James, from what I can find from very limited information it seems that current planning is to transmit two different forms of digital radio to different parts of Australia.
DAB+ radio will service areas of high population density, being the capital cities. All of Perth's DAB+ broadcasters use only two frequencies, Frequency block 9B on 204.64MHz, and 9C on 206.352MHz. Two 50kW transmitters transmit these channels from the NEW10 transmission tower in Carmel on the Darling Range. Frequency block 9A on 202.928MHz is probably being held in reserve if we go well beyond the present 30+ stations. These higher frequencies do not travel well over long distances. Areas with less dense populations have DRM, meaning Digital Radio Mondiale, not Digital Rights Management. (mondiale is Italian and French for "worldwide") DRM is a set of digital audio broadcasting technologies designed to work over the bands currently used for AM broadcasting. Use of various MPEG-4 codecs allows DRM can carry more channels at higher quality, into a given amount of bandwidth than can conventional AM. Because Medium-wave AM frequencies are low enough to have significantly longer reach than the higher frequencies of DAB+, they can cover much bigger geographical areas. The principle of DRM is that bandwidth is the limited element, and computer processing power is cheap; modern CPU-intensive audio compression techniques enable more efficient use of available bandwidth, at the smallish expense of processing resources. DRM can deliver FM-comparable sound quality, but on frequencies below 30 MHz (long wave, medium wave and short wave), which allow for very-long-distance signal propagation. DRM has been designed especially to use portions of older AM transmitter facilities such as antennas, avoiding major new investment. DRM is robust against the fading and interference which often plague conventional broadcasting on these frequency ranges. Digital Signal Processors perform the encoding and decoding, so a cheap embedded computer with a conventional transmitter and receiver can perform the rather complex encoding and decoding. Until now DRM receivers have typically used a personal computer. A few manufacturers are presently selling stand alone DRM receivers (Himalaya Electronics, Technisat, Morphy Richards, Starwaves, UniWave, Sarapulsky Radiozavod), which are mostly based upon the no longer available Radioscape RS500 module. The UniWave set is based upon the NewStar Electronics WR608 module. New modules are expected from NewStar Electronics (WR998), from Analog Devices, and others. Kenwood and Fraunhofer presented a prototype standalone receiver chip in September 2006. Digital Radio Mondiale is being considered by Ofcom for introduction in Britain in 2012 on the present AM medium wave band. On 28 September 2006, the Australian Communications and Media Authority announced that it had "placed an embargo on frequency bands potentially suitable for use by broadcasting services using Digital Radio Mondiale until spectrum planning can be completed" "those bands being 5950–6200, 7100–7300, 9500–9900, 11650–12050, 13600–13800, 15100–15600, 17550–17900, 21450–21850 and 25670–26100 kHz. Note that the higher frequencies listed are capable of worldwide transmission. So, if you live outside the capital cities don't invest in DAB+ until ACMA's plans are clearer. The following lists the 34 DAB+ stations currently broadcasting in Perth: 9C National Multiplex Station Name, Format ABC Local Radio Talk, News, Music and more. ABC Radio National National talk and arts radio ABC Classic FM Classical Music ABC NewsRadio News and Parliamentary Broadcasts Triple J Youth focused music station ABC Dig Music Adult Contemporary Music ABC Country Country Music ABC Jazz Jazz Music ABC Grandstand Live Sports Coverage ABC Extra Special Event Radio SBS Radio 1 Multilingual Radio SBS Radio 2 Multilingual Radio SBS AM Service SBS Chill World Chillout Music SBS Pop Asia Asian Pop Music SBS Radio 6 BBC World Simulcast. Some opt outs, including sports coverage & special events. 9B Perth Multiplex Station Name, Format 6PR Talk 96fm Mainstream rock The Buckle Country music 6IX Classic hits My Perth Digital Hot adult contemporary Hot Country Country music Nova 93.7 Top 40 (CHR) NovaNation Dance music 92.9 Top 40 (CHR) Mix 94.5 Modern adult contemporary Barry Comedy The Main Stage Touring artists music Radar Radio Indie music RTRFM Public Radio and Music & Arts Community Community Curtin FM University Community Radio (Music, Talk, News) Capital 101.7FM Seniors community 98.5 Sonshine FM Christian Community Radio Noongar Radio 100.9 Talk, music Heritage FM Music and information I have plagiarised much of the above from various sources. On 18/04/2011, at 9:10 AM, James / Hans Kunz wrote: > there are no digital radios as a stick available & on top of all digital > radio in wa is limited to the perth metro & in future to some regional areas, > i'm not sure if mandurah can receive d-radio, all d-radio stations are on the > net too, > preferences re receiver......i have a $250.- in the workshop (sangean) & at > home there are 2 $70.- models in use > there are more expensive models with ipod/iphone socket available > there was once a lenghty talk about d-radio on 6pr during a night show, some > listener had to return their radio because of no reception in their area, > try to borrow a unit & verify the reception!!!! > right now there are approx 33 station on d-radio available > James > > SAD Technic > U3 6 Chalkley Pl > Bayswater WA > Australia > +618 9370 5307 > mob 0414 421132 (international +614 14421132) > [email protected] > http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~saddas/ > > Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties > disappear and obstacles vanish. 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