Return-Path: X-Spam-DCC: paranoid 1233; Body=2 Fuz1=2 Fuz2=2 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.3 (2006-06-01) on lipkowski.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-2.5 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,HTML_50_60, HTML_MESSAGE autolearn=unavailable version=3.1.3 Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [195.171.43.25]) by paranoid.lipkowski.org (8.13.7/8.13.7) with ESMTP id sBVGSIh9028199 for ; Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:28:19 +0100 Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1Y6M26-0002c1-JA for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:22:02 +0000 Received: from [195.171.43.32] (helo=relay1.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1Y6M26-0002bs-2b for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:22:02 +0000 Received: from conuserg012.nifty.com ([202.248.44.38] helo=conuserg012-v.nifty.com) by relay1.thorcom.net with esmtps (TLSv1:EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:168) (Exim 4.84) (envelope-from ) id 1Y6M23-0000h0-16 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:22:00 +0000 Received: from HidehoDell (g176104.scn-net.ne.jp [219.117.176.104]) (authenticated) by conuserg012-v.nifty.com with ESMTP id sBVGLktv015226; Thu, 1 Jan 2015 01:21:47 +0900 X-DKIM-Result: Domain=nifty.com Result=Signature OK DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=nifty.com; s=mar2011msa; t=1420042907; bh=ToWvJ5GZXFW1mxj7UGW8crQmm5NZikljvUB9wGJ1xpU=; h=From:To:References:In-Reply-To:Subject:Date:Message-ID: MIME-Version:Content-Type; b=VhhSQNZjBIIAZekqDMsv8l0Ji6e/IrvXd0muAc4XlaENX9oWevb2jIwBH+tHOYHvS KMKCY52gNTeQQAqIkWAMqrQUM5HQwg6bOJ3J8OUqgIDndoMWWLXB1PvtjWZ/7NZCcz 8Za3qWDVTB0G/Z2nq8HsfyBd0wvF7eC7LdyMRaBA= X-Nifty-SrcIP: [219.117.176.104] From: "Hideho YAMAMURA" To: , References: <5861243094DD42FDA080300B6BE9500F@White> In-Reply-To: <5861243094DD42FDA080300B6BE9500F@White> Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2015 01:21:37 +0900 Message-ID: <006b01d02515$da4c7890$8ee569b0$@nifty.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 14.0 Thread-Index: AQLN3YxM5ybHnRe7riFj59rXkcW6YJqubTJA Content-Language: ja X-HELO-Warning: Remote host 202.248.44.38 (conuserg012.nifty.com) used invalid HELO/EHLO conuserg012-v.nifty.com - verification failed X-Scan-Signature: fd73b8f9df6f2b416d7310bde5bfea2c Subject: LF: RE: Closure of German Longwave Broadcast Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_006C_01D02561.4A366A80" X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.56 on 10.1.3.10 Status: O X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 1680 This is a multipart message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_006C_01D02561.4A366A80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Markus and all, I agree. I would add, AM is receivable with a germanium-radio receiver, a tuned circuit, a diode and a crystal earphone, an easy project for a young, a good introduction to electronics. My son was fascinated with it, at his age of 10 or so. With an addition of an IC AF amplifier the next year, he wrote in his report, "I was surprised of the big sound coming out of the speaker". Hideho YAMAMURA, JF1DMQ From: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org [mailto:owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org] On Behalf Of Markus Vester Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2015 12:21 AM To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk Subject: LF: Closure of German Longwave Broadcast As announced before, the German longwave broadcast transmissions on 153 and 207 kHz (Deutschlandfunk) and 177 kHz (Deutschlandradio) will be terminated with the New Year 2015. Presumably mediumwave AM transmissions will follow one year later. It has been claimed that the continuation would be too costly, considering the relatively small number of AM listeners. Along with others, I think that this is a sad landmark in radio history, because - AM radio is simple and intuitive. The concepts of AM transmission and reception are easy to conceive, even by a child. And it's motivating to play with it. In a few years, the kids can still build a diode receiver, but listening to the small surrogate oscillator Daddy has hidden behind the sofa will surely not be the same thing! Then try to explain digital audio broadcasting to your grandson, all the way from end-to-end (microphone to speaker. I even have strong doubts that there is a single expert person now who understands the whole chain. Every engineer is supposed to be working on the details of a small subpart, knows little more than he "needs to know", and communication is done by formal processes and requirement specifications. Of course this is a general trend in industry, but I don't think it is very desirable. - AM is linear. Listening to 153 kHz in the evening hours, faint Algerian music can be heard in the background. When I was young I was fascinated by those distant sounds, and it probably contributed strongly to my later interest in "DX". You can actually hear that the radio waves have come a long way, experience selective fading, and solar effects, or subtle ionospheric effects like Luxembourg crossmodulation. Modern digital radio considers all this undesirable interference - what you get is either perfect mp3 stereo, or nothing at all. - AM is a historic legacy. Especially on longwave, each transmitter and antenna coupler is a unique installation, and the antennas are impressive monuments. SAQ is a good example: While it's no longer needed for transatlantic communication, it's still being kept alive as an educative and fascinating world heritage. Why not keep at least one large LF broadcast transmitter? - LF and MF radio is efficient. The half-megawatt Donebach transmitter probably consumes a million Euros worth of energy per year, and in addition, there is antenna and transmitter maintenance to be paid for. But it provides gapless service across many million square kilometers. Similar coverage with DAB will probably require a thousand or more digital transmitters, which in total may well consume a higher amount of power and secondary costs. One difficulty about keeping LF transmitters alive may actually be there are so few of them - as most engineers seem to be working on software and silicon chip-level hardware, it may become hard to make spare parts and find experienced service people for high-voltage RF in the future. - Radio helps to protect against spectrum pollution. Members of the LF group are only too aware of the inflation of inadequately filtered SMPS power supplies, "dirty" ADSL and PLC communication over unshielded copper lines, and upcoming threats like inductive e-car charging devices. Currently there are still EMC regulations in place which at least provide some limit on radiated and conducted interference above 150 kHz. But when there are no more AM broadcast listeners, why should anyone invest effort to protect that part of spectrum against local interference? The situation for those few crazy LF enthusiasts who enjoy digging down to the noise floor may soon become comparable to that of backyard astronomers in an urban environment - ie plain frustrating. End of rant... Anyway, all the best for the new year, Markus (DF6NM) ------=_NextPart_000_006C_01D02561.4A366A80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Markus and = all,

 

I = agree.

I would add, =

AM is receivable with a = germanium-radio receiver, a tuned circuit, a diode and a crystal = earphone,

an easy project for a young, a = good introduction to electronics.

My son was fascinated with it, = at his age of 10 or so.

With an addition = of an IC AF amplifier the next year, he wrote in his = report,

"I was surprised of the = big sound coming out of the speaker".

 

Hideho YAMAMURA, = JF1DMQ

 

 

 

From:= = owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org = [mailto:owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org] On Behalf Of Markus = Vester
Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2015 12:21 AM
To: = rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; = rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk
Subject: LF: Closure of German = Longwave Broadcast

 

As announced = before, the German longwave broadcast transmissions on = 153 and 207 kHz (Deutschlandfunk) and 177 kHz (Deutschlandradio) will be = terminated with the New Year 2015. Presumably mediumwave AM = transmissions will follow one year later. It has been claimed that the = continuation would be too costly, considering the relatively small = number of AM listeners.

 

Along with = others, I think that this is a sad landmark in radio history, = because

 

- AM radio = is simple and intuitive. The concepts of AM = transmission and reception are easy to conceive, even by a child. = And it's motivating to play with it. In a few years, the kids can still = build a diode receiver, but listening to the small surrogate = oscillator Daddy has hidden behind the sofa will surely not be the same = thing!

 

Then try to = explain digital audio broadcasting to your grandson, all the way from = end-to-end (microphone to speaker. I even have strong doubts that there = is a single expert person now who understands the whole chain. = Every engineer is supposed to be working on the details of a small = subpart, knows little more than he "needs to know", and = communication is done by formal processes and requirement = specifications. Of course this is a general trend in industry, but = I don't think it is very desirable. 

 

- AM is = linear. Listening to = 153 kHz in the evening hours, faint Algerian music can be heard in the = background. When I was young I was fascinated by those distant sounds, = and it probably contributed strongly to my later interest in = "DX". You can actually hear that the radio waves have come a = long way, experience selective fading, and solar effects, or subtle = ionospheric effects like Luxembourg crossmodulation. Modern digital = radio considers all this undesirable interference - what = you get is either perfect mp3 stereo, or nothing at = all.

 

- AM is a = historic legacy. Especially on longwave, each transmitter and = antenna coupler is a unique installation, and the antennas are = impressive monuments. SAQ is a good example: While it's no longer = needed for transatlantic communication, it's still being kept alive = as an educative and fascinating world heritage. Why not keep = at least one large LF broadcast transmitter?

 

- LF and MF = radio is efficient. The half-megawatt Donebach transmitter probably = consumes a million Euros worth of energy per year, and in = addition, there is antenna and transmitter maintenance to be paid for. = But it provides gapless service across many million square = kilometers. Similar coverage with DAB will probably require a thousand = or more digital transmitters, which in total may well consume a = higher amount of power and secondary costs. One difficulty about = keeping LF transmitters alive may actually be there are so few of them - = as most engineers seem to be working on software and silicon = chip-level hardware, it may become hard to make spare parts and = find experienced service people for high-voltage RF in the = future.

 

- Radio = helps to protect against spectrum pollution. Members of the LF group are = only too aware of the inflation of inadequately filtered SMPS power = supplies, "dirty" ADSL and PLC communication over unshielded = copper lines, and upcoming threats like inductive e-car = charging devices. Currently there are still EMC regulations in = place which at least provide some limit on radiated and conducted = interference above 150 kHz. But when there are no more AM broadcast = listeners, why should anyone invest effort to protect that part of = spectrum against local interference? The situation for those few crazy = LF enthusiasts who enjoy digging down to the noise floor may soon become = comparable to that of backyard astronomers in an urban environment - ie = plain frustrating.

 

End of = rant...

 

Anyway, all = the best for the new year,

 

Markus = (DF6NM)

 

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