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Technology service provider Encompass Digital Media aimed for its furthest ever DRM transmission when it targeted India with a one-off broadcast from its site in Woofferton, United Kingdom, on Friday Nov. 4.
The experimental transmission, which featured the electronic music by EDM artist C.M. Obrecht, traveled around 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers).
The company has already run tests using different frequencies, antennas and power combinations. The final test on Nov. 2 was confirmed a success when audio could be recorded from a KiwiSDR online receiver located in New Delhi. The SNR of 20dB was measured in New Delhi and 23.9 dB in Bangalore, which proves the power of shortwave radio and how DRM can travel such long distances — even in shortwave.
The audio was also decoded in Bangkok, and a listener report came from as far afield as Canada.
The most recent broadcast was scheduled for 19:00–20:00 UTC, on 11710 kHz. It used xHE-AAC codec with DRM Mode B, transmitting at 125 kW on a 78* bearing from Woofferton. The audio was accompanied by ancillary data including a slideshow image of the album cover art.
Encompass is interested in receiving any reception reports from India, particularly from anybody who used a car radio. Please send reception reports to Steve Palmer at: spalmer@encompass.tv
