Funferal

Digital radio standards

Harry Helms has been plugging away on IBOC’s failure to attract popular interest or support, and now claims that it’s more or less ‘put up or shut up’ time for the technology. I’m reminded of Enda O’Kane’s analysis of moves to implement DAB in Ireland, where he notes that it’s a rapidly aging technology, and will be older still by the time it’s rolled out (if that actually happens). What’s particularly useful about O’Kane’s analysis is that, as a radio engineer with detailed knowledge of the development and roll-out of FM radio in Ireland, he can draw out aspects that a layperson would not readily note as significant.
For example, the Irish FM system is designed to provide ‘table-top’ coverage throughout the country, while in the UK FM signals are much weaker. Thus, while DAB could make some sense in the UK, it makes much less sense in Ireland:

Ireland’s FM network, with 25% of spectrum underused, allows RTE deliver signals three times stronger than the BBC so eliminating the need to construct up to 50 new elevated sites for DAB.

Of more direct importance to community radio operators is the manner in which DAB operates:

A multiplex prohibits small stations from targeting their own niche audiences, compelling them at extra cost to share larger footprints covering wider geographical areas – a crippling burden on small stations.

O’Kane is an advocate of DRM Plus, which doesn’t use multiplexes and can operate on the FM band. No word on whether RTÉ or other relevant parties (such as Comreg) are being won over yet, though O’Kane claims that Comreg are no longer supportive of DAB.