22 Apr DRM+ Transmission in Bratislava, Slovakia
Mr. Juraj Oravec, Deputy Director General for Radiocommunications in the Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia informs us that the DRM+ transmission in Bratislava (Slovakia) was started as a trial on 14th October as part of a research project led by the Research Institute of Post and Telecommunication (VÚS) Banská Bystrica.
The transmitter is located on top of the building of the public broadcaster – Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS – www.rtvs.sk), Bratislava and is operated by the network operator Towercom, a.s.
In 2011-2012 what was tested was the distribution and coverage achieved through these DRM audio services. In the first half of 2014 data services delivered through DRM+ were added to the test.
The DRM+ transmission is considered a regular broadcast now.
The broadcasts are using the frequency 98.9 MHz with max ERP 100 W, modulation 16 QAM, code rate ½, antenna with vertical polarization.
At present two programme services of the public broadcaster are distributed:
• Rádio Slovensko (56.32 kbps) – the second most popular radio station in Slovakia
• Rádio Devín (64 kbps) – an artistic and cultural radio channel of the public broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia
In terms of the licence issued by the Council for Broadcasting and Retransmission, the digital broadcasts can be received between 6PM and 6AM, i.e. during the night. During the day Rádio Patria (broadcasting in languages of minorities) uses the same frequency for analogue FM transmissions.