Overview
IEC 62272-2:2007 - part of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) family - specifies standardized methods of measurement for DRM transmitters operating in the bands below 30 MHz (LF, MF and HF). It defines how to measure key transmitter performance parameters for sound and data broadcasting so results are comparable when taken by different personnel or laboratories. This bilingual edition (2012-05) corresponds to the original English edition published in 2007.
Key topics
The standard focuses on measurement methods and required conditions rather than setting absolute performance limits. Major technical topics include:
- General measurement conditions: required ambient temperature/humidity considerations, nominal power-supply conditions and statement of operating mode.
- Test arrangements: input/output measurement diagrams and termination/impedance requirements for test equipment and connections.
- Output power and frequency: procedures for determining nominal, maximum and minimum continuous DRM mean power and frequency accuracy.
- Transmission performance:
- Spurious emissions measurements
- Out-of-band emissions and spectrum mask verification (see informative Annex B)
- Modulation Error Ratio (MER) and Bit Error Ratio (BER)
- Protection and safety: tests for protection against atmospheric discharge, acoustic noise and compliance with safety requirements.
- Measurement uncertainty: requirements to calculate and minimize uncertainty so results can be compared reliably.
- Test signal and equipment requirements: test signals must conform to the DRM system; measuring instruments must have adequate accuracy and dynamic range.
- Annexes: informative measuring arrangements (A), out-of-band emission limits (B), and additional measurement details (C).
Notable procedural details included in the standard:
- Test-load VSWR limits: not greater than 1.2:1 within the designated broadcast band and 1.5:1 outside the band up to 10× the highest frequency in the band.
- If a transmitter supports analogue modes, relevant IEC analogue transmitter measurement standards also apply.
Applications and users
IEC 62272-2 is intended for:
- Transmitter manufacturers - type approval and factory quality control tests.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies - standardized, repeatable measurement methods for compliance testing.
- Broadcasters and installation/maintenance engineers - on-site acceptance tests and performance verification.
- Regulators and spectrum managers - comparative data when assessing emissions and interference characteristics.
Typical uses: type approval testing, acceptance testing on site, production quality control, and comparative performance assessments for DRM transmitters in LF/MF/HF bands.
Related standards
- IEC 62272-1 (DRM system specification)
- IEC 60244‑1, IEC 60244‑15 (methods for broadcast transmitter measurements / AM transmitters)
- IEC 60215 (safety requirements)
- ITU Radio Regulations and ITU‑R Recommendation V.663
Keywords: IEC 62272-2, DRM, Digital Radio Mondiale, DRM transmitters, LF MF HF, transmitter measurement methods, MER, BER, spectrum mask, spurious emissions, type approval, broadcast testing.