DAB

Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) is a robust form of broadcasting. using digital compression technology to deliver audio, text, pictures and data in a binary bit stream. As DAB system serves an area by using one single frequency network (SFN), more radio services are available alongside with data and picture transmissions. This significantly increases the number of channels and allows for improved spectrum efficiency as well as more interaction with audience.

Traditionally radio programmes were broadcast on different frequencies via FM and AM The radio had to be tuned into each frequency, as needed. This used up a comparatively large amount of spectrum for a relatively small number of stations, limiting listening choice. DAB is a digital radio broadcasting system that through the application of multiplexing and compression combines multiple audio streams onto a relatively narrow band centred on a single broadcast frequency called a DAB ensemble. Within an overall target bit rate for the DAB ensemble, individual stations can be allocated different bit rates. The number of channels within a DAB ensemble can be increased by lowering average bit rates, but at the expense of the quality of streams. Error correction under the DAB standard makes the signal more robust but reduces the total bit rate available for streams

The original objectives of converting to digital transmission were :enable higher fidelity more stations and more resistance to noise co-channel interference and multipath than in analogue FM radio. However, the leading countries in implementing DAB on stereo radio stations use compression to such a degree that it produces lower sound quality than that received from nonmobile FM broadcasts.[citation needed] This is because of the bit rate levels being too low for the MPEG Layer 2 audio codec to provide high fidelity audio quality.[13] The BBC Research & Development department states that at least 192 kbit/s is necessary for a high fidelity stereo broadcast : A value of 256 kbit/s has been judged to provide a high quality stereo broadcast signal. However, a small reduction, to 224 kbit/s is often adequate, and in some cases it may be possible to accept a further reduction to 192 kbit/s, especially if redundancy in the stereo signal is exploited by a process of 'joint stereo' encoding (i.e. some sounds appearing at the centre of the stereo image need not be sent twice). At 192 kbit/s, it is relatively easy to hear imperfections in critical audio material. BBC R&D White Paper WHP 061 June 2003[14] When BBC in July 2006 reduced the bit-rate of transmission of Radio 3 from 192 kbit/s to 160 kbit/s, the resulting degradation of audio quality prompted a number of complaints to the Corporation.[15] BBC later announced that following this testing of new equipment, it would resume the previous practice of transmitting Radio 3 at 192 kbit/s whenever there were no other demands on bandwidth. [edit] Satisified listeners

 Improved

features for users More stations Reception quality Less pirate interference Variable bandwidth Transmission costs

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reception quality on DAB can be poor even for people that live well within the coverage area Signal delay DAB coverage is poor in nearly all countries in comparison to the high population coverage provided by FM. Power requirements Use of Licensed Codecs