HFU HF Underground
Loggings => Shortwave Broadcast => Topic started by: cmradio on September 07, 2008, 0849 UTC
-
PC receivers aside, there is one standalone receiver I have found and it is by Morphy Richards.
Page links for receivers from DRM.org are either "404" or discontinued or prototypes not available to the public.
The average listener does not want to (or can't) rip apart their SW radio to modify it and many of these "radios on a microchip", like from Eton, are impossible to modify for DRM output.
I hear many SW DRM stations on my receiver. What good is it if no one can receive them without hauling their PC around on their backs? ;D
Peace!
-
There was a post on rec.radio.shortwave not long ago saying that Radio Shack and others were selling off all DRM equipment at rock-bottom prices. I think this is the end.
-
Excellent. Now if IBOC/HD-Radio would go away as well.
-
I think DRM stands a chance, only because it's a fairly open standard. There is enthusiasm in Europe, but it is slow going.
IBOC, on the other hand, is toast and on life support. The only hope for it is for the Ibiquity lobbyists to get the FCC to cram it down our throats, and it looks like it may happen. There are semi-serious discussions happening now around moving all digital AM stations up to a part of the spectrum vacated by VHF TV stations when they shut off their analog transmitters in February.
Ibiquity and the larger broadcast conglomerates would probably rally around this idea. It would force, en-masse, consumers to abandon most receivers for new gear and probably be the nail in the coffin for smaller ma & pa AM holdouts. It would be a sad day for American radio but it would actually open up interesting possibilities for mediumwave DXers, as the MW spectrum in North America would suddenly become quiet. The DX would be rolling in. It's a high price to pay, though.
Here is an article on the concept: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0052/t.15575.html
-
Wasn't Alaska talking about DRM shortwave to cover the state with radio broadcasts from central locations? ???
If this is to work, they will have to make easily available and inexpensive DRM receivers.
...it would be a sad day for American radio but it would actually open up interesting possibilities for mediumwave DXers, as the MW spectrum in North America would suddenly become quiet. The DX would be rolling in. It's a high price to pay, though.
Especially with these low sunspots! Mexico and Cuba stations have been coming in near Vancouver, BC at 30-over some nights ;D
Peace!
-
Wasn't Alaska talking about DRM shortwave to cover the state with radio broadcasts from central locations? ???
I believe that is still on the drawing board.
There is a site tracking and advocating US DRM broadcasting on 26 MHz here: http://klixie.com/26mhz/
-
The availability of relatively cheap computers and internet access, doomed DRM from day one.
Winamp running at 32 kpbs/44kHz AAC+ runs well even on crappy dialups and can provide some really impressive audio, with a bit of eq. tweaking.
Better sound than DRM and a much larger range of listening choices.
-
I agree - I listen to music online from Europe and independent stations now, more than I do traditional radio. Even Satellite radio choices are a wee too confining for me. Local stations just do the "heavy rotation" of the same 5-10 songs a wee bit too much. If traditional radio returned to it's more eclectic roots, I'd listen again. I just don't foresee that happening.
-
From what I have heard, RNZI had dropped DRM on 6170 in favour of analog again :)
(at least they haven't been using DRM there for the past month or so)
Peace!