The United States should seriously consider DRM on shortwave

The American Energy Behind HD Radio Could Have Boosted Any Digital System

The American effort to push HD Radio could have propelled any other digital system. Indeed, there is clear dedication to ensuring the system remains strong within the U.S., to the point that there's no real priority in making it a standard elsewhere in the world. It certainly doesn’t compare to the push seen years ago to conquer the Brazilian market and others. In Brazil, for example, there is no trace of the kind of energy that was invested decades ago in tests and meetings. The focus is now firmly on the United States.

However, given its rich radio history, it's surprising that Americans are content to speak only to themselves. In crucial moments of the past, having a voice on shortwave was a major flag, even a propaganda weapon, used to reach audiences in so-called enemy territories.

Much time is wasted trying to reinvent the wheel. Even for the United States, now is not the time to create its own new shortwave digital language. It could easily jump on board with what's already on the table: the DRM system. With minimal sacrifice, the country could digitize and revive the importance of stations that once spoke to the world, but which are no longer being heard.

This global silence is directly related to the rise of competing media that deliver quality audio and information from one side of the world to the other, with clarity and efficiency. And the only way for radio to compete in this space is through digital shortwave broadcasting. It is the only viable way to reach conflict zones, areas with widespread communication problems, power outages, or lack of internet access. It holds not only strategic importance, but humanitarian importance as well.

Digitizing American shortwave stations wouldn’t even be a herculean effort. This is a country that has shown an ability to adapt at record speed to all sorts of challenges. Catching up is trivial, and riding the wave of an existing system is even more efficient.

VoA

I remember how my grandfather used to speak with awe about the Voice of America. He made a point of bringing rare news, often received from faraway, powerful radio stations, sometimes even from international broadcasters airing in Portuguese. He was often the first to tell his friends that color television had been invented. That, and many other facts, were things he learned thanks to his “radio addiction.” My grandfather lived in a small town (São José de Mipibu/RN), and he learned many things without a teacher. He had the gift of seeking knowledge, and radio was one of his main tools.

Will the Power of Global Radio Return?

It’s worth pointing out the reasons this power declined, and there are many. The very regionalization of radio led to the empowerment of local stations. FM outshined AM. Satellite networks integrated TV information around the world. And until the arrival of the Internet, that was the most powerful way information spread globally.

Then the Internet came, and it weighed heavily on all these forms of communication, not just radio and TV, but also on powerful formats like printed newspapers. It quickly became an environment that houses endless ways to communicate and spread information.

The true challenge today is merely to coexist with the Internet. It reinvents itself uncontrollably. But radio must take advantage of the empty spaces, as a complement. And by that, I don’t just mean broadcasting in regions without internet access. That alone isn’t enough. I’ve written in other posts about how digital radio can go far beyond the web and reclaim its power.

The evolution of radio must reach the user experience. Tuning in and choosing a station cannot be the only gain. Many other features can already be added now — and many more deserve to be given permission to exist.

Not Getting Lost in the Ocean of Internet Sources

Having a European reference broadcaster like the BBC available across its various channels, having once again easy access to the Voice of America, or gaining proximity to African cultures, it all seems like it should already be possible on the Internet, while technically it is, it ends up lost in the ocean of options. That’s why I say again, in the most oxygen-rich habitat for radio, the car, having the option to tune into BBC London in high quality amidst a boring traffic jam is a true differentiator. It revives the magic of global radio.

Operating in Shortwave

I’m not a fan of radios that use the bare minimum settings in digital shortwave transmission. I understand that a lower bitrate brings robustness and resilience in signal acquisition, but there are good news! We’ve made great progress in efficient compression formats. We’ve already been surprised by the quality that can be achieved on the receiver side.I plan to dig into video testimonies of long-distance reception, to analyze the captured audio quality, signal continuity, dropouts, and overall stability.