Sariel has recognized expertise in radio distribution integrated with the global network of owned and operated transmitters that provide flexible worldwide distribution of programming on Short Wave, Medium Wave, FM Technology, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), and DRM. Having partnered with the world’s leading broadcasters and radio stations, we are adept at managing the critical infrastructure helping you to provide the best possible method to reach you audiences.
Short Wave
Found above the medium wave band, the short wave or high frequency goes from 1700 kHz to roughly 30,000 kHz on the radio spectrum. While there are certain ‘bands’ which are dedicated to regular broadcasting stations transmitting to a mass audience, this spectrum is further divided into segments used for marine communications, utility stations and amateur radio operators.
Medium Wave
Medium Wave, which is the part of the medium frequency radio band used for AM radio broadcasting, ranges from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz in Europe and an extended band from 535 kHz to 1705 kHz in North America. While in Europe, the channels are spaced every 9 kHz, in North America, they’re spaced every 10 kHz. Medium Wave has been in use since the early 1920s and is the original radio broadcasting band. Used typically by radio stations serving a local or regional audience, they can often be heard hundreds or even thousands of miles away at night. This is because the signals are no longer absorbed by the lower levels of the ionosphere.
Programme distribution via traditional analogue medium and long wave transmitters is still an ideal complement to other transmission channels today. This is supported by the large number of portable and mobile radios which can receive MW and LW programmes at the push of a button, and by the long range of the transmitter systems.
These transmitters are also suited for the transmission of data services as they possess excellent transmission and reception characteristics along with a very large reach.
FM
Like most of us are aware, frequency modulation technology or FM technology is what is used for FM broadcasting, a method of radio broadcasting. Currently being used worldwide to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio, it was invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong. Since FM broadcasting is capable of better sound quality than the chief competing radio broadcasting technology – AM broadcasting, it is used for most of the music broadcasts. Each country has a certain FM band, which is the frequency band dedicated to FM broadcasting and it is sufficiently wide to broadcast high-fidelity, stereo signals from each FM station. The sum of the left and right channel audio signals modulates the carrier frequency along with the 38 kHz sub carrier which modulates the carrier. The FM tuner, which then decodes this signal, separates the left and right audio channels. Well, we have now discovered the working behind the FM radio we regularly listen to!
Digital Audio Broadcasting
Initially started as a research project in Europe, Digital Audio Broadcasting has now become a digital radio standard across many countries. It is used to broadcast digital audio radio services, especially in Europe and Asia Pacific although it is catching up in other countries as well. The first DAB channel was launched in Norway back in 1995 after which BBC and Swedish Radio also launched theirs. By the end of the 1990s, the DAB receivers had become available in many countries.
DAB is more versatile and robust than FM radio with regard to noise and multi-path fading especially for mobile listening because the former has a critical threshold till which it provides good reception quality. The latter, on the other hand, depends directly on the network strength, the quality thereby degrades with decreasing signal.
While most radio stations use a bit rate of 128 kbit/s or less which gives better dynamic range than FM radio, it also gives a more smeared stereo image and an upper cut off frequency of 14 kHz. An upgraded version of the system was released in 2007, called DAB. However, this was not compatible with the DAB receivers and could not receive the DAB+ signals. DAB+ is twice as efficient as DAB, and much more robust. Bands allocated for public DAB services were called T-DAB (terrestrial DAB) in spectrum management.
Today, over 30 countries provide DAB transmissions while others including Norway, UK, Australia, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany transmit DAB+ stations. It is safe to say that DAB may gradually replace FM radio altogether. Norway has become the first country to announce national FM Radio Analog switch off from 2017.
DRM
This is the widely accepted and openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all the broadcasting frequencies, in both the AM bands and the VHF bands I, II and III. There are many advantages to DRM in terms of broadcasting, some of them listed below.
INCREASED CHOICE
Today, the average radio can receive approximately 35049 local FM stations and a few Medium Wave Broadcasts. DRM takes this to the next level with its potential to bring a vast selection of new content to every radio. With a host of new programmes from the world’s leading international broadcasters, quality talk radio focussing on music, national and regional topics on medium wave and a world of community radios keen to find a voice, DRM is truly taking the culture higher up.
SOUND QUALITY? EVEN BETTER!
DRM brings in FM-like sound quality with exceptional reception everywhere, from the dense forests to the concrete jungles, indoors and outdoors to even amidst a block of flats.
PORTABILITY – CHECK!
With all these innovations and upgrades, you thought this would become too complicated! Well, we’re glad to prove you wrong because it’s still a radio! Without the need for an internet connection nor a WiFi, you can tune in just about anywhere, whenever you desire!
BREAKING BOUNDARIES
Like we said earlier, DRM is ideally suited to long range broadcasting. This gives you the ability to stay tuned to the same station even if you are crossing cities, national boundaries or even countries! Not restrained to a particular region, nation or even country makes this technology limitless and extremely unique! So, the next time you are on a holiday across Europe, you can stay tuned to your favorite radio station throughout!
WITHOUT LOSING THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL RADIO
The best part about this is even a low cost DRM receiver gives you all the benefits of modern digital radios. From being able to tune in by frequency, station name or even type of programme, DRM makes it extremely easy. And if you need some more information, it comes with associated text information including the station name, title of the programme or song, etc. Could you ask for more? DRM therefore makes life easier by allowing us to tune into FM, MW and DAB along with DRM, making this the one device you have with you for all the radio content you want!