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The ARCAM Guide to Digital Radio
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is the decade's
most exciting development in radio. Crystal clear sound, silent
backgrounds and interference free reception, deliver new levels of
performance from broadcasts. Through a good hi-fi system, the experience
of a digitally broadcast live concert is astonishing. The sound quality
can transport you to the venue, without having to leave the comfort of
your favourite armchair - truly the best seat in the house.
The technology behind Digital Radio has been developed by a consortium
of European broadcasters and was approved as a world standard in 1995.
Arcam have kept an interested eye on developments and early in 1998
decided to develop the Alpha 10
Digital Radio, the first of a new generation of digital radios which
will revolutionise radio in the 21st century. The Alpha 10 DRT has already
been recognised as a world leader: in the 1999 What Hi-Fi? awards,
the Alpha 10 DRT was awarded Best Buy £600 plus in the Tuner category.
Since December 1999, a second Arcam digital radio tuner, the FMJ DT26, has
also been available.
We believe that this technology will transform the way we listen to
radio and anyone with a keen interest in music, sport or current affairs
will be delighted with the new services available now and in the near
future from state run and private broadcast companies. The WorldDAB Forum has information on
world services, whilst in the UK the BBC and Digital One are leading the way
with digital radio broadcasting.
The following links offer independent reviews of digital radio and the
Arcam Alpha 10 Digital Radio Tuner:
Alan Stokes -
an Alpha 10 Digital Radio Tuner owner
It's
true what they say about digital - 2nd May 1999, Sunday
Telegraph
Barry
Fox's Q&A - BBC Music Magazine, August 1999
What is Digital Radio?
A new transmission system that will replace amplitude modulation (AM)
and frequency modulation (FM) broadcasts. The government's stated
intention is that Digital Radio will replace all existing radio
broadcasting. Current AM/FM transmitters will probably be switched off
around 2010-2015 although as this is a political decision, caveats apply.
There are no ifs or buts, Digital is the future of radio.
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Is there a single standard?
For once the answer is yes. There is a common European
standard called Eureka 147 that defines Digital Radio. This tailor made
system has been adopted by most of Europe, Canada, South Korea, South
Africa and Australia. The only country trying to develop an alternative
standard is the USA. (Not invented here syndrome) All receivers work on
all services and early adopters are not taking any chances by buying
now. What is wrong with AM (MW and LW) and
FM?
Digital techniques have found their way into most aspects
of audio and just about every communication process. Radio currently uses
a delivery system that is anything up to 70 years old, with quality that
varies from ghastly mono on the noisy medium wave, to fair/good hi-fi
stereo on FM. Digital Radio sounds better and is totally consistent.
Most broadcasts will be in hi-fi stereo at near CD quality. (Some sports
commentaries may be in mono.) Digital Radio gets rid of the annoying
flutter or multi-path distortion common in built up areas and is also
virtually immune from interference and fading. Anything else? Yes. Endless
possibilities with Data and Graphical Radio Text
Many Digital Radio receivers have a graphical text
display. Broadcasters will be able to tell listeners which song is
playing, give artist information, broadcast traffic updates or even give
phone-in numbers. The BBC's parliamentary channel already tells you which
MP is speaking and what the debate is about. Does Digital Radio use up extra
frequencies?
Digital radio uses the spectrum more efficiently than
AM/FM because each transmitter broadcasts multiple stations within one
multiplex, as opposed to one station per frequency with existing services.
It is possible to vary the configuration e.g. 12 mono services or six
stereo, etc, depending on requirements. The system also uses SFN's (Single
Frequency Networks) so that the same stations are on the same frequency
all over the country. What is the potential market for
digital radio?
In Europe alone, there is a potential market for 400
million sets Will there be simulcasts on DAB and
AM/FM for a few years?
Yes. In the late Seventies and most of the Eighties, many
commercial radio stations transmitted the same programme on AM and FM,
this was because most people listened on medium wave, with FM as the
'minor' quality service. Digital will replace analogue, but audiences will
have years to make the transition. What sort of Commercial Digital Radio
services will there be?
November 1999 saw the national launch in the UK of the
first commercial digital radio stations. Digital One broadcasts Classic
FM, Talk Radio and Virgin Radio on their digital radio network. Two new
digital only stations were also launched: a classic rock station called
Planet Rock and a teenage chart music channel called Core. Further
services in the UK are planned, with the launch of local services
throughout 2000. The BBC has been leading development and its digital
radio services now cover around 60 per cent of the country simulcasting
its national networks, Radios 1,2,3,4 and 5 Live along with live coverage
from the House of Commons and additional live sports coverage. A number of
new BBC services are planned. Arcam is the UK's largest manufacturer of Hi-Fi
Electronics and make a full range of market leading CD Players,
Amplifiers, etc. The company was founded in 1972 and now exports globally
with a turnover around Pound10 million. Arcam has unparalleled experience
in making digital audio from CD sound good and Digital Radio needs those
same skills. What are the Arcam Alpha 10 DRT &
Arcam FMJ DT26?
The A10 DRT and FMJ DT26 are stand alone hi-fi components
that can be added to any existing hi-fi system. Who will buy the first Digital
Radios?
Music and Hi-fi enthusiasts who already have good hi-fi
systems and who probably regularly listen to classical music on Radio 3
and Classic FM. The benefits of enhanced sound and lack of interference
appeal to this market. In future years, prices will drop and Digital Radio will
be built into every type of radio imaginable, including portables,
personals, mini, midi & micro systems. Some models will be pure audio,
some will have extensive displays of programme info and some will act as
data terminals. Cards to slot into PCs are planned, bringing music and
data to the desktop. Some models will store weather, news and sports
reports, to be replayed when you need them. Digital Radio will become a
complete entertainment & data medium. Interesting facts courtesy of BBC
DIGITAL RESEARCH
25% of listeners are afraid to tune to another station
for fear of losing their favourite programme! With Digital Radio, this is
no longer a problem. Across the country, the same programme can always be
found on the same button and all stations and programmes are clearly
labelled by name.
20% of all radio listening takes place in the car. Digital Radio has
been designed to work equally well in the car and the home.
The average UK household has five radio sets and the average radio
listener listens for more than 20 hours per week. DAB will offer more
choice of radio services with better quality.
For more information, visit the BBC
Digital Radio website. Analogue The current delivery signal for
radio services that uses one frequency for each service
Ancillary Services A service ancillary to the programmes,
for example an Electronic Programme Guide
Binary Digits or'Bits' Music and speech programming is
converted into a string of electronic ones and zeros, and then stored,
played and transmitted as such. The ones and zeros which represent on or
off, are called bits.
High Quality Digital Sound The overall sound quality can be
classed as 'near CD', dramatically better than medium and long wave and
offering a clear improvement over FM Stereo. One of the key benefits of
digital radio is that because the signal consists of binary digits and the
receiver is only expecting to see a string of ones and zeros, any
interfering noise is ignored.
DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting, another way of
saying Digital Radio
Ensemble see Multiplex
Eureka 147 Developed in Europe by a consortium of
broadcasters and manufacturers, E147 is an accepted European
Telecommunications Standard. It is forecast that it will be the standard
system throughout Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China,
India, South Africa Mexico, Malaysia and Singapore.
FM Flutter or multi-path distortion That's the hisses, pops
and phasing effects you get on an FM signal because of reflections and
interference from tall buildings and mountains
Multiplex A collection of audio and data services all bound
up together and transmitted on one frequency
Programme Associated Data The pictures, text, graphics and
Internet info that will substantially enhance and revolutionise the way
people use their radios in the future.
Simulcast A digital station, which broadcasts identical
programming to an existing analogue station.
Single Frequency Networks At national or regional level,
Digital Radio can use single frequency networks (SFN) to provide the same
multiplex (group of stations) on a number of different transmitters at the
same frequency. This greatly improves spectrum efficiency.
UK Digital Radio Forum A self funded industry body which is
pioneering the development and roll-out of Digital Radio in Britain
WorldDAB A global version of the UK Forum ©Rob Follis 1999 - with thanks to Susann Smith @ Digital
One
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© A & R Cambridge Ltd 2000
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