ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 3, Issue 9, March 2014 Digitalization of Radio through DRM Standard on Mediumwave and Shortwave Branimir Jaksic, Mile Petrovic, Petar Spalevic, Ratko Ivkovic, Sinisa Minic University of Prishtina, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia University of Prishtina, Teachers College, Leposavic, Serbia areas where analog technology AM (amplitude modulation) Abstract— this paper work offers an overview of DRM was used. It is planned that AM should be replaced with standards used in digitization of radio on medium and short waves digital technology which is similar to technologies DAB and in the world. Firstly, it provides the raw characteristics of DRM DVB-T (all of these listed technologies use OFDM technology and its working principle, with a special focus on audio coding. After that, the state of DRM transmissions in modulation) [3]. The primary purpose of DRM technology is February 2014 is given. Also it gives an summary of radio stations for transfer of the audio content. With this basic purpose, which broadcast the program using DRM technology (country DRM also supports the transfer of some multimedia content and language transmission). Broadcasting areas of radio stations with lower transmission capacity: are also provided, as well as the number of active DRM - DRM text messages; frequencies by regions of the world, for each radio station - EPG (Electronic Program Guide); separately. Then, a map of DRM transmitters in the world is - Information text services (Journaline text based shown, with their main characteristics. information service); - Transmission frames (Slideshow); Index Terms—DRM, frequencie, radio channel, transmitters. - Channel with messages about traffic of TMC (Traffic I. INTRODUCTION Message Channel). In order to promote DRM technologies, DRM Consortium Shortwave radio is radio communication using the upper was founded in 1998. The DRM Consortium (Digital Radio MF (medium frequency) and the entire HF (high frequency) Mondiale) is an international not-for-profit organization portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. consisting of broadcasters, network providers, transmitter and Shortwave radio got its name because the wavelengths in receiver manufacturers, universities, broadcasting unions and this band are shorter than 200 m (1500 kHz) which marked research Institutes. Its aim is to support and spread a digital the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first broadcasting system suitable for use in all the frequency used for radio communications. The broadcast medium wave bands up to and including VHF Band III. There are currently band now extends above the 200 m/1500 kHz limit, and the 93 members and 90 supporters from 39 countries active amateur radio 1.8 MHz – 2.0 MHz band (known as the "top within the Consortium. DRM was formed in Guangzhou, band") is the lowest-frequency band considered to be China in 1997, initially with the objective of digitalization the 'shortwave' [1]. Initially thought to be useless, shortwave AM broadcast bands up to 30 MHz (long, medium and radio is used for long distance communication by means of short-wave). The DRM System Specification for sky wave or skip propagation, in which the radio waves are broadcasting below 30 MHz (DRM30) was first published by reflected back to Earth from the ionosphere, allowing ETSI in 2001. Subsequently, a number of ancillary supporting communication around the curve of the Earth. Shortwave standards were issued, including a Distribution and radio is used for broadcasting of voice and music, and Communication Protocol. In 2005 a decision was taken to long-distance communication to ships and aircraft, or to extend the DRM system to incorporate modes designed to remote areas out of reach of wired communication or other operate in the VHF broadcasting bands. This required the radio services. Additionally, it is used for two-way addition of high-frequency modes, which, following international communication by amateur radio enthusiasts for refinement through laboratory testing and field-trials, resulted hobby, educational and emergency purposes [2]. DRM in the publication of the current (extended) DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) technology is intended for digital specification ES 201 980 v3.1.1 [3]. New DRM technology sound broadcasting in the frequency bands below 174 MHz. specification, ETSI ES 201 980 (v3.1.1), which has been If it used in areas that are below 30 MHz (the bands LF, MF, published in august 2009. Gave novelties in terms of modes of HF) then it is called DRM30, and if it transmits in the VHF transmission (new mod E), and also surround effect in audio range I / II then it’s called DRM+. Fig. 1 shows frequency coding. bands applying the DRM standard [2]-[5]. DRM technology was originally developed for digital sound broadcasting in the 72 ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 3, Issue 9, March 2014 Fig. 1 - Frequency bands in DRM technology Since the DRM+ is upgraded so that it can operate in the brought to a multiplexer in order to form a joint data stream VHF band, it becomes the digital alternative for FM on which is also applied a method of protecting from errors. broadcasting ( ITU -R BS.1114, Systems for terrestrial digital Thus obtained common data stream is a base for forming a sound broadcasting to vehicular, portable and fixed receivers MSC channel (Main Service Channel). DRM signal is in the frequency range 30-3000 MHz, Proposal add to Digital basically composed of data within the MSC, FCA (Fast System G - DRM +) [4], [6]-[8]. Access Channel) and SDC (Service Description Channel) channels [9]-[11]. Data within the MSC channels presents all II. DRM TECHNOLOGY kinds of program content that is provided to users by DRM This technology enables reliable process under different (can be up to 4 different types). FAC channel contains propagation conditions, or in channels of various potentials. information related to the bandwidth DRM signal as well as In order to achieve it, the technology of DRM has defined the information regarding the selection of program content for different transmit modes of operation. The transmission mode the purposes of a fast search. SDC channel contains the is defined by transmitting parameters which can be classified information needed to decode the MSC channel, information into two groups: about alternative sources of program content. Over all of - Parameters that are related to bandwidth frequency these streams of data, a procedure of dispersion is applied in channels and order to remove unwanted emissions in the range of DRM - Parameters associated with the efficiency of the signal, and by the process of channel coding redundant bits transmission. are added in the form of codes for protection from errors. Width of the frequency bands can be: 4.5 kHz, 5 kHz, 9 Digital information is modulated by QAM modulation kHz, 10 kHz, 18 kHz or 20 kHz (LF, MF, HF range) or 100 method (producing QAM cells) [3], [11]. OFDM positioning kHz (VHF range). The nominal width of the frequency band combines QAM cells, MSC, FAC and SDC channels in time in the LF, MF and HF area is usually 9 or 10 kHz, and the frequency domain. OFDM signal generator transformes cells other widths are less used (e.g. doubly wider channels if we in the DRM signal to the time domain. want to achieve higher capacity) [3], [4]. The parameters related with the efficiency of the III. AUDIO CODING transmission provide ability to choose between the capacity Due to restrictions imposed on radio channels below 30 (data rate speed) and resistance (robustness) of the noise, MHz, the parameters of the coding and modulation schemes expansion of multipath and Doppler Effect. They include: of broadcast signals, available speed for encoding sources - The ratio of the code size and sizes related with ranges from 8 Kbit/s (half the width of the channel, i.e. 4 or 5 parameters amplitude modulation (4-QAM, 16-QAM, kHz) ≈ 20 Kbit/s (the standard width of the channel, i.e. 9 or 64-QAM hierarchical modulation method), 10 kHz) until ≈ 72 Kbit / s (for twice the width of the channel, - Parameters related to the definition of the OFDM symbol. i.e. of 18 or 20 kHz). The radio channels in the area between As already noted, sound is a basic element of information 30 and 174 MHz, speed for coding source are in the range of that is transmitted through DRM technology. The analog 35-185 Kbit/s. In that area, the channel width is 100 kHz [4], audio signal, firstly is leaded to the unit for analog - digital [12]. In order to ensure the optimal sound quality for a given conversion after which comes the compression and audio rate of stream of bits, the technology offers a ability to choose coding with adding protection form errors. Reducing of the from different coding schemes. Basically, they are: amount of data that should be transferred is achieved by the compression process and audio coding. Besides the audio information, it is necessary to bring the data into digital information form, which is also coded into a format suitable for transmission. Two data streams obtained in that way are 73 ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 3, Issue 9, March 2014 Fig. 2 - Options of audio coding for certain transmitting modes of DRM technology. - Coding system of AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) which enables transmission of generic mono or stereo audio IV. DRM RADIO CHANNELS IN THE WORLD program. This encoding is a subset of the MPEG-4 standard. DRM technology has been tested for the past ten years AAC can be used for any bit rate.