I’ve been chasing Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) stations on shortwave, just for a bit of radio fun. I was surprised - generally 4 to 5 international transmissions on air at any time recieveable here in Australia.
Like most shortwave broadcasts, they are not a 24 hour a day service. Changing frequency at different times of day, days of the week or different seasons. For a schedule I have https://www.drm.org/what-can-i-hear/broadcast-schedule-2/ bookmarked.
There are 2 listed services that ‘target’ Australia. Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) and All India Radio (AIR). No sign of RNZI DRM here in Bunbury WA but AIR GOS1 (General overseas service 1) was received.
Few drop outs in the audio, at 8000km away static crashes and shortwave fading is a problem for smooth decoding.
The strongest DRM signal by far I receive is the BBC Worldservice from Singapore at 4000km away.
A one hour English service, daily at 4pm western. Unfortunately this broadcast is interrupted 3 times in that hour by a HF weatherfax transmission from Wiluna here in WA.
China radio are everywhere on shortwave. This is one of three services in the 16 meter band.
Also broadcasting in the 31m, 22m and more recently the 19m bands. Some in stereo and some dual channel services. 30kw stations, I believe and usually a reliable signal and decode.
And one more from the brag book, because I like to look for long distance radio signals…
Radio Kuwait at 10000km away. Sync only at that distance, no audio decode.
Finding a DRM radio is a problem. I use a software defined radio and decoding software called DReaM. Antenna is a 1.5m fiberglass vertical, my usual AM/FM/DAB listening antenna. Other DRM radios I’ve seen are not cheap.
So, what’s it sound like? Well, I prefer AM on shortwave with a wide filter for a bit of fidelity. DRM error protection and encoding is similar to our capital city DAB+ so if Triple M Greatest Hits at 32kbs eeks you, voice at 14kbs DRM might to. But when it comes to coverage for rural listeners who need it, DRM / shortwave can’t be beat.