What's the Fuss with DAB+?

16 Jun 2009

While digital radio services have now commenced in Australia's five largest capital cities, Broadcast Australia is finalising the installation of Digital Audio Broadcast Plus (DAB+) services for customers ABC and SBS. Weather permitting, these services are set to go live on 1 July 2009.

Broadcast Australia will be providing fully managed DAB+ services to the national broadcasters and operations and maintenance of the joint venture commercial radio networks multiplex licensees.

 

The keystone of Broadcast Australia's management of the DAB+ services across Australia is its world-leading network operations centre (NOC), centrally located at the Gore Hill transmission site in Sydney. The NOC provides centralised monitoring and control of the near 600 transmission sites allowing the strategic and effective management of the entire network, including the new DAB+ services.

 

Broadcast Australia and its customers also have a significant history with DAB+ technology. A collaboration between the ABC, CRA and Broadcast Australia helped specify and test new audio compression technologies that led to the standard's development. Officially ratified and published as a new standard by ETSI in February 2007, the DAB+ system supports up to four times as many services in a digital audio broadcast (DAB) multiplex, while maintaining high-quality sound.

 

With a vast experience and expertise in digital radio, Broadcast Australia regularly fields questions about this new technology, so below we've addressed some of the most frequently asked questions.

 

What is digital radio?

 

Digital radio is the biggest advancement of radio technology since its inception in the early 19th century. It offers high quality sound and also allows you to pause and rewind your favourite AM and FM radio programs. You can only listen to digital radio through a digital radio receiver.

I have digital radio on my digital TV/set top box. Will I still need to buy a digital radio?

Yes, you will still need to buy a digital radio. At present the national broadcasters (ABC and SBS) make some of their content available on as many platforms as possible, including digital terrestrial television - while it is called digital radio, it's not DAB+. The full digital radio (DAB+) suite of programs will soon be available (from 1 July) via a digital radio receiver. It is believed though that a number of manufacturers are working on integrating DAB+ into digital TV receivers.

I can get my favourite radio station on the internet, so why would I get a digital radio?

Many radio stations now have live streaming of programs over the internet, but this normally incurs download costs. With digital radio, not only do you have the flexibility of being able easily to take it wherever you are, but once you have paid for the initial digital radio receiver, there are no further costs.

What else can digital radio offer?

Apart from the superior sound quality there will be a wider range of channels. Some radio stations will be broadcasting their current content on the digital radio platform and creating new channels for digital radio only. Depending on what type of receiver you buy, there are many additional features. These include: scrolling text, graphics and animation on the radio's LCD screen, such as news, sport, weather, racing results; the ability to have pictures sent from radio stations to the radio receiver; tuning in by station name instead of frequency, making it easier to find your favourite radio station; and electronic program guides.

Are there plans to turn off analogue radio?

At present there are no plans to switch off analogue radio. At present digital radio has only been rolled out to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, so there is a lot more work to be done before plans are made to only have digital radio in Australia.

Where can I buy a digital radio?

Digital radio receivers are available from most major electronics and specialist retailers.

Where can I get more information about digital radio?

The latest information on digital radio in Australia can be found at www.digitalradioplus.com.au

 

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