The NAB Show 2011 in Las Vegas has confirmed the continuing high interest in the RadioDNS project.

During the three days of the show, the RadioDNS stand had well over a hundred visitors, from large and small US and international broadcasters, to software solution providers and more. We also had extended meetings with some of the largest radio companies in the US. Our stand held a live demo of RadioVIS and RadioEPG, on a variety of different devices.

This serves as affirmation that the RadioDNS open model is as relevant to the US radio industry as it is to other markets across the world, and we expect to be welcoming more US supporters and members as a result.

We’d like to thank the NAB, who are Members of RadioDNS, for their help and assistance.

“We’re now ready to test a prototype and get your feedback”, says the BBC Research and Development blog, with details of how to see their RadioVIS test service.

Please read their full blog post and give your feedback.

News from the EBU:

Geneva, 2 March 2011 – At this year’s Geneva International Motor Show, the EBU* has built a hybrid digital radio service together with Rouge FM radio, a commercial radio group in Switzerland and Swisscom Broadcast, the main operator for radio/TV broadcasting in Switzerland.

Rouge FM has put together a specific digital radio station for the show on a temporary DAB+ multiplex using Swisscom Broadcast infrastructure. The EBU has provided technical expertise and has adapted its open source visual radio production platform to provide a visualisation service on DAB+ and RadioDNS.

Swisscom has worked with Nokia to adapt their DAB+ headset for Symbian mobile phones to display slides associated to radio programmes, making them clickable to follow web links associated with the slides. In addition to this specific programme, other radio stations are present in the multiplex. In particular car manufacturers, who expressed an interest, have their own dedicated channels. The stations can be received in cars fitted with digital radio, on mobile phones with DAB+ adapters, other portable DAB+ devices and the public can also see the result on home receivers displayed on a stand**.

This trial is an opportunity to show advanced digital radio services in the largest independent motorshow in the world. Cars are the major listening environment for radio outside the home, and the availability of digital radio as standard in cars is a key enabler for successful digital radio services. Importantly, these services showcase a commercial broadcast group extending their brand with thematic and event stations as well as providing an enhanced experience through new visualisation services.

RadioDNS will be at the NAB Show in Las Vegas NV this April.

Nick Piggott, Chair, and James Cridland, Secretary, will both be present in our booth during the exhibition (Apr 11-14). You’ll be able to see working demonstrations of RadioDNS-enabled technology on mobile phones and radio receivers; get literature around RadioDNS; and ask questions.

Additionally, RadioDNS will be taking part in the “Radio PIT”, a small and snappy demonstration area in booth C456. We’ll be giving a variety of talks about RadioDNS and accompanying technology, on the afternoon of Wednesday April 13th.

You’ll find the RadioDNS stand in booth number C1356, pleasingly close to something called the “Pub Lounge”; and by way of cheap bribery, we’ll have an assortment of English chocolate to nibble on at selected times. Here’s how to find us

The 4th General Assembly took place today in Geneva, Switzerland.

The following Officials of RadioDNS were announced:

Nick Piggott was re-elected as Chair
James Cridland was re-elected as Secretary

The following were voted as Steering Board members:
Matthias Coinchon
Chris Gould
Nick Jurascheck
Ben Matthew
Richard Morris
John Ousby
Skip Pizzi
Michael Reichert
George Wright

For a full agenda and minutes of the meeting, plus a copy of the slides and of the Financial Report, please see our General Assembly February 2011 page.

The candidates for this year’s Steering Board Election have been published.

All of the organisations currently represented on the Steering Board have put forward candidates, which is very good news. If you would like to stand for the election (or would like to nominate someone) then please e-mail me.

Only members can vote in elections, and voting will open on Tuesday 8th February and run through until the General Assembly on Tuesday 15th February.

The Fourth General Assembly of RadioDNS is to be held at the European Broadcasting Union, Geneva on Tuesday 15th February 2011 at 14:30 CET.

You are all welcome to attend, either in person, or via teleconference / web-conferencing.

The General Assembly is the most important RadioDNS meeting of the year, where you can see everything the organisation has been doing, and ask questions about its running and the future direction. The members and supporters of RadioDNS are key to its success, and this is your meeting.

Space in the meeting room is limited, and we must give preference to our members first, but anyone is welcome to join by teleconference.

You can view the draft Agenda, and register. If you would like to add items to the Agenda, please e-mail me.

The Fourth General Assembly, along with the Hackday, are all part of the EBU’s (excellent) Digital Radio Week 2011. Find out more about it, and see what other sessions you could register for.

The Steering Board is elected for one year terms. There will be an election for the new Steering Board (who take their roles in April 2011)  in the week prior to the General Assembly (8th-15th February, and the results will be announced at the meeting.

Only members of RadioDNS can stand for, or cast votes for, the Steering Board, the roles of Chairperson and Secretary. Members will be contacted shortly to make nominations, and with the voting process.

Nominees and their details will be posted here from next week.

We’re very pleased to announce the second event for hackers / software developers who want to get involved with RadioDNS.

The EBU is hosting a hands-on technical workshop in Geneva on the morning of 15th February 2011 (09:00 – 14:00 CET), for which we’re really grateful.

This is a hands-on event, which is intended for hackers/ software developers who want to hack and develop code against the various RadioDNS standards.

There will be plenty of resources in the room, including a number of live transmitted signals (DAB, FM) to work against, USB devices to receive them on, code repositories and libraries (mainly for python), and servers providing content and warmth.

You’re welcome to come along and develop server-side services, client applications or any of the other software components that make up RadioDNS and its applications. (Don’t forget, the documentation is open for you to look at).

Space is limited to approximately 30 people (and their laptops). Priority will be given to RadioDNS Members, and we may have to restrict attendance to 2 people per organisation/company if the workshop is oversubscribed. You can register here.

Radio DNS – A clear story on radio’s future from Jonathan Marks on Vimeo.

Jonathan Marks writes:

This is the first in a series of short videos made at IBC-2010 to explain Radio’s connected future, or perhaps “hybrid” is a better description. In this segment, Nick Piggott explains the bridging function that RadioDNS will provide and the problems it will solve for the global radio industry. I think the great thing about RadioDNS is that the concept is simple, it is already implemented in some countries and it works with any kind of FM or digital radio.

To me it is the equivalent of the decision in 1963 to adopt a 19 kHz pilot tone to switch on the “stereo” indicator on an FM radio. RadioDNS deserves the same instant global hit (and therefore rapid adoption). See radiodns.org for more information.