The first DAB+ digital radio transmitters have arrived in Australia. A total of sixteen transmitters are currently being installed at various sites in the five state capital launch cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. As well as the transmitters, other DAB+ infrastructure such as monitors and multiplexes have arrived, and the antennas are under construction in Melbourne.
Australia will have one of the most spectrum efficient and sophisticated digital radio networks in the world, as a result of the Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) Digital Technical Advisory Committee’s efforts over the years and joint industry and government research grants.
With the addition of DAB+ infrastructure, broadcasters will be able to offer more stations, digital quality sound, a pause and rewind function, plus a new informative visual scrolling news, sport and weather text and the ability to transmit a picture of a radio host, the cover of a CD, a product picture or an animated logo on screen.
It’s expected that digital radio will roll out in May 2009.
(Source: Current.com.au)
on Feb 6th, 2009 at 15:57
So the Aussies can stuff the English at cricket AND have a DAB system that’ll be the bees knees! Uh!?
on Feb 6th, 2009 at 17:09
It would certainly be possible for them to outperform the UK system, if they want to. If they use low bitrates and low transmitter powers it will only reduce the cost per station.
Every system can be used properly or not. It is for the operators to choose the right parameters. Using DAB+ however that is easier to do than when DAB is used.
on May 6th, 2009 at 10:59
Great mate, DAB+ will be a passing fad, just as Stereo AM was all those years ago.
In Perth the content of stations is of more interest than how it reaches you.
Perhaps the 24 hour dance music channel will please the younger generation.
Time will tell.
Cheers from Dullsville.
Perth Western Australia
on May 5th, 2010 at 23:51
DAB seems to be promising, I just bought a DAB receiver, although the reception is not crash hot, they are not transmitting at full power so soon we will be getting similar reception performance close to FM. I have been scheptical of digital radio, especially the DRM because to effectively start a digital radio service it is best to start from the ground up with a full digital system rather than a hybrid system which is difficult to avoid interference from the digital stream in comparison. best to leave analogue systems as analogue and have a fresh start for digital. This is where DAB+ comes in, it employs an all digital system on its own radio spectrum which is a better approach to introducing digital radio to the public, it has been successful on television with Foxtel and Austar so why not on radio? Unlike AM stereo (which has really been killed by the lack of suitable AM stereo receivers and consumer confusion because of unclear labelling standards at the time) there is already plenty of Digital radio receivers on the market, and they are clearly marked by the DAB+ symbols, even the shops are putting in an effort to dedicate a section for displaying these digital radios. Digital radio will take off, as long as more radio stations continue to appear on the Digital band.
on May 6th, 2010 at 14:05
Good story Chris, leave analogue as is, we need that for the transition period, and that could be longer then we all think.
Concentrate on only one suitable digital system, on “new” additional frequency spectrum for radio.
DAB + might fly, one of my concerns is that the USA is going for another system (IBOC).