quickly you get to the point where powering the speaker itself will dwarf the energy consumption of the radio itself. I expect the actual DRM decoding can be done with well under 100mW, probably more like 10mW in the near future. These are power levels that are easily obtained via solar power. The greater radio complexity also promises greater user headaches. I think it actually makes usage a lot simpler. What do you think's simpler to use.. a cell phone, or an amateur radio hand-talkie operating on 2m through a repeater autopatch? I think the biggest stumbling block by far is going to be (1) getting broadcasters to adopt the technology and (2) getting people in places that have the most to gain from the receipt of such broadcasts the radios at a price they can afford. ---Joel Kolstad |
#10
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wrote in message
oups.com... "A listner of limited means in a poor country will hardly be in the position to buy a potentially very expensive digital receiver." I agree with you 100% -- hence the real challenge to make digital radios dirt cheap. Interestingly, though, at a certain quality level digital receivers actually become cheaper to build than analog receivers! |
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