07 Nov Encompass Carried Out a Successful One-Off Broadcast From UK to India on Nov 4th
Encompass Digital Media ran a one-off transmission from its site in Woofferton, UK, on Friday 4th of November. This electronic music broadcast targeted the whole of India, around 5,000 miles (or about 8,000 kilometres) as the crow flies to the centre of the country. This might be the longest distance Encompass has covered with its DRM transmissions.
Before the actual broadcast, several tests were run using different frequencies, antennas and power combinations. The final test on November 2nd to confirm final set-up was a great success as the audio could be recorded from a KiwiSDR online receiver located in New Delhi. The SNR of 20dB was measured in New Delhi and 23.9dB in Bangalore, which proves the power of shortwave radio and how DRM and its excellent sound, even in shortwave, can travel such long distances. The audio was also decoded in Bangkok, and a listener report came even from Canada!
This 
experimental broadcast promoting the music of C. M. Obrecht was scheduled for November 4th, 19:00 – 20:00 UTC, on 11710kHz. It used xHE-AAC codec with DRM Mode B, transmitting at 125kW on a 78* bearing from Woofferton. The audio was accompanied by ancillary data including a slideshow image of the album cover art. The test was a success.
Although the transmission was quite late in India, Encompass received several excellent reception reports from within the country. If you still have them, please send reception reports to Steve Palmer at: spalmer@encompass.tv (This is also the address to use for further information about Encompass’ DRM projects and services).
