(Currently metro areas only)
As with the shift of analogue TV broadcast to digital broadcasting (Freeview) the radio system is implementing change to digital broadcasting. The DAB+ standard has been adopted in Australia as the transmit ion format. DAB+ was launched in May 2009.
Like Digital TV services, DAB+ reception is on or off, simply this means there is a signal that offers crystal clear reception of CD quality or nothing. The DAB+ system benefits over traditional AM and FM band broadcasts by offering stereo sound and multicasting abilities in a world where content is king. Additional or multicasting allows stations to run multi stations simultaneously; this is highlighted with ABC a broadcaster that offers the stations we know off AM such as
- 774 ABC Melbourne
- 621 Radio National
- 1026 News Radio
DAB+ offer additional stations
- ABC Country
- ABC DIG (currently on DAB+ and DVB)
- ABC Grandstand sports
- ABC Jazz
With a total of 36 stations available as of July 2011, there has never being a better time to try DAB+ radio.
The additional services are only available over the DAB+ system. In addition to the multicasting the broadcaster can offer services such as track titles, artist information, next track information, news services and depending on the receiver used, functions such as pause and rewind. DAB+ also lets you select the desired station via name rather than the frequency making the user interface clean and simple with no need for a tuner scale marker.
In Australia manufactures have adopted the practice of offering FM band on DAB+ radio receivers and generally moving away from the AM band altogether.
DAB+ is a true digital broadcasting system that differs from what has been referred to as “digital” radios of the past. Previous radio receivers have been analogue by design with an auto scan tuner and station presets verses the old tune by dial, this auto scan is referred to as the “digital” tuner, it is in fact an analogue FM band receiver.
With an estimated 5 analogue radio devices per household and services on DAB+ only being offered in metropolitan areas at the current time, there are no plans to switch off analogue (AM/FM) radio.
With a total of 36 stations available as of July 2011, there has never being a better time to try DAB+ radio. Come on down to Rio Sound and Vision and browse our extensive range of DAB+ receivers. Weather you require a portable, desktop, Hi-Fi component or clock radio we have the range, knowledge and expertise to guide you into the new and exciting world of digital radio.
