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Cheeky Chef
Guest
Digital radio is scheduled to begin broadcasting in earnest from May 2009.
Unlike digital TV there is no cut-off date for analogue radio, therefore no need to rush out and buy a digital radio receiver. However, if you're keen to experience the difference digital technology makes to the radio waves you will have to open your wallet along with your eyes and ears.
What does it do?
Quite a bit of promotion for digital radio across all media over the coming months. Using the slogan "Digital Radio Plus" (see bottom, left), the marketing will no doubt extol features such as:
Who gets it?
If you live in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney there will be a large number of existing AM and FM radio stations broadcasting in both analogue and digital modes. Outside the major capitals, however, you'll have to wait until the infrastructure is in place. There's no clear indication of how long this will take.
No new players will be allowed to enter the market for a period of six years from the launch, but existing license holders are required to be broadcasting digitally in the mainland capitals by 1 July 2009 or else lose the right to do so.
How does it work?
Like digital TV, digital radio is broadcast as a stream of data that your digital radio receives and decodes. The advantage over analogue is that you get more information in the same amount of radio spectrum, hence the ability to receive images and text as well as sound. Analogue radios cannot decipher the digital signal, but most digital radios also include an analogue tuner. All stations transferring to the digital stream will simulcast a digital and analogue signal for the foreseeable future.
How do you get it?
If you live within the broadcast areas you can purchase a digital radio receiver, which will most likely range in price from around $130 for a very basic model up to $550 for one with all the bells and whistles. Most radio stations are currently streaming their content over the internet at www.digitalradioplus.com.au.
Unlike digital TV there is no cut-off date for analogue radio, therefore no need to rush out and buy a digital radio receiver. However, if you're keen to experience the difference digital technology makes to the radio waves you will have to open your wallet along with your eyes and ears.
What does it do?
Quite a bit of promotion for digital radio across all media over the coming months. Using the slogan "Digital Radio Plus" (see bottom, left), the marketing will no doubt extol features such as:
- High quality sound.
- Station searching by name rather than frequency.
- The ability to pause and play back radio in much the same way as you can with digital TV recorders.
- Extra channels on specialist subjects.
- Text and pictures (if your radio has a screen).
- Electronic program guide to help you decide what to listen to in the future.
Who gets it?
If you live in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney there will be a large number of existing AM and FM radio stations broadcasting in both analogue and digital modes. Outside the major capitals, however, you'll have to wait until the infrastructure is in place. There's no clear indication of how long this will take.
No new players will be allowed to enter the market for a period of six years from the launch, but existing license holders are required to be broadcasting digitally in the mainland capitals by 1 July 2009 or else lose the right to do so.
How does it work?
Like digital TV, digital radio is broadcast as a stream of data that your digital radio receives and decodes. The advantage over analogue is that you get more information in the same amount of radio spectrum, hence the ability to receive images and text as well as sound. Analogue radios cannot decipher the digital signal, but most digital radios also include an analogue tuner. All stations transferring to the digital stream will simulcast a digital and analogue signal for the foreseeable future.
How do you get it?
If you live within the broadcast areas you can purchase a digital radio receiver, which will most likely range in price from around $130 for a very basic model up to $550 for one with all the bells and whistles. Most radio stations are currently streaming their content over the internet at www.digitalradioplus.com.au.
