RadioScape, the world leader in Software Defined Digital Radio solutions, has launched the RadioScape RS500 module that can receive DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) as well as DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast), FM with RDS, LW, MW and SW to form the basis of the worlds first affordable, integrated, multi-standard, digital radio receivers. The RS500 is based on RadioScapes innovative radiOS architecture, enabling re-use of existing applications and features previously developed for the RS300L DAB/FM module. Many of the innovative features available on the RS300L have been directly implemented on this module, accelerating time to market for a fully featured receiver design. The RS500, for example, immediately supports capabilities such as the highly popular Pause, Rewind and Record to MMC card features as well as the ability to display and use Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) data.
Because we create our modules using radiOS — our own advanced Software Defined radio architecture, explained Andrew Moloney, Marketing Manager for Receivers at RadioScape, it has been possible for us to add DRM in an affordable and user friendly form to our existing range of receiver capabilities. The RS500 is size and pin compatible with our very successful RS300L enabling radio manufacturers to migrate existing designs to the RS500, rapidly bringing to market ranges of receivers, which include DRM-capable designs, in time to catch the pre Christmas 2005 sales.
The RS500 is based on the Texas Instruments TMS320DRM350 digital signal processor-based (DSP) baseband, the first integrated digital baseband that supports both DRM and DAB standards, for which RadioScape designed the DRM baseband stack. The radiOS architecture, which is only available on RadioScape modules, extends the DSPs basic capabilities, and seamlessly manages uploads of the appropriate RadioScape software stack and/or applications to change functionality to suit the requirements of the moment. This significantly improves the user experience, masking transitions between different broadcast standards by automatically listing all services alphabetically regardless of transmission type so that users select by content and avoiding the need for manual band switching.
Modules will be sampling in August of 2005, with volume production following shortly thereafter. RadioScape forecasts that multi-standard, multi-band receivers based on the RS500 could have end user prices below $250 — almost a quarter the price of existing DRM receivers in the market.
This is the breakthrough that DRM has been waiting for, said Peter Senger, DRM Chairman and Deutsche Welle COO. Until now there have only been a limited number of DRM receivers available. This new module from RadioScape will open up the market with easy to use, consumer priced, multi-standard receivers in the same way that the company helped open up the DAB market. The broadcasts are already in place with dozens of broadcasters currently transmitting around the world. WorldDAB and DRM have been co-operating for sometime, added Annika Nyberg, President of WorldDAB. There are synergies between DAB and DRM business models. These synergies will provide an added boost in many countries as multi-standard digital radios bought for DRM will also receive DAB providing broadcasters with large potential audiences.