ABC/SBS DAB+ should be put onto single frequency networks, one for each state/territory. You would only need three frequencies for this.
F1: Vic, Qld, WA, Broken Hill area
F2: NSW, NT, Tas
F3: SA, ACT
This would leave five frequencies which could be used for commercial/community DAB+ multiplexes. This should be available in all areas of Australia.
In each state capital city, at least one of the two unused ABC frequencies could be re-used for a second commercial/community multiplex. They could also be used in some other areas if necessary.
The only problem is that ABC Local radio would need to move to a commercial/community multiplex. Ditto for sports coverage, e.g. if some parts of a state get AFL while others get NRL.
Pretty good bit rates for most stations compared to Sydney.
Canberra is a market where Dab+ could do quite well. With the small choice of fm stations, good bit rates, and most tv antennas vertically installed optimises the reception of Dab+
It would have been good if Canberra was allowed the full 50KW to allow for the best Dxing possibilities.
Problem is seemingly the Canberra FM joint venture is preventing either of SCA/ARN putting decent stations in the market, and there’s fairly uninspired stuff from the Capital Radio side of the fence.
A test tone and Australia Today get on there, while there’s no Mix 80s or Triple M Classic Rock - the general top performers in DAB listening. Even Hobart was getting better options - before SCA decided to use it as a dumping ground to reduce streaming royalties…
Lol. I was listening briefly one recent Sunday morning. Thought instead of ‘Australia Today’, that the station should have been called; ‘Australia-Couple of-Days-Ago’ given how current the news was…
Here is a picture of a news clip on 2ue. In the old days this would of been leading edge, now its just meh unfortunately. I’d rather hear 2ue with more bits and go to a browser online to see some text of the news.
That would look shocking by Super Radio Network standards, let alone for a station owned by a major media company (Nine) who we know can do half decent looking branding on their TV stations, etc.
This is the one. Its an average radio itself. Not great reception for my standards. The buttons are starting to go. I use Udok app to control it. Its great it has internet radio and my area has got good dab reception. So I use it often, sound is pretty good. I don’t think you can buy these radios new anymore? It has been rebadged with other brands. I think @dxnerd has one as a different brand.
Though keeping in mind that these images will rarely get to appear on a screen any bigger than 3 inches, so it really should be a case of less is more here. Detailed headlines with tiny pics aren’t going to help anyone here.
Suppose it’s a carry over from how Macquarie operated things vs Fairfax, but 3AW/Magic don’t have any slideshows.
My main issue is when they have high data rates allocated to them. Given the tiny uptake of capable receivers they absolutely should trade image load times for audio quality. The community stations and the ABC Stations are the worst offenders here.
4kbps is enough to do a reasonably fast updating image, anything more than that is a waste.
Should just be the album art in my opinion. A lot of radios just display these images tiny so barely readable anyway, and usually you can see the DLS along with the image
Agree, and one with the name of the program and picture of the presenter would be good too… eg “Mornings with … “. And a station logo image … you could have these in rotation with the album art.
But I’d just as be inclined to divert those bits back into improved sound quality, which would benefit all receivers.
Yea I must admit, I turn off the slideshow on mine. Get enough info on DLS without needing a slideshow. Probably was about time they abandoned it and put the boys back to audio.
I think sliding text is the way to go. Especially sporting stations. It would be great if they had footy score or cricket score as text. I don’t know if any of the stations does that live. Overall have a better sound is more/most important. The pictures/slideshows are just dated from the mid to late 90s in my view.
