DRM broadcasting can be done using a choice of different bandwidths

DRM30 system uses SW and MW frequency bands and is based on signal bandwidths of 9 kHz or 10 kHz. It also consists of modes which utilize wider bandwidths of 18 kHz or 20 kHz as well as modes requirin g 4.5 kHz or 5 kHz of bandwidth. DRM+ require a narrow bandwidth and is intended to suit FM broadcast band plan with 100 kHz of inter channel frequency gap. DRM allows broadcasting of single or small numbers of audio services together with bit rates ranging from 37 kbps to 186 kbps, allowing four services simultaneously. This allows DRM to operate parallel to analog transmission.

    DRM broadcasting can be done using a choice of different bandwidths:

• 4.5 kHz. Gives the ability for the broadcaster to do a simulcast and use the lower-sideband area of a 9 kHz raster channel for AM, with a 4.5 kHz DRM signal occupying the area traditionally taken by the upper-sideband.^[12] However the resulting bit rate and audio quality is not good.
• 5 kHz. Gives the ability for the broadcaster to do a simulcast and use the lower-sideband area of a 10 kHz raster channel for AM, with a 5 kHz DRM signal occupying the area traditionally taken by the upper-sideband. However the resulting bit rate and audio quality is marginal (7.1–16.7 kbit/s for 5 kHz). This technique could be used on the shortwave bands throughout the world.
• 9 kHz. Occupies half the standard bandwidth of a region 1 long wave or medium wave broadcast channel.
• 10 kHz. Occupies half the standard bandwidth of a region 2 broadcast channel. could be used to simulcast with analogue audio channel restricted to NRSC5. Occupies a full worldwide short wave broadcast channel (giving 14.8–34.8 kbit/s)
• 18 kHz. Occupies full bandwidth of region 1 long wave or medium wave channels according to the existing frequency plan. This offers better audio quality.
• 20 kHz. Occupies full bandwidth of region 2 or region 3 AM channel according to the existing frequency plan. This offers highest audio quality of the DRM30 standard (giving 30.6–72 kbit/s).
• 100 kHz for DRM+. This bandwidth can be used in band I, II, and III and DRM+ can transmit four different programs in this bandwidth or even one low definition digital video channel.

DRM at Association of Radio Operators for India’s AGM.

Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) is the official association of the private commercial radio stations in India made up of 28 commercial radio stations. At present, these commercial radio stations are broadcasting in analogue FM and it is understood that they cover about 40% population of the country. The DRM Consortium has just joined AROI as a full member. 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association was held in New Delhi last week under the chairmanship of Anuradha Prasad, President, AROI. 

Considering that there is a definite need to introduce digital radio broadcasting in India to effectively utilise the spectrum in VHF-II band for Radio broadcasting, to provide diverse content and other value-added services to radio listeners, the regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had recommended last year that the commercial radio sector should be allowed to provide digital radio broadcasting services within the existing frequency band of 88 –108 MHz used for FM radio broadcasting. 

The recommendation was to use and auction the 200 KHz bandwidth spectrum between two allocated FM frequencies in the VHF-II band, without disturbing existing analogue FM transmissions. Amit Khare, Secretary Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, while addressing the AROI members emphasised how important it is for the commercial radio stations to start digital terrestrial radio broadcasting in India. 

While speaking at the meeting, Yogendra Pal, Chair of the DRM India Chapter, outlined the advantages of the DRM system for digital broadcasting in the FM band. He said that six audio channels, each with value added text and multimedia services, can be broadcast in DRM digital while respecting the recommended 200 kHz bandwidth use, against only one audio channel in analogue FM. He further added that DRM FM is much more energy efficient than analogue FM and the area which is covered by a 10kW analogue FM transmitter can be covered by just 1kW digital power by DRM FM. 

He added that the DRM system adopted by All India Radio (AIR) for digital broadcasting in Medium Wave (MW) and Short Wave (SW) bands, fully meets the TRAI recommendations for digital broadcasting in FM band as well. He added that the large digital receiver system already developed in India can easily be upgraded to receive digital DRM in FM band, too. 

He mentioned that software Apps for DRM digital reception in mobile phones is ready and that, during discussions with mobile phone manufacturers, it was learnt that once the policy for digital broadcasting in FM band is announced by the Government they may consider extending digital output of the inbuilt FM tuner for DRM digital reception in mobile phones. 

Some of the members raised the concern that since commercial radio stations are not permitted to cover news and sports, in digital they would have to go for more music channels. This would further increase the cost of music royalties. At the same time digitisation would require new investment in transmitter infrastructure, production costs and license fees for new frequencies etc. Some of the participants suggested that Government may give them incentives for going digital and each licensed commercial radio station may be allocated a frequency, totally free of charge, for digital broadcasting. 

Considering that AIR has already installed 35 MW DRM digital transmitters, which will cover about 60% population of the country once they start operating in pure DRM digital mode, Pal suggested that to start with commercial stations might approach the Government/Prasar Bharati/AIR to be allowed to carry their programmes on one of the additional channels available on the digital MW network. This could be a win win opportunity for AIR and the commercial stations to popularise digital broadcasting in India without any of the additional expenditure necessary for creating a new transmitting infrastructure.

Read more at: http://www.asiaradiotoday.com /news/drm-association-radio-operators-india %E2 %80%99s-agm © Radioinfo.com.au

Forwarded by :- Shri. Jhavendra Kumar Dhruw ,  jhavendra.dhruw@gmail.com

ALL India radio adopts DRM Module

DRM : MEDIUM WAVE BROADCASTS IN INDIA BY All India Radio

                MEDIUM WAVE BROADCASTS IN INDIA BY All India Radio

Chennai	783 kHz	20 kW	Pure DRM (2 channel)	Vividh Bharati Chennai + FM Rainbow Chennai
Delhi	1368 kHz	20 kW	Pure DRM (2 channel)	Vividh Bharati Delhi + FM Rainbow Delhi
Rajkot	1071 kHz	870 kW	Pure DRM (1 channel)	AIR Urdu service
Ahmedabad	855 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Ajmer	612 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Bengaluru	621 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold
Barmer	1467 kHz	20 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Bikaner	1404 kHz	20 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Chennai A	729 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Raagam (Classical music station)
Chinsurah	603 kHz	870 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Delhi A	828 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold
Dharwad	774 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Dibrugarh	576 kHz	300 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Guwahati-B	1044 kHz	10 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Hyderabad	747 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	AIR Hyderabad
Itanagar	684 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Jabalpur	810 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Jalandhar	882 kHz	300 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold
Jammu	999 kHz	300 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Kolkata A	666 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold (Kolkata)
Kolkata B	1017 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Rainbow (Kolkata)
Luknow	756 kHz	300 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold
Mumbai A	1053 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	DTH Hindi
Mumbai B	567 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	DTH Marathi
Panaji	1296 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold
Passighat	1071 kHz	10 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Patna	630 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Pune	801 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Rajkot	819 kHz	300 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Rajkot	1080 kHz	870 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati /Urdu
Ranchi	558 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Siliguri	720 kHz	200 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Rainbow India
Suratgarh	927 kHz	300 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Tawang	1530 kHz	10 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Trichirapalli	945 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Chennai
Varanasi	1251 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	Vividh Bharati Mumbai
Vijayawada	846 kHz	100 kW	Simulcast AM+DRM	FM Gold