TWR ASIA A21 Changes

With effect from 12th July 2021 TWR Asia will discontinue morning broadcasts from Grigoriopol (KCH).  

LOC FREQ START STOP PWR AZI DAYS LANGUAGE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
KCH 7465 0045 0100 300 98 Su                   HINDI
KCH 7465 0045 0115 300 98 M Tu W Th F HINDI
KCH 7465 0045 0100 300 98 Sa                   DZONKHA

Japan’s only shortwave station still in business after 80 years

Japan's only shortwave station still in business after 80 years

KDDI Corp.'s Yamata Transmitting Station is Japan's only facility broadcasting shortwave radio programs to overseas listeners. The station started broadcasts on Jan. 1, 1941. The main building still retains a prewar ambience.

Standing tall and proud over an area of 1 million square meters or so, a forest of steel towers in two-tone red and white is the dominant feature under the blue sky against the backdrop of Mount Tsukubasan.

Full story at :

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14367647

Japanese commercial MW stations will stop broadcasting by 2028

TBS Radio Inc. Chairman Kiyohiko Irie is seen during a news conference in Tokyo's Minato Ward, on June 15, 2021. 

(Photo courtesy of the Wide FM receiver promotion liaison via mainichi.jp/)

According to "Sports Hochi News" and other media, representatives of 47 Japanese commercial AM radio stations held online meeting on June 15, they announced 44 out of 47 broadcasters have decided to stop AM broadcasting by the year 2028 and change to FM. Only 3 broadcasters in Hokkaido and Akita have not decided yet. 3 AM broadcasters in Tokyo – TBS Radio(954 kHz 100 kW/90.5 MHz 7 kW), Bunka Hoso(1134 kHz 100 kW/91.6 MHz 7 kW), Nippon Hoso(1242 kHz 100 kW/93.0 MHz 7 kW) will take decision in 2025. 28 AM broadcasters will start the demonstration experiment to stop AM in 2023-2028.

The reasons are :

1) it is financially impossible to renew the old AM transmitter equipment

2) the simultaneous AM/FM broadcasting has been the severe burden for finance, they add the number of internet/mobile phone (using "radiko" site or App) listeners have exceeded that of radio listeners,especially in younger generation.

47 commercial AM broadcasters are, 16 MW only and 31 MW +TV broadcasters. Radio NIKKEI (SW only) is not included.

(Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan via WOR)

Related :

44 of 47 AM radio stations in Japan to switch to FM by 2028

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210616/p2a/00m/0na/013000c?fbclid=IwAR379S2HBlfHPUeQzhjdTdMNhxo-f6MQk8gmvk4N36byDiyriqHcH-WQjq4

DRM to Launch New Energy Efficiency Calculator

DRM Releases New Energy Efficiency Calculator

The DRM Consortium has just developed a comprehensive and user-friendly calculator tool to determine how much energy can be saved by switching transmitters from analogue to digital DRM operation.

The DRM Energy Efficiency Calculator (https://energyefficiency.drm.org) has been created using typical performance data from transmitter manufacturers. It then calculates total expected energy usage for up to ten transmitters by considering operational mode, time on-air, and broadcasting technique assessing the energy consumption and electricity costs, based upon local market information. By comparing data sets for both analogue and DRM digital operations, it can estimate the potential (and often huge) savings broadcasters might expect from switching over to DRM.

This not only benefits broadcasters by reducing their electricity bills by double-digit percentages but proves specifically how DRM supports broadcasters' efforts to become more sustainable though green technology significantly reducing requirements for energy produced in large parts of the world from fossil fuels.

According to Simon Keens, Sales and Business Development Manager, Ampegon Power Electronics AG (key member of the DRM Consortium) who has devised the calculator," this new energy efficiency tool can be easily programmed into an Excel spreadsheet for ease of use and universal distribution in pdf reports summarizing the findings in simple text and graphs. This will help the engineers and all those interested to present concretely one of the great advantages of DRM, i.e., delivering substantial and sustained energy savings over many years."

Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chairman, invites all those interested to a "zoom launch" of the new energy efficiency tool "Savings at Your Fingertips" on June 30th at 1000 UTC for introducing the simple device that will deliver results in minutes. "Unlike other complex studies on energy saving, this is something concrete that any broadcaster or anyone interested can create and use applying up to the minute data like transmitter power, energy costs etc. So, join us for this short takeaway session which will demonstrate how you can get concrete data and reports on energy consumption and savings through DRM use. Interested parties will be able to use it independently and thus assess and convince themselves and others of the energy saving benefit of DRM."

To register and join this webinar, please click here : https://tinyurl.com/ckdb93p9

DRM Concludes General Assembly with Important Announcements

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) Consortium Concludes General Assembly with Important Announcements

The DRM Consortium held its second virtual General Assembly on April 15th with the participation of 70 members and guests from all continents (Indonesia, Pakistan, UK, Germany, Denmark, South Africa, Hungary, Australia, India, Canada, Brazil, China and USA).

The first session, open to members and invited guests, reviewed excellent progress made in the past year in countries like India, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan and very recently in Brazil, Russia and Hungary.

The much-anticipated session on receivers did not disappoint with new prototypes, updates and developments announced by receivers and chipset manufacturers (Gospell, RF2Digital, Inntot, Cambridge Consultants, NXP, Fraunhofer IIS and Starwaves). They all announced that the new (many low-cost, low energy) receivers and receiver solutions support all the DRM bands, analogue and, the SDR solutions and even other standards. The German-Swiss Starwaves introduced its Android dongle for mobiles just launched: https://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/en/pr/2021/20210318_ame_starwaves_drm.html

https://starwaves.com/starwaves-drm-softradio-app-for-android-now-available/

Fraunhofer IIS also gave details about the project to test the DRM framework within the ATSC 3.0 TV platform which will give access to multi-featured DRM content on radio, TV and also mobiles and cars: https://www.drm.org/drm-framework-to-be-integrated-into-the-atsc-3-0-digital-tv-platform/

The India presentation focused on the almost 3 million DRM receivers in Indian cars. The recent DRM for FM successful trial in India also featured head unit radios with DRM AM and DRM FM integrated and working perfectly in some of the car models used during the trial. The upgrade of existing digital AM units to FM was possible and easy, without a change of hardware. As explained during the various GA sessions most of the receivers, no matter which platform (car, mobile, standalone) support the full DRM standard (AM and FM) and all the DRM features giving extra benefits like EWF (Emergency Warning Functionality), distance learning, extra content in various languages.

In the busiest activity year of the Consortium so far, participants also learned about full projects rolling out in Indonesia and Pakistan, about the successful DRM (FM) trial in Russia and DRM (SW) DRM trial in Brazil.

The recent DRM for FM trial in India had its own session and the interest was so great that the Consortium has announced a full "DRM for India Trial – Innovation and Success" webinar for May 6th.

Aspects of the current radio market, the energy savings delivered by DRM, the education project, the link with other international organisations and the improved communications gave representatives of Encompass Media Services, BBC, Fraunhofer IIS, RFmondial, Nautel, NXP, Ampegon, Dolby, Silabs, Radio Pulpit, Gospell, Kintronic Labs a chance to update and debate the issues that the Consortium will incorporate into its future strategy.

According to DRM Chairman, Ruxandra Obreja: "The DRM General Assembly was a great occasion to celebrate the great successes of the last year, achieved in conditions of world crisis. The great receiver developments and DRM demos and roll out plans all over the world have set the agenda for the coming year. The commitment, energy and support of the DRM members is our greatest asset and guarantee that DRM will be making it possible for everyone, no matter where they are and, whether they are connected to modern technology or not, to stay safe, informed and educated."

(Press Release)

Voice of the Strait SW broadcast temporarily stopped

Voice of the Strait, Fujian, China announced that they have stopped the shortwave transmission ("News Program" 4940 kHz, "Minnan language Program" 4900 kHz) between May 16 – July 13 for maintenance. Shortwave broadcast will be on air again on July 14. During the period listeners are requested to receive on MW and FM. "News Program" :MW 666 kHz / FM 90.6 MHz(Fujian province),  "Minnan language Program" : MW 738 kHz / FM 97.8 MHz(Amoy province).

Original article is at  https://cahcn.github.io/posts/2021-05-16-Voice-of-Strait.html

Takahito Akabayashi

Tokyo, Japan

(Via WOR List)

Canada Day Special Broadcast

Canada D'eh

Date/Time:  July 1, 10-11 PM EDT (July 2, 0200-0300 UTC)

Frequency:  WBCQ The Planet, 6160 & 7490 kHz

July 1st is Canada Day, and since RCI is no longer blessing shortwave listeners with its presence on the short waves, Fred Waterer, a genuine Canadian, and "Uncle Bill" Tilford, an American who is frequently mistaken for one, will present  Canada D'eh, an affectionate salute to the occasion with music, humor, fun facts and stories on WBCQ The Planet, which is right next door to Canada with time donated by Angela and Allan Weiner.

(Bill Tilford)