Uniwave Di-Wave 100 DRM Receiver can now be pre-ordered online

Uniwave Di-Wave 100 DRM Shortwave Receiver can now be pre-ordered online at AUD 499 ($ 430 Approx) here :

http://tinyurl.com/lexwf5

As per Av-Comm Pty Ltd, production of this receiver begins at end of Oct'09 & will be despatched upon receipt of first batch.

This price is more than double what some sources had indicated earlier.
According to a Belarussian forum, a representative from Uniwave indicated the retail price for Di-Wave 100 receiver as 250 Euro or 330 $. Here's the link to translated version of the Belarussian forum :

http://tinyurl.com/nqlbac

Uniwave website has also been updated & now shows availability Mid Sept 2009.

The di-wave will be officially launch to the market at the IBC show in Amsterdam, September 11th to 15th 2009 , during a big event at the IBC beach with all DRM members, broadcasters on September 11th at 5 pm.

Di-wave 100 will be launch in the Americas at CES show in Las Vegas from January 7th to 10th, 2010.

The music is back (on AIR)

Came across this lovely piece of article published in HT last week....echoes the sentiments of many music lovers & most importantly radio lovers like me.

Whole heartedly agree with the author when he says :
"An AIR with vision and verve could lead India's radio revival."


Read this excellent article here :

The music is back
Samar Halarnkar , Hindustan Times
September 06, 2009'
Saturdays feel like Sundays, and Sunday feels like Monday." It's a warm Delhi September day, overcast and humid. Perfect weather to hear Dean Martin warbling his way through the 1944 American pop standard 'Baby it's cold outside' on the radio.

More at :
http://www.hindustantimes.com/The-music-is-back/H1-Article1-450991.aspx

Special VOA series marks Sept 11 Anniversary

Washington, D.C., September 10th, 2009 – To mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Voice of America’s (VOA) Spanish Service is airing online stories that examine how people are coping after eight years. "9-11 had a tremendous impact all over the world, including Latin and Central America," said Alberto Mascaro, Director of VOA Spanish. "Our series is designed to educate our viewers and listeners about the long-term legacy of the attacks on New York and Washington." Nearly 3,000 died in the attacks. To report the series, "9/11: Eight Years Later," VOA sent a team of producers to New York to look at the city which experienced the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.The stories include, "Music and 9/11," which profiles commemorative songs composed and performed by some of the world’s most popular musicians, and "Living With Post-Traumatic Stress" – a report on the enduring psychological scars left on those who survived.The series also looks at conspiracy theories fueled by September 11th, and how the event forever changed New York City’s architectural landscape. The project is posted on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and invites viewers to comment on the stories. "9/11: Eight Years Later" can be viewed at http://www1.voanews.com/spanish/news/specialreports/Septiembre_11

Other VOA divisions are also producing special reports. VOA’s South Asia Division is marking the anniversary with call-in shows, panel discussions and personal stories in Pashto, Dari, Hindi and Urdu.

Why public broadcasting matters more than ever

September 10, 2009 - 9:54AM
In his 2009 CBA lecture, Australian Broadcasting Corporation managing director Mark Scott explains why public broadcasting matters more than ever.

More at :
http://business.theage.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/why-public-broadcasting-matters-more-than-ever-20090910-fi47.html

Apple's iPod Nano Surprise: Pausable FM Radio

Apple has introduced a new iPod Nano with pausable FM Radio, it has ablility to pause live radio, DVR-style, a feature the company calls Live Pause.

More at :
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2352699,00.asp

Related Link :

Apple adds FM radio to iPod Nano

http://www.examiner.com/x-448-SF-Radio-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Apple-adds-FM-radio-to-iPod-Nano

Sound Waves That Break Barriers: Community Radio

By Sushmita Malaviya

http://thesop.org/world/2009/09/09/sound-waves-that-break-barriers-community-radio

Seminar on 50 Years of Doordarshan

Writing a White Paper

- Who Dumped the Transformative Vision?
- Achievements ? Gains ? Losses?
- Credibility Deficit?
- Present Imbroglio? What is to be Done?

12 September 2009
from 11:00 to 17:00 hrs

India International Centre (Conference Room – II)
40, Max Mueller Marg
Lodhi Estate
New Delhi – 110 003

Participants will include broadcasting policy experts, broadcasters, social scientists, academicians and social activists
Followed by a Discussion on 50 Years of Doordarshan: Reinventing a PSB – Pretender?
Chair: Suhas Borker
From 18:30 to 20:00 hrs
Jointly organised by India International Centre & Jan Prasar

------------------------------------------------------
For any further information please contact: 09868182845
info.janprasar@gmail.com

(Thanks to Martin Joseph)

FEBA Radio turns 50 !

FEBA Radio is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

More at :

http://www.feba.org.uk/newsbriefs/febas-50th-anniversary

Deutsche Welle Strengthens Ties with Latin America

"Deutsche Welle would like to strengthen its ties with Latin America through its TV programming in Spanish. Mexico is a central partner in the region for Germany. Producing shows together can foster dialogue between the two countries,” said Erik Bettermann, Deutsche Welle Director General, in Guadalajara (Mexico) during a talk show produced jointly by DW-TV and Mexico’s public broadcaster, SJRTV. The co-production will be broadcast today (Thursday) on DW-TV Latinoamérica.The program will feature Bettermann discussing the challenges and role of journalism in the 21st century alongside Diego Petersen Farah, the head of the magazine “Público-Milenio” from Guadalajara, and the cultural journalist Yolanda Zamora Puente. According to Bettermann, the Internet and “infotainment” have brought about a radical shift in worldwide media usage. He added that the rapidly increasing amount of information available has caused media outlets to compete more for attention. “Publicly-funded media ventures must present themselves as ‘trusted guides’ in the disorienting new media landscape,” said Bettermann, who also described the dual system of public broadcasting and private media as a central pillar of democracy in Germany.Currently, Mexico is engaged in intense discussions about the reorganization of its media system. The television landscape is dominated by private stations, which are owned by just two media companies. This fact has drawn increasing criticism from politicians and from the public at large. Public broadcasters in Mexico are currently attempting to modernize, while achieving greater independence and strengthening ties with the international community.Given these developments, Deutsche Welle has increased its level of cooperation with Mexican media outlets. Bettermann signed a declaration of intent with the Mexican educational channel DGTVE on August 24, 2009 in order to make significant cooperation possible between Deutsche Welle and DGTVE. Spanish programming from the Deutsche Welle will be broadcast in the future over DGTVE’s EDUSAT network, which reaches more than four million students and 33,000 schools and cultural centers.Just a few months ago, DW-TV and Canal Judicial, a station associated with Mexico’s highest court, co-produced a program on the fight against corruption. Since 2008, the Mexican station has been broadcasting DW-TV’s Spanish language programming.

(DW Press Release)

Newzealand imposes fine for radio jamming equipment sellers

Devices intended to "jam", that is harmfully interfere with, radiocommunications are increasingly becoming available. Recognising the importance of effective, interference-free spectrum for New Zealand's communications infrastructure, particularly where radio-navigation or other safety services are concerned, Radio Spectrum Management has issued a Prohibited Radio Jammer Equipment Notice for radio jammer equipment. The manufacture or sale of such interfering equipment is not acceptable in New Zealand and an infringement fine of $1,250 may be imposed on any company found to be in breach of the notice.

http://news.business.govt.nz/news/info/rsm/article/9597

(Radio Spectrum Management, Ministry of Economic Development, Govt. of Newzealand)

Making Waves

In an economic age where even survival seems like an accomplishment, Acadiana’s radio stations are ahead of the curve.

By Don Allen
Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Read the story here :

http://www.theind.com/content/view/4908/1/

Learn English through FM channel in UP

10:23 HRS IST Abhishek Bajpai Lucknow, Sep 4 (PTI)
Switch on the radio to learn English - this is the mantra of Uttar Pradesh education department for students wanting to learn the language. In a bid to make the learning process interesting, the department has chalked out an ambitious plan to teach English language to students through FM channel.

More at :
http://www.ptinews.com/news/264292_Learn-English-through-FM-channel-in-UP

Pilots, ATC fume as radio at city airport cracks up

Arun Ram, TNN 2 September 2009, 03:13am IST

CHENNAI: The sole area control VHF radio at Chennai airport, which monitors aircraft movements up to 200 miles, is cracking up in the face of increasing traffic, putting pilots and controllers under severe stress.

More at :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/chennai/Pilots-ATC-fume-as-radio-at-city-airport-cracks-up/articleshow/4961625.cms

DRM at IBC

IBC (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
11.09.2009 - 15.09.2009
The entire and complete family of Digital Radio Mondiale technology (DRM30 and DRM+) will be showcased in Amsterdam this year during International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) 2009.
The DRM Consortium will hold a special networking and demo event at IBC this on Friday, 11th of September from 17:00 – 20:00 at the IBC Beach. Top DRM experts will present the benefits of the DRM family and will discuss its present and future. DRM demonstrations will be held by several DRM members throughout the show.
On Saturday 12th September, the DRM Consortium will also hold its Commercial Committee and Steering Board meetings in the Hotel MERCURE Amsterdam aan de Amstel, Joan Muyskenweg 10, NL-1096 CJ Amsterdam.

(Source : DRM Consortium)

DRM system enhancement approved by ETSI

The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system enhancement has been approved by the European Standards Organisation – ETSI. The DRM system revision v3.1.1 offers two major improvements like the extension to all broadcast bands up to 174 MHz and the introduction of MPEG surround support. The DRM system specification was revised to incorporate an additional mode designed for the lower VHF band (i.e. broadcast frequencies between 30MHz and 174MHz) allowing operation in bands I and II (the FM band). This standard enhancement is called DRM+. The membership vote for the new DRM System Specification (ETSI ES 201 980 V3.1.1) was closed and approved last week by a majority of members, including Russia and the US. A download version of the DRM system specification is now available on the ETSI website, http://www.etsi.org

The DRM+ initiative began with a vote at the 2005 General Assembly of the DRM Consortium deciding to extend the standard to higher frequencies. The additional mode for DRM+ was agreed and finalised after testing and verifying the design with both laboratory and field based tests. Then the ETSI standardised DRM system specification was updated. This extension completely shares the successful design philosophy of the DRM standard. Therefore, DRM+ has the same multiplex and signaling scheme, the same OFDM design and the same audio codecs as DRM30 (i.e. DRM on broadcast frequencies up to 30MHz). DRM+ is implemented in the standard as robustness mode E. Its spectrum usage parameters are determined from the internationally agreed norms in the FM band (88 to 174MHz). Therefore it has an occupied bandwidth of 95 kHz and a frequency grid of 100 kHz. ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) is recognised as an official European Standards Organisation by the European Union. ETSI standards are available as free-of-charge downloads worldwide. Hailing this development as a landmark in the history of DRM Digital Radio, Ruxandra Obreja, Chairperson DRM and Controller Business Development BBC World Service, said: “This makes the DRM system complete and it offers broadcasters a total digital solution in all bands – LW, SW, MW, band I and band II (the FM band). DRM+ will make radio sound its best ever with features such as CD-quality audio and surround sound effects. DRM is already the best digital solution for long-distance broadcasting on broadcast frequencies below 30 MHz. And now local and regional broadcasting will get the same digital radio benefits with adoption of the extended DRM standard for broadcast frequencies above 30 MHz.” All features of the updated DRM system specification will be on display at IBC2009 in Amsterdam from 11th-14th September.

(DRM Consortium Press Release www.drm.org)