CML Micro, a developer of mixed-signal, RF, and microwave semiconductors for communications systems, is demonstrating new Bluetooth connectivity for its DRM1000 Digital Radio Mondiale broadcast receiver platform at IBC 2026. The event is being held at RAI Amsterdam from September 11 to 14, with the platform displayed at the Fraunhofer IIS stand, 8.B80 in Hall 8.
The addition of Bluetooth allows DRM receivers based on the platform to communicate with commonly used mobile devices. Broadcast audio, information and multimedia services can therefore be accessed through connected devices without requiring them to incorporate dedicated DRM reception hardware.
This connection can support applications such as news, sports and weather information, distance learning, multimedia content and emergency alerts. Because the content is distributed through DRM broadcast infrastructure, these services do not depend on internet access and can operate in locations where mobile data coverage is limited, expensive or unavailable.
The DRM1000 is an antenna-to-speaker receiver platform that provides continuous frequency coverage from 150 kHz to 108 MHz. It supports AM, FM, and DRM reception and integrates all DRM modes and codecs, along with the required audio and data decoding functions. The platform also includes an embedded licence for Journaline, an advanced text application developed in cooperation with Fraunhofer IIS.
Measuring 42 mm x 25 mm x 5 mm and consuming less than 350 mW, the module is designed for integration into consumer digital radio products. Its Bluetooth capability can also allow manufacturers to simplify portable receiver hardware by moving display and user-interface functions to a connected smart device, reducing the need for a power-consuming screen and complex controls within the radio itself.
Matthew Phillips, Product Line Director for Broadcast and Maritime at CML Micro and Vice-Chair of the DRM Consortium, said: “Bluetooth connectivity represents an important extension to what manufacturers and broadcasters can achieve with the DRM1000. By connecting DRM receivers with the smart devices people use every day, it facilitates the development of feature-rich DRM services, from news, sports and weather information to educational content and other multimedia applications. It also gives users a familiar and flexible way to access and interact with these services, reducing the need for a portable radio to have a power-consuming display and complex user interface.”
The DRM1000 is already in production and has been incorporated into commercial receiver designs. Solar Grove Solutions uses the module in its N88 Portable DRM Radio. CML Micro is continuing its technical collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS to extend the platform’s multimedia functionality. The companies expect to provide further information about this work in early 2027, with the broader objective of simplifying the development of Bluetooth-enabled DRM products and supporting additional connected applications and services.
Click here to learn more about DRM1000 from CML Micro.
Courtesy of CML Micro
