A new world record has been reached for Digital AM broadcasting in Macedonia. PE Makedonska Radiodifuzija (MRD), a national public broadcasting operator, in collaboration with Thales and Deutsche Welle, succeeded in transmitting 720 kW mean power in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) mode from the medium-wave station Ovce Pole, the highest DRM power ever broadcast by a single transmitter, reaching exceptional coverage and quality of reception.
Transmissions were done on 810 kHz with the Thales S7HP 1200 kW solid-state medium-wave analog transmitter, in operation at Ovce Pole since its inauguration in June 2002. For the tests, Thales provided front-end equipment from its Skywave 2000 DRM Digital Product Line.
The necessary measurements of the signal quality and coverage area were performed by DW using their measurement van and various fixed control and measurement centers in Europe. Measurements were carried out twice a day: 3 hours during day time -groundwave propagation- and 3 hours during night time – skywave propagation- while transmitting the program of Macedonian Radio. The DW measurement van confirmed a coverage area during daylight of up to 300 km, whereas by night the DW centers recorded reception over larger areas of Western Europe. The audio quality was excellent and disturbance free.
DRM is the worlds only non-proprietary, digital radio system for short-wave, AM/medium-wave and long-wave approved by international standardization bodies for use worldwide. DRM revitalizes radio with clear, FM-like audio quality and excellent reception, free from static, fading and interference. Early DRM capable consumer receivers are already on the market, with a variety of DRM-capable products slated to launch in 2005.
Thales is a founding member of DRM, and has been involved since the beginning in the building of the DRM system and its progress towards universal standardization. www.thales-bm.com
Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany’s international broadcasting service with DW-TV, DW-RADIO and DW-WORLD.DE. Deutsche Welle offers news and cultural highlights from all over the world with a European and German perspective. DW-TV broadcasts its 24-hour information program in German and English from studios in Berlin. There are also regional program slots in Arabic, Dari and Pashto.
Additionally, DW supplies television stations worldwide with attractive German programs covering documentaries, family entertainment, children’s programs, sports, music and fiction too. DW-RADIO broadcasts in German, English and 28 other languages. All programs can be received direct-to-home via shortwave, a globe-spanning satellite network or via cable or local stations operated by rebroadcasting partners. DW promotes freedom of information, the programs are to foster the peaceful coexistence of nations, and to serve as a bridge of understanding among peoples in the world. DW has gained an excellent reputation for reliability and credibility. The publicly funded institution in Germany is one of the five largest international broadcasting services in the world. www.dw-world.de