[A-DX] DRM kommt in die Puschen - oder nur Wortgeklingel ?

["Wolfgang Bueschel" <BueschelW@xxxxxx>]

[...] Mina is also encouraged about what's coming out of China. His friends
at Thomson Broadcast found and worked with Dr. Lin Liang who founded a
private company, Newstar Electronics, that plans to make DRM receivers. "I
have seen three of these small receivers," said Mina.

"Today the design is being completed on these receivers - a very, very
small receiver. This is the new star that is coming from China, that
is going to make DRM a success."

The new Chinese receiver will have a small LCD screen, a built-in
photo album, a GPS and a DRM receiver. "What's going to make DRM are
these devices," Mina believes. "You're going to step out of your
airplane. You're going to travel to any city you want. You're going to
pull it out, and right there you're going to have a DRM receiver.

You're going to receive your program with good quality anywhere in the
world. This is what is going to be the success of DRM in my opinion."

Mina says there are many other DRM receivers that are being developed
right now. Students at LeTourneau University are working on a
receiver. Three to five different groups in China are working on
receivers. There is also a group in South Africa working on a DRM
receiver, specifically for use on shortwave.

There had been talk in the business that the Chinese would have a lot
of DRM transmissions on air in time for the Olympics. "That's not
going to happen," said Mina, "But eventually we will see DRM
broadcasts in China." Explains Mina: "The reason China will develop
DRM receivers is that all of the transmitters they're buying are DRM-
ready. One transmitter is broadcasting DRM, but all of the others are
ready. Why would China use DRM? China uses shortwave to talk to their
own people. Because of that, they will go to DRM to cover their own
territory. People in rural China need shortwave."

"DRM will succeed," concluded Mina, "and the cheap receivers will be
coming very soon."

Mina said that most shortwave transmitters bought during the last 20
years that have solid-state modulators are ready for DRM with a minor
modification and new exciter. Older transmitters with high-level plate
modulation can be modified for DRM. "We have done many of them. We
just finished one in Saipan. We put new solid-state modulators on
them, and they're ready."

Although DRM isn't being used on mediumwave in the United States,
there have been very successful mediumwave simulcast tests in Mexico,
Brazil and India. There are also regular DRM broadcasts on mediumwave
from many broadcast organizations in Europe.

Mina sees great potential for DRM on shortwave. A TCI International
study showed that five transmitters could cover all of the United
States with a high-quality DRM signal. "We need a UPS, a DHL, a
trucking company. Somebody will have the vision to use DRM and send
messages or programs over a large area with a single transmitter. "

If you order a new shortwave transmitter today from companies like
Continental, there's no extra cost for DRM capability; it's already
built in. If you need a DRM exciter for an existing transmitter, it's
a slightly different story. "Our exciters are still a little bit too
expensive," said Mina. "We acknowledge that. But prices have come
down, and hopefully can come down more." He mentioned that HCJB is
trying to develop a low-cost DRM exciter, which if successful could
cause the big companies to drop their prices.

Mina said prices are still a bit prohibitive for most potential 26 MHz
DRM operations. A TCI study showed that a 200-watt AM transmitter
could cover the San Francisco Bay Area with one antenna - providing
the FCC would license it. "But exciters are still 40,000 to 50,000
euros," he lamented. "That is discouraging. " He noted that IBOC
exciters cost around $20,000.

Finally, Adil Mina thanked former Technical Committee Chairman Dr. Don
Messer for all of his contributions to DRM. Messer retired from the
DRM Consortium at the end of March, although he is still working hard
to promote DRM in the United States. "If you want to get an
experimental license for DRM, don't try to do it on your own,"
cautions Mina. "Contact Dr. Messer."
Best regards. (SOURCE? Via Manuel Jesus, visite:
http://www.sitesmaisuteis.pt condiglist yg via DXLD, June 30)

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