BC-DX TopNews WWDXC #945 BC-DX 945

its shortwave broadcasts on 1st October 2010. From 1949-2005, Bayerischer
Rundfunk broadcast in analogue mode on 6085 kHz, and in 2005 this was
changed to a DRM relay of the news channel B5 Aktuell. Bayerischer
Rundfunk has now decided to cease shortwave broadcasting to save costs.
The decision was made taking to account that there is still a very small
selection of DRM receivers, and the market has so far not developed
satisfactorily. Reverting to analogue shortwave is not a practical
alternative.
On 2nd May 2005, Bayerischer Rundfunk started broadcasting in DRM mode on
its shortwave transmitter at Ismaning near Munich by converting its
existing analogue shortwave transmitter to digital. The small financial
outlay would be recovered from lower ongoing operating costs. B5 was
broadcast at 06.00 to 00.05 local time. But a new DRM radio was required
to receive the service.
Bayerischer Rundfunk was an early adopter of DRM, in the hope of assisting
in its development. A number of other broadcasters have also made DRM
transmissions, but the selection of suitable receivers has been limited to
a small number of expensive devices, and only a small number have been
sold.
Source: Bayerischer Rundfunk.
(RNW Media Network, via BrDXC-UK Sept 30)
Bayerischer Rundfunk ENDS Shortwave Broadcasting.
ISMANING 6085 CLOSES ON THURSDAY Sept 30, the following news became
informally known already during an open house day in July. Could it be
that I missed to report it in English and so the following will be a
surprise? Anyway:
Today Bayerischer Rundfunk issued a press release about the closure of the
6085 kHz transmitter, effective Oct 1st. It refers to cost-saving measures
and further states that "this decision has also been taken in light of the
very low numbers of digital shortwave receivers, both on the market and
amongst listeners. Very few models are available, the market has not shown
a satisfying development. (...)
Other broadcasters already transmit in the DRM standard, too. Nevertheless
the choice of available receivers did not emerge from the situation of
very few and expensive sets."
Postings in the German-language A-DX mailing list indicate that the DRM
signal now includes a text message that advises of the imminent closure.
(Kai Ludwig-D, dxld Sept 27)
Why can't programming that has been distributed digitally to the
transmitter be transmitted in analog mode? There may be advantages to
analog transmission.
BR's 6085 kHz facility is one of the last shortwave transmitters used for
domestic broadcasting in Germany. While medium wave provided long distance
reception at night, the 49 meter shortwave band allowed similar reception
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