As we approach the release date for DAB+ radio station broadcasting in Australia, we have received an email asking us the following question.
I live in the country. I’m experiencing poor radio reception and only have limited stations available!
When am I likely to receive a digital radio broadcast?
The current plan is a coordinated release of digital radio into the five major state capitals being Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, legislation requires that this phase of the rollout be competed by the first of July 2009. This will be followed at a later date by the smaller state capitals and larger regional centres.
The legislation is premised on digital radio being a supplement to existing radio services in Australia, rather than a replacement technology. Under this approach digital radio is to be introduced under a staged approach, allowing the radio sector to take advantage of other digital technologies being developed that may best suit specific applications in various transmission areas.
Digital Radio DAB+ Broadcasting ... Coming Soon!
An example of this is that the initial roll out in the main cities will be in the DAB+ format. Through extensive trials DAB+ has been found to be the most suitable option for these larger heavily populated centres. This may not be the case in other more remote areas where the population is small and spread out over vast areas.
There are other digital technologies that have been trialled in Australia to gauge their suitability for specific applications. One of the formats considered for review is DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) The main attraction to DRM is its ability to be transmitted over long distances because it is transmitted on the same Band as AM radio (Long wave, Medium wave, and Short wave radio)
DRM can deliver FM-comparable sound quality, but on frequencies below 30 MHz. Another advantage is that DRM has been designed especially to use portions of older AM transmitter facilities such as antennas, avoiding major new investment costs. DRM is also less susceptible to the fading and interference which often causes problems with conventional broadcasting on these frequency ranges.
With the above in mind it could be a long wait in some areas. Of course we will endeavour to keep you up to date with roll out schedules as we become aware of them, but maybe your best line of attack in the short to medium term will be to invest in a quality AM/FM Radio matched to a suitable high quality antenna system (eg; AM loop antenna)
The one thing we can say for sure is that Radio is alive and well and you will be able to tune in and enjoy the experience like millions before you.
Should you have any question regarding digital radio in Australia feel free to contact us today.
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