I’m no expert and I’m sure others can provide insight but isn’t Lane Cove right under the path of the tower so a bit of a reception trouble spot?
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Some comments from CRA on the future of DAB+
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Welcome @MadHatter !
The CRA comments pretty much sum up what many of us on there have thought about the future of DAB+.
The commercial operators don’t have any interest in expanding it. And if anything will probably wind back on the number of “stations” as time goes by, especially with the change in royalty payments.
The ABC has no interest in it either. It’s just another transmission expense. So no expansion there. There was even talk of them getting out of DAB+ some years ago.
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The comments made by CRA should not be taken at face value, as they have been in this article. They are purposefully being used to minimise the monetisation of DAB+ for the outcomes they were seeking in the decision.
It’s not to say it’s entirely unfounded or incorrect, but simply that the Tribunalis citing the marketing materials produced by CRA, which were in direct opposition to this claim, alongside the fact that no stations appeared to have a request to close or move away from the platform.
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Yeah I think they know if they leave, they will lose some listeners especially the bigger AM stations. Could a radio station stop broadcasting on DAB and lease it out to make some money?
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Absolutely. Metro AM stations aren’t going to be able to stop their DAB simulcasts until everyone is listening online. AM receivers are going to become scarcer and scarcer.
I had to go through some tunnels in Brisbane this morning - both the Clem7 and Airport Link - that don’t retransmit DAB. So I had to listen to 4BH on AM rather than DAB. The sound was just god awful on 1116.
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Two comments
- Not being available in tunnels can be fixed by making it available in tunnels.
- Caught an Uber today and the driver was listening to Heart on DAB+. I believe that most cars come with DAB+ these days.
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It looks like there will be no further DAB+ rolled out to other regional centres. The Gold Coast was the final market from the sounds of things.
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Agree. In Sydney we are fortunate that the North Connex and West Connex tunnels came with DAB+ installed, although the older Lane Cove and Habour Tunnels don’t have it, so you have to switch to FM.
I’m surprised that CRA didn’t do a deal with Transurban to have DAB+ installed in the new West Gate Tunnel. Maybe the cost was too prohibitive? Ditto the Clem 7 and Airport Link in Brisbane.
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Yeah the tunnel installation is a bit half hearted, I guess it’s all money. It just feels like they don’t have the heart into spending money to retro fit the kit, as there is a flashy new kid in town ie streaming plus AM/FM is still there.
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I wonder if it’s to do with needing the radio on AM/FM in case of an emergency within the tunnel?
The DAB+ tunnel technology lets them interrupt the DAB audio streams too. It’s quite clever.
The problem with the interrupts (on any band) is they get abused. Almost every time I do a major tunnel in peak hour in Sydney, I get an interrupt every sixty seconds telling me to be careful due to congestion. If I listened to streaming instead, there’s no such punishment and I still don’t run into anyone because I can use my eyes to see there’s congestion.
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If that’s the case where you need the radio on in the tunnel, I’m surprised DAB is a mandatory inclusion for safety if such tech does exist. Here in Brisbane, whenever I’ve been in a tunnel there’s never been any time I’ve had an interruption.
Wait so did they just close the Coles Radio royalty loophole? Is that what this is?
Also did anyone else notice that the official Australian DAB+ website digitalradioplus.com.au was shut down in December? I wondered at the time whether they were planning for a switch off…
What does this mean for the MUX license that the ABC have sort for Launceston? Does North Hobart only end up with National Broadcast Services on DAB+?
It looks to be that way. Unless ARN decide to broadcast Chili and LAFM on the same mux. I’m assuming it’s a category 2 license?
If it’s a category 2 license, then ARN would get 3/9ths of the available spectrum, and community radio 2/9ths with ABC/SBS getting 4/9ths.
Following Last Weeks Grass Fire which tooked the Mount Alexander Transmitters Off Line, Could we see Digital Radio Monidale come to Central Victoria?
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No. They’re got biggest issues to deal with first.
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They’re already broadcasting to no-one. No need to install expensive DRM equipment for the same result.
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Yes. I used that site every so often now it’s gone 
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