HCJB Global Voice DRM Broadcasts

1
HCJB Global Voice DRM Broadcasts

• Charles Jacobson
• HCJB Global Technology Center
• Elkhart, IN

2
DRM from HCJB

• Special even broadcasts NAB, NASB, DX events,
  etc.
• Regular broadcasts
• Europe since May 2007
• Brazil since January 2008

3
DRM from HCJB

• Equipment
• HCJB developed DRM Content Server and modulator
• Siemens class A transmitter
• Built in the 1960s, acquired by HCJB in 1990s
• Used for SSB, back for tropical band broadcasts
• Capable of 20 kW analog, 4 kW DRM
• Stearable antenna high gain parabolic screen
• Rhombic antenna to Brazil

4
DRM from HCJB

• European broadcast
• Since May 2007
• Primarily German, some Spanish and English
• Summer months on 9815 kHz 0500-0600 UTC
• Winter months on 15275, 15350, 1100-1300 UTC
• Used 16 QAM to achieve a decode at 6 db less SNR
• Used Mode A and Unequal Error Protection to
  maximize audio qualilty at 14 kbps with SBR

5
DRM from HCJB

• European broadcasts
• Early results very encouraging
• DW monitoring network included HCJB in its
  regular monitoring
• Received attention from the DRM consotrium
  Systems Evaluation (SE) group
• Many listeners also monitored and reported
• See DRMRX forum

6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
DRM from HCJB

• Audio recording from listener in Sweden
  September 2007

11
DRM from HCJB

• Brazil broadcast
• Begun January 2008
• Using rhombic antenna that will be used for our
  regular broadcasts once the current Brazil
  antennas are removed at the end of 2008
• Purpose to encourage DXs in Brazil to
  investigate DRM
• At this point only one person regular monitors

12
DRM from HCJB

• Questions?