(Population1,200 million), 2017 and Denmark 2019 (Population 5.6 million).(Australian population 23 million) Radio should follow USA TV switchover model. Implementation: should copy the model used by the U.S. for digital TV (DTV). 1. Select a switch off date. (Congress selected a date 10 years ahead however it was delayed an extra three years due to poor public awareness.) 2. Select a date after which all new devices must comply to the latest ETSI standards at profile level 2 as specified by DRM, including 45 108 MHz DRM+ – reception. A device includes all radios capable of receiving broadcasts, including: a. factory installed and after-market auto radios, b. mobile phones, c. tablets, d. home theater amplifiers e. portable playing devices. (Congress set this date two years prior to switch off. On reflection this date should have been half way between switch off and the decision to switch to digital. This earlier date reduces the need for subsidies to receiver purchasers.) We do not wish to subsidise receiver purchases thus the legislation requiring the devices to be capable of DAB+/DRM reception well prior to the analog switchoff is important. More on this later ii. The limitation of 8 DAB+ transmission channels, severely limits the possibility of future growth, at the power used (50 kW effective radiate power), the channel cannot be reused within 336 km of an existing transmitter (ACMA Technical Planning Manual). The 336 km is to prevent interference the reliable coverage area has a diameter less than 80 km depending on the terrain. Note that digital television in Sydney, Canberra, Manning River and Bathurst prevent the use of any DAB+ channel outside of 8A 8D, 9A 9D from being used for radio. I have – – allocated a DAB+ channel to each high powered TV/FM transmitter site. With the exception of Newcastle, which has 4 broadcasters all others only have two broadcasters nearby. Compare this to Sydney, which has 11 companies sharing 2 transmitters.
(Population1,200 million), 2017 and Denmark 2019 (Population 5.6 million).(Australian population 23 million) Radio should follow USA TV switchover model. Implementation: should copy the model used by the U.S. for digital TV (DTV). 1. Select a switch off date. (Congress selected a date 10 years ahead however it was delayed an extra three years due to poor public awareness.) 2. Select a date after which all new devices must comply to the latest ETSI standards at profile level 2 as specified by DRM, including 45 – 108 MHz DRM+ reception. A device includes all radios capable of receiving broadcasts, including: a. factory installed and after-market auto radios, b. mobile phones, c. tablets, d. home theater amplifiers e. portable playing devices. (Congress set this date two years prior to switch off. On reflection this date should have been half way between switch off and the decision to switch to digital. This earlier date reduces the need for subsidies to receiver purchasers.) We do not wish to subsidise receiver purchases thus the legislation requiring the devices to be capable of DAB+/DRM reception well prior to the analog switchoff is important. More on this later ii. The limitation of 8 DAB+ transmission channels, severely limits the possibility of future growth, at the power used (50 kW effective radiate power), the channel cannot be reused within 336 km of an existing transmitter (ACMA Technical Planning Manual). The 336 km is to prevent interference the reliable coverage area has a diameter less than 80 km depending on the terrain. Note that digital television in Sydney, Canberra, Manning River and Bathurst prevent the use of any DAB+ channel outside of 8A – 8D, 9A – 9D from being used for radio. I have allocated a DAB+ channel to each high powered TV/FM transmitter site. With the exception of Newcastle, which has 4 broadcasters all others only have two broadcasters nearby. Compare this to Sydney, which has 11 companies sharing 2 transmitters.
Alan_Hughes_2014.docx