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DRM RECEIVERS AND EQUIPMENT

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Note to the Manufacturers of DRM equipment

Equipment implementing the coding and modulation part of DRM requires the use of certain essential patents for which manufacturers need to make agreements with the patent holders.  The audio part of DRM falls entirely within the licencing of AAC undertaken by Via Licensing, a Licensing Administrator acting on behalf of the AAC licensor patent pool – see www.vialicensing.com.  The DRM Association and the DRM Consortium do not make any charges for the use of the DRM technology.

DRM RECEIVERS – AN UPDATE

(as of 29 April 2021)

GOSPELL DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, CHINA

 

Gospell Digital Technology Co Ltd. first developed the DRM standalone Receiver GR 216 pictured left.

 

Now there are three more portable radios: GR- 224, GR-226 and GR-228

 

The Gospell receivers support all DRM frequency bands (AM and FM), using the latest audio codec xHE-AAC (for exceptional music and speech sound), as well as the advanced text feature called Journaline as well as the Emergency Warning (EWF) functionality.

 

The company is waiting for substantial orders. The price per unit will be reduced based on volume produced.

 

Contact: huangbs@gospell.com

GR-224BP Portable DRM/AM/FM Radio
GR-226BP Portable DRM/AM/FM Radio
GR-228BP Portable DRM/AM/FM Radio

Recently, three more advanced portable radios, GR- 224, GR-226 and GR-228, have come onto the market

 

GR-224BP Portable DRM/AM/FM Radio (DRM/AM/FM | Bluetooth | USB/TF player|AUXin)

 

GR-226BP Portable DRM/AM/FM Radio (DRM/AM/FM | Bluetooth | USB/TF player | AUX in)

 

GR-228BP Portable DRM/AM/FM Radio (DRM/AM/FM | Bluetooth | USB/TF player | AUX in | Stereo speaker

 

All these Gospell receiver models have the following features:

• DRM digital radio and AM/FM radio

• DRM+ ready

• xHE-AAC audio

• Bluetooth stream music and hands-free calling

• USB & SD card player

• Journaline and scrolling text message

• Emergency warning reception

• FM RDS station name display

• 60 station memory pre-sets

• Auto scan tuning

• Aux in

• Operates on internal battery or AC adapter

 

The company is waiting for substantial orders. The price per unit will be reduced based on volume produced.

Contact: huangbs@gospell.com

GR220

A new Gospell receiver (in the GR220 series) is currently under development and should be available soon: GR-220P Pocket DRM/AM/FM Pocket Radio

GR220P Features:

Full band DRM (MW/SW VHF-II) and AM/FM stereo reception
DRM xHE-AAC audio decoding
DRM Journaline* and scrolling text message
DRM emergency warning reception
DRM alternative frequency switching
DRM expert mode for reception status inspection
FM RDS station name display
60 station memory presets
1kHz step tuning allows fast and precise station reception
Station auto seeking and store
Rechargeable battery
Automatic time set

Operates on internal battery or AC adapte

The company has an Indian distributor called Antriksh Digital Solutions,
which can be accessed via their website
www.antrikshdigital.com
(Section ‘DRM Products’)

The Gospell receivers are also available on the Alibaba website:
a.
https://tinyurl.com/yav4ycfb
b. https://tinyurl.com/y77dxowy
c. https://tinyurl.com/ya9usob4
d. https://tinyurl.com/yaa3kdyr

 

 

The company is expecting also substantial orders which, depending on volume, will lower the unit price.

 

Gospell can be contacted at:

huangbs@gospell.com (China)

deepak@antrikshdigital.com (india)

Starwaves, Germany

 

Starwaves (www.starwaves.com) is a German/Swiss company which has come up with a series of DRM receivers using all frequency bands (DRM in AM and FM bands) in various sizes and at different levels of complexity and prices. Apart from DRM digital functionality, the radios also feature the traditional analogue AM bands (MW, SW and FM).

These receiver types are:

a. Portable W24BT radio
b. Small radio for after-market cars (CarBox or “Tuk-Tuk” radio)
c. DRM SoftRadio App for Android mobile phones and tablets

 

 

Features

 

• Ready to use existing car radio & antenna

• DRM in the AM, SW and FM Band

• Also plays analogue AM, FM and SW

• High quality automotive tuner

• Journaline

• DRM Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF)

• It also works as a standalone version with integrated audio and amplifier available

• Frequency and station name can be scrolled on the LED display

• It comes with IR remote control

 

This receiver supports all DRM frequencies (AM and FM), using the latest xHE-AAC audio codec for music and speech, Journaline advanced text and the DRM Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF).  All Starwave receivers also support the analogue AM and FM bands.

The standalone W24BT and the DRM CarBox (‘TukTuk’) after-market digital radio are available on the Alibaba website:
https://tinyurl.com/ya3kab2s
https://tinyurl.com/yatnvfbt

 

In addition, the Starwaves standalone receiver W24BT is also available on the TradeIndia website:
https://tinyurl.com/yjq2cejo

 

The new DRM SoftRadio app enables phones and tablets to receive news and entertainment items in perfect sound and as text information using the
terrestrial broadcasting DRM Digital Radio standard.

The app supports many DRM digital radio features such as the Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), image slideshows, station logos, and radio programme service descriptions. To provide all these services, the app only requires a standard off-the-shelf SDR RF dongle that is attached to the device’s USB port.

The app is available in the Amazon and Google app stores:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/njkvujh6
Google: https://tinyurl.com/anmkfyu8

Technical details, installation and usage inmstructions of mobile phone and tablet app can be found on Starwaves website by going to: https://tinyurl.com/kzb5zkya

Future Starwaves portable receiver models illustrated on left are:

 

• Pocket radio W5BTBoombox V66 (available soon)

• Standalone radio W41 (available soon)

• Standalone radio W42 (one speaker, available soon)

The company’s website is: starwaves.com

Starwaves can be contacted at: sales@starwaves.com

Other manufacturers currently developing or upgrading their standalone DRM portable or desktop receiver solutions are:

Inntot Technologies Pvt Ltd, India (for AM and FM)

Inntot Technologies (www.inntot.com) is in advanced stages of developing software-based DRM receiver solutions for the automotive infotainment, the consumer segment as well as for mobile phones. Inntot supports also other standards in their receivers.


The desktop radio is based on a generic processor and meets all the specifications for the Minimum Receiver Requirements for mediumwave (MW). The receiver supports all frequency bands (AM and FM), the xHE-AAC audio codec, Journaline, Slideshow feature, Service and Programme information, as well as the DRM EWF emergency alert feature. The design has been field tested in number of cities and rural areas in India and is currently being tested in Japan.


The company’s website is:
www.inntot.com
Inntot can be contacted at: info@inntot.com

Cambridge Consultants (UK) with a small, low-power and low-cost (under $20) DRM portable receiver for both DRM in AM and FM, as well as the corresponding analogue frequencies (www.cambridgeconsultants.com)

 

RF2Digital (South Korea) are in advanced development of their SDR solution for the automotive industry, supporting both DRM and analogue frequency bands. In addition, RF2Digital supports other standards as well (www.rf2digital.com)

 

Communications Systems Inc, India (India) have developed their first Indian DRM receiver a few years back and are planning to make substantial improvements to their product, Avion AV-1401 (www.avionelectronics.in)

The automobile receiver industry in India is already on board and has invested millions of dollars in the development of DRM digital radio capable receivers. The roll-out of DRM equipped cars is growing quickly by the month reaching close to 3 million by now (Jan 2021).

Car manufacturers which have so far incorporated DRM digital receivers in their models in India are Hyundai, Maruti-Suzuki, Mahindra, GM Motors and lately Toyota.  More international car brands are planning or are in the process of fitting DRM digital receivers in their vehicles. OEMs use chips from various manufacturers, such as NXP, Silabs and others.

NXP

 

NXP (www.nxp.com), the number one in automotive infotainment systems and the global market and innovation leader for car radio solutions[1] , has showcased a new DRM solution for OEMs during the New Delhi BES Conference and Expo 2020.

The company has added FM band support to DRM, Journaline data forwarding, and the xHE-AAC audio codec for music and speech.

In addition, NXP demonstrated dual tuners and a costeffective single tuner on DRM platforms shown above. These tuners also support the traditional analogue frequencies.

Entry platform (DRM in AM and FM band): Atomic2 (TEF6659) + Saturn (SAF36xx)

• Low cost & low footprint radio tuner platform

• Basic analogue & digital audio interface

 

Mid-end platform (DRM in AM and FM band): HERO (TEF6638) + Saturn (SAF36xx)

• Single tuner, scanning antenna diversity radio platform

• Audio processing & routing

• Analogue & digital audio interfaces

 

High-end platform (DRM in AM and FM band): DiRaNa3 (SAF775x) + Saturn (SAF36xx)

• High performance dual tuner platform

• Advanced audio processing & routing

• Analogue & digital audio interfaces

 

[1] Strategy Analytics, May 2020

Gospell

 

Gospell (www.gospell.com) in China have recently developed DRM car solutions for both DRM in AM and FM:

  1. The OEM device GR-5018CW (After Market).
  2. The aftermarket device GR-502 BCW. This unit will enable the cars already on the road to get DRM digital reception (OEM).

The two models have the following DRM features:

–   Double DIN in-dash car stereo

–   2GB RAM + 32GB ROM

–   Quad core

–   DRM designed for AM band and FM band

–   Journaline support

–   DRM Slideshow support

–   AM/FM radio

–   Bluetooth music / Handsfree calling / Wi-Fi

–   Navigation / backup camera

–   USB/SD player

–   Internal 4x25w amplifier

Inntot Technologies

 

Inntot Technologies based in India has an SDR based automotive receiver solution for DRM. Inntot is working with some of the major automotive tier-1 companies to launch the DRM receiver through OEMs. Inntot solution meets all the DRM RF performance requirements for automotive and has been field tested in a number of cities and rural areas in India.

 

Contact: info@inntot.com

Ampegon

 

Ampegon, based near Zurich in Switzerland, is the world’s leading provider of shortwave transmitters. Our transmitter range has various technological solutions for broadcasting at RF powers between 1kW and 500kW average outputs. Using the latest shortwave technology, transmissions can be made from a single transmitter across entire countries, regionally, or intercontinentally with high reliability and efficiency. As a member of the DRM consortium, all modern Ampegon transmitters are DRM-capable while many older models (including those supplied under the Thomson or Thales brands) are capable to be retrofitted with control system upgrades facilitating digital transmissions. Contact our experts to discuss your needs today using by emailing info@ampegon.com or using the website link.

 

Fraunhofer IIs

For over 30 years, Fraunhofer IIS has been a constant innovator in radio services and technologies, and a reliable supplier to the radio broadcast industry – all along the broadcast chain from studio to receiver. Today, Fraunhofer IIS is proud to provide a true one-stop shop offering to manufacturers, and a full service bouquet to broadcasters. Accordingly, our fields of activity comprise: Technologies, Solutions and Services.

In terms of technologies, Fraunhofer IIS has deep in-house know-how on the DRM standard, the required audio codecs, data application codecs including the Journaline text application and Emergency Warning Functionality EWF, and transport protocols such as DCP (the modern IP-based studio-transmitter link for DRM). Our ready-to-use solutions equally span the full transmission chain from broadcast encoder to receiver.

Fraunhofer Broadcasting/Streaming solutions

xHE-AAC

Journaline – The digital radio text service

 

For transmitter and head-end manufacturers we offer the ContentServer technology: a well-established, highly reliable and feature-rich encoder and multiplexer solution for digital radio. For third-party implementations, we offer the required audio- and Journaline encoder tools.

Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer™ R7

 

On the receiver side, Fraunhofer can supply chipset, module and receiver manufacturers with all the required components from DRM baseband demodulation to full service layer decoding including de-multiplexing, radio program management, and audio and data application decoding and rendering. Both consumer and professional radio solutions can be built on the MultimediaPlayer Radio App software, which integrates baseband and service layer decoding with versatile OEM layout options and technical interfaces for easy integration into other products.

Fraunhofer DRM MultimediaPlayer

 

Fraunhofer’s one-stop shop offerings for manufacturers are rounded-out by plenty of supporting services to broadcasters and the wider industry. This includes technical aspects like extensive manufacturer support options, broadcaster training and workshops, consulting to regulators, and constant innovation and development with contributions to future-oriented standardization

 

Nautel – Digital Broadcasters depend on Nautel

 

Nautel offers the industry’s broadest offering of solid-state DRM transmitters ranging from 1 kW to 2,000 kW MW with the NX Series, and 3.5 kW to 80 kW FM with the GV Series.

 

Whether building the BIGGEST or building for a BILLION, Nautel is ready to take on the world’s largest digital radio deployments.

 

BIGGEST – Five solid-state, DRM-enabled NX400 transmitters and a 2,000 kW combiner comprise the 2 Megawatt system at Europe’s most powerful MW station, Antenna Hungária.

 

BILLION – 33 DRM-enabled MW-AM NX Series transmitters comprised the world’s largest digital radio deployment to date for All India Radio which has the goal of bringing digital radio to nearly a billion residents of the country.

 

 

Fraunhofer IIS

o Fraunhofer DRM MultimediaPlayer Radio App

o Fraunhofer DRM SDR Receiver Kit

 

Inntot

Contact: info@inntot.com

 

WiNRADiO

The following links are to organisations involved in the DRM Software Radio Project, or who are suppliers of related equipment and technology.

 

Useful Links
Links to related sites
The following links are to organisations involved in the DRM Software Radio Project, or who are suppliers of related equipment and technology.
LINK ORGANISATION/DETAILS
AOR UK Ltd. Supplier of front-end receivers.

 

WiNRADiO Communications  Manufacturer of DRM capable PC- Receivers.

 

AOR UK Ltd
Winradio
The following links are to sites that provide additional information about DRM receivers and modifications

 

DREAM DRM SOFWARE Dream is a fully Open Source.  DRM in AM Software Radio has advanced features for both amateur and professional use. It runs on Mac, Windows and Linux and can be used with any receiver supported by the Hamlib radio control libraries. It supports decoding of audio, text messages, EPG, AFS, BWS, Journaline and MOT Slide Show. It fully supports the RSCI for professional remote logging. Binaries and source code are available. Website