Australian IT and consumer electronics accessories company Laser Corporation today launched the DG200AM – the first portable Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB+) radio featuring digital and analogue.
The DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio displays scrolling broadcast information via the backlit LCD screen including name of track and artist on air, plus up-to-date news and sports results. Along with scrolling information, the DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio presents auto and manual scanning for stations, allows listeners to tune in to AM or FM radio and preset 20 favourite AM, FM and DAB+ stations. The DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio is lightweight and considerably small measuring only 200 x 170 x 75mm, making it perfectly portable.
Chris Lau, Managing Director of Laser Corporation, said, “The uptake of DAB is progressing steadily with digital radio coverage in major capital cities across Australia. It still however leaves a large percentage of the population without full DAB+ reception. Laser developed the DG200AM to cater to a wider society, for listeners that still don’t have digital radio coverage, as well as listeners that miss their AM radio. According to Digital Radio Plus, there are no plans to switch off AM and FM radio services just yet, so the DG200AM offers an ideal and inexpensive all-in-one solution for radio fans.”
The Laser DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue portable radio is now available in Australia through selected retailers. RRP AU$99.95 inc GST.
(Source: Laser Corporation)
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 04:09
This isn’t the first “digital/analogue” radio sold in Australia, as the press release repeatedly says - there are many of them. It may be the first digital/AM model, however, as all the currently available units seem to be FM only.
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 13:59
In the future the combination AM / DAB+ could be interesting.
FM and DAB+ have about the same coverage properties, AM is completely different, the 3 meter FM band 2 can be used for other purposes, much more efficient with digital radio, but the AM band(s) have no value, so leave them as is (please).
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 17:15
Ruud, an FM got more radius than a dab+ TX. A dab+ in power of 20kW ERP got a radius of 50km, but a FM can be heard long as more than 100km radius.60kW
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 17:38
You are mixing up things.
DAB is Multiplex, so the power goes for all channels within the MUX, So 20 kW Dab+ is 20 kW for say 18 programmes (as proposed here in NL).
20 kW for FM goes for a single FM station.
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 18:03
Ruud, the frequency of dab is 200MHz and FM is 100MHz and the coverage of FM is much better than dab+. You need more translators on dab+ than FM in the same area.
on Jun 2nd, 2011 at 00:39
It is great to have a digital radio that includes AM as there are many areas in Australia beyond the FM footprint ….
on Jun 2nd, 2011 at 10:56
Lot of stations in the tropical bands in Australia, all private. AM is the best coverage of all modulations.
on Jun 3rd, 2011 at 20:49
Analogue AM stations use a very wide bandwidth down under…also they should restart back am stereo - the quality honestly was like FM stereo
But if there has to be digital broadcasting I think HD radio (IBOC) has a lot more portential. It ruins DXing of course but for choice and sound quality on AM especially it should be a worldwide system really…the new ‘am stereo’ !
on Jun 4th, 2011 at 08:23
If you can run an am station with a bandwith of 8 kHz and am stereo, you got a very nice audio quality,Nearly FM, better than dab+. A great limiter, too is needed.
on Jun 4th, 2011 at 13:37
Forget the stereo on AM, no receivers like DAB.
But analague AM can sound excellent, when properly adjusted. Certainly good for specchbased programs.