Demonstration of open source digital transmission chain at IBC

A full digital radio chain from studio to receivers has been demonstrated by EBU at IBC 2010 in Amsterdam. The demo was including

• FM + RadioDNS using Gnuradio for FM RDS Stereo transmission and EBU open radiovis server
• DAB/DAB+ and RadioDNS using CRC MMBtools
• DAB + Slideshow using CRC MMBtools
• DRM + Slideshow using Spark

A license was granted by the Netherlands regulation organism. An EIRP of 10 Watt was covering the site. Everything was included in a single 8 cores computer (2x 4 cores CPU's). Sound processing, Audio encoding & DMB, Multiplexing, Modulation, pre-filtering for the DAB signal, + FM with RDS and DRM !

Various receivers from smartphones to more classic devices were displayed during this setup to demonstrate the content produced on site (audio + enriched metadada like picture & text). A real small radio station was built on the stand using a Visual Radio production platform developed by EBU and based on Musicmaster music scheduling.

EBU plan also to release the source code for the Visual Radio platform and the RadioVIS development on the Chumby (open wifi/FM receiver device).

Event pictures:

• Building the setup, adjustments & debuging...

• The antenna for the Band III. (we were operating on the channel 10A)

• The setup, later when cleaned !

• The transmission platform: Software Radio Defined Everywhere ! DAB in-a-box

• A closer look: PC, USRP's (3x, the third one was on the back) amplifier and mask filter.

• Mask filter (to meet CEPT spectrum mask requirements for DAB).

• One of the 3 views (screen) on the unique machine, this one is the DAB screen.

(Audio capture with Jack, Sound processing, audio encoder, DAB multiplexing and COFDM modulation with pre filtering)

• EBU Visual Radio Production platform !

• Live from IBC2010 !

• DAB with packet mode MOT slideshow on the Iriver B20.

• FM with RadioDNS on the Sony-Ericson Xperia (developped by Global Labs).

• FM with RadioDNS on the Nokia N900 (developped by Global Labs).

• FM with RadioDNS on Chumby One (developped by EBU).

• DAB with RadioDNS on Pure Sensia.

• DAB with RadioDNS on Pure Sensia.

• DAB with RadioDNS on Pure Sensia with live pics from the stand.

• DAB on Iphone via a 'Broadcast Hotspot' from Argo One

(Digital receiver with WiFi AP to relay the free to air broadcast signal on a tuner-less device)

• DRM with SlideShow.