The virtual DRM Consortium IBC2021 “Smart Radio Accessible to All” event on Dec. 1 showcased the practical advances of DRM in various parts of the world. One of the highlights was feedback on India’s recent VHF band II test. It highlighted the energy and spectrum savings achieved in Delhi and Jaipur and the native DRM functionalities and services such as emergency warning functionality, public signage and remote education.
Receiver manufacturers’ presentations included last-minute updates and new announcements from Gospell, Cambridge Consultants, CML Microcircuits, Skyworks, Inntot and Starwaves. You can find out more about some of these receivers here.
Presentations from Consortium members included a recent test carried out by the BBC World Service and Encompass on DRM medium wave in Cyprus, DRM deployments in Vietnam and South Korea, and the recent DRM for FM trial in St Petersburg, Russia. Fraunhofer IIS also gave an update on its DRM Receiver Kit Software SDR for automotive, mobile phones and consumer radios and announced the relaunch of Funklust, a DRM for shortwave station in Germany.
Another piece of news coming from the heart of Europe was the October launch of a DRM for FM test in greater Copenhagen. This is a collaborative project supported and driven by Nautel with the support of Open Channel, Gospell, RFmondial, Fraunhofer IIS, NXP, partners in Denmark and other non-Consortium members like Bauer and Kathrein.
According to Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium chairman, “The DRM pre-IBC event was rich in information and lively with opinion exchanges among the participants from Brazil, the United States, Canada and Australia, the United Kingdom, Russia and Asia. It gave the Consortium a chance to end the year on a high note and look with confidence to 2022.”