PantronX Titus II Ready for Production
Since September 2016 we’ve been slowly hearing news about the PantronX Titus II portable SDR system, but as of yet nothing seems to have eventuated. The Titus II is essentially an Android touch screen tablet running their custom software, a set of speakers, an antenna and an SDR chip with 100 kHz to 2 GHz tuning range all in one portable system that has been estimated by them to retail for less than $100 USD. The main goal with the system is to provide low cost receivers for digital broadcast standards like DRM, DAB and DAB+ to try and boost their popularity.
Titus II receiver features include:
- DRM in the AM bands (MW, SW, LW) and VHF bands (FM-band, VHF band-I, VHF band-III) with latest xHE-AAC audio codec.
- DAB Classic/DAB+ (VHF band-III).
- FM stereo with RDS (Service Signaling).
- AM with AMSS (AM Signaling Service).
- Integrated service list management and service selection.
- DRM/DAB Data Apps: Text Messages, Dynamic Label/DL+, Journaline, (Categorized) Slideshow, EPG, Transparent File Transmission (e.g., for educational services), etc.
- Remote Radio Hotspot: Built-in WiFi hotspot feature, which allows any mobile device with an HTML5 web browser to connect to the Titus II via Wi-Fi, select radio services, listening to aud (HTML5 audio streaming) and accessing all the DRM/DAB data apps.
- Recording feature and Archiving interface to select existing recordings for playback.
Recently there has been some new news over on the Radioworld.com magazine about radio broadcasting stating that the Titus II is now ready for production. They write:
Titus SDR, a division of PantronX, says the Titus II multi-standard digital radio receiver is ready for production.
The consumer software-defined radio digital receiver platform, which is the result of collaboration between Titus SDR/Patron X, Jasmin-Infotech, TWR, and Fraunhofer IIS, supports multi-standard radio reception, including DRM, DAB and DAB+ and core data applications. The system is based on a custom Android tablet platform, featuring multipoint touch, WiFi/Bluetooth and stereo sound.
Titus II units will be available as a stand-alone product from Titus SDR as well as from selected OEMs. Titus SDR explains that as a module, Titus II can serve as a full-featured basis for third-party product development, adding that PantronX provided the platform and RF expertise, while Fraunhofer IIS enabled the digital and analog radio features.
With latest xHE-AAC audio codec, Titus II supports DRM in the AM and VHF bands; DAB/DAB+; FM stereo with RDS; AM with AMSS; integrated service list management and service selection; DRM/DAB data apps; text messages and Journaline.
No news yet on exact release dates, but if you are interested you can sign up to their pre-order notification list at titusradio.com.
From YouTube we’ve also found a short video of them demonstrating the Titus II from DBS2017 back in March. Another video showing the interface up close can be seen here.
Urban legend. A year of his I wait for it.
Excerpting from the 01 Nov. 2016 post here”
http://radioaficion.com/cms/titus-ii-sdr-receiver/
“Looking much like a 1990s’ boom-box — except that the central section is entirely occupied by a touchscreen Android tablet — the Titus II’s software-controlled capabilities, ability to receive new transmission formats through software upgrades, and the receiver’s proposed under-US$100 (approx. €90) price tag had HFCC delegates utterly wowed.”
Under-US$100?… Really?
I can’t find any newer price updates, at least not without digging through the multiple layers of script-bloated web pages at the manufacturer’s site (I gave up).
Maybe the business model is to hook you with a “low” entry price for what is essentially a software-crippled device, then nickel and dime you to death with “upgrades” and ever-lasting “cloud-controlled” recurring license and support fees.
DB Gain is ready and willing to review one of these babies! been looking for a self contained sdr that can be listened to in bed, on the road, lunch breaks, out for a walk.
There must be something magic inside that box to let you listen things that you would never be able to listen with a R820T dongle and a telescopic antenna indoor 🙂
I am curious to see the first reports.
I thought DRM was basically dead in the water? After 10 years of DRM broadcasting in Europe, no major retailer is selling DRM radios that I know of. In fact, I believe the number of DRM broadcasts is in decline.
The BBC World Service site at Orfordness ceased DRM broadcasts to Europe on 1296 kHz (medium wave) in May 2012.
I wonder how easy it would be to develop apps to be able to use this as the back end of a Hydrogen Line Radio Telescope?
I think as long as they run on Android, you should be good to go.
This could be interesting for pruduct developers. Depends what is included in the module and what is left out as part of the android unit. Carl try to investigate…
I get exactly one AM DRM station here at my house from about 3 to 5 PM everyday…..barely. I have a Tecsun PL-660 and PL-880 neither of which can do DRM. However if I have a radio with me I have a laptop with me. I can pull in whatever I want on the computer with DREAM software.
Interesting concept though. I love SDR on the computer but it’s fairly awkward just to listen to a radio station. I think we all do this stuff because we can……nothing wrong with that. I can stream radio on the internet easily but having a laptop with GQRX and all the bells and whistles makes a great conversation piece though!
I am not really interested in most of the digital broadcast features listed above but if this product can be adapted to run something like SDR Touch, I think it would make an fantastic portable SDR platform.
For under $100 it can be a good rx for all digital broadcasts. But: Can it push DRM in AM to the max? I tried DRM with Dream on my PC. It was fun 10 yrs ago. But since now I had no break through in sence of cosumer market. It is a very special thing for a few (ham) radio enthusiasts. And there are less and less DRM broadcast stations on AM…
We’ll see…
Typo:
But since now *it* had no break through…
Double typo:
But since *then it* had no break through…