2SM should rent the space out to someone who wants to use it.
5 Likes
So, an update on me buying the DGTEC DAB reciever…
I put the powered antenna up on the window sill with an extension cord. Still only around 40 stations. Same thing with the Cord DAB adaptor, although it did get the full complement with the same antenna elsewhere.
For now, I’m going to hook up a spare monitor with my Fire TV stick to the stereo and stream the stations using Tivimate, plus use it as a dedicated Spotify player, with audio going through the 3.5mm AUX cord.
That’s not to say I’ve given up on it - the system does have the ability to play MP3s through a SD card, and the idea popped into my head to use it as a jukebox. There’s also the idea of moving it to my bedroom and hooking it up to the TV that way.
I’m thinking it’s either a signal issue (I am in the north west area of Sydney), an antenna issue (even using a powered antenna with gain control), or a codec issue (it can’t decode whatever codec the signal is using, even though it’s supposed to be DAB/DAB+).
Makes you wish they’d just put digital radio capabilities into the TV itself. 
5 Likes
Has anyone in Perth had any reception issues with DAB+ in the last few days?
It seems to be breaking up a lot more than it used to in the car.
I’m mostly listening to SCA’s Old Skool 90’s Hits or whatever it’s called this week. I’ll check other operators stations too, but just wondering if there’s some issue with the signal or transmitter.
3 Likes
Smooth FM still works fine driving from around south of Perth and at home I have no problems with the other stations (including Old Skool 90s). And as these are all on the same commercial multiplex (maybe different error correction?) they should all provide the same reception performance. However I can say that the audio quality of the signal is quite variable (e.g. Smooth FM, MMM Soft, 6GT and Coles are nice and loud, while My Perth, 6iX, Old Skool 90s, Easy 80s are much softer).
4 Likes
Massive changes on the 9A multiplex in Hobart today. All SCA stations have dropped to 32kbps with lower error correction. All additional stations that have appeared currently have music relating to the label for each station. Only station without audio is ‘SHOWS’.
Presumably all from SCA I think?
Ensemble 0x1380, Label: 'DAB+ HOBART', ShortLabel: 'DAB+ HB', LTO: +660 min, ECC: 0xF0, NumServices: 30
Audio-Service 0x1380, Label: '7HOFM', ShortLabel: '7HOFM', PTY: Pop Music (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 1, StartCU: 384, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 2-A (FEC: 3/8), Datarate: 48 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x1381, Label: 'Kix Country', ShortLabel: 'Kix', PTY: Country Music (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 2, StartCU: 432, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 2-A (FEC: 3/8), Datarate: 48 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x1382, Label: '7HO Classic Hits', ShortLabel: '7HO Clas', PTY: Pop Music (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 3, StartCU: 480, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 2-A (FEC: 3/8), Datarate: 48 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x1383, Label: '7HO River', ShortLabel: '7HO Rivr', PTY: Pop Music (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 4, StartCU: 528, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 2-A (FEC: 3/8), Datarate: 48 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x1390, Label: 'Triple M HOBART', ShortLabel: 'Triple M', PTY: Other Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 16, StartCU: 0, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 0 []
Audio-Service 0x1391, Label: 'Hit100.9', ShortLabel: 'Hit100.9', PTY: Pop Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 17, StartCU: 16, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 0 []
Audio-Service 0x1392, Label: 'MMM CLASSIC ROCK', ShortLabel: 'MMMCLASS', PTY: Pop Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 18, StartCU: 32, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x1393, Label: 'OLDSKOOL90s HITS', ShortLabel: 'OLDSKOOL', PTY: Rock Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 19, StartCU: 48, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 0 []
Audio-Service 0x1394, Label: 'EASY 80s Hits', ShortLabel: 'EASY 80s', PTY: Pop Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 20, StartCU: 64, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x1395, Label: 'MMM COUNTRY', ShortLabel: 'MMMCNTRY', PTY: Country Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 21, StartCU: 80, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x1396, Label: 'TRENDING NOW', ShortLabel: 'TRENDING', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 22, StartCU: 96, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 0 []
Audio-Service 0x1397, Label: 'BLENDER BEATS', ShortLabel: 'BLENDER', PTY: Easy Listening Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 23, StartCU: 112, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 0 []
Audio-Service 0x1398, Label: 'GOODVIBES', ShortLabel: 'GOODVIBE', PTY: Country Music (static), AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 24, StartCU: 128, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 0 []
Audio-Service 0x1399, Label: 'ALMOST ACOUSTIC', ShortLabel: 'ACOUSTIC', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 25, StartCU: 144, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x139A, Label: 'HOMEGROWN', ShortLabel: 'HOMEGROW', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 26, StartCU: 160, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x139B, Label: 'KARAOKE STAGE', ShortLabel: 'KARAOKE', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 27, StartCU: 176, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x139C, Label: 'FIT HITS', ShortLabel: 'FIT HITS', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 28, StartCU: 192, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x139D, Label: 'TOP 30', ShortLabel: 'TOP 30', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 29, StartCU: 208, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x139E, Label: 'NOUGHTIES', ShortLabel: 'NOUGHTIE', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 30, StartCU: 224, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x139F, Label: 'HEART BREAKERS', ShortLabel: 'HEARTBRK', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 31, StartCU: 240, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13A0, Label: 'STRESS FREE', ShortLabel: 'STRESS', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 32, StartCU: 256, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13A1, Label: 'YACHT ROCK', ShortLabel: 'YACHTROK', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 33, StartCU: 272, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13A2, Label: 'LATINO', ShortLabel: 'LATINO', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 34, StartCU: 288, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13A3, Label: 'COVER UP', ShortLabel: 'COVER UP', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 35, StartCU: 304, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13A4, Label: 'ROADTRIP', ShortLabel: 'ROADTRIP', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 36, StartCU: 320, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13A5, Label: 'SHOWS', ShortLabel: 'SHOWS', PTY: -, AnnouncementSupport: No, NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 37, StartCU: 336, NumCU: 16, ErrorProt: EEP 4-A (FEC: 3/4), Datarate: 32 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 1
User App 1 / 1, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', DSCTy: 0x3C (MOT), X-PAD type: 12, UaType: 0x2 (Slideshow), DataLen: 2 [0C3C]
Audio-Service 0x13B0, Label: '7RPH Print Radio', ShortLabel: '7RPH', PTY: Information (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: Yes, Flags: 0x07FF [Alarm, Road Traffic flash, Transport flash, Warning/Service, News flash, Area weather flash, Event announcement, Special event, Programme Information, Sport report, Financial report], NumClusters: 4 [1, 2, 3, 4], NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 50, StartCU: 624, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 3-A (FEC: 1/2), Datarate: 64 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x13B1, Label: 'Ultra 106.5', ShortLabel: 'Ultra', PTY: Religion (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: Yes, Flags: 0x07FF [Alarm, Road Traffic flash, Transport flash, Warning/Service, News flash, Area weather flash, Event announcement, Special event, Programme Information, Sport report, Financial report], NumClusters: 4 [1, 2, 3, 4], NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 49, StartCU: 576, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 3-A (FEC: 1/2), Datarate: 64 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x13B2, Label: 'Edge Radio', ShortLabel: 'Edge', PTY: Other Music (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: Yes, Flags: 0x07FF [Alarm, Road Traffic flash, Transport flash, Warning/Service, News flash, Area weather flash, Event announcement, Special event, Programme Information, Sport report, Financial report], NumClusters: 4 [1, 2, 3, 4], NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 48, StartCU: 720, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 3-A (FEC: 1/2), Datarate: 64 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
Audio-Service 0x13B3, Label: 'Hobart FM', ShortLabel: 'HobartFM', PTY: Social Affairs (dynamic), AnnouncementSupport: Yes, Flags: 0x07FF [Alarm, Road Traffic flash, Transport flash, Warning/Service, News flash, Area weather flash, Event announcement, Special event, Programme Information, Sport report, Financial report], NumClusters: 4 [1, 2, 3, 4], NumComponents: 1 (Audio: 1, Data: 0)
AudioComponent, SCIdS: 0, Label: '', ShortLabel: '', ASCTy: 0x3F (AAC), SubChId: 51, StartCU: 672, NumCU: 48, ErrorProt: EEP 3-A (FEC: 1/2), Datarate: 64 kbit/s, NumUserApps: 0
7 Likes
That’ll be the new stations for their LiSTNR app. Getting them on DAB+ rather than being online-only saves money on music royalties.
Nova pulled this trick with their Smooth 80s/90s, Nova 90s/00s/10s/Throwbacks and Coles Radio offerings:
6 Likes
My guess is SHOWS, will loop some of the LiSTNR music documentary podcasts for the same reason of royalties.
Is this only in Hobart? I guess they need to get them on to DAB+ somewhere for the sake of music royalties.
4 Likes
Though a ‘Yacht Rock’ station in Hobart is very appropriate.
4 Likes
Well that’s a weird way for Hobart to end up with a lot of station choice and not a lot of quality/signal. Crappy that they couldn’t juggle things a little bit to ensure that Hit and Triple M Hobart were 3-A and/or higher quality.
EEP 2-A and EEP 4-A fighting it out will be good for coverage comparisons I suppose.
“LiSTNR” is an awful name, would be smart of them to have a ‘LiSTNR Showcase’ station on DAB with samplers of these various online services - either rotate per day or have a few hour blocks of each? Make more sense than Soundcloud Radio…
3 Likes
Sure is. About the only station I listen to on commercial DAB is Triple M Classic Rock. The sound quality is so much worse now.
I guess we won’t be seeing any of the other Triple M or Hit Stations anytime soon as a result of this either. From a quick flick through the stations earlier, the vast majority of them had similar music to what Hit 100.9 and other existing stations already play, certainly nothing that I’d bother listening to.
2 Likes
Ofcom awards first five Small Scale DAB licences
… so the UK is up and running with this while ACMA says it ain’t gonna happen in Oz …
3 Likes
There’s no spectrum for it here. The UK’s main limits on their DAB usage is preventing interference with mainland Europe and Ireland DAB, but at low power they basically have all of Band III to work with, so they have far more scope for allocating uses like this.
The high power allocations will already need to be way too close to each other to do a full DAB rollout.
4 Likes
… nonsense … there’s plenty of spectrum in regional areas but the ACMA is saying that because there is no available spectrum in metro, they won’t consider it for regional where it could be of use … that’s like saying I can’t build a house in Wagga 'cos there’s no land available in George Street Sydney …
5 Likes
If ACMA was very serious about DAB, then there would be services in places such as Wollongong, Newcastle, Gosford by now.
I actually do not like how they were neglecting DAB.
Plus as you said, plenty of space for DAB multiplexes in Regional Areas.
5 Likes
Spectrum is still congested in fringe metro markets, the current plan has Gosford and Wollongong sharing the same DAB channel, and Newcastle and Campbelltown sharing another channel.
Coverage will be somewhat restricted to prevent interference to the other market.
But yes, beyond that, spectrum shouldn’t be so much of an issue, particularly where Digital TV is all on UHF.
2 Likes
There’s not many places significantly far away from high power VHF Digital TV transmissions that you could reuse the frequencies without creating a risk of interference with TV reception, or with the eventual planning for high-power Regional DAB.
In addition, can’t see them planning services on currently utilised VHF spectrum until there’s certainty about strategies to clear the 600MHz band. If there are regional areas far enough away from other VHF broadcasts that they could be planned for DAB usage, they’d probably prefer to move UHF DTV down into that space to help clear it for 5G.
The ACMA also couldn’t act alone here - there’s no legislative concept of narrowcast DAB or DAB only commercial stations - you currently can only get access to apply for a digital radio license as an existing commercial/community/national license - so you’d need amendments to allow them to create such licenses.
4 Likes
ACMA are taking their cues with digital radio from the broadcasters (and their representation bodies), mainly because they are the ones having to fund the rollout. It doesnt help that there are considerable challenges that are going to be difficult to overcome
3 Likes
Even if there were coverage limits, I couldn’t see that working too well.
Newcastle & Campbelltown in particular would be a mess during Summer, especially since it’s possible to receive DVB-T from Mount Sugarloaf in the Macarthur region when the conditions are right.
3 Likes
… and like I said, the attitude is “it ain’t gonna happen” … if they can manage it in an area as congested as the UK, if the will was there the same could be done in Oz … it just doesn’t suit certain groups of people …
2 Likes
Agree 100%. If they can manage it in the UK which is by far more congested than anywhere in Australia they could do it here. There’s just a failure of planning and will of the operators.
It’s a grave mistake by the operators to rely on AM/FM and online. If they push people online they will lose as people find better alternatives online. DAB, particularly in cars, is the only anchor operators have against streaming other content. That’s how the UK operators are using it. If they can keep people on terrestrial radio via DAB they have a better chance of keeping most of their audience. Australian radio is going to learn the hard way I think.
3 Likes