The first ever DRM+ trial measurements in India have yielded satisfactory results. The test, organised jointly by All India Radio (AIR) and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium, was an effort to test the strength and coverage of DRM digital radio in FM band (VHF band II). The single test frequency of 100.1MHz carried three program channels – Gold DRM (FM), Rainbow DRM (FM) and AIR news in Journaline, with reception measured by a test vehicle going in four directions from central New Delhi where the transmitter was installed.

A Nautel VS-1 transmitter with 300W output power (500W radiated power) was used in the test, along with an RFmondial DRM+ Modulator and a Fraunhofer DRM Content Server.

Two test modes were measured – robust 4-QAM and high capacity 16-QAM. The DRM+ coverage was found to be comparable with that of analogue FM station operating at approximately 5 times the power of the DRM+ signal. A full report on the tests will jointly be published by AIR and DRM.

The week long DRM+ Showcase during May in New Delhi was also accompanied with an extensive workshop on DRM technology covering crucial issues of planning, transition, simulcast, content and receivers. A large number of participants from all across the country attended the sessions.

DRM members Nautel (Canada), Fraunhofer, RFmondial, University of Hannover (Germany) KETI (South Korea), Analog Devices (USA) and BBC (UK) took part in the test either with equipment or experts or both.

Chairperson DRM Consortium Ruxandra Obreja said: “This test was a successful culmination of a close partnership of DRM Consortium and All India Radio and the whole hearted support of the DRM members who took part in this event. AIR has already adopted DRM30 for its SW/MW network and DRM+ will play a complementary role operating in VHF band.”