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Digital Radio Guide

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 FOREWORD

The purpose of the Digital Radio Guide is to help engineers and managers in the radio
broadcast community understand various aspects of digital radio systems that are
available in 2006. The guide covers those systems used for transmission in different
media, but not in the production chain. The in-depth technical descriptions of the
systems are available from the proponent organisations and their websites listed in the
appendices. The choice of the appropriate system remains the responsibility of the
broadcaster who should take into account the various technical, commercial and legal
factors relevant to the application.
It is my sincere hope that the publication will be a useful tool for radio broadcasters to
evaluate the various options available to them.
I would like to thank the editorial team for the excellent job they did in preparing this
revised edition of the Digital Radio Guide. The team was chaired by Amal Punchihewa,
ABU Director-Technology & Innovation, and consisted of Simon Fell and David Wood
of EBU.
We are grateful to the many organisations and consortia whose systems and services are
featured in the guide for providing the updates for this latest edition. In particular, our
thanks go to the following organisations:

• European Broadcasting Union

• North American Broadcasters Association

• Digital Radio Mondiale

• HD Radio

• WorldDAB Forum

Bob Plummer
Chairman
World Broadcasting Unions - Technical Committee

November 2016

3
4
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 8
2 WHAT IS DIGITAL RADIO? ................................................................................ 9
3 WHY DIGITAL RADIO? ...................................................................................... 11
4 TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS .................................................. 12
4.1 DRM – DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE............. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
4.1.1 Key Features of the System Design for the Markets to be Served by the DRM
System Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.1.2 Brief Description of the DRM System ..............Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.1.3 Transmitter Considerations .............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.1.4 DRM+ ..............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2 DAB – EUREKA 147 .................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
4.2.1 System Development ........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2.2 Principal Advantages and Challenges .............Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2.3 DAB Development Worldwide as of 2006 .......Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2.4 Infrastructure Requirements ............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2.5 Synergies with Other Systems ..........................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2.6 Future Developments of DAB ..........................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2.7 Types of Receivers............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3 JAPAN'S DIGITAL RADIO BROADCASTING (ISDB-TSB) ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
4.3.1 Overview ..........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3.2 The Methods .....................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3.3 Characteristics .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3.4 Receivers ..........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3.5 Overview of Services ........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.3.6 Outlook for the Future .....................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4 IBIQUITY HD RADIO SYSTEM ...................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
4.4.1 HD Radio Standards Activity ...........................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4.2 HD Radio AM and FM Receivers ....................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4.3 HD Radio System Technical Design Overview Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4.4 Core Services ...................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4.5 HD Radio Subsystems ......................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4.6 Receiver Systems ..............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.4.7 Features Common to North American Digital Radio Systems .............. Error!
Bookmark not defined.
4.4.8 Infrastructure Requirements ............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.5 ISSUES RELATED TO TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS.................................................... 103
4.5.1 Spectrum Availability .................................................................................. 103
4.5.2 The Implications of Simulcasting ................................................................ 107
4.5.3 Coverage ..................................................................................................... 108
5 SATELLITE TRANSMISSION ............. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

6
 5.1 WORLDSPACE – ITU-R SYSTEM D .............. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
5.1.1 Receiver Systems ..............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2 SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO / XM SATELLITE RADIO .... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
5.2.1 Sirius Overview ................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2.2 Deployment Status ...........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.3 MOBILE BROADCASTING CORP. AND TU MEDIA CORP. – ITU-R SYSTEM E
ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
5.3.1 Receiver Systems ..............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
6 INTERNET RADIO (IR) ........................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.2 BRINGING RADIO TO THE INTERNET............. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.3 INTERNET RADIO PECULIARITIES ................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.4 INTERNET RADIO AS A COMPLEMENT TO ESTABLISHED RADIO SERVICES .. ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.5 INTERNET-ONLY STATIONS: IR PORTALS AND MUSIC PORTALS ................ ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.6 STREAMING TECHNOLOGY FOR RADIO SERVICES .......... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
6.7 INTERNET RADIO TERMINALS AND PLAYBACK DEVICES ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT
DEFINED.
6.8 INTERNET RADIO'S RELATION WITH THE TRADITIONAL RADIO .................. ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.9 MEASURING AUDIENCE ................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.10 CASE STUDIES .............................................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6.10.1 VRT ..............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.10.2 Virgin Radio .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.10.3 Swedish Radio multichannel audio distribution ........ Error! Bookmark not
defined.
6.11 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS......................................................................... 110
6.12 SOME IMPORTANT RADIO PORTALS ................................................................. 110
7 SOME SOURCES FOR THE DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE ............................... 114
APPENDIX A THE EUREKA 147 SYSTEM - SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ......... 117
APPENDIX B RELEVANT WORLD WIDE WEBSITES .................................... 136
APPENDIX C GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS ....................................................... 138

7
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE INTRODUCTION

1 Introduction
Digital technology has steadily transformed the way in which programmes are
made and distributed in recent years. Already many broadcasters have invested in
digital systems for contribution and production and now the switch from analogue
to digital is moving along the broadcasting chain into transmission. At the same
time, digital developments are drawing together the broadcasting,
telecommunications and computer industries in a process of convergence. For all
broadcasters, this is leading to a new and challenging business environment in
which they are searching for a clear ‘multimedia’ role.
Although similar changes are happening in both radio and television, this guide
deals with radio. It is designed to help managers, including those in developing
countries, identify the technical and business forces that are driving the analogue
to digital conversion process. There are many benefits that radio broadcasters
stand to gain by adopting digital technology and the current interest in digital
television should help and encourage the switch from analogue to digital in radio
broadcasting. The issue is likely to be brought into sharper focus if and when
individual countries or regional groups set timetables for phasing out existing
analogue services.
This updated Digital Radio Guide focuses primarily on the various digital radio
systems in operation today and their associated standards. The guide visits not
only terrestrially based digital system but also overviews the services now
available via satellite radio.
The important development seen in this updated guide is the significant changes
to digital radio development compared to the original guide published in 1998.
The first guide presented many options for the US-based studies into digital radio
as well as satellite radio. These systems have now matured to the level that there
is unlikely to be changes in the choice for digital standards for many years. The
only development planned at present is that by the DRM Consortium with its
DRM120 project.
This guide is a compilation of inputs provided by WBU members for the benefit
of the world broadcasting community. Note that references to relevant worldwide
websites and a glossary of acronyms are provided in Appendices B and C at the
end of this guide.

8
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE WHAT IS DIGITAL RADIO?

2 What is Digital Radio?

Since the early days of broadcasting, analogue systems have been used to carry
programmes from the studios to the listeners. Now, due to the growing number of
broadcasters and programme services, the frequency bands allocated to AM and
FM radio in many regions of the world are full. The resulting congestion in the
radio spectrum has led to a decline in reception quality and is a real constraint to
further growth. Furthermore, in densely populated areas, FM reception on car
radios and portables can be very poor. This is due to the effect of severe multipath
propagation caused by signal reflections and shadowing due to high buildings.
Digital transmission technology can offer much improved coverage and
availability. It is expected to replace analogue transmissions in many areas, but as
digital systems are incompatible with current AM and FM broadcasting systems,
new receivers will be needed.
In basic form, digital radio is an application of the technology in which sound is
processed and transmitted as a stream of binary digits. The principle of using
digital technology for audio transmission is not new, but early systems used for
terrestrial television sound (such as NICAM 728) need considerable bandwidth
and use the RF spectrum inefficiently, by comparison with today’s digital systems.
The development of digital radio has been helped by the rapid progress that has
been made in digital coding techniques used in RF and audio systems. This has
led to improved spectrum efficiency, more channel capacity, or a combination of
these benefits. Digital compression techniques used in audio systems have
improved sound quality at low bit rates to the extent that radio broadcasts can be
made on location and then transmitted to the broadcaster’s production studios
over telephone circuits in high quality.
Ideally, to reach the widest range of listeners, a genuinely universal digital radio
system should be capable of being transmitted via terrestrial, satellite and cable
systems.
There are new digital radio systems in operation. The list is set out in Table 2.1.
The table illustrates the wide spread of operational systems throughout the world.
The great strength of the present analogue transmission systems is the world-wide
standardisation on just two systems (FM and AM). This enables listeners to use
one radio to receive programmes at any location. But in the development of
digital systems, it is now clear that similar standardisation will not be so easily
achieved. Differing market requirements are driving digital systems to be more
specialised and tailored to meet regional, national, or application-oriented needs.
Furthermore, the complexity of digital systems compared to existing analogue
techniques fosters this differentiation.

9
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE WHAT IS DIGITAL RADIO?

Table 2.1: Digital Radio Systems

AVAILABILITY
SYSTEM Terrestrial in service date Satellite in
service date
Eureka 147 1995 ---
(ITU-R Digital System A) (for the UK, Norway,
Denmark and Sweden)
DRM - Digital Radio Mondiale Transmissions tests ---
ETSI ES 201 980 V1.2.2 (2003- successfully since 2000;
4) International consortium regular broadcasting from
July 2003. For use in all
broadcasting bands below
30 MHz
DRM - Digital Radio Mondiale 2010
DRM+
HD Radio (iBiquity Digital) Now rolling out in US ---
(FCC Docket 99-325, NRSC-5
Standard) in the HF and MF
Bands
WorldSpace 1998
(ITU-R Digital System D)
XM Radio 2001 (North
America)
Sirius Satellite Radio 2000 (North
America)
Digital Radio Broadcasting (1) ---
ISDB-TSB (Japan)

Notes:
--- Not applicable
(1) System under trial development. No date set for a service.

10
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE WHY DIGITAL RADIO?

3 Why Digital Radio?

The existing AM and FM analogue systems suffer from inherent short-comings
and neither can offer uniform reception quality throughout the coverage area. AM
radio reception is constrained by bandwidth limitations, which restrict the audio
quality and by interference from other co-channel and adjacent channel
transmissions. This is particularly troublesome during the hours of darkness. The
start of FM services in the 1950’s improved the audio bandwidth and overcame
the night-time interference, but the broadcasts were designed to be received using
fixed receivers with external antennas. When listened to in vehicles or on
portables, reception suffered from the effects of reflected signals (multipath) and
other forms of interference, particularly in suburban and city areas.
Another aspect of AM and FM analogue transmissions is the inefficient use of the
spectrum (relative to what is possible using digital technology). As pressure on
the radio spectrum rises, this finite resource becomes more scarce. Digital radio is
seen by some administrations as a potential source of income and spectrum, as a
way to encourage the resource to be used more efficiently.
There are many ways in which digital radio systems can improve upon analogue
systems:

• Digital signals are more robust than analogue and can be transmitted
successfully at lower transmitter powers.

• Digital systems using coded multicarrier modulation offer much improved

reception on mobile car radios and portables.

• Advanced digital compression techniques enable low bit rates to be used

successfully, whilst still producing sound of near CD quality. This makes
digital systems more spectrum efficient.

• The digital bit-stream can be used for transmitting both audio and data.

• A digital radio is much easier to use/tune than is an AM/FM radio.

• There is increasing competition for the public’s time from the non-broadcast
media such as the CD. By comparison, many AM (in particular) and FM
services offer poor audio quality.

• The data capability of digital radio can be used directly or, with some
modification, for other related broadcasting activities such as Internet radio.

11
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

4 Terrestrial Transmission Systems

This chapter provides a technical overview of the various digital radio systems
available for terrestrial application: DRM, DAB, ISDB-TSB, and HD Radio.
These systems operate in various frequency bands and offer different attributes
and features.
4.1 DRM – Digital Radio Mondiale

DRM is a global digital radio standard for the existing radio broadcast bands (as
deployed for analogue AM and FM radio). It supports both local/regional
coverage scenarios as well as large-area and international transmissions. DRM
focusses on digitizing and enhancing radio services and transmissions of
individual broadcasters.

Figure 4.1.1: DRM Logo

The DRM system encompasses a high level of flexibility in its design. These are
noted in this subsection in the signal flow sequence going from the delivery from
a programme studio or network control centre to a transmission site and on to
reception and decoding in a receiver.

4.1.1 Key Features of the System Design for the Markets to be Served by the DRM
System

The DRM system is a flexible digital sound broadcasting system for use in all the
terrestrial radio broadcasting bands below 300 MHz (i.e. AM bands and VHF
bands).
In the consumer radio receiver, the DRM system provides the capability to
receive digital radio (including sound, program related data such as advanced text,
and other data such as EPG, still pictures and traffic information) in all the
broadcasting bands below 300 MHz. It can function in an independent manner,
but will more likely be part of a more comprehensive receiver – much like the
majority of today’s receivers that include AM and FM analogue reception
capability.
DRM enables a broadcaster to provide between 1 and 4 services on a single
transmission signal: Typical single-channel MW transmissions may typically

12
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

carry 1-2 audio services accompanied by text-based data applications, FM

transmissions provide the capacity for up to 3 audio services along with various
accompanying and stand-alone data applications. This enables broadcasters to
enhance their overall listenership by providing additional services tailored to
wider audiences.
DRM’s EWF – Emergency Warning Feature – allows to instantly alert DRM
listeners in case of pending natural or man-made catastrophes. EWF combines the
particular benefits of terrestrial transmission (such as battery-powered receivers
and coverage of the affected area from long-distance transmitter locations without
depending on local infrastructure) with the improvements enabled through DRM
digital radio: DRM receivers can be directed to automatically re-tune and/or
switch to the emergency broadcast (possibly with automatic switch-on from deep
standby mode). The content of the emergency transmission combines classic
audio announcements with the advanced text application Journaline – the latter
allowing immediate access to detailed multi-lingual information and instructions,
thus including hearing impaired users and those not speaking the local language.
The DRM standard has two main configurations, depending on the frequency of
transmission. “DRM30” is the term applied when the frequency is below 30 MHz
(the traditional AM bands). “DRM+” is the term applied when the frequency is in
the VHF bands, that is between 30 MHz and 300 MHz. DRM30 can be used in
either 9 or 10 kHz channels, and also provides high capacity modes using double
channel bandwidths. DRM+ is used in 100 kHz channels. Therefore DRM can
operate in the existing channel assignments defined in the past for analogue
transmissions.
Differences on how much of the total available bit stream of these channels is
used for audio, for error protection and correction, and for data transfer depend on
the intended use and individual configuration (for example, ground wave, short
distance sky wave or long distance sky wave, with a data application service or
without one). In other words, there are modal trade-offs available so that the
system can match the needs of broadcasters worldwide.
As noted in more detail in subsequent parts of this subsection, the DRM system
has the following structure. It employs xHE-AAC (Extended HE-AAC) audio
coding, which is the most advanced audio coder currently available. This audio
coder provides equally high quality for music and speech signals, including stereo
reproduction, even at very low bit rates. Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexing (OFDM) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) are used
for the channel coding and modulation, along with time interleaving and forward
error correction (FEC). Pilot reference symbols are injected to permit a receiver to
“equalise” the channel by comparing a known stored bit sequence with the
corresponding received sequence of these special bits, and adjusting accordingly
if there are differences in the received compared to the stored sequence.

13
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

It is important to recognize that a consumer radio receiver needs to be capable of

decoding any or all of several terrestrial transmissions; that includes in particular
the complementary open digital radio standards DRM (narrow-band digital (for
<300 MHz RF) and – where applicable – the DAB multiplex standard (for >30
MHz RF), as well as analogue for the LF, MF, HF and VHF (including the FM)
bands. The DRM standard is an important component within the receiver, as
DRM transmissions today are estimated to reach half the world population thanks
to international coverage, while local digital radio services may be based on DRM
or DAB, or a combination thereof. In addition it is unlikely that a consumer radio
designed to receive terrestrial digital transmissions would exclude the analogue
capability anytime in the foreseeable future.
4.1.2 Brief Description of the DRM System

(1) Overall design

normal prot.
audio data source
normal/[high]
stream encoder(s) [high prot.] protection energy channel cell MSC
MUX dispersal encoder interleaver

DRM transmission signal

OFDM cell mapper
normal prot.
data
pre-coder pilot generator OFDM signal
stream [high prot.] modulator
generator

FAC energy channel FAC

pre-coder
information dispersal encoder

SDC energy channel SDC

pre-coder
information dispersal encoder

flow of information

Figure 4.1.2: Transmission Block Diagram

Figure 4.1 depicts the general flow of different classes of information (audio,
data, etc.) after their origination in a studio or control centre (that would be
depicted to the left of the figure) to a DRM transmitter exciter/modulator on
the right. Although a receiver diagram is not included in the figure, it would
represent the inverse of this diagram.
There are two classes of basic information:

• the encoded audio and data that are combined in the main service
multiplexer;

• information that bypasses the multiplexer that are known as fast access
channel (FAC) and service description channel (SDC), whose purposes
relate to identification and control for a transmitter and for appropriate
decoding selection within a receiver.

14
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

The audio source encoder and the data pre-coders ensure the adaptation of
the input streams onto an appropriate digital format. Their output may
comprise two parts requiring two levels of protection within the subsequent
channel encoder.
The multiplex combines the protection levels of all data and audio services
in a proper format within the frame structure of the bit stream.
The energy dispersal provides an ordering of the bits that reduces the
possibility of unwanted regularity in the transmitted signal.
The channel encoder adds redundant bits as a means for error protection and
correction and defines the mapping of the digitally encoded information into
QAM cells, which are the basic carriers of the information supplied to the
transmitter for modulation.
Cell interleaving rearranges the time sequence of the bits as a means of
“scrambling” the signal so that the final reconstruction of the signal at a
receiver will be less affected by fast fading than would be the case if
“continuous” speech or music were transmitted.
The pilot generator injects information that permits a receiver to derive
channel-equalization information, thereby allowing for coherent (includes
phase information) demodulation of the signal.
The OFDM cell mapper collects the different classes of cells and places
them on a time-frequency grid.
OFDM depends on each of many subcarriers carrying its own sinusoidal
amplitude/phase signal for a short period of time. The ensemble of the
information on these subcarriers contains what is needed for transmission. In
the case of DRM, for a 10 kHz channel, there are hundreds of subcarriers.
The modulator converts the digital representation of the OFDM signal into
the analogue signal that will be transmitted via a transmitter/antenna over
the air – essentially phase/amplitude representations as noted above
modulating the RF.
With a non-linear high-powered transmitter, the signal is first split into its
amplitude and phase components for injection in the anode and grid circuits,
respectively, and then recombined (by the action of the transmitter itself set
at the correct differential delay time), and then recombined prior to final
emission. This splitting is not necessary for linear amplification.

(2) Distribution Interface

Referring to the extreme left of Figure 1, apart from audio and data
applications that are multiplexed, additional information is sent that is

15
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

required to instruct the transmitter to select the correct mode, error

protection level, etc. and to send information in the transmission to the
receivers to permit them to switch to the selection of several variables to
allow for proper decoding. (The boxes and arrows for this are not shown
directly in Figure 1.) In the aggregate, this collection of information and the
means to get it to the transmitting station is called the “Distribution
Interface” (DI).
These signals can emanate from a studio, or from a more elaborate network
control centre, and be transmitted via land lines or via satellite circuits to the
appropriate transmitter station(s). These details will not be noted here, but
can be found in the related ETSI documents (see below).
There are two Distribution Interfaces currently standardized, all based on the
shared standard DCP – Distribution & Communication Protocol (ETSI TS
102 820; with the associated document ETSI TS 102 358):

• MDI – Multiplex Distribution Interface: covers the transport of the

digital DRM multiplex signal and additional modulation configuration
from the DRM Multiplexer (located at the studio or the transmitter site)
to the DRM Modulator (part of a DRM-ready transmitter); see ETSI
TS 102 821 (DRM MDI – Multiplex Distribution Interface).

• RSCI – Receiver Status and Control Interface: covers the transport of

receiver status information in addition to the DRM multiplex from a
DRM receiver (baseband decoder) to service layer decoders or outside
processing/recording/archiving modules as well as commands to control
the receiver’s behaviour (such as re-tuning to a specified frequency); see
ETSI TS 102 349.

(3) Audio Source Coding

Figure 4.2 depicts the two audio codecs supported in the DRM standard:
MPEG xHE-AAC (Extended High Efficiency AAC) and MPEG AAC with
SBR and PS. They can operate in a range of bit rates and configurations,
including mono, stereo and even stereo-decoder compatible 5.1 Surround
Sound modes.
xHE-AAC is the latest MPEG audio codec development, a superset of the
widely used HE-AAC v2 codec: xHE-AAC unifies music and speech-
coding and supports low-bitrate configurations as common for many DRM
transmission modes, Internet streaming and mobile music download services.
The xHE-AAC encoder automatically chooses the optimum audio
configuration for the specified target bit rate, thereby eliminating the need
for the broadcaster to get involved with the detailed audio configuration
parameters.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

Due to the adoption of xHE-AAC, it is a realistic scenario for broadcasters

to plan for two stereo services within a single MW transmission (a standard
channel of 9 or 10 kHz bandwidth), three high-quality stereo transmissions
in a single FM band broadcast, or FM-like audio quality for a SW
transmission with even the most robust signal configuration.

DRM Audio Source Encoding

xHE-AAC Encoder
(stereo coding & SBR handled internally/automatically)
MPEG Surround mux &
audio Audio
Encoder channel
signal super framing
(config. depnd.) coding
MPEG PS SBR Encoder
Encoder (configuration AAC
(config. depnd.) dependent) Encoder

DRM Audio Source Decoding multichannel

audio output

xHE-AAC MPEG Surround

Decoder Decoder
bitstream binaural stereo
from mux Audio
super frame output for
& channel headphones
decoding demux
AAC SBR / PS mono/stereo
Decoder Decoder audio output

Figure 4.1.3: DRM Audio Source Encoding and Decoding

SBR (Spectral Band Replication) is a special means of enhancing the

perception of a spectrally truncated low band audio signal by utilizing, on a
dynamic basis, the spectral content of the low band information to simulate
the missing higher band behaviour. SBR is automatically used for xHE-
AAC services, while in the case of AAC it can be enabled for certain audio
configurations.

(4) Data Applications

The DRM standard includes a full range of elementary multimedia
components, which allow to enhance the radio experience for listeners and
to open new revenue potential for broadcasters. The core applications are
specified in the DRM Receiver Profiles (as available for download from
www.drm.org):

• DRM Text Messages

Typically programme-related information such as title and artist names;
short scrolling text information (max. 128 characters) are auto-updated
on the radio receiver’s screen.

• Journaline
Advanced full-text service with simple menu structure for interactive

17
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

and on-demand information look-up on the receiver; typical content

offerings include news, weather, sport results, programme background
information (e.g. songs of the last hour with artist background), stock
price updates, distance learning offerings, etc.
Journaline provides multilingual text services free over-the-air without
the need for Internet to stay up-to-date even when on the move. On
connected radio sets, broadcasters can in addition trigger Hot-Button
listener backchannel engagement such as phone call-ins to a talk show,
sending of SMS messages to participate in games and polls, being linked
to web sites for ticket purchases, etc. Special test-to-speech support
options enable the use of Journaline also for in-car receivers. And geo-
referencing of Journaline information links with navigation systems and
enables locally relevant content filtering.

• EPG – Electronic Programme Guide

Informs about upcoming programmes; some receivers may allow
listeners to search for specific content or program future recordings with
the push of a button.

• Slideshow
Images and simple animations are auto-updated on the radio receiver’s
screen; enables ‘view into the studio’, music album covers, or photos
accompanying the news; particularly suitable for with higher-capacity
local DRM services (DRM+).

• TPEG and TMC

Traffic updates for route planning optimization of in-car navigation
systems; targeting local and regional DRM services.
The flexible configuration of the DRM multiplex allows for a fine-granular
assignment of transmission capacity to each data application.

(5) Multiplexing, including special channels and energy dispersal

This section refers to the left side of Figure 4.1 through “energy dispersal”,
not including the DI and audio/data encoding portions.
As noted in Figure 4.1, the DRM system total multiplex consists of 3
channels: the MSC, the FAC and the SDC. The MSC contains the services –
audio and data. The FAC provides information on the signal bandwidth and
other such parameters, and is also used to allow service selection
information for fast scanning. The SDC gives information to a receiver on
how to decode the MSC, how to find alternative sources of the same data,
and gives attributes to the services within the multiplex.

18
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

The MSC channel may contain up to 4 MSC streams, any one of which can
carry one audio or up to 4 data components (in packet mode or enhanced
packet mode). The gross bit rate of the MSC is dependent on the channel
bandwidth and transmission mode being used. Typical bit rates available to
the transport of audio and data components are in the range of 10—35 kbps
for DRM30 standard channels, and 37—186 kbps for DRM+ transmissions.
In all cases, it is divided into 400 millisecond frames in the case of DRM30
and 100 millisecond frames in the case of DRM+.
From a listener’s perspective, besides pure audio services (with optional
Text Messages), DRM supports pure data services (consisting of one data
component) and audio services with PAD (Programme Associated Data,
extending the audio service by 1-4 data applications automatically presented
to the listener when tuning to the audio+PAD service).

DRM Services Service A Service B Service C Service D

presented to and type: audio (+PAD) type: audio (+PAD) type: audio (+PAD) type: data
selectable by user short id: 0 short id: 1 short id: 2 short id: 3

SDC data entity type

mapping from service to stream 9 5 9 5 9 5 5 5
plus stream/audio configuration

MSC Streams stream 0: stream 1: stream 2: 0 1 2 3

audio/data content in MSC audio tm audio tm audio tm stream 3: data-pm

Figure 4.1.4: Relationship between DRM Services and MSC Streams

The FAC’s structure is also built within a 400 or 100 millisecond frame, and
is designed without interleaving, for example, to ensure rapid delivery of the
information it contains. The design without interleaving is also to ensure
fastest decoding of basic data by the Rx before it can do the audio decoding.
The channel parameters are included in every FAC frame segment. The
service parameters are carried in successive frames, one service per frame.
The SDC’s frame periodicity is 1200 milliseconds for DRM30 and 400
milliseconds for DRM+. The fields of information are: multiplex description,
service label, conditional access, frequency information, frequency schedule
information, application information, announcement support and switching,
coverage region identification, time and date information, audio information,
FAC copy information, and linkage data. As well as conveying these data,
the fact that the SDC is inserted periodically into the waveform is exploited
to enable seamless switching between alternative frequencies.

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(6) Channel coding and modulation

The coding/modulation scheme used is a variety of coded orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing (COFDM), which combines the OFDM
with the Multi-Level Coding (MLC) based upon convolutional coding. The
convolutional coding provides a level of error protection. These two main
components are supplemented by time interleaving (“scrambling” of the bit
stream) and the provision of pilot (predetermined value) cells for
instantaneous channel estimation. All of this mitigates the effects of short-
term signal fading, whether selective or flat.
Taken together, this combination provides excellent transmission and signal
protection possibilities in the narrow 9 or 10 kHz channels in the LF, MF
and HF broadcasting frequency bands. It can also be used for “multi-
channel” DRM use; that is 18 or 20 kHz channels, using 2 contiguous ITU-
R channels. This level of bandwidth will permit very good stereo
broadcasting, or multiple services in the same RF channel. For DRM+ with
a higher set of available data rates, high robustness and/or multiple services
up to surround sound services are possible.
For OFDM, the transmitted signal is composed of a succession of symbols,
each including a “guard interval,” which is a cyclic time prefix that provides
a “dead time” to counter intersymbol interference due to multipath delay
spread. Orthogonality refers to the fact that, in the case of the design of the
DRM system, each symbol contains between 100 and 200 subcarriers
spaced evenly across the channel in such a way that their signals do not
interfere with each other (are orthogonal). The precise number of subcarriers,
and other parameter considerations, are a function of the actual letter modes
used: ground wave, sky wave, and highly robust transmissions.
QAM is used for the modulation that is impressed upon the subcarriers to
convey the information. Two primary QAM constellations are used: 64-
QAM and 16-QAM for DRM30 and 16-QAM and 4_QAM for DRM+. In
each case, the higher constellation provides the highest audio quality, but is
less robust. In addition, a 4-QAM (QPSK) signal, which is very robust, is
used for some of the signalling.
The interleaver time span (applied to the MSC) for HF transmissions is
generally 2 seconds, to cope with time and frequency selective fading by
protecting the audio and data from rapid fades during the natural sequence
of speech and music. When less difficult propagation conditions are
expected (for the LF and MF bands and better behaved HF transmissions), a
shorter interleaver of 0.4 seconds can be used. For the VHF bands, the time
interleaver is set at 0.6 seconds, since this provides good immunity from
Doppler effects in fast moving vehicles.
The multi-level convolutional coding scheme uses code rates in the range
between 0.4 and 0.8, with the lower rates being associated with more

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difficult propagation conditions. A 0.5 code rate means that only half the
transmitted bits within the overall coded block are used for the actual
services in the multiplex, whereas a 0.8 rate means 80% are.

4.1.3 Transmitter Considerations

Beyond the modulator box in Figure 4.1 is the transmitter exciter. The DRM
system exciter can be used to impress signals on either linear or non-linear
transmitters. For DRM30, AM transmitters can often be converted for DRM use
by the addition of a DRM Modulator. This allows both AM and DRM operation,
although not simultaneously unless additional channels are available. For DRM+,
it is likely that a new solid state transmitter will provide a more efficient operation,
although conversion of some FM transmitters is feasible; transmitters capable of
FM and DRM simulcast transmission are available to support the transition period
from analogue-only to digital-only.
It is expected that high-powered non-linear transmitters will be the more usual
way of transmitting, much as is done now with analogue modulation. However,
there are broadcasting service situations where very low powered linear
transmissions could be the best way to serve the public.
With respect to non-linear amplification (Class C operation), the incoming DRM
signal needs to be split into its amplitude and phase components prior to final
amplification. Using QAM modulation, there is a small discrete set of possible
amplitudes and phases. The amplitude component is passed via the anode
circuitry; the phase component is passed through the grid circuitry. These are then
combined with the appropriate time synchronization to form the output of the
transmitter.
Measurements of the output spectra show the following: the energy of the digital
signal is more or less evenly spread across the channel, the shoulders are steep at
the channel edges, and drop rapidly to 40 dB or so below the spectral density level
within the assigned channel, and the power spectral density levels continue to
decrease rapidly outside the assigned channel in permits conformance to the ITU-
R mask.

(1) Over the air

The digital phase/amplitude information on the RF signal is corrupted to
different degrees as the RF signal propagates. Some of the HF channels
provide challenging situations of fairly rapid flat fading, multipath
interference that produces frequency-selective fading within a channel and
large path delay spreads of a few milliseconds or more, and ionospherically
induced high levels of Doppler spreads on the order of 1 or more hertz.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

The error protection and error correction incorporated in the DRM system
design mitigates these effects to a great degree. This permits the receiver to
accurately decode the transmitted signal information.
Extensive field tests have verified these performance statements.

(2) Selecting, demodulating and decoding of a DRM system signal at a

receiver
A receiver must be able to detect which particular DRM system mode is
being transmitted to handle it properly. This is done by way of the use of
many of the field entries within the FAC and SDC.
Once the appropriate mode is identified (and is repeatedly verified), the
demodulation process is the inverse of that shown in Figure 4.1. Similarly,
the receiver is also informed which services are present, and, for example,
how source decoding of an audio service should be performed.
4.1.4 Further Information

The “DRM Introduction and Implementation Guide” is available as a free

download from the DRM website www.drm.org. This document provides a more
detailed description of the DRM standard, its features and applications, as well as
considerations for a successful roll-out.
For expert readers, the following ETSI specifications describe the technical
parameters and definitions of the DRM signal and related standards:

• ETSI ES 201 980 v 4.1.1 (2014-01): the “signal in the air” specification

• ETSI TS 101 968: the data applications specification

• ETSI TS 102 820, TS 102 821 and TS 102 358: the distribution interface
specifications

ITU has published detailed planning parameters to support the proper and
successful network planning for DRM transmissions, individually or alongside
other digital and analogue transmissions, along with supporting considerations:

• ITU-R Rec. BS.1514: ‘System for digital sound broadcasting in the

broadcasting bands below 30 MHz’ (DRM30)

• ITU-R Rec. BS.1615: ‘Planning parameters for digital sound

broadcasting at frequencies below 30 MHz’ (DRM30)

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS - DRM

• ITU-R Rec. BS.1114: ‘Systems for terrestrial digital sound broadcasting

to vehicular, portable and fixed receivers in the frequency range 30-3
000 MHz’ (DRM+)

• ITU-R Rec. BS.1660: ‘Technical basis for planning of terrestrial digital

sound broadcasting in the VHF band’ (DRM+)

• ITU-R Rec. BS.1894: ’Digital radio broadcast service, captioned radio’

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4.2 DAB/DAB+/DMB

DAB/DAB+ is the most widespread digital radio broadcasting platforms, offering

radio broadcasters significant cost advantages and offering regulators considerable
spectrum efficiencies over analogue and other digital systems.

DAB was developed under the Eureka 147 project in Europe for reception by
mobile, portable and fixed receivers with a simple non directional antenna. It can
be used in terrestrial, satellite, hybrid (satellite with complementary terrestrial),
and cable broadcast networks. It has been designed to operate in any frequency
from 30 to 3000 MHz. In practice, DAB/DAB+ is being implemented in two
spectrum bands, VHF Band III and L Band, although Band III is the most
common. Further details of DAB/DAB+ can be found in Appendix A: The
DAB/DAB+ System Description.

4.2.1 System Development

Eureka147 was established in 1985 by 17 countries and the European Union to
encourage a bottom up approach to technological development and to strengthen
the competitive position of European companies in the world market. The Eureka
147 Consortium was founded in 1987 with 16 partners from Germany, France,
The Netherlands and the UK. The Eureka 147 standard was defined in 1993 with
ITU Recommendations released in 1994 and an initial ETSI standard released in
1995. Eureka closed the Eureka 147 project on 1 January 2000.

The first Eureka 147 prototype equipment was demonstrated in 1988 on the
occasion of the Second Session of WARC-ORB conference held in Geneva. The
first consumer type Eureka 147 receivers developed for pilot projects were
released in 1995. The first Eureka 147 services commenced transmitting in the
UK, Denmark and Sweden in 1995. Eureka 147 was officially launched at the
Berlin IFA (a major consumer electronics show) in 1997.
The WorldDAB Forum 1 was formed in 1995 to encourage international
cooperation and coordination for the introduction of DAB to the consumer market.
The technical work previously carried out by Eureka 147 now takes place within
the Technical and Commercial Committees of the WorldDAB Forum.
DAB/DAB+ is defined by international ITU recommendations, European ETSI,
Cenelec and IEC standards and national standards (e.g., Australian, British
receiver standards).
Many ancillary aspects of the Eureka 147 system, such as multimedia delivery,
distribution interfaces and user interactivity are also formally defined in ETSI
standards.

4.2.2 DAB/DAB+ adoption

 Following the successful launch of DAB+ in Malta, Australia and Switzerland in
2009, the digital radio standard is now the technology recommended by the

1
Further information on WorldDMB forum at http://www.worlddab.org/dab

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European Broadcasting Union with key markets like Germany, Netherlands,

Norway, Poland and Hong Kong rolling out national transmission networks.
 Korean broadcasters have been broadcasting in DAB and T-DMB for many years
and Government will formally adopt a digital radio standard for Korea in the near
future.
The DAB+ family is the most widely adopted digital radio standard.
DAB+/DAB/DMB is on air in nearly 40 countries and is popular because it:
I. is an open standard with no annual licence fees need to be paid by
broadcasters;
II. allows AM and FM broadcasters to move to a common digital platform;
III. is proving to be far greener and more cost effective to build and operate
than any other analogue or digital radio standard;
IV. allows broadcasters more capacity and listeners more choice and
functionality;
V. has the largest and most diverse range of low cost receivers;
VI. is being integrated as standard by the majority of motor vehicles
manufacturers worldwide.

Figure 4.2.1: WorldDAB Country update shows the detailed status of

DAB/DAB+ adoption in 32 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa.

4.2.3 Principal Advantages and Challenges

Advantages:

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

DAB+/DAB/DMB has many advantages including:

 It can be implemented for a range of applications such as wide area or local
delivery of audio and data services for mobile, portable and fixed reception.
 It can be delivered terrestrially, via satellite, cable or a mixture of terrestrial and
satellite.
 It is designed to be used across a wide spectrum range, from 30 to 3000 MHz, but
has only been implemented using VHF Band III and the 1452 to 1492 MHz
segment of the L Band.
 It uses a wideband COFDM modulation system which provides a robust
transmission which is multipath resilient and can provide high availability
coverage.
 It can be implemented using on-channel repeaters in Single Frequency Networks
(SFNs) or low power gap fillers and extenders. SFNs may also provide “network
gain” giving improved service availability over single channel services.
 It can accommodate a varying number of audio services of differing quality with
associated data. The audio quality can range from simple mono speech to CD
quality. An increase in quality requires higher data rates for each audio service,
hence reducing the number of services that can be delivered. Data can also be
delivered independently of the audio services.
 It uses mature technologies such as MPEG 1 Layer II (DAB) and HE AAC v2
(DAB+) audio coding systems and COFDM modulation, which are also used in
the DVB-T video broadcasting standard. This has led to low cost single chip
solutions for receivers.
 It has been extensively standardised by European standards organisations and has
been adopted within Australia standards by Standards Australia.
 A growing number of DAB+/DAB/DMB receivers are now available for portable,
PCs, mobiles, in car and in house reception with over 400 different models
currently available. Receiver prices continue to fall with low cost units now
available at less than 25USD.
 DAB+ has been shown to be a GREEN technology when compared to both FM
and other digital transmission schemes 2:
o Energy consumption typically 1/40th of an equivalent FM service
o Overall operating costs typically 1/10th of equivalent FM services
o Capital costs of equipment typically 1/10th of equivalent FM services
 The DAB family of standard includes a number of features which can be used to
implement Emergency Warning Systems and functionality including: automatic
power on from standby through Emergency Warning signalling
o Automatic switching of services to a specific Emergency Broadcast both
within an ensemble or on a different ensemble
o Various multimedia support including text, images and applications

Challenges:
 Broadcasters all over the world agree that radio has a hybrid future, with
terrestrial broadcast at its core and IP connectivity offering the one-to-one
personalisation and response mechanism. Streaming content is a valuable
2
See “Economical Advantages of DAB+” under Cost reductions with DAB+ at www.worlddab.org.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

complement to the main broadcast delivery mechanism, but is not a replacement

for mass media broadcast.
 The MPEG 1 Layer II audio coding systems are now dated (compared with new
systems) but they offer excellent robustness against channel errors due to unequal
error protection (UEP). Most countries which adopted DAB are now converting to
DAB+ to take advantage of the higher efficiency delivery – up to 2.5 times as
many services can be delivered using DAB+ compared to DAB.
 While a wide range of low cost DAB receivers are already available from USD30,
they are still generally seen as being too costly for general public acceptance in
developing countries, particularly when compared to the very low cost AM and
FM radios that many listeners currently use. As integration increases and single
(RF + Baseband) chips become the norm, prices continue to fall and are expected
to reach acceptable prices in those countries in the near future.
 DAB+/DAB/DMB requires services to be multiplexed together before
transmission. All audio programs and data services in a given ensemble which use
the same Forward Error Correction (FEC) will therefore have the same coverage
and reception quality.
 The standard capacity of DAB+ using rate ½ FEC is 1.152Mbps. Given a typical
bit rate per service of 64kbps, a single DAB+ ensemble can carry 18 services. In a
conversion model, this may sometimes pose challenges for some radio
broadcasting markets, which are typically served by a mixture of narrowcasting,
community, commercial and national services using AM and FM frequencies with
different or overlapping licence and coverage areas giving local, medium or wide
area coverage. Conversely, the requirement for multiplexing will over time reduce
the number of transmission sites and result in more consistent and cost effective
coverage of digital radio services. Some jurisdictions are considering this useful
for overcoming FM congestion and the introduction of planned digital service
coverage areas.
DAB+/DAB/DMB uses spectrum that is often used for analogue and digital
television services (VHF Band III), and radio communication services (L Band).
When converting to digital radio, finding sufficient spectrum for the conversion of
all analogue radio broadcasting services to digital may not be easy.

4.2.4 DAB Family of Standards Global Overview

More than 40 countries have legislated for the integration of DAB+/DAB/DMB
Digital Radio in Europe and Worldwide. Outside Europe the key areas of
development are found in Australia, South East Asia, Hong Kong, Korea, China,
the Middle East and South Africa.
Digital radio is making significant advances across Europe. In the UK, Norway,
Denmark and Switzerland, the standard is well established with household
penetration1 of at least 33% in each of those markets. Norway has become the
first country in the world to set a date (2017) for complete Digital Switch-Over
(DSO) or analogue switch off (ASO).
In 2011, the European market received a significant boost when Germany
launched DAB+ services. The Netherlands launched national services in

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September 2013; and, in June 2014, France will launch DAB+ in Paris, Nice and
Marseille. Italy has trial services covering 75% of the population with regular
services launched in Trentino in December 2012.
Several other markets are now assessing whether to launch DAB+. These include
Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.
For the latest information on the adoption of the DAB family of standards see
www.worlddab.org.

Established
markets
Norway New
Sweden markets

Denmark

Ireland
UK NL Poland
Germany
Bel
Czech
Slovakia Potential
Austria markets
Switzerland Hungary
France Slovenia
Italy

Portugal
Spain

Figure 4.2.2: Digital radio in Europe

In Asia Pacific, a similar pattern is emerging. Australia successfully launched

DAB+ in 2009 and was followed by Hong Kong in 2011. Several other markets,
including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are now investigating
digital radio options. WorldDMB has organised workshops in each of these
countries.
Australian companies Broadcast One, Omnicast, RFS, Lumina and ATDI Asia
Pacific have supported the development work in the Asia Pacific and have been
showcased to allow for business opportunities for these companies in large Asia
Pacific markets.

Delegations from the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union, Korea, Indonesia,

Thailand have been hosted by CRA and have met with the ACMA, Department of
Communications, TXA, BA, ABC, SBS and commercial broadcasters to
understand the Australian model for DAB+.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

China: DAB in Beijing

Vietnam: DAB+ trial & Shanghai
in 2013

Thailand: DAB+ trial

planned for 2014

Hong Kong: DAB+

Malaysia: DAB+ launch 2011
trials on air

Indonesia: planning for

DAB+ trial 2014

Australia: DAB+
launched Jul 2009

Figure 4.2.3: Digital radio in Asia Pacific

Pan-European support for digital radio appears to building. The European

Broadcast Union (EBU) has called for the adoption of digital broadcast radio
across Europe 3 and for the inclusion of digital receivers in all radio devices 4. At
the same time, Government administrations are looking to build cross-border
links to develop a European consensus about radio’s digital future.
In November 2013, WorldDMB established a working group focused on Digital
Switch-Over – the aim being to co-ordinate activities and share best practice. The
first meeting was attended by representatives from the UK, Norway, Germany,
Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.
The following two sections gives an overview of the status of (and prospects for)
digital radio in markets around the world. The first section covers Europe and the
second covers the Asia Pacific region.
Europe
Established and new markets
United Kingdom: population 63 million
Current position
• National coverage of DAB: 94% of population (rising to 97% by end
2015)
• DAB penetration1: 46% of households
• Digital listening: 36% of total listening
• Cars: 44% of new cars have DAB (Dec 2013) – up from 8% in Jan 2011
Prospects
• Government has stated “the future of radio is digital”.
• The criteria for setting a date for DSO are:
1. Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours

3
Euro-chip initiative: http://www3.ebu.ch/cms/fr/sites/ebu/contents/programming/radio/digital-
radio/welcome-page/about-euro-chip.html
4
Recommendation R138 https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/r/r138.pdf

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2. Digital coverage for national services must be comparable to FM and local

DAB should cover 90% of the population as well as major roads.
• Current trends suggest the 50% digital listening target will be achieved in
2016
• Following commitment to build 162 new transmitters for national services
and 200 new transmitters for local services, coverage targets will also be achieved
at this time.
• Conversion from DAB to DAB+ is now being studied
Norway: population 5 million
Current position
• First country in world to set date for DSO (2017)
• DAB penetration1: 39% of households
• Digital listening: 40% of daily listeners use digital platforms (up from
31% in Q4 2012)
• Rapid growth follows launch of new digital only station (P1+) in
September 2013.
• 75% of the 20 most popular car models in Norway offer DAB+/DAB as
standard or optional. Over 360,000 car DAB+DAB radios have been sold.
Prospects
• DSO expected in 2017, subject to the following conditions
1. Public broadcaster must achieve coverage of 99.5% by 2015. Commercial
broadcasters on the national network #1 are required to reach 90% of the
population
2. 50% of daily listeners must use a digital platform in 2015. This does not
specify market share of listening, but only reach. Currently this is 40%
3. There must be reasonably priced, reliable in-car adaptors on the market by
2015.
4. Added value for the listeners.
• If the conditions are not met in 2015, the switchover date will be moved to
2019
• Current expectations are that they will be achieved. Large scale roll-out of
new transmitters is under way. New digital-only services are being launched and
digital listening is growing rapidly. A range of automotive aftermarket products
is available with more products coming onto the market in 2014.
Denmark: population 6 million
Current position
• Target date for DSO: 2019
• DAB coverage: 95%
• DAB penetration1: 37% of households
• More than 10% of radio listening is on DAB (Source: DR Media
Research)
Prospects
• The latest parliamentary Media Agreement 2012-2014 stipulates that the
FM band will close by the end of 2019 if at least 50% of radio listening is on
digital platforms by that time.

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• There is a plan to build a new regionalised multiplex for commercial radio

– launch date of January 2015. At the same time the national single-frequency
DAB block now used by public service broadcaster DR may be swapped for two
DAB regional frequency blocks presently employed for a single commercial
multiplex.
• The proposed frequency swap will also mark the switch-over of all Danish
DAB transmissions to DAB+. This increases the total transmission capacity of
DR enough to migrate its nine regional FM-only stations to DAB, and allow the
commercial multiplex to develop further.
Switzerland: population 8 million
Current position
• DAB coverage: indoor 95%; outdoor 99% - all main tunnels fitted by
2016
• DAB penetration1: 33% of households
• Over 60 services available – German, French and Italian
• The conversion from DAB to DAB+ is nearly complete
• Over 70,000 car DAB radios have been sold.
• Change from DAB to DAB+ underway, coverage of highway tunnels will
be finished in 2013. SwissMediaCast AG introduced two new regional DAB+
digital radio networks on Jan. 1, 2014. The networks cover the Berne/Freiburg
region and eastern Switzerland
Prospects
• OFCOM (regulator in UK) has asked industry players to prepare plans for
potential DSO
• In 2017, will decide whether all services should be DAB+
Germany: population 82 million
Current position
• Launched DAB+ in August 2011
• Combined coverage of the ARD (regional) and the national multiplexes is
83% of the area and 91% of the population
o The ARD multiplexes cover 75% of the area and 86% of the population
o The national multiplex currently covers 66% of the area and 80% of the
population.
• Over 2,700,000 devices have been sold (including 700k automotive) and
penetration1 by household is 5% (Source: TNS Infratest).
Prospects
• Further rollout of transmitters planned for national multiplex
• Continuing marketing (including significantly increased activity in
Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Research project commissioned by BMWi currently under way regarding
potential DSO scenarios
Netherlands: population 17 million
Current position
• Launched DAB+ in Sept 2013

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• 26 national services: 17 commercial (8 digital-only), 9 from NPO (4

digital-only)
Prospects
• 2016: review on the development of digital radio
• Depending on success of digital radio, DSO is possible – with potential
date of 2023.
• Important indicators: >50% of the households own a DAB+ receiver and
developments in other European countries.
• 2 national MUX, one public in DAB, one commercial in DAB+. All of
the current national FM commercial broadcasters are now transmitting in DAB+.
• All new FM licenses contain a condition to broadcast on DAB+.
• In June 2013 the public broadcaster NPO, announced that it will
accelerated build-out and increase the number of transmitters from 10 to 24 to
achieve nationwide coverage by end 2013 The Dutch Public Broadcaster (NPO) is
currently working to roll out phase 2 of its DAB+ network.
Malta: population 0.4m
• Nearly 40 services on the two national multiplexes which include unique
digital only stations, MOT, EPG and DLS applications giving 100% coverage.
• By the end of 2012, over 25% of Maltese radio listeners were tuning in via
DAB+.
Gibraltar: population 31,000
• DAB+ ensembles operate on Blocks 12B and 12C from December ‘12,
allowing Gibraltar to switch off analogue television. 4 Simulcast DAB+ services
from the public broadcaster are currently on air and population coverage is 90%.
• There are currently no plans to switch off FM radio in Gibraltar.
Emerging and potential markets
France: population 66 million
• DAB+ services will launch in June 2014 in three cities: Paris, Nice and
Marseille.
Italy: population 61 million
• 64% of listening is in-car.
• Three trial national multiplexes are on air, plus three regular and six trial
regional multiplexes. Coverage is 75% of the population.
• Regular services started Dec 2012 in the Trentino region.
• RAI is committed to roll out DAB+ over the next three years.
• Industry-funded heavyweight advertising campaign now under way – to
inform consumers, retailers, car vendors, car dealers and all stakeholders about
digital radio.
Sweden: population 10 million
• Strong support for DAB+ from Government, public broadcaster and the
two major private broadcasters (June 2013).
• A special advisor has been appointed by the Government to develop a
potential launch plan.
• Today, January 2014, the radio industry awaits the commercial licenses to
be issued (expected in Q1-2014) and the Switchover Plan to be put forward by the

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Digital Radio Industry Coordinator appointed by the Government (expected Q2-

2014).
Poland: population 39 million
• Two regular multiplexes launched in Warsaw and Katowice in October
2013. There is also a one trial multiplex delivering DAB+ service in Warsaw,
Kielce and Szczecin.
Belgium: population 11 million
• Currently one layer in operation (two regional multiplexes – for the
Flemish and the French speaking parts of the country). There are currently 16
DAB services on air and population coverage is 95%.
• The next step is to achieve a public funding agreement for the technical
DAB+ rollout, upgrade the RTBF DAB network to DAB+ to ensure deep indoor
coverage of Brussels and Wallonia and to have a potential public launch in 2015.
Spain: population 47 million
• A total of 18 DAB audio services are on air. Population coverage is
currently 20%.
Ireland: population 4.6 million
• National Public Broadcaster RTÉ operates a full-service Multiplex
covering 52% of the population in the main cities.
• Two commercial trials are operating in Dublin, Cork and the South-East of
the country.
• Over 400,000 devices have been sold to date and penetration by household
is 12%.
• Legislation has been in place since 2009 to enable commercial
broadcasters to engage with DAB but the broadcasting regulator has not
addressed the issue of establishing a regulatory framework to date. It is expected
that Ireland will adopt the DAB+ standard.
Czech Republic: population 11 million
• Coverage of DAB is now 53%, offering 25 stations in L-Band, with both
DAB and DAB+ services on air.

Hungary: population 10 million

• Hungary has chosen DAB+ for its digital radio standard, and there is
currently a test multiplex on air broadcasting seven DAB+ radio programs to the
Budapest area.
• A one day workshop on DAB+ digital radio, co-organised by the National
Media and Infocommunications Authority Hungary and WorldDMB in January
2014 was well attended by local broadcasters and those from neighbouring
countries.
Romania: population 21 million
• 6 DAB trial services on air from public broadcaster Radio Romania.
Slovenia: population 2.1 million
• Slovenia’s public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia’s DAB trial completed Nov
2013. The trial covered the capital city of Ljubljana and central Slovenia and
coverage was 22.5%.

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• The Post and Electronic Communications Agency of the Republic of

Slovenia has setup a public debate regarding the future of digital radio. According
to the announced roadmap the national agency will publish a public tender for a
digital radio network in DAB+ with national coverage.

Asia Pacific and Rest of World

Established and new markets
Australia: population 23 million
Current position
• Launched 2009 – with services in five major cities: Sydney, Melbourne,
Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide (~65% of population).
• DAB+ penetration1: 16% of households in the five cities
• DAB+ listening: 13% of total listening
• Trial services taking place in Darwin and Canberra (extended for 12
months in Aug 2013)
• Automotive line-fit as standard in many models
Prospects
• Sixteen on-channel repeaters are being rolled out across the five mainland
capital cities which currently have a single high powered transmission (to address
coverage gaps).
• Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) and the public broadcasters are
working with the Federal Government on a timetable for regional roll out.
• CRA has developed a “best practice” automotive document which
addresses some of the implementation/User Interface issues that have been
evident in some of the earlier models.
Hong Kong: population 7.1 million
• Regular DAB+ services launched in August 2011. Population coverage is
currently 70%. More than 300,000 devices have been sold.
Potential markets
China: population 1.3 billion
• DAB is on air in two cities (Beijing in Band III and Shanghai in L-Band).
There are four regular regional multiplexes in Beijing and one local multiplex in
Shanghai on air.
• In Beijing 20 radio services (16 simulcast), four video services, one Push
Radio service, and two data services by Beijing Jolon (commercial broadcaster)
are broadcast on Band III. Beijing Communication Radio is broadcasting traffic
information on DAB via TPEG. Population coverage is currently 8%.
Indonesia: population 242.3 million
• The Indonesian government announced an official decree that Indonesia
has chosen the DAB family of standards as the national standard for digital radio.
DMB trials have been running in the capital, Jakarta, since 2006. There are
currently four services on air. The trial is operated by the regulator and MNC, the
largest media company in Indonesia.
• A second trial is planned for Jakarta inQ4 2014 between the Ministry
(MCIT) with public broadcaster RRI and the radio broadcasters’ association.

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• This joint trial is intended to prepare suitable regulation to be implemented

for digital radio broadcasting including frequency allocation in Band III and the
business model for allocation
• MCIT plans to give 1.000 digital radio receivers to be given to listeners
for free.
Vietnam: population 87.8 million
• Public broadcaster, Voice of Viet Nam trialled DAB+ in Jul 2013. The
roadmap for digital broadcasting radio and TV 2020 was granted by the Prime
Minister in 2009. The Ministry of Communication & Information gathered with
broadcasters to discuss implementation of the digital broadcasting scheme by
2020. Currently no services are on air.
Thailand: population 67 million
• The Thailand Broadcasting Master Plan (2012-2016) states strategies for
terrestrial digital radio roll-out with key objectives: 1) Roadmap and policy for
digital terrestrial radio roll-out within 2 years, after the adoption of the Master
Plan. 2) Broadcasting spectrum management policy and plan, as well as spectrum
licensing framework for digital radio broadcasting within 3 years. 3) At least 80%
of households in major cities shall be able to access to digital terrestrial broadcast
within 5 years.
• Thailand’s media regulator NBTC plans to auction 4,000 digital radio
licences early in 2015. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Commission (NBTC) has informed that it will licence 20 national frequencies, the
rest will be local and regional licences.
Malaysia: population 28.9 million
• There is one trial local multiplex on air in Kuala Lumpur broadcasting
three simulcast data services and 15 DAB+ simulcast services (9 from RTM and
6 from commercial stations).
• CRA worked with WorldDMB, ABU, RTM and a private Malaysian
broadcasters to deliver a DAB+ Technology Workshop and Transmission
Demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 28–March 4 2014 to showcase
the DAB+ standard and its transmission technology, demonstrating its features
and efficiency improvements compared to analogue FM broadcast.
Chinese Taipei: population 24 million
• There is one trial national multiplex on air broadcasting 4 exclusive DAB
services and one DMB service using Band III.
New Zealand: population 5 million
One trial local multiplex is on air and covers Auckland and central Wellington.
Population coverage is 22% and content is currently broadcast in a mixture of
DAB and DAB+ formats.
South Africa: population 53 million
• The Joint SADIBA/NAB Digital Radio DAB+ Trial Working group’s
application for a high–powered (100kW ERP) DAB+ trial licence has been
approved. The trial will run from the 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015.
• The total area covered by the trial is 21185km2 and the total gross
population covered is 10,705,387 (21.5% of total SA population). It is envisaged

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that between 18 and 20 radio stations from the Public, Commercial and
Community sectors will participate.
• Situated in Johannesburg and Pretoria in the province of Gauteng, this trial
will be the highest powered transmissions of DAB+ in the world.
• Population covered is an estimated 21.5% of total South African
population. 18 and 20 radio stations from the Public, Commercial and Community
sectors are expected to participate in the trial.

Middle East

The Arab States Broadcasting Union has adopted T-DAB+ as a delivery platform
for sound broadcasting and joined WorldDMB in December 2013. ASBU
represents broadcasters in Oman, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Syria, Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen, Djibouti, Somalia,
Palestine, Qatar, UAE as active members.
Brunei: population 0.4 million
• In 2007 RTB (Radio Television Brunei, the public and main broadcaster)
began a DAB trial, originally to last for five years to include simulcast services.
Five RTB stations currently broadcast on DAB in Brunei.
• A task force has been set up within RTB, which is working closely with
AITI (Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei) on the
plans for a commercial launch.
Kuwait: population 3 million
• Following a DAB trial that has been on-going in Kuwait City since March
2007 by the public broadcaster Kuwait Radio, preparations are now under way for
the second phase of the trial. A decision regarding commercial roll out is expected
once all the trials have been completed. Population coverage is currently 90%.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

Table 4.2.1: Eureka 147 Main System Features

EUREKA 147
Main System Features
Single Frequency Network All transmitters working on a
(SFN) capability single frequency.
Flexible audio bit rate Allows reconfiguration of the
multiplex.
Data services Separately defined streams or
packets.
Programme Associated Data Embedded in the audio bit
(PAD) stream and adjustable.
Facilitates Conditional Access DAB ensemble transports
conditional access information
(CAI) and provides signal
scrambling mechanism.
Service Information Used in the operation and
control of receivers.
Operating frequency range 30 MHz to 3 GHz.

4.2.5 Infrastructure Requirements

DAB+/DAB/DMB is a wideband technology requiring services to be multiplexed
before transmission. The use of VHF and UHF bands means DAB+ services will
be typically transmitted from high sites such as the tops of hills, buildings or
towers.
In general, DAB+ services are also likely to be co-located with existing VHF
television transmission and FM services given the cost of developing new sites
and the increasing difficulty in getting local council planning approval for new
transmission sites. It is particularly important to co-locate DAB+ with VHF band
III high power television services to minimise interference issues.
Stations that were originally broadcasting more than one AM / FM program from
the same site can fully encapsulate the multiplexed stream of the DAB+ system in
the STL (studio-to-transmitter link), significantly reducing the costs associated
with discrete feeder links.
DAB+ multiplexer or ‘head-end’ infrastructure consists of
- one ensemble multiplexer
- one ensemble controller to allocate capacity to the studio multiplexers and
provide core transmission functionality such as signalling, timing and ETI stream
construction
- one or more studio multiplexers
- one or more associated studio multiplex controllers which define and
control the services and content delivered including audio type and bit rate,
Program Associated Data input such as scrolling Text (Dynamic Label Segment /
DLS) and Images (Slideshow / SLS) as well as data services for functionality
such as Electronic Programme Guides
- one or more audio encoders per studio or ensemble multiplexers

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

The studio multiplexers are generally operated independently of each other by

different radio networks.
Each Studio or Service Multiplexer will generally also have an associated Data
Multiplexer or Data Server to provide the Program Associated Data (PAD) and
data services.
The structure of the DAB family of standards offers a wide range of architecture
to allow optimisation and cost minimisation for all types of network combinations
and requirements, from ensembles operated by a single network with multiple
channels, e.g. the BBC in the UK, to ensembles which have 3 or more
independent commercial networks which each have several services, or to a
combination of public, private and even wide area community services on a
shared multiplex.

4.2.6 Synergies with Other Systems

(1) DAB and Mobile Telephony

DAB is an efficient broadcasting (e.g., one-to-many) system capable of providing
reliably digital services to all users located in a coverage zone in real time. It is
especially suitable for the reception by mobile and portable receivers and in the
areas in which the direct line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver is
not possible.
On the other hand, mobile telephony GSM / 3G UMTS / 4G and beyond are more
suitable to deliver on-demand media services to individual clients or relatively
small groups of clients. The telecom systems are technically able to provide
services to several users in the same time, providing that the number of
simultaneous users (or, in other words, the total bandwidth capacity) does not
exceed capacity, causing the network collapses rapidly. Also, the use of telecom
services in the "one-to-many" scenario is much more expensive for the
broadcaster and listener than the use of the free to air DAB+ broadcast systems.
It is advantageous for both broadcasters to provide a combination of both one-to-
many broadcast service for the primary distribution of content (audio and
multimedia) and one-to-one service for interactivity in a hybrid structure. For
example, a traffic/travel information service may consist of two parts: a basic part
and a value-added part. The former would be carried over the broadcast network
to everybody (typically for free), whereas the latter premium service would be
available on-demand over the telecom network as a subscription service.
The global industry forum WorldDMB is currently completing a range of
standards that introduce standardised ways of providing enhanced multimedia and
internet based functionality and interactivity.
Broadcasters around the world have identified many attractive interactive
applications and business opportunities based on DAB/Telco synergy. Such
synergetic services can help telecoms to generate higher value traffic and offer
new, rich-content and interactive services (games/competitions, information,
coupons, sales and live on-demand video/audio clips, etc.).

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

(2) Synergies with Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM30)

DAB+ and DRM30 are complementary as they target different markets. DAB+ is
mainly intended for local, regional and national audiences. DRM30 is designed to
be deployed in the frequency bands below 30 MHz to replace existing AM
services and targets large and often international coverage areas. DRM30 has
been standardised within the ITU and ETSI and is now being implemented by a
few international services. Future listeners will be interested in all services
provided by digital radio, hence multi-standard chips are being developed to allow
listeners to receive any digital radio service without concern for the transmission
system. In terms of the technologies used, both systems are not too dissimilar; for
example, both are using COFDM, similar channel coding strategies and have a
number of common protocols, e.g. for the delivery of multimedia both systems
use the Multimedia Object Transfer (MOT) protocol. .
(3) Synergies with Digital Television
The T-DMB mobile TV system is completely compatible with DAB/DAB+ and
can operate in the same multiplex and be transmitted over the same infrastructure,
so it is possible to have some mobile TV and digital radio services in the same
ensemble. This is an efficient solution for both the transmission and
receiver/handset integration and the solution is optimised for mobile use.
Although the DVB systems (e.g., DVB-S, DVB-C, DVB-T and DVB-T2) were
primarily designed for television broadcasting, they can and do provide radio
(audio-only) programs. DVB-T has been implemented in many countries. DVB-
T/T2 is not optimised for mobile reception and no mobile or portable hand held
receivers are available. The high data rates and wide bandwidth needed to operate
the system not only increases power consumption but also makes the design of
battery-powered devices difficult. The large bandwidth use required for DVB-
T/T2 means that many services must be multiplexed together for efficient use of
the spectrum and there is a risk that such multiplexes may not be fully utilised,
thereby leading to inefficient spectrum use.
Current implementations of DVB-T/T2 services for digital television target fixed
reception and are unsuitable for mobile audio delivery.
.

4.2.7 Ongoing Developments of the DAB family of standards

The technical developments of the DAB+/DAB/DMB system have seen
significant improvements and added functionality in recent years including
• Enhanced Data Service delivery – Enhanced Packet Mode (2005)
• Video delivery T-DMB (2005)
• Enhanced Audio Service delivery DAB+ (2007)
• Receiver Profiles (2010)
• Electronic Program Guide Improvements (2012)
• Categorisation of Program Associated Data (Cat –SLS) (2013)
Current activities are focused on the following:
• Hybrid broadcast / IP delivered services
• Receiver operating guides
• Emergency Warning operating guides

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

(1) DAB-Based Multimedia Broadcast Systems (DMB) T-DMB

Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) uses an MPEG-2 TS with additional
error protection (Reed-Solomon (188,204) code and interleaving as specified for
DVB services) transmitted in a DAB Stream Mode sub-channel. Bosch originally
proposed the use of MPEG-2 TS to carry one video service in a DAB Ensemble.
Subsequently there were proposals by Bosch and the collaborative project MINT
(funded by German BMBF) to use MPEG-4 video coding to fit several video
services in a DAB Ensemble. Later there was further development and promotion
of T-DMB in Korea, and a parallel development of the S-DMB system for
satellite BTH. T-DMB specifications were approved by WorldDAB (December
2004) and were standardised at ETSI (June 2005).
(2) IP over Enhanced Packet Mode
Enhanced Packet Mode (EPM) provides additional error protection for DAB
packet mode-based services, such as IP and MOT (Multimedia Object Transfer),
by the use of a DAB-Forward Error Correction (FEC) frame and the addition of
FEC packets. The same Reed-Solomon code is used as in DMB. Interleaving is
different from T-DMB and allows backwards-compatible reception of EPM
services on receivers with conventional DAB packet mode.
(3) Enhanced Audio Codec, DAB+
This enhancement to DAB was formally published as an ETSI standard on 12
February 2007 (ETSI, TS 102563 V1.1.1).
The MPEG-4 HE-AAC v2 audio codec provides broadcasters with much higher
bandwidth efficiency which results in significant cost savings per channel and the
possibility to broadcast more 2-2.5 times more channels in a multiplex than with
MPEG 1 layer II.
The DAB+ implementation includes an additional layer of error correction in the
form of an outer layer Reed-Solomon (188,204) FEC code and interleaving
instead of the Unequal Error protection used for MPEG I-Layer II codec. DAB+
also uses the Equal Error Protection set of FEC codes. The use of a concatenated
FEC coding structure provides approximately 1-2dB of transmission gain over the
existing DAB MP2 solution.
The main features for DAB+are:
• Latest MPEG-4 audio codec delivers exceptional performance
efficiency;
• More stations can be broadcast on a multiplex;
• Greater station choice for consumers;
• More efficient use of radio spectrum;
• Lower transmission costs for digital stations;
• Improved delivery of PAD scrolling text and multimedia services due to
additional error protection/correction;
• Robust audio delivery with fast re-tuning response time;
• Optimised for live broadcast radio;

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

The following is a brief explanation of how the HE AAC v2 codec operates.

The main Digital Audio Broadcasting specification (ETSI EN 300 401) defines
how audio should be broadcast. “The DAB system uses MPEG Audio Layer II,
suitably formatted for DAB transmissions. For 48 kHz sampling frequency it uses
ISO/IEC 11172-3 and for 24kHz sampling frequency it uses ISO/IEC 13818-3.”
For Layer II audio, two sampling rates are permitted, 48 kHz and 24 kHz. Each
audio frame contains samples for 24ms or 48ms respectively and each contains
the same number of bytes. The audio frames are carried in one or two respectively
DAB logical frames. The draft technical specification now approved by ETSI
defines the way that audio (programme) services are carried when using MPEG 4
HE AAC v2. For AAC, two transforms are specified. For DAB, only the 960
transform is permitted with sampling rates of 48 kHz, 32 kHz, 24 kHz and 16 kHz.
Each AU (audio frame) contains samples for 20ms, 30ms, 40ms or 60ms
respectively. In order to provide a similar architectural model to Layer II audio,
simple synchronisation and minimal re-tuning delay (i.e. station selection, or
“zapping” time), AUs are built into audio super frames of 120ms which are then
carried in five DAB logical frames. In order to provide additional error control,
Reed Solomon coding and virtual interleaving is applied. The overall scheme is
shown in Figure 4.2.4.

Figure 4.2.4: Conceptual diagram of the outer coder and interleaver

For generic audio coding, a subset of the MPEG-4 High Efficiency Advanced
Audio Coding v2 (HE AAC v2) toolbox - chosen to best suit the DAB+ system
environment - is used. Some additional tool specifications have been applied to
optimise performance for the broadcast environment of DAB+ digital radio.
More details can be found on the WorldDAB websites at www.worldDAB.org.

4.2.8 Receivers
In today’s global market, over 75 million DAB, DAB+ and DMB devices have
been sold to consumers, and this market continues to grow as technology
becomes more established. Consumers are benefitting from their digital quality
sound and improved functionality over existing analogue devices.

Digital radio receivers are available for domestic use and on-the-move, while an
increasing number of receivers are being developed to satisfy the demand for in
car listening.
The manufacturing of digital radios has significantly developed over time both
visually and functionally. DAB/DAB+/DMB radios can now incorporate features
including slideshows, EPG functionality, colour and touch screens, and the ability

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to pause and rewind and record live shows, giving the listener a more interactive
and enriched listening experience.
Advertisers can also take advance of these enhanced features by using the colour
screens to display special offers, product photos, advertiser's logos, store locations,
opening hours - all delivered efficiently and effectively via broadcast digital
radio.
Types of receivers available on the market
• Clock radios
• Docker radios
• Portable radios
• In-car (line fit and aftermarket)
The development of digital receivers will continue to develop and grow
influenced by the following factors;
• Increased data and content from broadcasters
• The availability of interactive services
• Technological innovation
• Consumer demographics, behaviour and demand
As technology advances and cost reduction through increased silicon integration
increases consumers will be able to enjoy an increased selection of receivers, on
sale at a wide range of price points with better processing and capabilities.

The following manufacturers produce DAB, DAB+ and DMB receivers for in
home and on the move. For further information about receiver availability in each
country, visit the Country information section of the WorldDMB website.

Table 4.2.2: Websites of receiver manufacturers

Receiver
Manufacturer Website

Acoustic www.acousticsolutions.co.uk
Solutions
Alba Radios
Limited
AEG www.etv.de/index.php
Albrecht www.albrecht-online.de
Alpine www.alpine-europe.com
Arcam www.arcam.co.uk
Arion www.arion.co.kr
Technology
Armour www.armourgroup.uk.com
Audionet www.audionet.de
Audio www.audiopartnership.com/
Partnership
Bang & Olufsen www.bang-olufsen.com

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

Receiver
Manufacturer Website

August www.augustint.com/
International
Aves Digital www.avesdigital.co.uk/
Bang and www.bang-olufsen.com/
Olufsen
Blaupunkt www.blaupunkt.de
Bose www.bose.com
Bush Digital www.bushdigital.co.uk
Cambridge Audio www.cambridgeaudio.com
Clarion www.clarion.co.uk
Crown www.crownaudio.com
Cymbol www.cymbol-hifi.co.uk

Cyrus www.cyrusaudio.com/
D+M www.dmglobal.com/
Dantax www.dantaxradio.dk/
Diasonic www.diasonic.com
Dual www.dual.de
ELANsat www.elansat.com
Eltax Ltd www.eltax.com
Ferguson
Geneva www.genevalab.com/sound
Genus Digital www.genusdigital.com
Gmyle www.gmyle.com
Goodmans www.goodmans.co.uk
Grundig www.grundig.com
Harman Kardon www.harman.com
HDigit www.hdigit.com
Hitachi www.hitachi.com
Homecast Europe www.homecast.de
Intempo Digital www.intempo-digital.co.uk
Ifisource
iLuv www.iluv.com
iTech Dynamic www.itechdynamic.com
Intempo www.no1brands4you.co.uk/brands-
intempo/
Iriver www.iriver.com
JVC www.jdl.jvc-europe.com
Kenwin www.kenwinhk.en.gongchang.com/
Kenwood www.kenwood.com
Kiiro

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Receiver
Manufacturer Website

Kiss
Kjaerulff www.kjaerulff1.com
Lenco www.lenco.com
LG Electronics www.lge.com
M & G Audio
Magicbox www.mbx-i.com
Marantz www.marantz.com
Matsui
Maycom
Ministry of
Sound
Modular www.modulartech.com
Technology
Morphy Richards www.morphyrichard.co.uk
Nevada www.nevadaradio.co.uk
Onkvo
Opel www.opel.de
Orbit www.orbitronics.com
OXX Digital www.eiikon.dk
Panasonic www.panasonic.de
Perstel www.perstel.com
Philips www.consumer.philips.com
Pioneer www.pioneer-eur.com
Proline
PURE Digital www.pure-digital.com
Restek www.restek.de
REVO Digital www.revo.co.uk
Roadstar www.roadstar.com
Roberts www.robertsradio.co.uk
Roth www.rothaudio.com
Ruark audio www.ruarkaudio.com
Samsung www.samsung.co.uk
Sangean www.sangean.nl
Sanyo www.sanyo.com
Sharp www.sharp.co.uk
Siemens VDO www.3vdo.com
Automotive

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

Receiver
Manufacturer Website

Sandstrøm www.sandstromstyle.com
Sonoro www.sonoro-audio.de
Soniq www.sonigue.com/au
Sony www.sony.co.uk
Steepletone www.steepletone.com
TAGMcLaren www.internationalaudiogroup.com
TEAC www.teac.co.uk
Technisat www.technisat.com
Terratec www.euro-tech.co.uk
Tivoli Audio www.tivoliaudio.co.uk
Trinloc www.trinloc.de
TT Micro www.ttmicro.no
Tucan www.tucantec.de
Tunbow www.tunbow.com/
ViewQuest www.viewquest.co.uk/
Winsonic www.winsonictech.com/
VDO Dayton www.vdodayton.de

Digital Radio in-car

DAB, DAB+ and DMB, the digital standards of choice in much of Asia Pacific
was originally designed to work within a mobile environment making it an ideal
carrier of free to air, one to many, entertainment and information. A large
percentage of radio listening remains in-car and the broadcasting industries
around the world are working hard to include the automotive sector in their plans.
The benefits of DAB/DAB+ in car;
• DAB/DAB+ allows for increased amounts of driver information data into
the car including TPEG. TPEG offers drivers real time traffic and travel
information which adds value to the driving experience. DAB+ is an efficient way
of broadcasting TPEG information into the car alongside traditional on-air Traffic
and Travel information.
• Cost efficient delivery channel for information services at no additional
cost to the driver
• More channels and content offering a wider variety of radio services
• More choice of stations
• Easy to tune through search for station names and not frequencies
• Clear sound quality and clarity
• Pause and rewind of live radio

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• Additional features includes in-car screen graphics and information that

can display album cover art, song titles, artists names, news, sports results
and much, much more
• DAB/DAB+ digital radio allows for tunnel re-broadcast systems and
emergency announcements
WorldDMB works in close collaboration with the automotive industry, providing
information on all aspects of DAB+ rollout including:
• country roadmaps
• product specifications coverage maps
• services on-air
• automotive marketing initiatives
• legislation
• plans for service following
• chip and OEM supplier lists
• TPEG plans
There are now a large number of after-market solutions available via the auto
retail sector.
The following automotive manufacturers offer digital radio line fitted, either as
standard or as an option:
Table 4.2.2: Websites of automotive manufacturers
Manufacturer Website
Alfa Romeo http://www.alfaromeo.com
Audi http://www.audi.com
BMW www.bmw.com
Chrysler www.chrysler.com
Daimler www.daimler.com
Fiat www.fiat.com
Ford www.ford.com
Hino www.hino.com
Honda www.honda.com
Hyundai www.hyundai.com
Jaguar www.jaguar.com
Land Rover www.landrover.com
Lexus www.lexus.com
Lotus www.lotuscars.com
Mercedes Benz www5.mercedes-benz.com
Mini www.mini.co.uk
Nissan www.nissan-global.com
Opel www.opel.com

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

Peugeot www.peugeot.com
Renault www.renault.com
Seat www.seat.com
Skoda www.skoda-auto.com/
Vauxhall www.vauxhall.com
Volkswagen www.volkswagen.com/
Volvo www.volvogroup.com

There are many options for adapting existing analogue radios, such as small
adapter units which can be fitted to the dashboard and connected directly to the
existing radio.
• There are “integrated adapters” available which can be fitted discretely
behind the dashboard and integrate with existing radio and steering wheel
controls.
• Digital radio head-units which can be fitted to some cars and directly
replace the existing analogue radio.
The Table 4.2.3 lists companies that provide aftermarket products:

Table 4.2.3: Websites of companies provide aftermarket products

Manufacturer Website
AEG www.etv.de/
Alpine www.alpine.com
AutoDab www.autodab.com
Blaupunkt www.blaupunkt.de
Caliber www.webshop.caliber.nl/index/dashboard
Clarion www.clarion.com/
DAB motion www.dabmotion.co.uk
Daewoo www.daewoo.com
Dual www.dual.de
JVC www.jvc.net
LG www.lg.com
Kenwood www.kenwood.com
Mpman www.mpmaneurope.com/
Panasonic www.panasonic.com
Philips www.phillips.com

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Pioneer www.pioneer.eu
Roadstar www.roadstar.com
Sony www.sony.com

(To find out about the development of DAB/ DAB+ digital radio in different
markets around the world visit the Country Information section of the website –
www.worlddab.org.)

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4.2.9 WorldDAB Receiver Profiles

WorldDMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles: Issue Date: 17 December 2008
Download a PDF version here.
The WorldDMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles are designed to help create a
vibrant digital radio market by defining minimum functionality for different
classes of digital radio receivers that use the Eureka 147 based DAB system. This
provides broadcasters with the confidence that the services they plan will be
receivable, and manufacturers that their technology investments will be supported
by services. The consumer gains from knowing that the product they have chosen
contains the necessary features to provide them with a consistent quality of
experience and assured levels of interoperability.
Products designed to meet the WorldDMB Receiver Profiles will decode all audio
services, along with other features depending on the complexity of the receiver.
The profiles were developed by WorldDMB, in collaboration with the EBU and
EICTA, with the aid of member experts representing silicon manufacturers,
consumer device manufacturers, radio broadcasters and other experts from across
the industry. The composition of the profiles takes into account manufacturing
issues, broadcaster requirements, consumer experience and other market aspects.
Broadcasters and regulators may select any of the audio and multimedia
capabilities of the Eureka 147 family of standards to meet the specific needs of
their market with confidence, whilst those already broadcasting are able to plan
the introduction of more advanced features.
Scope
The WorldDMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles define the minimum
functionality requirements of products within each profile. Manufacturers may
offer additional features in order to differentiate their product from others.
The Receiver Profiles are composed of mandatory features which must be
implemented and recommended features which offer enhancements with wide
appeal. Manufacturers making products to receive Eureka 147 based services are
encouraged to self-declare adherence of a product to one of the Receiver Profiles.
Manufacturers intend to develop a logo to promote digital radio receivers offering
this pan-European interoperability.
Broadcasters may use the Receiver Profiles to plan services for maximum take-up
and to help listeners to make sensible purchasing decisions.
Regulators may use the Receiver Profiles to develop strategies and policies for
digital radio broadcasting within national boundaries or with reference to trans-
national and harmonised markets. The Receiver Profiles describe minimum
functionality; the implementation of each feature in conformance with the
relevant ETSI standard best determined by each manufacturer and is not
proscribed.
In-car products are subject to the normal safety related conditions, for example
limitations for scrolling, access to services while driving, image per second
limitations, etc, according to regulators or OEM requests.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE

Products which do not meet the requirements of any profile may continue to be
manufactured for established digital radio markets on a market-specific basis. The
WorldDMB Receiver Profiles reflect receiver design issues and broadcaster
capabilities appropriate for the current period and for the foreseeable future.
Future changes and additions to the ETSI standards defining the Eureka 147
family of standards, technology advances and market developments will be
reviewed and may lead to revision of these Receiver Profiles. WorldDMB will
publicise the Receiver Profiles and actively encourage its members to adopt them.

More information about the DAB family of standards is included as Appendix A.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

APPENDIX A The Eureka 147 System - System

Description

Overview
The Eureka DAB System has been designed to ensure rugged and reliable
reception by listeners using fixed, portable or mobile receivers with non-
directional antennas. The system is spectrum and power efficient (equivalent or
better than FM radio) and can be operated at any frequency up to 3 GHz for
mobile reception and at higher frequencies for fixed reception. It is suitable for
use on terrestrial, satellite, hybrid (satellite with complementary terrestrial) and
cable networks. It currently uses the following audio compression techniques,
MPEG 1 Audio Layer 2 and MPEG 2 Audio Layer 2 and supports a range of
audio coding rates. It has a flexible digital multiplex, which can support a range of
source and channel coding options. This includes programme associated data
(PAD) services and independent data services (IDS).
Eureka 147 is currently the only digital audio system that has met all the
requirements of the ITU for a new digital sound broadcasting system. It is
designated ‘Digital System A’ and has the status of a world-wide standard (ITU-R
Recommendations BS 1114 and BO 1130 for terrestrial and satellite sound
broadcasting respectively). It is an open standard, fully specified within the
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), in ETS 300 401.
The system provides strong error protection in the transmitted signal. The
information transmitted is spread in both the frequency and time domains and the
effects of channel distortions and fades are eliminated from the recovered signal
in the receiver. This is achieved even when the receiver is in a location with
severe multipath propagation, whether stationary or mobile.
Efficient utilisation of the spectrum is achieved by interleaving multiple
programme signals and by the system’s ability to operate additional transmitters
as gap fillers in a single frequency network (SFN). A gap-filling transmitter in this
arrangement receives and re-transmits the Eureka 147 signal on the same
frequency.

Major System Features

Like almost all digital radio systems, Eureka 147 uses standard audio compression
techniques and COFDM. As Eureka 147 was the first standardised digital radio
system, the audio compression techniques used in all Eureka 147 implementations
are now somewhat dated.
A Eureka 147 transmission has an emission bandwidth of 1.536 MHz, which is
capable of providing a range of useful data rates depending on the level of
protection. The multiplex contains audio programs; program associated data and,
optionally, other data services. Each audio program or data service is
independently error protected with a variable coding overhead, the amount of
which depends on the requirements of the broadcasters (transmitter coverage and
reception quality). A specific part of the multiplex contains information on how
the multiplex is configured, so that a receiver can decode the signal correctly, and,

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possibly, information about the services themselves, the links between different
services, and conditional access information for subscription services.
Eureka 147 is a mature system with 29 standards and related documents published
by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). The ITU has
included details of the Eureka 147 system in its Digital Sound Broadcasting
(DSB) Handbook and Recommendations BS.1114 and BO.1130.

Modes of Operation
Eureka 147 provides four transmission mode options that allow for a wide range
of transmission frequencies, between 30 and 3000 MHz, and network
configurations. For the nominal frequency ranges, the transmission modes have
been designed to provide good mobile reception by overcoming multipath echoes,
which occur when the signal bounces off buildings and other objects and receivers
must deal with multiple and slightly out of phase versions of the same signal.
Mode I is most suitable for a terrestrial SFN in the VHF range, because it allows
the greatest distances between transmitters. Mode II is most suitable for hybrid
satellite/terrestrial transmission up to 1.5 GHz and local radio applications that
require one terrestrial transmitter. Mode II can also be used for a medium to large
scale SFNs in the L Band by inserting, if necessary, artificial delays at the
transmitters and/or by using directive transmitting antennas. Mode III is most
appropriate for cable, satellite and complementary terrestrial transmission, since it
can be operated at all frequencies up to 3 GHz for mobile reception and has the
greatest phase noise tolerance. Mode IV is most suitable for medium to large scale
SFNs in the L Band while still accommodating mobile reception at reasonable
highway speeds (up to approximately 120 km/h). However, it is less resistant to
degradation at higher vehicle speeds than this.

Table A-1: Eureka 147 Transmission Parameters

System Parameter Transmission Mode
I II III IV
No. of radiated
1536 384 192 768
carriers
Nominal Maximum
transmitter separation 96 km 24 km 12 km 48 km
for SFN
Nominal frequency
range for mobile ≤ 375 MHz ≤ 1.5 GHz ≤ 3 GHz ≤ 1.5 GHz
reception
Speed/Coverage trade
No No No Yes
off
Frame Duration 96 ms 24 ms 24 ms 48 ms
Total Symbol
1246 µs 312 µs 156 µs 623 µs
Duration
Useful Symbol
1000 µs 250 µs 125 µs 500 µs
Duration

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System Parameter Transmission Mode

I II III IV
Guard Interval
246 µs 62 µs 31 µs 123 µs
Duration
Null Symbol
1297 µs 324 µs 168 µs 648 µs
Duration

Data Capacity
Audio and data services are carried in the main service channel (MSC) of the
Eureka 147 multiplex. This channel supports a gross data rate of 2.304 MBps.
However, the net data rate (e.g., the actual capacity available for use) depends on
the protection level applied to services. For audio only services the net capacity of
the ensemble varies between 783 (highest protection) and 1728 kbps (lowest
protection). The corresponding range for data only services is 576 and 1728 kbps.
At a median protection level the available net capacity for both audio and data
services is 1.152 MBps.
Within the MSC each audio or data service is carried in a sub-channel. Up to 63
subchannels can be supported, each of which is treated individually as far as error
protection is concerned.

Data Services
Each audio program contains PAD with a variable capacity (minimum 667 bps,
up to 65 kbps) which is used to convey information together with the sound
program. Typical examples of PAD applications are dynamic range control
information, a dynamic label to display program titles or lyrics, speech/music
indication and text with graphic features.
Additionally, general data may be transmitted as a separate service. This may be
either in the form of a continuous stream segmented into 24 ms logical frames
with a data rate of n x 8 kbps (n x 32 kbps for some code rates) or in packet mode,
where individual packet data services may have much lower capacities and are
bundled in a packet sub multiplex. A third way to carry independent data services
is as a part of the Fast Information Channel (FIC) that carries multiplex control
and service information. Typical examples of independent data services that could
use the FIC are a Traffic Message Channel, correction data for Differential GPS
and paging.
Some elements of Service Information (SI) data can also be made available to the
listener for program selection and for the operation and control of receivers. For
example, the name of a program service; the program type, title and language;
transmitter identification and controls for switching to traffic reports, news flashes
or announcements.

Number of audio services in a multiplex

Eureka 147 uses MPEG 1 Layer II and MPEG 2 Layer II audio compression
standards and permits full data rate coding at the sampling frequency of 48 kHz
and half data rate coding at the sampling frequency of 24 kHz. Half data rate

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coding is not fast enough to capture all of the information in a speech signal so
this sampling rate is only used where some distortion.
Eureka 147 is capable of processing mono, stereo and dual channel (e.g.,
bilingual) programs. A range of encoded data rate options are available (8, 16, 24,
32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160 or 192 kbps per monophonic
channel). In stereophonic or dual channel mode, the encoder produces twice the
data rate of a mono channel. The range of possible options can be utilised flexibly
by broadcasters depending on the quality required and the number of sound
programs to be broadcast.
A stereophonic signal may be conveyed in the stereo mode, or particularly at
lower data rates in the joint stereo mode. This mode, typically used at 144 - 224
kbps, uses the redundancy and interleaving of the two channels of a stereophonic
program to maximise the overall perceived audio quality.
The degree of error protection (and hence ruggedness) can also be varied to meet
the needs of the broadcasters. In the case of audio services, five protection levels
(1 to 5) have been specified in order to cater for a variety of applications. Level 5
affords the lowest protection and is designed for cable systems. It allows a high
number of program services, but does not have the strong error protection
necessary for operation in multipath environments. Protection Level 3 is better
suited to mobile operation. To allow more flexibility in accommodating sub-
channels, Protection Levels 4 and 2 have also been introduced with somewhat
weaker and stronger performance than Protection Level 3 (respectively).
Protection Level 1 is suited to applications with a very high sensitivity to
transmission errors while Protection Level 4 is intended for less demanding
applications (for example services addressed to fixed receivers).
Table A.2 outlines the typical number of services that can be delivered for a
selection of audio data rates for different levels of error protection.

Table A-2: Example of possible number of programs

Audio data Protection level (increasing protection)
rate (kbps) 5 4 3 2 1
24* N/A 64 48 36 24
32 54 41 36 29 24
64 27 20 18 14 12
128 13 10 9 7 6
192 9 7 6 5 4
224 7 6 5 4 3
256 6 5 4 3 3

* At most audio data rates, Eureka 147 uses Unequal Error Protection an error
protection procedure which allows the bit error characteristics to be matched
with the bit error sensitivity of the different parts of the audio frame. At the lowest
data rate, 24 kbps, Eureka 147 uses Equal Error Protection, an error protection
procedure which ensures a constant protection of the bit stream.

Audio Quality

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ITU R Recommendation BS.1115 specifies use of MPEG 1 Layer II at 256 kbps

(stereo mode), for broadcast applications requiring CD quality. This
recommendation is based on subjective listening tests undertaken in 1992. At the
time, MPEG 1 Layer II at 192 kbps (joint stereo mode) was also tested but was
found to only marginally meet the audio quality requirement. Additional tests in
1993 failed to reveal sufficient improvement in the codec to warrant inclusion of
this lower data rate in the ITU recommendation.
Further listening tests were performed in 1995, as part of the US Electronic
Industries Association’s (EIA) evaluation of digital radio systems. A range of
audio coding systems were tested including MPEG 1 Layer II at 224 and 192 kbps
(joint stereo modes). The findings of this work indicate the MPEG 1 Layer II
codec at 224 kbps is capable of meeting the basic audio quality criteria specified
by the ITU R. The lower rate of 192 kbps again failed to meet the required quality.

Spectrum Issues
Eureka 147 Channel Plans
In 1995, the introduction of terrestrial Eureka 147 was discussed by the European
Conference for Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT) in Wiesbaden. 5 In
cooperation with representatives of regional and international organisations such
as the EBU, the European Commission and the ITU a total of 73 channels to be
used for future and current digital audio broadcasting services was agreed. Each
channel is 1.536 MHz wide with appropriate guard bands between each channel
and at the edge of each band.
The European CEPT channel plan encompasses four frequency bands, namely
VHF Bands I, II and III and L Band. Allotments were made to allow the
implementation of two Eureka 147 ensembles in any given country or area in
Europe. The majority of these allotments were in VHF Band III and the lower part
of the L Band (1452 MHz 1467 MHz). Allotments in the 230 240 MHz sub
band of VHF Band III are subject to coordination with national defence users and
the L Band was divided into terrestrial and satellite segments. Further
consideration of L Band allotments was made at a second CEPT conference at
Maastricht in 2002.
A second channel plan has been developed for Canada that covers only the L
Band. This plan also provides for 23 channels, but with different guard bands to
the CEPT Plan.
Comparing the characteristics of the two plans, the Canadian channel plan
provides an interchannel guard band some 18% greater than the CEPT channel
plan. Maximizing the spacing between adjacent channels is desirable, as this
contributes to improved adjacent channel isolation which results in less stringent
implementation constraints. In contrast, the CEPT channel plan trades off a larger
inter-channel guard band for increased guards at the band edges to facilitate
sharing with other services operating near the band edges.
To facilitate receiver tuning and minimize scan times, manufacturers will assume,
or at least prioritise, the use of certain centre frequencies as defined by the CEPT

5
Final Acts of the CEPT T_DAB Planning Meeting (3)”, Maastricht 2002,CEPT,
http://www.ero.dk/52EB3135-F356-49FF-A970-B32D2C745921?frames=0

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and/or Canadian channel plans. The use of ”nonstandard” frequencies could result
in the need for manual tuning or, alternatively, require the receiver to undertake a
complete scan of the band(s) based on the 16 kHz grid spacing. The latter is likely
to take considerably longer and could be seen as a distinct disadvantage. Although
manufacturers have been encouraged to incorporate the Canadian channel plan in
their designs, it remains unclear what level of support will be afforded to the plan
and whether there are cost implications for manufacturers in supporting both
channel plans.
For Australia, there is a further complication if VHF Band III is used for digital
radio. In this scenario, adoption of the Canadian channel plan would result in
a ”mixed” frequency table arrangement (e.g., use of the CEPT channel plan at
VHF Band III and the Canadian channel plan at L Band). In view of these
uncertainties, adoption of the Canadian channel plan would appear justified only
if significant benefits, in terms of improved adjacent channel isolation, were
shown to be associated with the wider channel spacing of this plan. In the absence
of any published data, the Communications Laboratory undertook measurements
of the adjacent channel isolation afforded by the two channel plans, using a
limited range of transmitting and receiving equipment available at that time. The
results of these tests indicate no significant difference in adjacent channel
performance. 6

Planning Parameters
The planning parameters that could be used for the implementation of Eureka 147
services draw on a number of ITU and European sources:

The ITU DSB Handbook

EBU ”Technical bases for T DAB services network planning and compatibility
with existing broadcasting services,” Document BPN 003 Rev. 1, May 1998;
Chester 97, ”The Chester 1997 multilateral coordination agreement relating to the
technical criteria, coordinating principles and procedures for the introduction of
terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB T),” 25 July 1997;
ITU R Recommendation BT.1368, “Planning criteria for digital terrestrial
television services in the VHF/UHF bands,” 14 April 1998.

Propagation Properties
General aspects of Propagation Properties are covered in the Spectrum Usage
section of this report. The two bands in which Eureka 147 are likely to be
implemented are VHF Band III and L Band.

VHF Band III

VHF Band III is well suited to the provision of terrestrial digital radio services
over large coverage areas. The frequencies are still sufficiently low for good
reception in moving vehicles of Eureka 147 Mode 1 transmissions. VHF Band III
has less man made noise than VHF Bands I and II and does not suffer from a

6
Communications Laboratory Technical Note 99/01, ‘The impact of European and Canadian L-Band channel spacings on
adjacent channel operation”, 20 April 1999.

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number of the anomalous propagation characteristics which are a problem in VHF

Band I.

L-Band (1452-1492 MHz)

L-Band can be used for both terrestrial and satellite digital radio services. L Band
may be used to provide the following types of coverage, assuming average terrain
conditions:
• small local coverage areas up to a radius of approximately 35 to 40 km
using a single, moderate power transmitter;
• larger local area coverage ranging up to a radius of approximately 60 km
using a single main transmitter of moderate power and augmented by a number
of gap fillers and coverage extenders;
• large area coverage (> 60 km radius) can be achieved by the use of single
frequency networks employing a number of moderately spaced synchronized
transmitters; and
• coverage along corridors or motorways using repeaters employing highly
directional antennas (e.g., coverage extenders).

The higher frequency, shorter wavelength of an L Band transmission means that it

is severely affected by local obstructions to a degree that is not encountered at
VHF Band III. Conversely, the much smaller transmit antennas lend themselves
to small cellular networks with discretely placed antennas. Also, the much smaller
receive antenna would be attractive for small portable applications.
Present indications are that L Band is less attractive to radio broadcasters than
VHF. One reason is the different ways that VHF and L Band signals propagate
over distance. There is a concern that the higher building penetration losses of L
Band transmissions make it less attractive than VHF Band III for indoor reception.
There have been a number of studies to assess how different buildings attenuate L
Band transmissions and, while they show that attenuation can be large, they show
that L Band can be used to provide indoor reception with a well-designed
terrestrial retransmission network. Canadian authorities consider L Band to be
suitable for terrestrial digital radio services and are using only L Band for their
Eureka 147 services. In the US, S Band has been used for terrestrial digital radio
repeaters and GSM phones have been implemented at 1800 MHz and can provide
adequate indoor reception.

Recent system developments

Digital radio is likely to turn from a simple audio-only service, merely
simulcasting existing analogue programmes, into a far more interactive and rich
experience across several platforms including DAB, using scrolling text and on
demand digital services. This section describes some technical developments of
the Eureka 147 DAB system, as performed by the WorldDAB Forum.
As this section shows, the technical possibilities of DAB are practically unlimited.
The challenge is to harness the technical developments and to restrict them
reasonably to those for which an international consensus of broadcasters,
manufactures and other players could be reached.

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Multimedia Object Transport (MOT)

The MOT protocol allows the standardised transport of audio-visual information,
such as still pictures and web pages. It can be used in the PAD and packet mode.
MOT is particularly suitable for two applications: Broadcast Website (BWS) and
Slide Show (SLS).
The basic principle of the MOT data carousels 7 is that each file to be broadcast is
divided into segments of equal length and then the segments for all files are
repeated cyclically in the broadcast stream. Each segment is tagged with an
identifier to say which file it belongs to and a segment number to identify which
segment of the file it is. Segmenting the file in this way means that the system
will still work in an error-prone channel because, even for large files, the
minimum amount of data that must be received without error is just a segment
rather than the whole file. If a segment is received in error, the receiver can just
wait for the next time that segment is broadcast, and the file identifier and
segment number allow the receiver to correctly reconstruct each file.
This on its own, however, is not sufficient; with a "sea" of segments, the receiver
can reconstruct the files but cannot know either how to access them or how to
manage them. What is needed is a "table of contents" for the carousel that
contains a list of all the files contained within the carousel. With suitable version
control applied to this "table of contents," it is possible to detect any change to the
carousel simply by examining the version of the table of contents. If a file is
changed, the version number for the file will change. This will, in turn, change the
"table of contents," which will result in a change in its own version number. A
simple comparison of the "table of contents" before and after the change allows
the receiver to determine exactly what has changed, and to perform any cache
management as appropriate.
In MOT, the "table of contents" function is handled by the MOT Directory Object
and its operation is illustrated below:

Figure A 1: MOT Directory Object

If we replace the file animals/lion with a new file called animals/tiger, the
carousel would then appear as shown below:

7
EN 301 234 V1.2.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Multimedia Object Transfer (MOT) protocol.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

Figure A 2: MOT Directory Object with the replacement

The receiver can tell that the carousel has changed because the Directory Object
has a new version, and by comparing the old and new Directory Objects, it can
immediately determine that the file animals/lion has been replaced by
animals/tiger.
The MOT Directory Object serves two functions:
To provide reliable management of the files so that any changes to the carousel
are understood by the receiver.
To provide a name and other information for each file so that it may be accessed
by an application.

Dynamic Label
This application carries text information and control characters with a length up to
128 characters in the PAD channel. It requires a simple alphanumeric text display
of 2 lines, 32 characters each. If the length of the text to be displayed is longer
than 64 characters, the text can be incremental or scrolling.

Broadcast Website
BWS is a local interactive service; the user selects information already received
by a browser. This “radio web” service allows the access to a limited number of
websites, as chosen by the broadcaster (“walled garden”). BWS can be rendered
either by a PC or a car navigation platform using a ¼ VGA display (320 x 240
pixels). HTML version 3.2 and a storage capacity of 256 kB are required.

Slide Show
This application involves sequences of still pictures (JPEG or PNG). The order
and presentation time of this service are generated by the broadcaster. The
transmission time depends primarily on the file sizes of the pictures and the
chosen PAD data rate. For example, a CD cover coded as JPEG 320 x 240
requires a transmission time of 22s (PAD or packet mode data rate of 16 kbps is
assumed). No local interaction is required.
A visual component, associated with audio, would potentially greatly help radio
advertisers to increase advertising revenue. For example, instead of talking about
the new model Volvo had just released, it would be good if we could see some
pictures while we hear about its great features.

Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)

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The DAB Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) allows programmers to signpost on

a screen on the radio their key music positions, programmes and benchmark
features, and set up opportunities to record or auto-retune the radio to their station.
Schedules can be sent to the receiver several days in advance of broadcasts,
allowing opportunity to highlight and lock listeners into a new on-air activities
early on. They can also be updated frequently to reflect last-minute changes to on-
air output.
Experience of Television EPGs show that they can build station loyalty and time
spent watching, and provide a significant enhancement to recall of on-air
promotional trails.
It is expected that the EPG will become a standard feature on many DAB Digital
Radios, as it has become a worldwide technical standard that can be freely
adopted by receiver manufacturers. The EPG was the result of a two-year task
force made up of broadcasters and receiver manufacturers working together
within WorldDAB, the forum that promotes development of Digital Radio to the
Eureka 147 standard.
As in TV, EPG will be useful to help to user to find, preview, select, listen and
record radio programmes, particularly if there are many, possibly several
hundreds, radio programmes in a given area. 8 The EPG will be used to provide
programme listings information for both audio and data services and as a
mechanism for the user to select services, programmes and related content. A key
requirement is that the EPG must work on a range of receivers with differing
display capabilities, resources and back-channel capabilities. To achieve this, a
flexible multi-layer structure has been defined. The EPG data is broken down into
service information (ensembles and services) and programme information
(schedules, programmes, groups and events). Additionally programmes and
events can be linked together into groups (e.g. for grouping programmes together
into serials or series).
EPG will be useful to promote new programmes and to attract new listeners. It is
also enable for future technologies such as Personal Media Recording (DAB
equivalent of PVR). Manual or automatic time-shifting of the programme will be
possible for the user to choose what and when they want to listen.
An EPG standard “XML Specification for DAB Electronic Programme Guide” is
being developed by WorldDAB 9. Work is still continuing into the transportation
and compression of the EPG data. EPG is currently being broadcast
experimentally on 8 multiplexes in the UK.

DAB Virtual Machine (DAB Java)

Analogous to DVB Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), but suitably scaled down
to fit into narrow-band DAB channel, DAB Java provides a flexible and
extendible platform (middleware) for all new DAB data services. DAB Java is
standardised by ETSI. 10 The platform enables the rapid implementation and

8
Currently there are 320 DAB radio programmes on air in the UK, including 50 in London.
9
TS 102 818 v1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); XML Specification for DAB Electronic Programme Guide (EPG),
ETSI
10
TS 101 993 V1.1.1 (2002-03) Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB);A Virtual Machine for DAB: DAB Java Specification,
ETSI

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deployment of new business ideas by enabling the applications (and applets) to

access DAB resources. Future data services for DAB will be realized most
efficient based on DAB Java in terms of time to market and platform
independence. This approach enables DAB to be integrated in large scaled Java –
based software environments, e.g. cars using widely accepted standards.
The concept of virtual machine has been chosen to allow for execution of any
DAB applications independently of the hardware specific configuration. The
DAB Java Framework is divided in three basic modules or packages: a) a DAB-
specific extension of the Java API, b) a runtime support for the DAB applications
execution environment, and c) a DAB I/O package for signalling the DAB Java
extension over the DAB signal.
End-to-end reference implementations have been successfully developed to
demonstrate the benefits and new possibilities of DAB Java. These
implementations include an EPG application, a BWS application, a stock market
ticker and some local-interactive games. The BBC has developed an interactive
DAB Java – based application "Composer Biographies." Bosch has demonstrated
an integration of DAB Java in an OSGI-based telematics system (GPS device).
Figure A.3 shows the architecture of DAB Java.

Figure A.3: The architecture of DAB Java

The development and implementation of DAB Java requires close cooperation of

content, service, network providers and terminal manufacturers.

DAB Receiver Interfaces

In order to introduce new applications in the mature market with millions of DAB
receivers deployed, it is essential to allow the legacy receivers to connect to the
new application decoders via an agreed interface. To this end, The WorldDAB
Forum has developed a specification for the Receiver Data Interface (RDI). 11
Nevertheless, as RDI has some technical limitations (e.g. flexibility, fixed
bandwidth), it has been decided to develop a new interface. The WorldDAB
Forum and the DRM Forum have agreed to cooperate in defining a generic

11
EN 50255 Digital Audio Broadcasting system; Specification of the Receiver Data Interface (RDI), CENELEC

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physical USB interface for all digital radio receivers. Furthermore, a generic low
level driver interface based on Digital Command Set for Receivers (DRCS)
specification will be developed, taking into account of copy protection and digital
rights management issues.

Conditional Access
The DAB system already includes a comprehensive conditional system (see
Chapter 9 of EN 300 401). Further work is now underway to develop a simple,
yet reliable system to be used in commercial receivers using a common
scrambling algorithm and a common receiver interface, however allowing the use
of different commercial CA systems such as Simulcrypt and Multicrypt.

SBR Layer II
Spectrum Band Replication (SBR) is a process, proposed by Coding Technologies
and now standardised within MPEG-4 Audio, designed to potentially improve
spectrum efficiency of the DAB system by reducing the audio bit rate for the
same quality, while retaining backwards compatibility. Some initial studies
indicate that about 30% improvement could be achieved.
The EBU Project group B/AIM (Audio In Multimedia) is carrying studies on error
sensitivity and compatibility with non-SBR receivers. Some preliminary results
show that the inclusion of SBR in the DAB system does not significantly degrade
the C/N performance of the DAB system, neither in terms of Threshold of
Audibility (TOA) nor Point of Failure (POF).
Studies are continued on balancing the benefits and drawbacks of SBR. The
matters to be addressed involve the increase of complexity (and thus cost) of the
receiver and the related IPR issues. No decision has been taken by the WorldDAB
Forum to date about the viability of using including SBR into the standard and
recommending its incorporation into commercial receivers.

File caching in the receiver

The WorldDAB Forum has now established a specification for using an optional
caching facility in the receiver. The user will benefit from a so-called "rewind
radio," which will allow listening of the latest programme at any time. The
caching device will also allow the user to use the DAB receiver as a PVR
(Personal Versatile Recorder) device for time-shifted playout of audio events
(with or without associated data). It should be pointed out the use of caching may
change the way how people access and enjoy radio listening. It potentially widens
the programming possibilities offered by the broadcaster but also introduces new
technical and operational problems (copyright, EPG, etc).
In September 2003 RadioScape which specialises in digital radio software
launched a new module called RS200L. 12 One of the features of this module is
the inclusion of Rewind Radio that enables about ten minutes of audio to be
stored on chip RAM. This can be used to listen to a news clip again or time shift
by pausing and resuming the radio. The module has been designed using the
DRE200 chip from Texas Instruments, which is probably one of the world's

12
http://www.worlddab.org/pressreleases/RADIOSCAPE-LAUNCHES-THE-RS200L.pdf

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bestselling receiver chips for the EU 147 standard. This chip has now been
superseded by a new version, DRE310 13 that can decode more than one channel
simultaneously and includes time-shifted radio, announcement support, service
linking (FM/DAB ensemble switching), TII (Transmitter Identification
Information) and MP3/Windows Media Audio CD support.

TopNews
TopNews is a commercial name for Bosch/Blaupunkt's system which allows
broadcasters (and multiplex providers) to download via a suitable DAB data
channel (e.g. MOT, MSC packet mode) the news and other audio files or other
objects coded in MP3 to the receiver. 14 The user is appropriately informed of the
existence of these audio objects and could access them at their convenience. The
broadcaster is responsible for contents and needs to update the audio file contents
regularly. There is no need for return link to the service provider. This "audio
anytime" system is particularly attractive for in-car applications.

IP datacasting in DAB
The DAB system is capable of carrying IP packets (datagrams) using IP/UDP
protocol 15. As these packets travel unidirectional from a service provider to many
users simultaneously, this is a form of IP Multicasting, e.g., pushing the same
contents to several users concurrently. The IP datagrams are tunnelled through a
DAB packet mode service component (SC). This is done by encapsulating the IP
datagram in an MSC data group on packet mode transport level. It is not
necessary to establish a connection between the transmitter and the user prior to
the transmission of data.
For connection oriented point-to-point transport, TCP has to be used (rather than
UDP). TCP requires an interaction channel for the return flow of
acknowledgements.
Further work is necessary to be carried out similar to that performed by the DVB-
IPI project in order to specify the discovery and selection of the data services by
the user.
The Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Project has developed a data broadcasting
standard describing an IPv4 and IPv6 datagrams encapsulation in MPEG-2
transport stream. This system is commonly called Multi-Protocol Encapsulation
(MPE) or Data Piping 16 and includes dynamic address resolution, multicast group
membership and other supporting procedures and protocols. The overhead due to
encapsulation is reasonably low, e.g., below 3%.
IP datacasting is an interesting option for the DAB systems required to work with
IP-enabled devices such as mobile phones and PDAs. The IP layer could be used
as a common communications layer between the two systems. IP datacasting over
DAB will bring the data content such as moving pictures, audio, web pages,
computer programmes and software upgrades reliably to each user (or a group of

13
http://www.worlddab.org/pressreleases/TI-uses-Radioscape-23-06-03.pdf
14
WorldDAB TC 075 available from http://www.worlddab.org/tc_presentations/2
15
ES 201 735 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol (IP) Datagram Tunnelling
16
EN 301 192 V1.3.1 (2003-05) Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); DVB specification for data broadcasting

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users) and will thus expand significantly market opportunities of DAB. IP

datacasting will pave the way towards the personalisation of broadcast services.

TPEG transport in DAB

It is well known to all broadcasters that radio is an ideal (and the cheapest)
medium to inform travellers about the road conditions and traffic jams – provided
that such information is timely and relevant, in the correct location. Currently
analogue FM radio uses a well-established RDS-TMC (Traffic Message System)
system. However, the TMC is essentially limited to inter-urban road events and
every decoder must have a location database to interpret any message received.
TPEG was developed by the EBU to overcome these limitations. TPEG delivers
very rich location referencing information with every message, so that receivers
do not need a location database. Thus, navigation systems which are now
becoming a standard commodity in the car can "machine read" the location
content and localise an event directly onto the map display. A text-only device
(such as a PDA) is able to present locally found names such as a railway station
name and a platform number directly to an end user as a text message. Such a
message can be rendered in the language of choice of the end user. TPEG can
filter the information to avoid receiver overload, so that end users can select
massages on any number of criteria, such as the type of location, mode of public
transport, direction of travel, event, etc.
TPEG can be transported within the DAB system in the Transparent Data Channel
(TDC) in a stream-like format; bytes come out in the same order they go in. 17
The TDC Specification allows TPEG data to be carried in three modes: packet
mode, stream mode and X-PAD. Nevertheless, this approach which is specified in
the present version of the DAB standard, involves several problems in terms of
reception reliability and interpretation. It has therefore been proposed to transport
TPEG as one of the multimedia applications in the MOT data channel. This would
imply the following main advantages: MOT is already implemented in most
receivers and enables efficient object compression, power saving and delta
updates and has much lower overhead than TDC.

Advanced demodulation technique for COFDM

The Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) developed an advanced
COFDM demodulation technique 18 which reduces the effect of the Doppler effect
and therefore increases the maximum speed, allowing vehicle speeds up to 140
km/s while achieving a target bit error rate (BER) of 10-4 . Canadian DAB
broadcasters use L-Band (1452 to 1492 MHz) and would like to use Transmission
Mode IV instead of Mode II, because the former allows for a larger separation
distance between on-channel re-transmitters than in the case of Mode II. However,
Mode IV in L-Band limits the speed to less than 100 km/h, so this new technique
could help. Further studies are required to investigate whether this technique

17
Guidelines for TPEG in DAB, B/TPEG Plenary Group 00/113 available from www.ebu.ch/bmc_btpeg.htm
18
Thibault, Zhang, Boudreau, Taylor, Chouinard: Advanced Demodulation Technique for COFDM in Fast Fading
Channels, IBC 2003 Proceedings, p. 416 to 422

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could be useful for VHF bands and whether the chip manufacturers could
accommodate it readily into their chip design.

Technical Standards
International Standards
ETSI Standards 19
Eureka 147 standards are formalised by ETSI and are available for download. The
current list of ETSI standards relating to Eureka 147 are in Table A.3. The main
ETSI standard for Eureka 147 is EN 300 401.

Table A.3: ETSI Standards relating to Eureka 147

Number Title
EN 300 401 V1.3.3 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB to mobile, portable
(May 2001) and fixed receivers
(THIRD EDITION)
EN 300 797 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution interfaces;
Service Transport Interface (STI)
EN 300 798 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution interfaces;
Digital baseband In-phase and Quadrature (DIQ) Interface
EN 301 234 V1.2.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Multimedia Object Transfer
(MOT) protocol
EN 301 700 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Service Referencing from
FM-RDS; Definition and use of RDS-ODA
EN 302 077 V1.1.1 Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters
(ERM); Harmonised EN for Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcast
(TDAB) equipment used in the sound broadcasting service.
ES 201 735 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol Datagram
Tunnelling
ES 201 736 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Network Independent
Protocols for Interactive Services
ES 201 737 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Interaction Channel
through GSM / PSTN / ISDN / DECT
ETS 300 799 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution interfaces;
Ensemble Transport Interface (ETI)
TR 101 495 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guide to DAB Standards;
Guidelines and Bibliography
TR 101 496-1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guidelines and Rules for
V.1.1.1 Implementation and Operation
TR 101 496-2 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guidelines and Rules for
V.1.1.2 Implementation and Operation
TR 101 496-3 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guidelines and Rules for
V.1.1.2 Implementation and Operation
TR 101 497 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Rules of Operation for the
Multimedia Object Transfer Protocol

19
EBU BPN 062

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Number Title
TS 101 498-1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Broadcast Website
V1.1.1 Application, Part 1:User Application Specification
TS 101 498-2 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Broadcast Website
V1.1.1 Application, Part 2: Basic Profile Specification
TS 101 499 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); MOT Slide Show; User
Application Specification
TS 101 735 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol Datagram
Tunnelling
TS 101 736 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Network Independent
Protocols for Interactive Services
TS 101 737 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Interaction Channel
through GSM / PSTN / ISDN / DECT
TS 101 756 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Registered Tables
TS 101 757 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Conformance Testing for
DAB Audio
TS 101 758 V2.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Signal Strengths and
Receiver Parameters
TS 101 759 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Data Broadcasting
Transparent Data Channel
TS 101 860 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution Interfaces;
Service Transport Interface (STI); STI Levels
TS 101 993 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); A Virtual Machine for
DAB: DAB Java Specification
TS 102 818 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); XML Specification for
DAB Electronic Program Guide (EPG)

Receiver Standards
European receiver standards have been developed by CENELEC, IEC and
national standards bodies (e.g., UK). A list of relevant receiver standards is in
Table A.4.

Table A.4: Receiver Standards for Eureka 147

Reference Title
CENELEC Digital Audio Broadcasting system - Specification of the
EN 50255 Receiver Data Interface (RDI)
CENELEC
EN 50248 Characteristics of DAB receivers
CENELEC
EN 50320 The DAB Command Set for receivers
IEC 62105 Digital Audio Broadcasting System - Specification of the
Receiver Data Interface (RDI)
IEC 62104 Characteristics of DAB Receivers

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ITU Publications and Recommendations

The International Telecommunications Union has a number of publications and
Recommendations relating to Eureka 147 and digital radio in particular. The
“DSB Handbook - Terrestrial and satellite DSB to vehicular, portable and fixed
receivers in the VHF/UHF bands” is an aggregation of ITU input documents and
data. Relevant recommendations are in Table A.5.

Table A.5: ITU Recommendations relevant to Eureka 147

Reference Title
BS.1115 Low data rate audio coding
BS.774-2 Service requirements for DSB to vehicular, portable and fixed
receivers using terrestrial transmitters in the VHF/UHF bands
BS.1114-3 Systems for terrestrial DSB to vehicular, portable and fixed
receivers in the frequency range 30-3 000 MHz
BO.789-2 Service for DSB to vehicular portable and fixed receivers for
broadcasting-satellite service (sound) in the frequency range 1
400-2 700 MHz
BO.1130-4 Systems for digital satellite broadcasting to vehicular, portable
and fixed receivers in the bands allocated to BSS (sound) in the
frequency range 1 400-2 700 MHz

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4.3 Japan's Digital Radio Broadcasting (ISDB-TSB)

4.3.1 Overview

ISDB-TSB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial for Sound

Broadcasting) system was developed for terrestrial Digital Sound Broadcasting
(DSB) and was included in the ITU-R Recommendation BS.1114-3 in 2004. The
system specification was developed by the Association of Radio Industries and
Businesses (ARIB) in October 1998. Laboratory experiments and field trials using
Tokyo Tower were carried out to verify the system performance in 1999 and the
final specification was approved as a Japanese Standard in November 1999.
Two stations were launched in Tokyo and Osaka in the frequency band 188 MHz
to 192 MHz in October 2003.

4.3.2 The Methods

A terrestrial TV broadcasting frequency band that fits for mobile communications,

OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) that withstands
interference caused by multiple paths (delayed waves), a modulation method that
fits for communications with cell phones and mobile receivers, powerful error
correction function, etc., have been adopted to allow good communications with
cell phones and mobile receivers.
Concerning information compression technology and multiplexing technology,
MPEG-2 has been adopted after diverse compatible communications with digital
broadcastings (such as terrestrial digital TV broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting,
CS digital broadcasting) were considered. MPEG-2 offers a common base for
signal processing, which leads to reduction in the production cost of receivers by
using LSI-chip and consolidation of receivers as well as easy exchange of data
with other media.
Since this broadcasting system has the common segment structure with terrestrial
digital TV broadcasting, the receivers can be consolidated.

(1) Audio encoding system

MPEG-2 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and SBR (Spectral Band
Replication) have been adopted. However, SBR is optional.
This system satisfies the ITU-R standard, which enables high-quality
multiple channeling at a low bit rate of 144 kbps. It has been adopted by BS
digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital TV broadcasting. The adoption to
the DSB resulted from the consideration of cross-media communications.

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(2) Restricted reception system

MULTI2 system has been adopted.
A scramble system has been adopted for charged broadcasting (Pay service).
It is the MULTI2 system that has already been adopted for terrestrial digital
TV broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and CS digital broadcasting. The
adoption to the DSB resulted from the consideration of cross-media
communications. Introduction of charged broadcasting depends on the result
after the feasibility is examined.

(3) Multiplexing System

MPEG-2 system has been adopted, therefore various digital contents such as
sound, text, still picture, moving picture and data can be transmitted
simultaneously.
In addition, cross-media communications were considered because MPEG-2
system has been adopted in terrestrial digital TV broadcasting, BS digital
broadcasting and CS digital broadcasting.

(4) Transmission channel encoding system

Modulation method
OFDM method that withstands interference with multiple paths has been
adopted. One of DQPSK (Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying),
QPSK, 16 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), and 64 QAM can be
used. Since different forms of broadcasting are expected, parameters are
available for setting carrier modulations and coding rate of inner code.

Error correction system

Reed Solomon (204, 188) for external signalling and convolution coding
(convolution rates: 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8) for internal signalling have been
adopted.
The adoption resulted from the consideration of high coding efficiency and
high burst error correction capability for external signalling, various options
of coding rates for internal signalling and cross-media communications.
According to the broadcaster's purpose, they can select the carrier
modulation method, error correction coding rate, etc., of the system. The
TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) carrier
transmits the information to the receiver pertaining to the kind of
modulation method and coding rate used in the system.

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(5) Transmission bandwidths

A transmission bandwidth that uses one OFDM segment of 6/14 MHz
(approx. 429 kHz) bandwidth has been primarily adopted. In addition, a
transmission bandwidth that uses three OFDM segments is also available.
Figure 4.4 shows ISDB-TSB and full-band ISDB-T transmission concept
and its reception.

Data
Segment

Spectra

Figure 4.3.1: ISDB-TSB and full-band ISDB-T transmission

concept and its reception

(6) Hierarchical transmission and partial reception

In the triple-segment transmission, both one layer transmission and
hierarchical transmission can be achieved. There are two layers of A and B
in the hierarchical transmission. The transmission parameters of carrier
modulation scheme, coding rates of the inner code and a length of the time
interleaving can be changed in the different layers.
The centre segment of hierarchical transmission is able to be received by
single-segment receiver. Owing to the common structure of OFDM segment,
single-segment receiver can partially receive a centre segment of full-band

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ISDB-T signal whenever an independent program is transmitted in the

centre segment.
Figure 4.5 shows an example of hierarchical transmission and partial
reception. In Japan, hierarchical transmission mode has to be used in the
case of triple-segment transmission.

Figure 4.3.2: Example diagram of hierarchical transmission

and partial reception

(7) Connected transmission

Efficient transmission
Connected transmission is defined as a transmission of multiple segments
(e.g., multiple programmes) from the same transmitter with no guard band.
In addition, the channels of independent broadcasters can be transmitted
together without guard bands from the same transmitter as long as the
frequency and bit synchronisation are kept the same between the channels.
But broadcasters can have their own RF channel in which they can select
transmission parameters independently.
The following two advantages are available from connected transmission:

• Facility and maintenance costs are low because only a single

broadcasting facility is required.

• Effective use of the frequency is enabled because no guard band

between segments is required.
The connected transmission technique is in operation for the first time in the
world.

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An example of connected transmission for three TS’s (TS1, TS2, and TS3)
is shown in Figure 4.6. Each TS signal is independently channel-coded.
After OFDM-frame adaptation, all segments symbol data are adapted for
OFDM-signal generation by single IFFT.

TS1 OFDM
Frame
IFFT-
TS2 OFDM Frame Input Guard
Adaptation IFFT interval
adaptation
Insertion

TS3 OFDM Frame

Adaptation

Figure 4.3.3: Example of connected transmission (three TS’s)

CP CP

(a) 1-segment format (b) 3-segment format

Figure 4.3.4: CP carrier in an ordinary transmission

The first carrier of the upper adjacent

segment is substituted for CP.

Figure 4.3.5: CP carrier in connected transmission

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Parameter restrictions in connected transmission

The same mode should be applied for all segments. Mode means an
identification of transmission mode based on the carrier spacing of OFDM
carriers.
The same guard interval length must be used for segments. Because all
OFDM symbols in connected transmission should be synchronised with
each other, modes having different symbol lengths cannot be mixed.

(8) Transmission capacities

The transmission capacities of the single-segment and the triple-segment are
shown in Table 1 and 2 respectively.
Table 4.3.1: Information bit rates for
the single-segment transmission (Segment BW=6/14MHz)

Information Rates (kbps)

Guard Guard
Carrier Convolutional Guard Guard
Interval Interval
Modulation Code Interval Interval
Ratio Ratio
Ratio 1/4 Ratio 1/8
1/16 1/32
1/2 280.85 312.06 330.42 340.43
DQPSK 2/3 374.47 416.08 440.56 453.91
3/4 421.28 468.09 495.63 510.65
QPSK 5/6 468.09 520.10 550.70 567.39
7/8 491.50 546.11 578.23 595.76
1/2 561.71 624.13 660.84 680.87
2/3 748.95 832.17 881.12 907.82
16QAM 3/4 842.57 936.19 991.26 1021.30
5/6 936.19 1040.21 1101.40 1134.78
7/8 983.00 1092.22 1156.47 1191.52
1/2 842.57 936.19 991.26 1021.30
2/3 1123.43 1248.26 1321.68 1361.74
64QAM 3/4 1263.86 1404.29 1486.90 1531.95
5/6 1404.29 1560.32 1652.11 1702.17
7/8 1474.50 1638.34 1734.71 1787.28

Table 4.3.2: Information bit rates for the triple-segment transmission* 20

Carrier Convolutional Information Rates (kbps)

20 In the case of the triple-segment transmission, information rate can be calculated by the combination of segment
information rates.

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Modulation Code Guard Guard Guard

Guard
Interval Interval Interval
Interval
Ratio ¼ Ratio Ratio
Ratio 1/8
1/16 1/32
½ 0.842 0.936 0.991 1.021
DQPSK 2/3 1.123 1.248 1.321 1.361
¾ 1.263 1.404 1.486 1.531
QPSK 5/6 1.404 1.560 1.652 1.702
7/8 1.474 1.638 1.734 1.787
½ 1.685 1.872 1.982 2.042
2/3 2.246 2.496 2.643 2.723
16QAM ¾ 2.527 2.808 2.973 3.063
5/6 2.808 3.120 3.304 3.404
7/8 2.949 3.276 3.469 3.574
½ 2.527 2.808 2.973 3.063
2/3 3.370 3.744 3.965 4.085
64QAM ¾ 3.791 4.212 4.460 4.595
5/6 4.212 4.680 4.956 5.106
7/8 4.423 4.915 5.204 5.361

4.3.3 Characteristics

4 More channels
Terrestrial TV broadcasting will be discontinued in July 2011. However, in
the case of radio, existing AM, FM, and SW analogue services are expected
to continue, thus digital radio is being positioned as an opportunity to
provide more channels.
(2) Consortium
At present, digital radio broadcasting is operated by a consortium where
corporations interested in digital radio broadcasting have participated. The
official name of the consortium is a corporate judicial body called the
Association for Promotion of Digital Broadcasting or the DRP (Digital
Radio Promotion) for short. The establishment of the consortium was
permitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The
DRP has two offices, in Tokyo and Osaka. The operation fund is provided
by the member companies. Members include NHK, radio stations, TV
stations, data broadcasting companies, trading companies, automakers and
other companies interested in digital radio in the private sector. Over 70
organizations and companies have joined the consortium throughout Japan.
The objectives of the DRP are as follows:

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• Implementation of experimental broadcasting for practical application

• Development of broadcasting services

• Research and study on trends in demand

• Promotion and spread of reception

(3) Experimental broadcasting for practical application

The DRP is the only corporate judicial body licensed. Its experimental
stations are located in Tokyo and Osaka. The broadcasting facilities are
owned and operated by the DRP.

4.3.4 Receivers

5 Receiver test centre

A receiver test centre has been installed in the DRP office to check the
operation of receivers and to support development efforts.
The major activities are as follows:

• To define and revise a specification for standard test streams, and print
and distribute its copies

• To make connection experiment items and connection manuals, and

distribute its copies

• To define a specification for transmission signals on experimental radio

waves

• To operate experimental radio waves and to publicize operation

schedules

(2) Trial receivers

At present, no receivers are sold in the commercial market.
Thus, different types of trial receivers were developed for the use of
experimental hearing.
Trial receivers include PC-card receivers that have an antenna on the top of
a PCMCIA card, portable receivers (1-segment only) for the DRP, and PDA
(Personal Digital Assistant) receivers where a digital radio adapter is
mounted.

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(3) Receivers expected

In addition to the above mentioned trial receiver types, the following types
of receivers can be expected:

• cell phone type receivers

• ordinary and smaller palmtop type receivers

• car stereo type receivers for mobiles, and so on

4.3.5 Overview of Services

Among the current services being broadcast, the following types of contents are
unique to digital radio broadcasting.
6 Multiple voice broadcasting
Listeners can choose a news item, foreign language course, cooking
program, etc., in addition to multiple-language concurrent broadcasting of
weather forecast and stories.

(2) 5.1 surround broadcasting

7 surround broadcast is being provided which includes still images and
textual information linked to its programs, for example, photos during
performances in a live concert.

(3) Broadcasting of simplified moving images

Actions of a DJ in a studio booth, music promotion images or so are being
broadcast linked to the programs.

(4) Download service experiment

With the interactive function of cell phones and PDAs, experiments are
being provided, including sales of tickets and CDs, and tallying up of
questionnaires. Such experiments also include download service of music
titles that were broadcast.

4.3.6 Outlook for the Future

At present, digital radio broadcast experiments for practical application are

underway through providing different contents of services and operation forms.
The following subjects must be handled successfully for the spread and
development of digital radio broadcasting:

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• To transfer the experimental broadcasting into actual broadcasting and to

expand service areas

• Early release of receivers in the commercial market

• Early start of services in major cities in Japan

• Nationwide deployment of digital radio broadcasting after 2011, when analogue

TV broadcasting comes to ends and frequency re-allotments are completed.

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4.4 HD Radio System

The HD Radio system was developed by United States based iBiquity Digital. HD
Radio was designed to offer digital radio services for regions where limited
spectrum prevents the allocation of new frequencies for digital broadcasting. The
HD Radio system allows broadcasters to simultaneously transmit both an
analogue and digital signal without the need for additional spectrum for the digital
signal. The HD Radio system takes advantage of under-utilised portions of the
spectrum on either side of the analogue carrier (as defined by the service
frequency allocation “mask”) and implements frequency re-use by including
digital carriers in quadrature to the existing analogue carrier. In either case, the
analogue signals are in close proximity to the digital signals and great care must
be taken to prevent any interference between them.

The HD Radio system is designed to work in hybrid mode (compatible analogue

and digital) as well as to migrate to an all-digital system once analogue radios
have been largely replaced in the future. Please refer to figures Figure 1, Figure 2,
Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5. According to iBiquity Digital, holder of the HD
Radio trademark, the “HD” in “HD Radio” does not stand for “High Definition”
or “Hybrid Digital”.

The HD Radio system offers a number of advantages for broadcasters, consumers

and regulators. The HD Radio system replicates the existing coverage patterns of
each radio station thereby retaining the existing economic value of the station.
Broadcasters can convert to digital broadcasts with a relatively modest investment
and retain the vast majority of their existing physical plant. In addition, the
introduction of the digital signal in the existing channel allows the broadcaster to
retain the station’s existing dial position. Because the system supports simulcast
of the analogue and digital signals, consumers are able to upgrade to digital over
an extended period, taking into account normal equipment replacement cycles.
Regulators benefit from this approach because there is no need for extra spectrum
allocations or licensing of new stations immediately.

The HD Radio system offers the following features:

• CD quality audio in the FM-band and FM quality audio in the AM band 21

• Digital coverage nearly equivalent to existing analogue coverage. In areas
where the digital signal is lost, the system automatically blends to the analogue
back-up signal to ensure coverage is never less than existing coverage.
• Advanced coding technologies and time diversity between the analogue
and digital signals ensure a robust signal

21
See the Report of the National Radio Systems Committees, DAB Subcommittee Evaluation of the
iBiquity Digital Corporation System Part 1 – FM IBOC, November 29, 2001 (“FM NRSC Report”) and
Part 2, AM IBOC, dated April 6, 2002 (“AM NRSC Report”).

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• The FM system has demonstrated significant robustness in the presence of

severe multi-path, and the AM system has demonstrated significant robustness in
the presence of impulse noise.
• The FM system offers options for introducing new data services ranging
from 1 to 300 kbps depending on the mode of operation.

According to iBiquity Digital, the HD Radio system has been authorized for
commercial launch in the United States, Mexico, Panama, and the Philippines and
tested in several other countries such as Romania, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China,
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, France, and
Ukraine. The system is currently in operation on more than 2200 stations
throughout the United States and is operational on approximately 75 stations in
other countries.

4.4.1 HD Radio Standards Activity

Both the AM and FM HD Radio systems have received international

endorsements as well as endorsements in the United States. The AM HD Radio
system is included in an ITU-R recommendation adopted in October, 2002 where
it is classified as the “IBOC DSB System”. The FM HD Radio system is included
in an ITU-R recommendation adopted May, 2003 where it is classified as “Digital
System C”. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) endorsed both the AM and FM HD Radio systems on October 10, 2002.22
Moreover, the National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC), an industry
standards-setting body sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), endorsed the FM HD
Radio system in a report dated November 29, 2001 23 and the AM HD Radio
system in a report dated April 6, 2002. 24 The NRSC endorsement was an
outgrowth of an extensive testing program of both the AM and FM HD Radio
systems.

The NRSC supervised independent testing of the HD Radio system in both the
laboratory and in the field under a comprehensive set of conditions. The tests
were designed to assess both the performance of the digital system as well as the
compatibility of the digital system with existing analogue operations in the AM
and FM bands. In the laboratory, the digital system was subjected to a range of
conditions associated with typical broadcasts in the AM and FM band. For

22
Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems And Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service, MM
Docket No. 99-325, First Report and Order (October 10, 2002).
23
DAB Subcommittee Evaluation of the iBiquity Digital Corporation IBOC System Part 1 – FM IBOC
dated November 29, 2001 (“NRSC FM Report”).
24
DAB Subcommittee Evaluation of the iBiquity Digital Corporation IBOC System Part 2 – AM IBOC
dated April 6, 2002 (“NRSC AM Report”).

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example, the FM system was tested in the presence of multiple forms of multipath
fading as well as numerous examples of co-channel and adjacent channel
interference. In the case of AM, the digital system was tested in the presence of
impulse noise in addition to the typical co-channel and adjacent channel
interference associated with the AM band.

Field tests were conducted using commercial AM and FM stations selected for
their characteristics in terms of interference from adjacent-channel stations as well
as to represent a variety of antenna and implementation configurations. For both
the laboratory and field tests, objective measurements were recorded and
considered in the evaluation process. In addition, thousands of audio samples
were produced and used to conduct an extensive subjective evaluation process.
General population listeners were asked to rate a variety of sound samples from
the laboratory and field tests to assess the real-world response to the introduction
of the HD Radio system. The test results demonstrated that the HD Radio system
consistently outperformed existing analogue AM and FM radio. Moreover, the
tests established that the introduction of the HD Radio system will not cause
harmful interference to existing analogue broadcasts in the vast majority of cases.
In those cases where new interference is expected to occur, it is expected that new
interference will be most common in peripheral areas outside the core coverage
areas of a station. The NRSC concluded that this minimal risk of additional
interference is more than outweighed by the improved audio quality and
performance that the HD Radio system repeatedly demonstrated throughout the
test program. 25

4.4.1 HD Radio AM and FM Receivers

The conversion of stations to HD Radio broadcasts has been accompanied by the

introduction of HD Radio receivers for every major receiver segment. As of
December 31, 2013, more than 17.5 million HD Radio receivers were in the
commercial market. HD Radio technology is available as original equipment and
aftermarket automobile receivers as well as in home AVR, tabletop and portable
receivers. Virtually all automobile manufacturers serving the North American
market offer HD Radio receivers in their vehicles as standard equipment.
Aftermarket HD Radio receivers can be purchased online and at thousands of
traditional retailers. iBiquity anticipates that approximately 40% of all new
passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2014 will include HD Radio receivers.

HD Radio receivers are in use, and additional receivers are being sold routinely in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Alpine, Clarion, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer, and
Sony sell aftermarket automobile receivers with HD Radio technology in Canada.
Denon, Onkyo and Yamaha offer HD Radio home AVR products. The following
automotive brands offer HD Radio receivers in their cars sold in North America:

25
See NRSC FM Report at 9; NRSC AM Report at 8.

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Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC,
Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-
Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Scion, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota,
Volkswagen, and Volvo. In addition, Chrysler, Honda, and Kia expected to have
vehicles with HD Radio receivers available for the North American market from
2014.

These receiver sales reflect the trend by manufacturers to standardise products for
global or regional rather than national markets. Consumers will have the benefit
of lower prices and a larger selection of HD Radio receivers by leveraging the
commercial success of HD Radio technology in other North American markets.

HD Radio receivers are inherently simpler and lower cost than new band receivers
since much of the circuitry required for the digital signals is common to that used
to process the existing analogue signal. As a result, HD Radio receivers are
typically cost no more than 20% more than existing analogue receivers.

HD Radio receivers are affordable with many models priced from $39.99 to
$129.99. Figure 1 shows the range of radio products available including portable
radios, personal navigations devices, home receivers, and car receivers.

Figure 1 - Typical HD Radio receivers

The technology is now implemented in fourth generation HD Radio

semiconductors featuring lower power consumption and lower costs.

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4.4.2 HD Radio System Technical Design Overview

The HD Radio system is designed to permit a smooth evolution from current

analogue Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM) radio to
a fully digital In-Band On-Channel (IBOC) system. This system can deliver
digital audio and data services to mobile, portable, and fixed receivers from
terrestrial transmitters in the existing Medium Frequency (MF) and Very High
Frequency (VHF) radio bands. The system is designed to allow broadcasters to
continue to transmit analogue AM and FM simultaneously with new, higher-
quality and more robust digital signals, allowing broadcasters and their listeners to
convert from analogue to digital radio while maintaining each station’s current
frequency allocation.

The HD Radio system allows a broadcast station to offer multiple services. A

service can be thought of as a logical grouping of application data identified by
the HD Radio system. Services are grouped into one of two categories:
1. Core Services:
a. Main Programme Service (both Audio and Data (Programme Info))
b. Supplemental Programme Service (Multicast Audio and Data (Programme
Info))
c. Station Information Service (SIS)
2. Advanced Application Services (AAS)

The flow of service content through the HD Radio broadcast system is as follows:
1. Service content enters the HD Radio broadcast system via Service Interfaces;
2. Content is assembled for transport using a specific protocol;
3. It is routed over logical channels via the Channel Multiplex;
4. And finally it is waveform modulated via the Waveform / Transmission
System for over-the-air transmission.

The system employs audio encoding to reduce the sampled audio signal bit rate
and baseband signal processing and forward error correction to increase the
robustness of the signal in the transmission channel. This allows a high quality
audio signal plus ancillary data to be transmitted in adjacent frequency partitions
and at low levels that do not interfere with the existing analogue signals.

4.4.3 Core Services

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(1) Main Programme Service (MPS)

The Main Programme Service is a direct extension of traditional analogue radio.

MPS allows the transmission of existing analogue radio-programming in both
analogue and digital formats. This allows for a smooth transition from analogue to
digital radio. Radio receivers that are not HD Radio enabled can continue to
receive the traditional analogue radio signal, while HD Radio receivers can
receive both digital and analogue signals via the same frequency band. In addition
to digital audio, MPS includes digital data related to the audio programming. This
is also referred to as Programme Information (Programme Info).
(2) Supplemental Programme Service (SPS)

The Supplemental Programme Service provides capacity for additional audio

programmes in a multicast transmission. This service enables radio stations to
send up to 8 unique audio programmes. Radio receivers that are not HD Radio
enabled can continue to receive the traditional analogue radio signal, while HD
Radio receivers can receive the new SPS content. In addition to digital audio, SPS
includes digital data related to the audio programming. This is also referred to as
Programme Information (Programme Info).
(3) Station Information Service (SIS)

The Station Information Service provides the necessary radio station control and
identification information, such as station call sign identification, time and
location reference information. SIS can be considered a built-in service that is
readily available on all HD Radio stations. SIS is a required HD Radio service
and is provided dedicated bandwidth.

(4) Advanced Application Services (AAS)

AAS is a complete framework in which new applications may be built. In

addition to allowing multiple data applications to share the Waveform /
Transmission medium, AAS provides a common transport mechanism as well as a
unified Application Programming Interface (API). On the transmission side,
broadcasters utilise the common AAS interface to insert service(s) into their
signal; receiver manufacturers utilize the AAS ‘toolkit’ to efficiently access these
new services for the end-user. AAS includes separate audio programming such as
reading services and other secondary aural and data services.

(5) Waveforms and Spectra

The HD Radio system provides a flexible means of transitioning to a digital

broadcast system by providing three new waveform types: Hybrid, Extended

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Hybrid, and All Digital. The Hybrid and Extended Hybrid types retain the analog
FM signal, while the All Digital type does not.

All three waveforms operate well below the allocated spectral emissions mask as
currently defined by the United States Federal Communications Commission.
The digital signal is modulated using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
(OFDM). OFDM is a parallel modulation scheme in which the data stream
modulates a large number of orthogonal subcarriers, which are transmitted
simultaneously. OFDM is inherently flexible, readily allowing the mapping of
logical channels to different groups of subcarriers.

FM Hybrid Waveform

The digital signal is transmitted in sidebands on either side of the analogue FM

signal in the Hybrid waveform. The power level of each sideband is
approximately 23 dB below the total power in the analogue FM signal for a
combined digital power level -20dBc. Additionally, the digital power may
operate at elevated levels up to -10dBc for increased digital coverage. The
analogue signal may be monophonic or stereo, and may include subsidiary
communications authorisation (SCA) channels. This service option provides up
to 96kbps of capacity. See Figure 2 for more details.

Broadcasters also have the option to transmit the digital carriers at asymmetric
power levels. With asymmetric sidebands, the broadcaster is able to increase the
power level of the digital sideband farthest away from any first adjacent station,
thereby minimizing any interference. As has been demonstrated in tests and real-
world experience in the United States, this allows stations to minimize the risk of
adjacent-channel interference while maximizing digital coverage

Lower Digital Upper Digital

Sidebands Sidebands

Primary Primary
Main Ext Ext Main
Analog
10 partitions
1,2 or 4
parti ti ons
Host Signal 1,2 or 4
parti ti ons 10 partitions
(Stereo or Mono)

0 Hz 102kHz 198kHz
76 191
Subcarriers Subcarriers

Figure 4.4.2 - Hybrid spectrum allotment of FM HD Radio system; Extended

Hybrid operation involves use of up to four Extended Partitions in addition to the
10 Main Partitions

FM Extended Hybrid Waveform

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In the Extended Hybrid waveform, the bandwidth of the Hybrid sidebands can be
extended toward the analogue FM signal to increase digital capacity. This
additional spectrum, allocated to the inner edge of each primary sideband, is
termed the primary extended sideband. This service option provides up to
144kbps of capacity. See Figure 2 for more details.

FM Single Sideband Waveform

The Hybrid waveform may also be transmitted in a single-sideband configuration.

This transmission option may be selected for broadcast markets where radio
stations are spaced by 100kHz or closer. This service option provides up to
144kbps of capacity. See Figure 3 for more details.

Lower Digital Upper Digital

Sidebands Sidebands

Primary
Ext Main
Analog
Host Signal 1,2 or 4
parti ti ons 10 partitions
(Stereo or Mono)

0 Hz 102kHz 198kHz
76 191
Subcarriers Subcarriers
Figure 4.4.3 - Single Sideband spectrum allotment for FM hybrid HD Radio
system

FM All Digital Waveform

The greatest system enhancements are realised with the All Digital waveform, in
which the analogue signal is removed and the bandwidth of the primary digital
sidebands is fully extended as in the Extended Hybrid waveform. In addition, this
waveform allows lower-power digital secondary sidebands to be transmitted in
the spectrum vacated by the analogue FM signal. Approximately 300 kbps of
capacity is available in All Digital mode. See Figure 4 for more details.

The All Digital waveform may also be transmitted in a single-sideband

configuration. This transmission option may be selected for broadcast markets
where radio stations are spaced 100kHz or closer. This service option provides up
to 144kbps of capacity.

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Lower Digital Upper Digital

Sidebands Sidebands

Primary Secondary Secondary Primary

Main Ext Ext Main

Protected

Protected
Main Main
1,2 or 4 1,2 or 4
10 partitions 10 partitions
parti ti ons carriers
Ext Ext parti ti ons

carriers
4 4
10 partitions 10 partitions
12

12
parti ti ons parti ti ons

76 Subcarriers

76 Subcarriers
0 Hz 198kHz
191 191
Subcarriers Subcarriers

Figure 4.4.4 - All Digital spectrum allotment of FM HD Radio system

AM Hybrid
Unlike the FM HD Radio system, the AM system contains no extended hybrid
capacity. The basic hybrid broadcast mode enables transmission of up to 36kbps
audio service. The transmission utilises 3 bands of digital carriers at different
power levels, which minimize station-to-station interference.
The allocation scheme is represented in Figure 5 for more details.

Lower Digital Upper Digital

Sidebands Sidebands
Primary Secondary Tertiary Tertiary Secondary Primary

Analog
Host Signal
P1 (Mono) P1
Channel P3 P3 Channel
Channel Channel
P3 Channel

0 Hz 4906 Hz 9230 Hz 14717 Hz

#0 #27 #53 #81

Figure 2 - Hybrid AM HD Radio system spectrum allotment

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AM Core-Only Waveform
The core-only AM transmit mode removes the digital carriers under the analogue
host. This operational service eliminates any potential interference to the analogue
transmission, but reduces the digital throughput to 20kbps. Stereo broadcast can
be achieved by utilising the parametric stereo functions in the HDC codec. The
allocation scheme is represented in Figure 6.

Lower Digital Upper Digital

Sidebands Sidebands
Primary Primary

Analog
P1 Host Signal P1
Channel (Mono) Channel

0 Hz 9230 Hz 14717 Hz
#0 #53 #81

Figure 4.4.6 - AM HD Radio Core-Only spectrum allotment

AM All Digital Waveform

The HD Radio system allows for transition to a full digital broadcast. The
broadcast modes can be a full digital capacity service (40kbps) with all primary,
secondary and tertiary sidebands, or a reduced capacity service (20kbps) with
only primary sidebands. The allocation scheme for full capacity service is
provided in Figure 7.

Lower Digital Analog

Upper Digital
Sidebands Carrier Sidebands
Tertiary Primary Primary Secondary

P1 P1
P3 Channel Channel P3
Channel Channel

Synchronization
Carriers 0 Hz 4905.5Hz 9447.7 Hz
#0 #27 #52

Figure 4.4.7 – All Digital AM HD Radio system spectrum allotment

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4.4.5. HD Radio Subsystems

A basic block diagram representation of the system is shown in Figure 8. It
represents the HD Radio digital radio system as three major subsystems.
• Audio source coding and compression
• Transport and Service Multiplex
• IBOC OFDM
The HD Radio system model resembles the layered model in ISO 7498.

Analog Audio (Hybrid modes only)

Audio
Delay
Transport and Service IBOC OFDM
Audio Subsystem Multiplex Subsystem Subsystem
Main
Program Audio source
Service Coding and HD1 Transport Channel Coding
Audio compression

HD1 Program
Service Data (PSD) Transport
Modulation
Audio Subsystem
HD2
Audio source
Program
Coding and HD2 Transport
Service compression
Audio
Service
Multiplex Transmit
HD2 Program
Transport Amplifier
Service Data (PSD)

Advanced Application
Service Data (AAS) Transport

Station Information
Service Data (SIS) Transport

Figure 4.4.8 - Functional Block Diagram of HD Radio Transmission System

(1) Audio Source Coding and Compression

The Audio subsystem performs the source coding and compression of the
sampled digitised Main Programme Service (MPS) Audio programme material
and all Supplemental Programme Service (SPS) audio content. “Source coding
and compression” refers to the bit rate reduction methods, also known as data
compression, appropriate for application to the audio digital data stream. In
hybrid modes the MPS Audio is also analogue modulated directly onto the carrier
for reception by conventional analogue receivers. Several categories of data may

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also be transmitted on the digital signal including station identification, messages

related to the audio programme material, and general data services.

4.5 Transport and Service Multiplex

“Transport and service multiplex” refers to the means of dividing the digital data
stream in “packets” of information, the means of uniquely identifying each packet
or packet type (data or audio), and the appropriate methods of multiplexing audio
data stream packets and data stream packets into a single information stream. The
transport protocols have been developed specifically to support data and audio
transmission in the AM and FM radio bands. The HD Radio system transport is
modeled loosely on the ISO 7498 standard.
4.6

4.7 RF/Transmission System

“RF/Transmission” refers to channel coding and modulation. The channel coder

takes the multiplexed bit stream and applies coding and interleaving that can be
used by the receiver to reconstruct the data from the received signal, which
because of transmission impairments, may not accurately represent the
transmitted signal. The processed bit stream is then modulated onto the OFDM
subcarriers that are transformed to time domain pulses, concatenated, and up-
converted to the FM band.

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Transmitter

Channel Transmission
Encoding System

Audio

OFDM Signal
Generation
Interleaver
Scrambler
Application Transport

Transmission Format
Encoders and Multiplex

Data

OFDM Subcarrier Mapping

Transfer
Frames
Modem

Receiver

OFDM Demodulator

Audio
Deinterleaver
Presentation

Transport
Application
and
Decoders
Demultiplex Channel Decoder
Data

Descrambler
Transfer
Frames
Modem

Figure 4.4.9 - Block diagram of HD Radio transmission & reception multiplexing

4.4.6. Receiver Systems

A functional block diagram of an HD Radio FM receiver is presented in Figure 8.
The signal is received by the antenna, passed through an RF front end, and mixed
to an intermediate frequency (“IF”), as in existing analogue receivers. Unlike
typical analogue receivers, however, the signal is then digitised at IF, and digitally
down-converted to produce in-phase and quadrature baseband components. The
hybrid signal is then separated into an analogue component and a digital
component. The analogue FM stereo signal is digitally demodulated and de-
multiplexed by the FM receiver to produce a sampled, stereo audio signal.

The baseband digital signal is first sent to the modem, where it is processed by the
First Adjacent Cancellation system to suppress interference from potential first-
adjacent analogue FM signals. The signal is then OFDM demodulated, and
passed to the FEC decoding and de-interleaving function. The resulting bit
stream is processed by the codec function to decompress the source-encoded
digital audio signal. This digital stereo audio signal is then passed to the blend
function.

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FM Audio
Tunable sa m p le d a na lo g ue FM FM Stereo
LO Stereo Blend
Det Aud io

X FM DSB
BPF A/D DDC Stereo
Isolation
RF Front End 10.7 MHz IF FM+DAB
Diversity
Delay

Audio
Decoder

FEC Decode
FAC QPSK/OFDM Deframe
Demodulator and
De-interleave

Figure 3 - FM hybrid IBOC receiver functional block diagram

4.4.8. Common System Features

HD Radio broadcasting provides many benefits that can help radio remain
competitive with other distribution platforms. Digital broadcasts provide listeners
with enhanced audio quality. Digital FM broadcasts offer CD-quality sound, and
digital AM provides stereo FM-quality sound. The digital system eliminates the
hiss, clicks and pops frequently associated with analogue broadcasts. Advanced
coding techniques virtually eliminate multipath interference for digital FM
broadcasts, which can be particularly important in dense urban areas. The system
also supports new audio and data services that cannot be offered using an
analogue broadcasting platform.

(1) Sound Quality

Sound quality of digital radio systems has improved dramatically in recent years
with progressively lower bitrates being shown in various applications as achieving
near CD quality. Rates well below 96 kbps are routinely utilised in digital radio
systems in operation in North America and meeting with wide customer
acceptance.

(2) Audio Frequency Response

It is difficult to evaluate the exact frequency response of a codec, because it will
change dynamically depending on the available bit rate and the difficulty of
encoding the instantaneous audio material. A quick example can be demonstrated
using a single-carrier frequency sweep on any codecs. Typically total frequency
response of 20 kHz is measured in such tests, even at 16 kbps. On the other hand,
encoding a rich stereo programme on the same codec at 16 kbps, may result in a
pure monophonic signal of less than 5 kHz. Consequently, the codec model has to

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be tailored to the desired frequency response and overall quality of the

programme content being broadcast.

(3) Multipath Tolerance

OFDM based systems are capable of handling multipath within a guard interval.
HD Radio system has also been shown to tolerate significant effects of multipath
in challenging propagation conditions.

(4) Information Services

All HD Radio broadcasters have the ability to offer “Programme Information”
such as the artist name, song title and station information. The system is able to
transmit this information for all digital channels, including multicast channels.
The Programme Information feature offers a richer experience than the analogue
radio broadcast data service (“RBDS”) due to greater capacity and more
flexibility in how the system displays information. Programme Information helps
broadcasters meet listener expectations for this information, which is routinely
available from satellite radio and Internet streaming.

The system’s multicasting feature allows digital FM broadcasters to introduce up

to eight new digital-only programmes that are unrelated to a station’s analogue
broadcast. Although multicasting is an optional feature, it is a popular option
among HD Radio broadcasters. Radio stations typically transmit 2 or 3 additional
audio programmes. These multicast channels are broadcast along with the digital
simulcast of the station’s existing analogue programming. The digital simulcast
channel is referred to as the HD1 channel. Multicast channels are referred to as
HD2/HD3/HD4 channels. Multicasting allows broadcasters to offer new choices
to consumers without the need for a new station or any significant capital expense.
Broadcasters use multicasting to offer a wide range of new formats and innovative
programming. Multicasting has been used to introduce ethnic language and
cultural programming that would not be economically viable as a main channel
broadcast. Other broadcasters have used multicasting to create extensions of their
existing programming, to offer new public affairs programming, to introduce new
music formats and to experiment with new programming targeting local audiences.

“Artist Experience” allows broadcasters to transmit static visual images that are
displayed on the screen of the receiver. These images can include the album art
associated with the song being broadcast, related images of the band or artist,
station logos and commercial images.

iTunes Tagging allows broadcasters to include a special code along with their
music programming. Listeners can press a “Tag” button on their receiver to
download the code. When the listener synchronizes an iPhone or iPod with the
radio, a screen automatically offers the option to purchase the songs “Tagged” on
the radio. “Bookmarking” allows listeners to generate a list of songs but does not
include the automatic ability to purchase.

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The HD Radio system also allows broadcasters to offer new data services
unrelated to the audio broadcast. Some stations broadcast news, sports, weather,
and other information that can be accessed by touching a button on the screen of
the radio. The HD Radio system can be used to broadcast traffic updates and new
map information for car navigation systems faster than Radio Broadcast Data
System (RBDS) or satellite based systems and without incurring any charges for
use of cellular networks. The point-to-multipoint architecture of FM radio makes
it particularly suited to these types of data services.

The HD Radio system provides capability to transmit public service messages and
notifications through the Emergency Alert service. This public service broadcast
may be integrated into existing warning and messaging systems. The digital
information conveyed in the alert service may be used to trigger or “wake-up”
receivers, provide audible messages in different languages, and display important
text information to the consumer.

4.4.8. Infrastructure Requirements

Figure 11 highlights the basic infrastructure for broadcasting HD Radio

technology. Radio stations require 3 main digital processing components to
implement HD Radio functionality:

(1) Exciter Engine – digital modulation component to generate the OFDM

waveform
(2) Exporter – manages the audio processing for HD1 and multicast
programmes
(3) Importer – manages data feeds and capacity configurations for advanced
data features such as traffic services and programme images

Studio automation equipment is recommended to provide full content

synchronisation of programme text (Programme Info) and album images. It is
desirable to have content managed in a database or other programme catalogue.

Studio-Transmitter-Link (STL) equipment is also necessary to relay formatted

digital packets from the studio to the transmitter site.

Radio stations should also have reliable IP networks. Much of the content is
digital audio or data from internal or external sources. Reliability of data feeds
and latency of content distribution must be managed by experienced IP engineers
to ensure highest quality of service.

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Studio Transmitter Site

Content Providers
RF Output to
Transmitter
Service Data

Importer

SPS Analog Exciter

AES Audio SPS I2E Link Data
PSD

MPS GPS
Automation System PSD
Exporter
MPS AES Audio GPS
Exciter Engine (Exgine)

E2X Delayed
Delayed
Link Analog E2X
Analog MPS Data MPS Link
Data

E2X Link Data

STL Transmitter STL Receiver
Delayed
Analog MPS

Figure 4.4.11 - HD Radio Infrastructure

Combining the digital and analogue signals can be achieved with a variety of
methods. For AM hybrid broadcast, the analogue and digital signals are
combined in the HD Radio exciter before feeding the transmitter.

For FM hybrid broadcast, the analogue and digital signals are combined through
separate RF paths, separate antenna paths, or a common path. A summary of the
different methodologies for combining FM hybrid signals is provided in Figure 11.
Each method of operation has different cost and power considerations.

(1) Low-level combined

Also known as Common Amplification, low-level combining involves combining
the analogue and digital signals prior to RF amplification stage. This solution
involves only 1 transmit amplifier, but requires appropriate headroom

(2) High-level combined

This solution allows radio stations to maintain existing amplifier for analogue and
use lower-powered amplifier for the digital. Typically, a 10dB combiner is used.
However, the analogue transmitter must operate at higher power level to account
for loss. This may result in increased operating costs at the radio station.

(3) Separate dual-antennas

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Alternatively, radio stations may operate separate antennas for the analogue and
digital transmission. This configuration results in signal combining in free space.
Care must be taken to manage the antenna spacing and orientation in order to
maximize digital coverage and reduce pattern nulls with respect to the analogue
coverage. Generally, separate antennas result in lowest operational cost to the
radio station.

Figure 4.4.12 - HD Radio system FM hybrid combining methods

4.4.9. Deployment Status

Status of Rollout of HD Radio Technology in the U.S.

The US Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) authorized US

broadcasters to commence HD Radio broadcasts in 2002. Since that time, more
than 2,200 AM and FM stations have adopted HD Radio technology throughout
the United States. There are HD Radio stations operating in every state, the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Over 500 stations in the United States
support Artist Experience on over 900 digital channels. US broadcasters have
introduced more than 1,475 multicast channels resulting in more than 2,675
digital streams in use today. The multicasting feature has resulted in a surge of
creativity among FM broadcasters seeking to reach listeners with new formats.
Some broadcasters have used multicasting to create extensions to existing formats.
Others have created hyper niche formats or unique market specific formats that
might not be commercially feasible on the full FM signal. Many noncommercial
stations have used multicasting to offer new public affairs programming.

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Some statistics:

2,232 Stations have been converted

274 Measured Markets
198 Top 200 Measured Markets
50 States Served (+ DC & PR)
Population Served: 282 Million (90% US 6+)

1,469 Multicasts
1,168HD2 Channels
269 HD3 Channels
32 HD4 Channels
Population Served: 257 M

HD Radio Rollout in Mexico

Mexico authorized the introduction of HD Radio technology for the AM and FM

bands in 2011. Since stations began converting to digital operation in 2012, 38
AM and FM stations have been equipped with HD Radio broadcast equipment,
including 13 stations in Mexico City. These stations reach some 32 million
people nationwide – more than 25% of the Mexican population. As has been the
case in the United States, Mexican broadcasters are experimenting with the new
services the HD Radio system can support. There are over 25 new multicasting
channels in operation delivering subscription-free digital music and infotainment
channels to the Mexican public.

Automakers continue to expand the number of vehicles with built-in HD Radio

receivers to Mexico, including Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Infiniti,
Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Ram and Toyota.
HD Radio aftermarket and home products are also available from multiple brands
including Alpine, Kenwood, Insignia, Pioneer and Sony. Major Mexican retailers
such as Best Buy, Coppel, Elektra, FAMSA, Liverpool, Sears and Woolworth
carry diverse models.

Some statistics:

38 Stations Converted
24 Cities
9 Top 20 Cities
Population Served: 32.1 Million (27% of population in Mexico)

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Global deployments of HD radio [Source: According to iBiquity Digital]

 Philippines – The Philippines National Telecommunications Commission

finalised its rules for FM digital radio operations on November 11, 2007. RMN
Broadcast led the first HD Radio station conversion in Philippines and 15 HD
Radio stations converted to HD Radio broadcasting including ABSCBN, FEBC,
Eagle, IFM and WT Wild FM currently being expanded coverage with HD Radio
infrastructure and more Broadcasters are converting like RJ, Big Radio and Yes
FM to support the nationwide HD Radio coverage.

 Thailand – In March 2006, an HD Radio system was installed for a public

radio network currently 3 HD Radio stations in Bangkok servicing public
targeting mass transit commuters in Bangkok with HD Radio based Traffic and
Data information systems.

 Vietnam - Voice of Vietnam (VOV) commenced AM and FM HD Radio

trial transmissions in Hanoi in June, 2008 including multicasting, in anticipation
of making HD Radio technology a standard. In February, 2009, a joint trial with
VOV and the Asia Pacific Broadcast Union (ABU) took place in Hanoi. Trial
operations continue in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The HD Radio
based Data and Traffic was evaluated by VoV.

 Bangladesh – On January 1 2012, Dhaka FM 90.4 became the first station

in the country to commence HD Radio broadcasts.

 China – iBiquity conducted a test of HD Radio technology with a test

station in China during February 2008 in Beijing. In 2011, iBiquity and Digital
Wave (a Chinese technology company) formed a joint venture called HuaSheng
Technologies LLC to pursue adoption of a customised HuaSheng system as the
digital radio standard in China.

 Canada – The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) began HD

Radio testing in September 2006, focusing on transmissions from Toronto and
Peterborough, Ontario. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) has since revised its policy on digital radio to allow HD
Radio operations pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 2006-160. iBiquity is
seeing continued growth in Canada with the successful launch of Canadian
Multicultural Radio (CMR) 101.3 FM in Toronto and widespread availability of
HD Radio receivers.

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 Brazil – Since the first HD Radio station went on air in September, 2005,
about 30 stations in Brazil have installed the technology covering an area of 30
million people. Brazil’s Ministry of Communications is currently evaluating
formal authorisation of digital radio operations in the country.
 Dominican Republic – Raíces FM initiated the first FM HD Radio
operations in the country in late 2008. Two more stations have since begun
regular digital broadcasts. INDOTEL, the national spectrum regulator, has
announced that any station can use HD Radio technology on a provisional basis,
and plans to announce an official national standard in the near future.
 Trinidad and Tobago – Star 94.7 FM and Guardian Media are
broadcasting HD Radio signals commercially in Port-of-Spain.
 Panama – HD Radio on-air testing/demonstrations started in late 2008
and Panama’s President signed a bill into law on 12 May 2009 making the HD
Radio system the official (and only) digital radio standard in that country.
Antena8 100.1 in Panama City was the first commercial digital station in the
country, and two more stations have since joined them on the air.
 Argentina – AM HD Radio technology was tested in 2004 with initial
trials in Buenos Aires. Further testing of the technology was conducted in early
2007.
 Colombia – Caracol Radio conducted tests of FM HD Radio technology
in 2008-09 in Bogota.
 Bosnia – Trial and tests of HD Radio technology began in Sarajevo in
March 2007.
 Czech Republic – Initial testing of the HD Radio system commenced in
Prague in February 2007.
 Germany – Radio Regenbogen began HD Radio operations on 102.8
MHz in Heidelberg on December 3, 2007 pursuant to government testing
authority and operated through 2008. Extensive reports were submitted to the
German regulatory agency for further consideration.
 Poland – An HD Radio trial began in Warsaw in 2006 in order to
demonstrate the technology to local radio stations.
 Switzerland – VHF testing sponsored by Radio Sunshine and Ruoss AG
began in Lucerne in April 2006 and operated through 2011.
 Ukraine – The first FM HD Radio broadcasts in Kiev went on the air in
October 2006 on two FM stations operated by the First Ukrainian Radio Group.
 Romania – An on-air HD Radio Technology demonstration with
multicast was held in Baia Mare, Romania on 23-24 October 2008 featuring
broadcasters and regulators, on an FM station owned by 2M Prima Telecom. In
June 2010, Radio Guerrilla 94.8 in Bucharest launched HD Radio Technology. In
January 2012, Rock FM 100.6 in Bucharest began broadcasting four digital
programs. Bucharest FM 100.6 and Craiova FM 98.0: HD1 Rock FM, HD2 Kiss
FM , HD3 One FM, HD4 Magic FM.

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4.5. Digital Radio, Smart radio and Hybrid radio

The following short chapter is based on the WorldDAB+ workshop titled
“Moving Forward with DAB+” held in Kuala Lumpur on 29th February 2016. The
author presents his views on digital radio, smart radio and hybrid radio,
augmented by the presentations and discussions he had with digital radio experts
such as Mr Simon Fell, Director of Technology & Innovation, EBU, Dr Graham
Dixon, Head of Radio EBU, Mr. Lindsay Cornell, Technical Committee Chair
WorldDAB & Principal Systems Architect BBC(UK) and experts from
WorldDAB. Also referred to are related documents including R138 [1] & the
web document, “Digital Radio Toolkit: Key Factors in the Deployment of Digital
Radio”, a report published on 19 December 2014 by EBU [2].

4.5.1 Digital Radio in APAC and beyond

In every region of the world the digital radio take up is not on a par with other
media such as television and other Information & Communication Technologies
(ICTs). Analogue radio broadcasting is the dominant form of radio broadcasting
especially for Free-to-Air (FTA) operations. There are number of terrestrial
digital radio transmission technologies available; DAB/DAB+,
DRM/DRM30/DRM+ and ISDB-Tsb. Digital radio broadcasting started around
middle of 1990s. However, over two decades digital distribution of radio content
has been slow to emerge in the radio broadcasting industry. With a slow take up
of digital television, especially in Asia-Pacific region, other digital delivery
services and technologies, such as the Internet, mobile devices/services and
television have gained market acceptance while, for radio broadcasting analogue
has remained the most cost-effective and primary distribution mechanism for
terrestrial broadcasting.

4.5.2.Technology Position in APAC

In Asia-Pacific, ABU holds the position of technology neutrality. What does
technology neutrality mean to ABU family? It is the principle that the ABU
leaves the choice to its members to select the digital radio standard they want.
However, in the European region, the EBU, through its R138 gives the preference
to DAB/DAB+. As per the 3rd page of the R138 document, it recommends that
immediate deployment of digital radio to be done using DAB transmission as
defined in ETSI EN 300 401 with DAB+ services as defined in ETSI TS 102 563
for digital radio broadcasting in VHF Band III. It also recommends the use of
DRM as defined in ETSI ES 201 980 for digital radio broadcasting in the
frequency bands currently used for analogue radio broadcasting, when DAB
coverage is not possible [ R138, p3].
The project Digital Radio Toolkit built on the EBU’s Recommendation on Digital
Radio Distribution in Europe (EBU R 138), which primarily suggested the
deployment of DAB+ services and, only if DAB coverage is not possible, the use
of DRM as a broadcasting alternative. As a further step, the Digital Radio Toolkit
report offers guidelines on how to launch digital terrestrial radio, based on the
experiences at the three countries leading this process in Europe: Norway,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The report Digital Radio Toolkit proposes

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good practices for introducing digital radio, though one needs to assess the local
context in their respective country. It also describes 30 key success factors to
positive acceptance of digital radio by addressing the main digitisation issues.
For examples of each of those success factors, please read the report by accessing
it at [2].
As presented by ABU in various recent fora, national contexts are significant in
the radio market. General social and economic conditions such as each country’s
wealth, radio listening pattern or its citizens’ ICT awareness, affect the uptake of
digital radio. Other specific issues play an important role, such as the level and
nature of competition, the relative strength of public service media organisations,
the co-existence and share of national, regional or local networks and stations, the
size of the advertising market, or policies and regulations.

4.5.3. Key success factors for radio digitisation

Research and a study, conducted by Media Intelligence Service of EBU, as
commissioned by the EBU’s Radio Unit, examined the key success factors for
radio digitisation. Findings of the research, which was carried out with the
collaboration of various radio industry stakeholders, were published in the report
entitled the ‘Digital Radio Toolkit’ [2].
There are eight key elements for the digitisation of radio, as per the report; viz.
institutional structure, policy and regulation, content and offer, technology,
switchover process, public communications, consumer electronics and the car
industry.
Terrestrial radio is the only radio which is distributed universally and free at the
point of consumption. At the same time, it is also the only platform that
guarantees the delivery of public service content and its associated democratic
values. In its current analogue form (mainly and dominantly FM), there seems to
be no more room for development in most European countries and in a number of
countries in the Asia-Pacific region and rest of the world. It is required that WBU
does what is possible within its power to guarantee the future of broadcasting (for
both radio and television).
The report summarises five requirements for digital radio to succeed. They are
coverage, cost, content, collaboration and communication. At the end of the
digitalisation process, digital radio coverage must be at least the same as that of
analogue radio, including coverage along major roads. Listeners will not accept
losing coverage which existed with analogue services. The content needs to be
strong, with clear added value when comparing the digital and analogue portfolio
of services. This means not only more services, but also more diversity, targeting
unattended audiences. The launch of digital radio has associated costs, mainly
distribution costs and production costs for new content. Carefully planning and
building economies of scale will help broadcasters deal with these additional costs.
Returns are not immediate. If the process is managed successfully, these costs are
outweighed by long-term benefits. Led by broadcasters, all the stakeholders must
work together in the technological and communications sectors. Their
involvement may vary according to the stage of the process but all of them are
necessary. This relationship must be built on trust and confidence. Public

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communication is essential to make citizens aware of the new platform and its
associated services. It is also a central tool in involving the related industries. The
message must be consistent and avoid confusion in the market.
The above five requirements lead to a commitment from all stakeholders. This
commitment clearly shows the goals and ambitions of the industry and sends the
strongest possible signal, helping to generate momentum among listeners. For
them, digital radio represents an expanded offer of services, not just limited to
traditional programming but as a driver of other audio innovations in broadcasting
and on IP platforms. In the television industry, we have observed this in Europe as
well as in the APAC region. In the Freeview model broadcasters form a
consortium to build a common digital terrestrial and satellite delivery platform.
Freeview especially promised an over the air (OTA) as a free-to-air (FTA) service.
The competition will be on content rather than the technology of the delivery
platform.

It is time for the industry now that broadcasters, especially public and private
broadcasters, to compete on content but cooperate in technology. It is essential to
find the right regulatory incentives to foster the involvement of broadcasters. A
balance is needed between an attractive content proposition and its associated
costs. Hybrid radio brings together the efficiency and sophistication of
broadcasting. In the switchover process, stakeholders must reduce uncertainty
about the future by setting guidelines Raising awareness among the public and
persuading them to switch to digital radio are key communication goals. Working
with manufacturers, importers and retailers fosters their involvement and the take-
up of digital radio. In-road safety and road information provided by digital radio
is added value for the car industry.

4.5.4. The key successes factors that are described in the report are:

1. Involve all stakeholders

2. Set up an industry body
3. Send a unified message to the authorities
4. Provide regulatory incentives
5. Rethink your licensing system
6. Implement correct regulation
7. Add value to your offer
8. Find unattended audiences
9. Rely on familiar and well positioned brands
10. Exploit economies of scale
11. Design a product strategy, not a platform strategy
12. Drive people to digital listenership
13. Ensure good coverage
14. Reduce transmission costs
15. Extend collaboration to all technical platforms

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16. Make the case for local radio

17. Be flexible with the quality
18. Use digital technologies in a digital way
19. Plan the process
20. Fix a clear calendar
21. Set realistic criteria for the switch-off
22. Communicate a single, clear and accurate message
23. Plan promotion
24. Target the related industries
25. Make affordable devices available on the market
26. Offer future-proof devices
27. Ensure a good buying experience
28. Target the car industry early
29. Attend to the aftermarket
30. Ensure a seamless in-car radio experience

References
1. R 138, DIGITAL RADIO DISTRIBUTION IN EUROPE, EBU, Geneva,
February 2013.
2. EBU-MIS Digital Radio Tool kit, EBU, Geneva, December 2014

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4.8 Issues related to Terrestrial Systems

4.8.1 Spectrum Availability

Government policies on frequency management and spectrum pricing affect all

radio broadcasting development. In some countries the radio spectrum is looked
upon as a means of raising revenue.
Administrations in different countries operate different policies, but there are
common threads. Whether frequencies are allocated through auctions or by other
means, spectrum is undeniably a scarce resource and especially so in the bands
that are most useful for digital audio broadcasting (including the existing
shortwave bands, existing AM and FM bands, as well as the upper VHF and L-
Bands).
In many countries administrations have allocated spectrum for digital
broadcasting, both radio and TV.
The DRM system is designed to work within the existing band and channel
structure for all the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. As such, its use of the
spectrum conforms to the Geneva Treaty of 1975 for ITU-R Regions 1 and 3, the
long wave and medium wave channels have a 9 kHz bandwidth, or multiples
thereof, depending on the channel assignment; the Rio Treaty of 1981 for Region
2 medium wave specifies a 10 kHz bandwidth; and the shortwave channel
bandwidth is 10 kHz for all the HF broadcasting bands. Thus, no new spectrum is
required. Furthermore, based upon ITU-R decisions during 2003, DRM signals
can be used operationally in these bands, with the existing channel bandwidths,
interspersed with the analogue broadcasts. That is, there are no specially allocated
segments of bands for digital transmissions. Ongoing testing has verified the
feasibility of this approach.
In the US, the government has approved HD Radio as a way to alleviate the need
for new spectrum to implement terrestrial digital radio.
The constraints and uncertainties that cloud the issue of frequency allocations for
new digital terrestrial services in the VHF and L-Bands are not such a problem for
AM digital developments. There is some prospect that the congestion now in the
AM bands could be reduced with digital broadcasting. Potentially, there is much
to be gained from digital broadcasting in the short-wave bands because current
analog systems require a number of simultaneous broadcasts to ensure reliable
reception under changing ionospheric conditions.

Case Study: Allocations in Region 1

In the UK, where spectrum is being allocated for seven Eureka 147 DAB
multiplexes, the granting of license has been in VHF Band III, which is very
suitable for terrestrial DAB (T-DAB) transmissions. Across Europe, both VHF
and L-Band frequencies will be used for T-DAB services. At a planning meeting
held set up by the CEPT (European Conference of Postal and

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Telecommunications Administrations and held in Wiesbaden) in 1995, frequency

blocks in three bands were considered:

• VHF Band I (47 – 68 MHz)

• VHF Band III (174-240 MHz)

• L-Band (1452 – 1467.5 MHz)

The Wiesbaden plan made allotments for digital audio broadcasting in VHF
channels 11 and 12 and in the L-Band, and considered the implications of
protecting non-DAB services within the planning area. These include airborne
military services and television services in the VHF bands as well as fixed and
aeronautical telemetry in the L-Band.
Overall, there were sufficient allotments made in the Wiesbaden plan for the
initial needs of DAB, but looking ahead, additional frequency allocations will be
needed in Europe. Most organisations planning to launch today and expand T-
DAB services favour VHF frequencies.
The position on T-DAB frequencies in other parts of the world is similarly
complicated and underlines the point that frequency allocation is an outstanding
issue that will remain high on the DAB agenda for some time to come.
At the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, the Regional
Radiocommunications Conference 2006 (RRC-06) took place from 15 May to 16
June 2006. The new agreement, GE06, includes the frequency plans for T-DAB
and DVB-T in Band III and for DVB-T in Bands IV/V for Region 1 (parts of
Region 1 to the west of meridian 170°E and to the north of parallel 40°S) and in
the Islamic Republic of Iran (see Figure 4.18 below).

Figure 4.8.1: RRC-06 planning area

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The table below shows the results of the RRC-06. The results are evaluated with
regard to the proportion of the assigned requirements relative to the submitted
ones.
Table 4.8.1: Assignments

Band III Bands IV/V

T-DAB DVB-T DVB-T
Total 8817 7411 56 533
Assigned 8379 6703 55 409
% Assigned 95.0% 90.4% 98.0%

The planned allotments and assignments for T-DAB in part of the planning area
centred around Europe are shown in Figure 4.19 below.

Figure 4.8.2: T-DAB coverages in Band III

The number of coverages can be estimated by analyzing the coverage maps taking
into consideration, when relevant, the overlapping areas between allotments or
assignment areas. The table below shows the estimated number of coverages
(distinguishing between nationwide coverage and partial coverage) for the CEPT
counties.
Table 4.8.2: Coverage

Estimated number of coverages

T-DAB in Band III (in CEPT)
Nationwide Partial
Average 2.4 1.7
Median* 3.0 1.0

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Max 5.0 9.0

*Median: 50 % of the countries have this number or more
The above table shows that in the majority of the European countries, within
CEPT, obtained 3 nationwide coverages for T-DAB and one additional partial
coverage.
An estimation of the channel usage in Band III for T-DAB is shown in Figure
4.20 below.
600

500
Number of Entries

400

300

200

100

0
5A
5B
5C
5D
6A
6B
6C
6D
7A
7B
7C
7D
8A
8B
8C
8D
9A
9B
9C
9D
10A
10B
10C
10D
11A
11B
11C
11D
12A
12B
12C
12D
Frequency Blocks
RPC4 RPC5

Figure 4.8.3: Estimation of the channel usage in Band III for T-DAB
(RPC4: suitable for mobile reception; RPC5: suitable for portable indoor
reception)
Figure 4.8.3 shows that T-DAB mobile reception (RPC4) represents the major
proportion of the T-DAB requirements and that channels 11 and 12 are the most
used for T-DAB.
The GE06 Agreement offers a great deal of flexibility for using a digital entry in
the plan for another application provided that the peak power density in any 4 kHz
is respected. Such flexibility can allow, for example, for using a DVB-T entry by
4 x T-DAB entries or by 4 x T-DMB entries and also can allow for
accommodating future developments of digital technology.
The end of the transition period for Band III has been fixed to 2015 (for some
non-European countries is 2020, see details in Figure 4.21). During that period
analogue television has to be protected. Around 25% of the T-DAB entries in the
new plan have to be coordinated with analogue television in neighbouring
countries before implementation. As a consequence, certain constraints (time
constraints, power reduction, particular antenna patterns, etc.) might be imposed
to those T-DAB requirements during the transition period. In addition, around
7% will have to coordinate with other digital requirements and around 2.5% with
other primary services (e.g., PMR - Private Mobile Radio).

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Figure 4.8.4: End of the transition period

In summary, the full potential of the new digital plans will not be available until
the analogue switch off.
In terms of propagation performance at L-Band using T-DAB, concern about the
efficiency of the 1.5 GHz Band has been largely removed as a result of extensive
technical evaluation and field measurements, mainly by Canada’s
Communications Research Centre (CRC). It was found that indoor reception at L-
Band is comparable to that achieved at VHF frequencies. The reason is that the
shorter wavelength at L-Band offsets the increased attenuation through walls at
the lower VHF frequencies.

4.8.2 The Implications of Simulcasting

Whilst the benefits of digital broadcasting and the opportunities offered by this
technology are clear to broadcasters, there is concern about the time and cost
implications of the transition from analogue to digital. Until the coverage from
digital broadcasts matches that from existing FM and AM services, it is
unrealistic to cut existing transmissions and disfranchise listeners. It could be
some years before the new digital services provide comparable coverage and a
receiver base is established. Only then can the analogue services be closed down.
The transition from analogue to digital is helped in many countries by cooperation
between public and private broadcasters, that jointly develop the necessary infra-
structure and create attractive new programmes, and suitable regulatory
arrangements. Examples of such cooperation exist in Canada, Sweden, the UK,
France, Italy, etc.

(1) HD Radio (IBOC)

IBOC transmission schemes are particularly well suited for ensuring a
smooth transition to digital services. Since they are designed for

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compatibility with the existing analog signals, there is little or no

disenfranchisement of listeners at the onset of service. New receiver costs
are minimised since much of the existing circuitry can be shared by the
analogue and digital portions of the receiver. And over time, as IBOC
receiver penetration reaches a “critical mass,” individual broadcasters can be
expected to have significant flexibility in determining when and how to
phase out the analogue portion of the IBOC signal all together.
In addition, the simulcasting of audio material in some IBOC systems, while
done primarily to facilitate time diversity, can also mitigate the undesired
digital receiver behaviour experienced in cases of severe signal obstructions
or extreme cases of interference. In these cases, systems without time
diversity (such as Eureka 147) exhibit what is called a "cliff effect" failure,
in that the audio signal is perfect one second, and completely gone
("muted") the next. In a simulcast IBOC system, the existence of the
"backup" analogue signal for purposes of time diversity has the added effect
of eliminating the cliff effect failure mode, since in those cases the receiver
will blend to analogue and the audio program, while degraded, will not go
away all together, and is likely to remain with the listener throughout the
impairment.
These developments are at a relatively early stage and their viability has to
be assessed, but the work carried out to date is encouraging. The audio
quality achievable with simulcasting remains to be established.

(2) DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale)

Two types of simulcast are present in the DRM design. The first is confined
to a 9 or 10 kHz channel. Half the channel is used for an analogue signal
capable of envelope detection (in order that a conventional AM radio
receiver can demodulate the signal). The other half is a DRM digital signal
that requires digital demodulation. The second technique requires 18 or 20
kHz of 2 adjacent channels where one channel contains standard AM and
the other contains either a 4.5/5 or 9/10 kHz DRM signal.
For Regions 2 and 3 the simulcast solution is potentially much simpler as
the Long and Medium Wave bands have been allocated 18/20 KHz channels.
In Region 3 the 18 kHZ allocation is also protection against night time sky
wave interference.
4.8.3 Coverage

The move from analogue to digital transmission raises important questions under
the heading ”coverage.”
One of the main differences between analogue and digital broadcasts is the mode
of failure when the received signal starts to fail. It happens at the edge of the

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service area and at locations within the coverage footprint where the signal
strength is affected by shadowing or interference. When the signal strength
reduces, analogue reception is often described as degrading “gracefully.” By
contrast, a digital signal will at some point fail suddenly and completely. Whilst
usually robust in areas of generally poor analogue reception, the digital signal
gives little indication as it approaches a point of failure.
Within a defined coverage area, the service availability from analogue and digital
services will be affected by the type of receiver (fixed, mobile or portable), by the
type of environment (urban, rural), and by the topography. It is also a function of
the transmission frequency and the system performance.
COFDM signals (such as those used in the Eureka 147, DRM and AM and FM
IBOC schemes) have characteristics which facilitate the planning of single
frequency networks (SFN’s) to a greater or lesser extent and make it easier to
extend coverage. Provided that a broadcast on the same frequency from a
different transmitter, or a reflected transmission from the main transmitter, arrive
at the receive antenna within the system’s guard interval, the reflected signal will
combine in a constructive way to reinforce reception.
One of the objectives for the Eureka 147 system was to transmit a digital signal (a
number of digitised analogue radio programmes plus data) to a mobile receiver
over a difficult transmission channel. Extensive testing has confirmed that this
requirement has been achieved successfully. The same characteristics of Eureka
147 ensure much more rugged reception on portable receivers.
Recent development of IBOC systems in the US has also emphasised robust
performance in a multipath fading channel. Using sophisticated signal processing
techniques such as Complementary Punctured Coding, along with time and
frequency diversity, the next-generation IBOC systems are expected to exhibit
fading channel performance commensurate with that achieved in the Eureka 147
system, but this remains to be demonstrated.
Tests and operational broadcasting have shown that DRM coverage is equivalent
to the corresponding analogue service it is replacing. Coverage, in this sense,
refers to the intended broadcast area, wherein the digital signal retains its high
audio quality.

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4.9 Summary and Conclusions

Conventional radio broadcasting on AM and FM has been around for about a

century. New digital broadcasting technologies such as DAB, XM radio, DRM
and others are becoming very popular in many parts of the world. Traditional on-
air radio has many strengths and is still a vibrant medium. It is likely that it will
remain the principal delivery mechanism of radio content for quite some time.
Internet opened a new possibility for radio enthusiasts. During the last ten years or
so Internet Radio has been a major focus of technical innovations and operational
experiments. Now Internet Radio has become a mature medium with its
distinctive characteristics. There are many tens of thousands of Internet Radio
stations worldwide, ranging from big portals down to small local and individual
streaming stations.
The main assets of Internet Radio are its global reach, interactivity and
personalisation. While today the users need a computer device and a broadband
connection to access Internet radio stations, in future they will be able to enjoy it
on a number of portable wireless devices. Internet radio will become ubiquitous.
Internet Radio has proved to be most successful if associated to conventional
radio broadcasting over terrestrial or satellite networks. Nevertheless, many
standalone Internet Radio stations have reached a break even point to become
commercially successful.
Internet Radio redefines radio content. Not only does it introduce new music and
speech formats, but also can embellish them with text, graphics and video. It
allows users to listen to a wide selection of audio items when and where it is
convenient. These on-demand radio services may dramatically affect the pattern
of listening and listening habits.
Internet Radio has highlighted many legal and regulatory issues that need to be
addressed. These issues relate to copyright, licensing, content regulation,
merchandising, advertising and security. However, these topics exceed the scope
of this paper.

4.10 Some Important Radio Portals

Beethoven
www.beethoven.com
For classical music lovers. Features include live requests, free e-mail accounts,
chat rooms, contests, classical music news and special offers for enthusiasts.
Users can tune in to either the free low-bandwidth stream at 28 kbps using

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Windows Media Player or the $5.95 per month 96 kbps stream with Real One
Player. It also provides links to online libraries of classical music and various
opera, ballet, and art sites. The navigational bar is not uniform throughout the site
so it is difficult to get to certain areas.

Launch: Music on Yahoo

launch.yahoo.com
As well as listening to Internet Radio, users can watch music videos, shop for
ringtones, search for song lyrics, play games and customize a station to play
favourite artists. Alongside the US version, there are editions for France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the Republic of Ireland. A "Turn Off Explicit
Lyrics" option allows parents to control what their children are playing. For $36 a
year, users can upgrade to the commercial version with twice as many stations.
The sound quality on the free player is excellent, although users will get
commercials.

Live 365
www.live365.com
Live 365 broadcasts from over 100 countries, in 22 genres, and boasts more than
600 million unique listeners since its launch in July 1999. Users can add artists to
a favourites list, rate songs and stations and see which tracks have recently played,
although some play lists do not load onto the player. Tracks do not contain
explicit lyrics. The VIP All Access Pass for $3.65 a month gives better audio
sound, although it is difficult to sift through the stations for VIP members-only.

Radio VH1
www.vh1.com/radio
Radio VH1 has more than 70 stations plus music news, including scrolling ticker.
Within each station is a description of the music, the line up of musical acts and
the DJs. Currently, VH1 is not available for Mac users.

IM Tuning
www.sonicbox.com
Users need to download free IM Radio Tuning Software - with the minimum
requirements of a 56K modem - to access hundreds of live stations, from

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Electronica to Kids and Variety. By clicking on a "Tell Me More" button,

listeners can receive e-mails with artist and song information. There are Smile and
Frown buttons for voting. Enhanced sound quality is available via the iRhythm
Remote Tuner, which uses wireless technology to play Internet music over home
stereos.

Last FM
www.last.fm
This London-based station offers a number of features, including show business
gossip and a forum for launching new artists. By typing in three favourite singers,
users can obtain a list of stations featuring these performers. As users add tracks
they build a profile which can be compared with others who have similar tastes. If
users skip a song or give it a bad rating, they will never hear it again.

MTV Radio
www.mtv.com/mtvradio
MTV aims to appeal to a wide variety of musical tastes. Users can choose from
four radio stations: On Air, MTV.com, Celebrity and International. Although the
player has VCR-like controls and artist ticker features, users must return to the
site to see the full list of stations they want to change.

Radio-Locator
www.radio-locator.com
Radio-Locator provides a broad list for finding a US radio station, Internet
streaming radio and world radio. It claims that it is the only web-site which
provides a comprehensive list of radio stations worldwide. It has links to over
10,000 stations and over 2,500 online streams in 148 countries. There are drop
down menus to search for stations. Users do not need to register to listen to music.
The only thing missing is links to Internet-only stations.

SHOUTcast
http://www.shoutcast.com
SHOUTcast is Nullsoft's Free Winamp-based distributed streaming audio system.
It is a free-of-charge audio homesteading solution that allows anyone on the
Internet to broadcast audio from their PC to listeners across the Internet, or any

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other IP-based network (Office LANs, college campuses, etc.). SHOUTcast's

underlying technology for audio delivery is MPEG Layer 3, also known as MP3
technology. The SHOUTcast system can deliver audio in a live situation, or audio
on-demand for archived broadcasts.

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5 Some Sources for the Digital Radio Guide

• “Digital Radio in the United States: technologies, markets and recent
developments,” Richard L. Anglin, paper presented at the conference on
‘Digital and the future of radio and audio’ (May 1997).

• “AM Hybrid IBOC DAB System,” David C. Hartup et.al., Radio World, Vol.
22 No. 6, March 18, 1998, pp. 64-65.

• “Robust Modem and Coding Techniques for FM Hybrid IBOC DAB,” Brian
Kroeger and Denise Cammarata, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, Vol. 43,
No. 4, December 1997, pp. 412-420.

• “IBOC Interleaver Design and Simulation Results,” Brian Kroeger and Denise
Cammarata, Radio World, Vol. 22 No. 2, January 21, 1998, pp. 20-21.

• “The Next IBOC Entrant: DRE Offers an Alternative to USADR,” Carl

Marcucci, Radio Business Report, February 16, 1998, pp. 6-10.

• “Frequencies – a survey of the current status,” Ken Hunt (EBU), paper

presented at the Radio Montreux Conference (April 1996).

• “A consumer orientated approach towards digital audio broadcasts via satellite,”

paper by Thomas Wrede (SES) at IBC ’95 (September 1995).

• “WorldSpace: the first DAB satellite service for the world,” Olivier Courseille
(Alcatel) and Joseph Campanella (WorldSpace), paper presented at the 3rd
Montreux International Radio Symposium (June 1996).

• “Archimedes Mediastar – provision of digital audio and data broadcasting

services via satellite to mobile and fixed subscribers,” Hanspeter Kuhlen
(DASA), paper presented at a conference on Digital Audio Broadcasting.
(July 1995).

• “On-air multiplexed up-linking of Eureka 147 DAB to EMS,” Richard Evans

and Stephen Baily (BBC), paper first presented at the 4th European
Conference on Satellite Communications (Rome November 1997).

• “Eureka 147 - Digital Audio Broadcasting”, Eureka 147 Project, August 1997
http://www.worlddab.org/public_documents/eureka_brochure.pdf

• Final Acts of the CEPT T_DAB Planning Meeting (3)”, Maastricht 2002,CEPT,
http://www.ero.dk/52EB3135-F356-49FF-A970-B32D2C745921?frames=0

• Communications Laboratory Technical Note 99/01, ‘The impact of European

and Canadian L-Band channel spacings on adjacent channel operation”, 20
April 1999.

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE SOURCES

• Communications Laboratory, Report No. 97/3, “Digital Radio

Broadcasting - Capacity of the Eureka 147 Multiplex”, April 1997

• “Notes of Guidance”, UK Radio Authority

http://www.radioauthority.org.uk/publications-archive/word-doc/regulation/
codes_guidelines/dabnog0103.doc

• http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/ofcom_article.pdf

• Soulodre,G. A.; Grusec, T.; Lavoie, M.; and Thibault, L. (1998)., Subjective
Evaluation of State-of-the-Art Two-Channel Audio Codecs., Journal of the
Audio Engineering Society, vol. 46, no. 3, Mar., pp. 164-177.

• “DAB Ensembles Worldwide”.

http://www.wohnort.demon.co.uk/DABIT/index.html

• ETSI

• CENELEC

• IEC

• http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-r/bookshop/manuels/81036.html

• EN 301 234 V1.2.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Multimedia Object

Transfer (MOT) protocol

• TS 102 818 v1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); XML Specification for
DAB Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), ETSI

• TS 101 993 V1.1.1 (2002-03) Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB);A Virtual

Machine for DAB: DAB Java Specification, ETSI

• EN 50255 Digital Audio Broadcasting system; Specification of the Receiver

Data Interface (RDI), CENELEC

• http://www.worlddab.org/pressreleases/RADIOSCAPE-LAUNCHES-THE-
RS200L.pdf

• http://www.worlddab.org/pressreleases/TI-uses-Radioscape-23-06-03.pdf

• WorldDAB TC 075 available from http://www.worlddab.org/tc_presentations/2

• ES 201 735 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol (IP)
Datagram Tunnelling

• EN 301 192 V1.3.1 (2003-05) Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); DVB

specification for data broadcasting

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE SOURCES

• Guidelines for TPEG in DAB, B/TPEG Plenary Group 00/113 available from
www.ebu.ch/bmc_btpeg.htm

• Thibault, Zhang, Boudreau, Taylor, Chouinard: Advanced Demodulation

Technique for COFDM in Fast Fading Channels, IBC 2003 Proceedings, p.
416 to 422

• Kjell Engstroem (Swedish Radio): Frequency economy – New convergence,

presented at the 9th WorldDAB General Assembly, Rome, 9-10 October 2003

• http://www.worlddab.org/tc_presentations/k_session4_RITTER.pdf

• EBU BPN 062

• http://www.frontier-silicon.com/products/FS5021/overview.asp

• Advanced Video Coding (AVC): ISO/IEC 14496-10 or ITU-T

Recommendation H.264

• Advanced Audio Coding (AAC): ISO/IEC 14496-3 MPEG-4 AAC

• EBU BPN 011: Collated performance Evaluations of the Eureka 147 DAB
system, Final Report of the EBU Project group B/DAC (Digital Audio
Characterisation), September 1997

• Joern Jensen (NRK): DMB in Korea, document WorldDAB SB 569r1

• Http://www.frontier-
silicon.com/news/Releases/FSChorusReaches250kMilestone.asp

• TR 101 154: Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Implementation guidelines for

the use of MPEG-2 Systems, Video and Audio in satellite, cable and terrestrial
broadcasting applications

• TR 102 154: Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Implementation guidelines for

the use of MPEG-2 Systems, Video and Audio in Contribution and Primary
Distribution Applications

• http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/sep03/09-
12NTLBroadcastPR.asp

• Des DeCean: Challenges facing broadcasters with the introduction of digital

radio, Australian Broadcasting Summit, February 2003

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

APPENDIX A The Eureka 147 System - System Description

Overview
The Eureka DAB System has been designed to ensure rugged and reliable reception by
listeners using fixed, portable or mobile receivers with non-directional antennas. The
system is spectrum and power efficient (equivalent or better than FM radio) and can be
operated at any frequency up to 3 GHz for mobile reception and at higher frequencies for
fixed reception. It is suitable for use on terrestrial, satellite, hybrid (satellite with
complementary terrestrial) and cable networks. It currently uses the following audio
compression techniques, MPEG 1 Audio Layer 2 and MPEG 2 Audio Layer 2 and
supports a range of audio coding rates. It has a flexible digital multiplex, which can
support a range of source and channel coding options. This includes programme
associated data (PAD) services and independent data services (IDS).
Eureka 147 is currently the only digital audio system that has met all the requirements of
the ITU for a new digital sound broadcasting system. It is designated ‘Digital System A’
and has the status of a world-wide standard (ITU-R Recommendations BS 1114 and BO
1130 for terrestrial and satellite sound broadcasting respectively). It is an open standard,
fully specified within the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), in
ETS 300 401.
The system provides strong error protection in the transmitted signal. The information
transmitted is spread in both the frequency and time domains and the effects of channel
distortions and fades are eliminated from the recovered signal in the receiver. This is
achieved even when the receiver is in a location with severe multipath propagation,
whether stationary or mobile.
Efficient utilisation of the spectrum is achieved by interleaving multiple programme
signals and by the system’s ability to operate additional transmitters as gap fillers in a
single frequency network (SFN). A gap-filling transmitter in this arrangement receives
and re-transmits the Eureka 147 signal on the same frequency.

Major System Features

Like almost all digital radio systems, Eureka 147 uses standard audio compression
techniques and COFDM. As Eureka 147 was the first standardised digital radio system,
the audio compression techniques used in all Eureka 147 implementations are now
somewhat dated.
A Eureka 147 transmission has an emission bandwidth of 1.536 MHz, which is capable
of providing a range of useful data rates depending on the level of protection. The
multiplex contains audio programs; program associated data and, optionally, other data
services. Each audio program or data service is independently error protected with a
variable coding overhead, the amount of which depends on the requirements of the

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broadcasters (transmitter coverage and reception quality). A specific part of the multiplex
contains information on how the multiplex is configured, so that a receiver can decode
the signal correctly, and, possibly, information about the services themselves, the links
between different services, and conditional access information for subscription services.
Eureka 147 is a mature system with 29 standards and related documents published by the
European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). The ITU has included details
of the Eureka 147 system in its Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) Handbook and
Recommendations BS.1114 and BO.1130.

Modes of Operation
Eureka 147 provides four transmission mode options that allow for a wide range of
transmission frequencies, between 30 and 3000 MHz, and network configurations. For
the nominal frequency ranges, the transmission modes have been designed to provide
good mobile reception by overcoming multipath echoes, which occur when the signal
bounces off buildings and other objects and receivers must deal with multiple and slightly
out of phase versions of the same signal.
Mode I is most suitable for a terrestrial SFN in the VHF range, because it allows the
greatest distances between transmitters. Mode II is most suitable for hybrid
satellite/terrestrial transmission up to 1.5 GHz and local radio applications that require
one terrestrial transmitter. Mode II can also be used for a medium to large scale SFNs in
the L Band by inserting, if necessary, artificial delays at the transmitters and/or by using
directive transmitting antennas. Mode III is most appropriate for cable, satellite and
complementary terrestrial transmission, since it can be operated at all frequencies up to 3
GHz for mobile reception and has the greatest phase noise tolerance. Mode IV is most
suitable for medium to large scale SFNs in the L Band while still accommodating mobile
reception at reasonable highway speeds (up to approximately 120 km/h). However, it is
less resistant to degradation at higher vehicle speeds than this.

Table A.1: Eureka 147 Transmission Parameters

System Parameter Transmission Mode

I II III IV
No. of radiated carriers 1536 384 192 768
Nominal Maximum transmitter 96 km 24 km 12 km 48 km
separation for SFN
Nominal frequency range for ≤ 375 MHz ≤ ≤ 3 GHz ≤
mobile reception 1.5 GHz 1.5 GHz
Speed/Coverage trade off No No No Yes
Frame Duration 96 ms 24 ms 24 ms 48 ms
Total Symbol Duration 1246 µs 312 µs 156 µs 623 µs

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System Parameter Transmission Mode

I II III IV
Useful Symbol Duration 1000 µs 250 µs 125 µs 500 µs
Guard Interval Duration 246 µs 62 µs 31 µs 123 µs

Null Symbol Duration 1297 µs 324 µs 168 µs 648 µs

Data Capacity
Audio and data services are carried in the main service channel (MSC) of the Eureka 147
multiplex. This channel supports a gross data rate of 2.304 MBps. However, the net data
rate (e.g., the actual capacity available for use) depends on the protection level applied to
services. For audio only services the net capacity of the ensemble varies between 783
(highest protection) and 1728 kbps (lowest protection). The corresponding range for data
only services is 576 and 1728 kbps. At a median protection level the available net
capacity for both audio and data services is 1.152 MBps.
Within the MSC each audio or data service is carried in a subchannel. Up to 63
subchannels can be supported, each of which is treated individually as far as error
protection is concerned.

Data Services
Each audio program contains PAD with a variable capacity (minimum 667 bps, up to 65
kbps) which is used to convey information together with the sound program. Typical
examples of PAD applications are dynamic range control information, a dynamic label to
display program titles or lyrics, speech/music indication and text with graphic features.
Additionally, general data may be transmitted as a separate service. This may be either in
the form of a continuous stream segmented into 24 ms logical frames with a data rate of n
x 8 kbps (n x 32 kbps for some code rates) or in packet mode, where individual packet
data services may have much lower capacities and are bundled in a packet sub multiplex.
A third way to carry independent data services is as a part of the Fast Information
Channel (FIC) that carries multiplex control and service information. Typical examples
of independent data services that could use the FIC are a Traffic Message Channel,
correction data for Differential GPS and paging.
Some elements of Service Information (SI) data can also be made available to the listener
for program selection and for the operation and control of receivers. For example, the
name of a program service; the program type, title and language; transmitter
identification and controls for switching to traffic reports, news flashes or announcements.

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Number of audio services in a multiplex

Eureka 147 uses MPEG 1 Layer II and MPEG 2 Layer II audio compression standards
and permits full data rate coding at the sampling frequency of 48 kHz and half data rate
coding at the sampling frequency of 24 kHz. Half data rate coding is not fast enough to
capture all of the information in a speech signal so this sampling rate is only used where
some distortion.
Eureka 147 is capable of processing mono, stereo and dual channel (e.g., bilingual)
programs. A range of encoded data rate options are available (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64,
80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160 or 192 kbps per monophonic channel). In stereophonic or dual
channel mode, the encoder produces twice the data rate of a mono channel. The range of
possible options can be utilised flexibly by broadcasters depending on the quality
required and the number of sound programs to be broadcast.
A stereophonic signal may be conveyed in the stereo mode, or particularly at lower data
rates in the joint stereo mode. This mode, typically used at 144 - 224 kbps, uses the
redundancy and interleaving of the two channels of a stereophonic program to maximise
the overall perceived audio quality.
The degree of error protection (and hence ruggedness) can also be varied to meet the
needs of the broadcasters. In the case of audio services, five protection levels (1 to 5)
have been specified in order to cater for a variety of applications. Level 5 affords the
lowest protection and is designed for cable systems. It allows a high number of program
services, but does not have the strong error protection necessary for operation in
multipath environments. Protection Level 3 is better suited to mobile operation. To allow
more flexibility in accommodating subchannels, Protection Levels 4 and 2 have also been
introduced with somewhat weaker and stronger performance than Protection Level 3
(respectively). Protection Level 1 is suited to applications with a very high sensitivity to
transmission errors while Protection Level 4 is intended for less demanding applications
(for example services addressed to fixed receivers).
Table A.2 outlines the typical number of services that can be delivered for a selection of
audio data rates for different levels of error protection.

Table A.2: Example of possible number of programs

Audio data Protection level (increasing protection)

rate (kbps) 5 4 3 2 1
24* N/A 64 48 36 24
32 54 41 36 29 24
64 27 20 18 14 12
128 13 10 9 7 6
192 9 7 6 5 4
224 7 6 5 4 3

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256 6 5 4 3 3

* At most audio data rates, Eureka 147 uses Unequal Error Protection an error
protection procedure which allows the bit error characteristics to be matched with the bit
error sensitivity of the different parts of the audio frame. At the lowest data rate, 24 kbps,
Eureka 147 uses Equal Error Protection, an error protection procedure which ensures a
constant protection of the bit stream.

Audio Quality
ITU R Recommendation BS.1115 specifies use of MPEG 1 Layer II at 256 kbps (stereo
mode), for broadcast applications requiring CD quality. This recommendation is based on
subjective listening tests undertaken in 1992. At the time, MPEG 1 Layer II at 192 kbps
(joint stereo mode) was also tested but was found to only marginally meet the audio
quality requirement. Additional tests in 1993 failed to reveal sufficient improvement in
the codec to warrant inclusion of this lower data rate in the ITU recommendation.
Further listening tests were performed in 1995, as part of the US Electronic Industries
Association’s (EIA) evaluation of digital radio systems. A range of audio coding systems
were tested including MPEG 1 Layer II at 224 and 192 kbps (joint stereo modes). The
findings of this work indicate the MPEG 1 Layer II codec at 224 kbps is capable of
meeting the basic audio quality criteria specified by the ITU R. The lower rate of 192
kbps again failed to meet the required quality.

Spectrum Issues
Eureka 147 Channel Plans
In 1995, the introduction of terrestrial Eureka 147 was discussed by the European
Conference for Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT) in Wiesbaden. 26 In cooperation
with representatives of regional and international organisations such as the EBU, the
European Commission and the ITU a total of 73 channels to be used for future and
current digital audio broadcasting services was agreed. Each channel is 1.536 MHz wide
with appropriate guard bands between each channel and at the edge of each band.
The European CEPT channel plan encompasses four frequency bands, namely VHF
Bands I, II and III and L Band. Allotments were made to allow the implementation of two
Eureka 147 ensembles in any given country or area in Europe. The majority of these
allotments were in VHF Band III and the lower part of the L Band (1452 MHz 1467
MHz). Allotments in the 230 240 MHz sub band of VHF Band III are subject to
coordination with national defence users and the L Band was divided into terrestrial and

26
Final Acts of the CEPT T_DAB Planning Meeting (3)”, Maastricht 2002,CEPT,
http://www.ero.dk/52EB3135-F356-49FF-A970-B32D2C745921?frames=0

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satellite segments. Further consideration of L Band allotments was made at a second

CEPT conference at Maastricht in 2002.
A second channel plan has been developed for Canada that covers only the L Band. This
plan also provides for 23 channels, but with different guard bands to the CEPT Plan.
Comparing the characteristics of the two plans, the Canadian channel plan provides an
interchannel guard band some 18% greater than the CEPT channel plan. Maximizing the
spacing between adjacent channels is desirable, as this contributes to improved adjacent
channel isolation which results in less stringent implementation constraints. In contrast,
the CEPT channel plan trades off a larger interchannel guard band for increased guards at
the band edges to facilitate sharing with other services operating near the band edges.
To facilitate receiver tuning and minimize scan times, manufacturers will assume, or at
least prioritise, the use of certain centre frequencies as defined by the CEPT and/or
Canadian channel plans. The use of ”non standard” frequencies could result in the need
for manual tuning or, alternatively, require the receiver to undertake a complete scan of
the band(s) based on the 16 kHz grid spacing. The latter is likely to take considerably
longer and could be seen as a distinct disadvantage. Although manufacturers have been
encouraged to incorporate the Canadian channel plan in their designs, it remains unclear
what level of support will be afforded to the plan and whether there are cost implications
for manufacturers in supporting both channel plans.
For Australia, there is a further complication if VHF Band III is used for digital radio. In
this scenario, adoption of the Canadian channel plan would result in a ”mixed” frequency
table arrangement (e.g., use of the CEPT channel plan at VHF Band III and the Canadian
channel plan at L Band). In view of these uncertainties, adoption of the Canadian channel
plan would appear justified only if significant benefits, in terms of improved adjacent
channel isolation, were shown to be associated with the wider channel spacing of this
plan. In the absence of any published data, the Communications Laboratory undertook
measurements of the adjacent channel isolation afforded by the two channel plans, using
a limited range of transmitting and receiving equipment available at that time. The results
of these tests indicate no significant difference in adjacent channel performance. 27

Planning Parameters
The planning parameters that could be used for the implementation of Eureka 147
services draw on a number of ITU and European sources:

The ITU DSB Handbook

EBU ”Technical bases for T DAB services network planning and compatibility with
existing broadcasting services,” Document BPN 003 Rev. 1, May 1998;

27
Communications Laboratory Technical Note 99/01, ‘The impact of European and Canadian L-Band channel spacings
on adjacent channel operation”, 20 April 1999.

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Chester 97, ”The Chester 1997 multilateral coordination agreement relating to the
technical criteria, coordinating principles and procedures for the introduction of terrestrial
digital video broadcasting (DVB T),” 25 July 1997;
ITU R Recommendation BT.1368, “Planning criteria for digital terrestrial television
services in the VHF/UHF bands,” 14 April 1998.

Propagation Properties
General aspects of Propagation Properties are covered in the Spectrum Usage section of
this report. The two bands in which Eureka 147 are likely to be implemented are VHF
Band III and L Band.

VHF Band III

VHF Band III is well suited to the provision of terrestrial digital radio services over large
coverage areas. The frequencies are still sufficiently low for good reception in moving
vehicles of Eureka 147 Mode 1 transmissions. VHF Band III has less man made noise
than VHF Bands I and II and does not suffer from a number of the anomalous
propagation characteristics which are a problem in VHF Band I.

L-Band (1452-1492 MHz)

L-Band can be used for both terrestrial and satellite digital radio services. L Band may be
used to provide the following types of coverage, assuming average terrain conditions:

• small local coverage areas up to a radius of approximately 35 to 40 km using a single,

moderate power transmitter;

• larger local area coverage ranging up to a radius of approximately 60 km using a

single main transmitter of moderate power and augmented by a number of gap fillers
and coverage extenders;

• large area coverage (> 60 km radius) can be achieved by the use of single frequency
networks employing a number of moderately spaced synchronized transmitters; and

• coverage along corridors or motorways using repeaters employing highly directional

antennas (e.g., coverage extenders).

The higher frequency, shorter wavelength of an L Band transmission means that it is

severely affected by local obstructions to a degree that is not encountered at VHF Band
III. Conversely, the much smaller transmit antennas lend themselves to small cellular

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networks with discretely placed antennas. Also, the much smaller receive antenna would
be attractive for small portable applications.
Present indications are that L Band is less attractive to radio broadcasters than VHF. One
reason is the different ways that VHF and L Band signals propagate over distance. There
is a concern that the higher building penetration losses of L Band transmissions make it
less attractive than VHF Band III for indoor reception. There have been a number of
studies to assess how different buildings attenuate L Band transmissions and, while they
show that attenuation can be large, they show that L Band can be used to provide indoor
reception with a well designed terrestrial retransmission network. Canadian authorities
consider L Band to be suitable for terrestrial digital radio services and are using only L
Band for their Eureka 147 services. In the US, S Band has been used for terrestrial digital
radio repeaters and GSM phones have been implemented at 1800 MHz and can provide
adequate indoor reception.

Recent system developments

Digital radio is likely to turn from a simple audio-only service, merely simulcasting
existing analogue programmes, into a far more interactive and rich experience across
several platforms including DAB, using scrolling text and on demand digital services.
This section describes some technical developments of the Eureka 147 DAB system, as
performed by the WorldDAB Forum.
As this section shows, the technical possibilities of DAB are practically unlimited. The
challenge is to harness the technical developments and to restrict them reasonably to
those for which an international consensus of broadcasters, manufactures and other
players could be reached.

Multimedia Object Transport (MOT)

The MOT protocol allows the standardised transport of audio-visual information, such as
still pictures and web pages. It can be used in the PAD and packet mode. MOT is
particularly suitable for two applications: Broadcast Website (BWS) and Slide Show
(SLS).
The basic principle of the MOT data carousels 28 is that each file to be broadcast is
divided into segments of equal length and then the segments for all files are repeated
cyclically in the broadcast stream. Each segment is tagged with an identifier to say which
file it belongs to and a segment number to identify which segment of the file it is.
Segmenting the file in this way means that the system will still work in an error-prone
channel because, even for large files, the minimum amount of data that must be received
without error is just a segment rather than the whole file. If a segment is received in error,

28
EN 301 234 V1.2.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Multimedia Object Transfer (MOT) protocol.

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the receiver can just wait for the next time that segment is broadcast, and the file
identifier and segment number allow the receiver to correctly reconstruct each file.
This on its own, however, is not sufficient; with a "sea" of segments, the receiver can
reconstruct the files but cannot know either how to access them or how to manage them.
What is needed is a "table of contents" for the carousel that contains a list of all the files
contained within the carousel. With suitable version control applied to this "table of
contents," it is possible to detect any change to the carousel simply by examining the
version of the table of contents. If a file is changed, the version number for the file will
change. This will, in turn, change the "table of contents," which will result in a change in
its own version number. A simple comparison of the "table of contents" before and after
the change allows the receiver to determine exactly what has changed, and to perform
any cache management as appropriate.
In MOT, the "table of contents" function is handled by the MOT Directory Object and its
operation is illustrated below:

If we replace the file animals/lion with a new file called animals/tiger, the carousel would
then appear as shown below:

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The receiver can tell that the carousel has changed because the Directory Object has a
new version, and by comparing the old and new Directory Objects, it can immediately
determine that the file animals/lion has been replaced by animals/tiger.
The MOT Directory Object serves two functions:
To provide reliable management of the files so that any changes to the carousel are
understood by the receiver.
To provide a name and other information for each file so that it may be accessed by an
application.

Dynamic Label
This application carries text information and control characters with a length up to 128
characters in the PAD channel. It requires a simple alphanumeric text display of 2 lines,
32 characters each. If the length of the text to be displayed is longer than 64 characters,
the text can be incremental or scrolling.

Broadcast Website
BWS is a local interactive service; the user selects information already received by a
browser. This “radio web” service allows the access to a limited number of websites, as
chosen by the broadcaster (“walled garden”). BWS can be rendered either by a PC or a
car navigation platform using a ¼ VGA display (320 x 240 pixels). HTML version 3.2
and a storage capacity of 256 kB are required.

Slide Show
This application involves sequences of still pictures (JPEG or PNG). The order and
presentation time of this service are generated by the broadcaster. The transmission time
depends primarily on the file sizes of the pictures and the chosen PAD data rate. For
example, a CD cover coded as JPEG 320 x 240 requires a transmission time of 22s (PAD
or packet mode data rate of 16 kbps is assumed). No local interaction is required.
A visual component, associated with audio, would potentially greatly help radio
advertisers to increase advertising revenue. For example, instead of talking about the new
model Volvo had just released, it would be good if we could see some pictures while we
hear about its great features.

Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)

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The DAB Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) allows programmers to signpost on a

screen on the radio their key music positions, programmes and benchmark features, and
set up opportunities to record or auto-retune the radio to their station.
Schedules can be sent to the receiver several days in advance of broadcasts, allowing
opportunity to highlight and lock listeners into a new on-air activities early on. They can
also be updated frequently to reflect last-minute changes to on-air output.
Experience of Television EPGs show that they can build station loyalty and time spent
watching, and provide a significant enhancement to recall of on-air promotional trails.
It is expected that the EPG will become a standard feature on many DAB Digital Radios,
as it has become a worldwide technical standard that can be freely adopted by receiver
manufacturers. The EPG was the result of a two-year task force made up of broadcasters
and receiver manufacturers working together within WorldDAB, the forum that promotes
development of Digital Radio to the Eureka 147 standard.
As in TV, EPG will be useful to help to user to find, preview, select, listen and record
radio programmes, particularly if there are many, possibly several hundreds, radio
programmes in a given area. 29 The EPG will be used to provide programme listings
information for both audio and data services and as a mechanism for the user to select
services, programmes and related content. A key requirement is that the EPG must work
on a range of receivers with differing display capabilities, resources and back-channel
capabilities. To achieve this, a flexible multi-layer structure has been defined. The EPG
data is broken down into service information (ensembles and services) and programme
information (schedules, programmes, groups and events). Additionally programmes and
events can be linked together into groups (e.g. for grouping programmes together into
serials or series).
EPG will be useful to promote new programmes and to attract new listeners. It is also
enable for future technologies such as Personal Media Recording (DAB equivalent of
PVR). Manual or automatic time-shifting of the programme will be possible for the user
to choose what and when they want to listen.
An EPG standard “XML Specification for DAB Electronic Programme Guide” is being
developed by WorldDAB. 30 Work is still continuing into the transportation and
compression of the EPG data. EPG is currently being broadcast experimentally on 8
multiplexes in the UK.

DAB Virtual Machine (DAB Java)

Analogous to DVB Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), but suitably scaled down to fit
into narrow-band DAB channel, DAB Java provides a flexible and extendible platform

29
Currently there are 320 DAB radio programmes on air in the UK, including 50 in London.
30
TS 102 818 v1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); XML Specification for DAB Electronic Programme Guide (EPG),
ETSI

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

(middleware) for all new DAB data services. DAB Java is standardised by ETSI. 31 The
platform enables the rapid implementation and deployment of new business ideas by
enabling the applications (and applets) to access DAB resources. Future data services for
DAB will be realized most efficient based on DAB Java in terms of time to market and
platform independence. This approach enables DAB to be integrated in large scaled Java
– based software environments, e.g. cars using widely accepted standards.
The concept of virtual machine has been chosen to allow for execution of any DAB
applications independently of the hardware specific configuration. The DAB Java
Framework is divided in three basic modules or packages: a) a DAB-specific extension of
the Java API, b) a runtime support for the DAB applications execution environment, and
c) a DAB I/O package for signalling the DAB Java extension over the DAB signal.
End-to-end reference implementations have been successfully developed to demonstrate
the benefits and new possibilities of DAB Java. These implementations include an EPG
application, a BWS application, a stock market ticker and some local-interactive games.
The BBC has developed an interactive DAB Java – based application "Composer
Biographies." Bosch has demonstrated an integration of DAB Java in an OSGI-based
telematics system (GPS device).
Figure A.1 below shows the architecture of DAB Java.

Figure A.1

31
TS 101 993 V1.1.1 (2002-03) Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB);A Virtual Machine for DAB: DAB Java Specification,
ETSI

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

The development and implementation of DAB Java requires close cooperation of content,
service, network providers and terminal manufacturers.

DAB Receiver Interfaces

In order to introduce new applications in the mature market with millions of DAB
receivers deployed, it is essential to allow the legacy receivers to connect to the new
application decoders via an agreed interface. To this end, The WorldDAB Forum has
developed a specification for the Receiver Data Interface (RDI). 32 Nevertheless, as RDI
has some technical limitations (e.g. flexibility, fixed bandwidth), it has been decided to
develop a new interface. The WorldDAB Forum and the DRM Forum have agreed to
cooperate in defining a generic physical USB interface for all digital radio receivers.
Furthermore, a generic low level driver interface based on Digital Command Set for
Receivers (DRCS) specification will be developed, taking into account of copy protection
and digital rights management issues.

Conditional Access
The DAB system already includes a comprehensive conditional system (see Chapter 9 of
EN 300 401). Further work is now underway to develop a simple, yet reliable system to
be used in commercial receivers using a common scrambling algorithm and a common
receiver interface, however allowing the use of different commercial CA systems such as
Simulcrypt and Multicrypt.

SBR Layer II
Spectrum Band Replication (SBR) is a process, proposed by Coding Technologies and
now standardised within MPEG-4 Audio, designed to potentially improve spectrum
efficiency of the DAB system by reducing the audio bit rate for the same quality, while
retaining backwards compatibility. Some initial studies indicate that about 30%
improvement could be achieved.
The EBU Project group B/AIM (Audio In Multimedia) is carrying studies on error
sensitivity and compatibility with non-SBR receivers. Some preliminary results show that
the inclusion of SBR in the DAB system does not significantly degrade the C/N
performance of the DAB system, neither in terms of Threshold of Audibility (TOA) nor
Point of Failure (POF).
Studies are continued on balancing the benefits and drawbacks of SBR. The matters to be
addressed involve the increase of complexity (and thus cost) of the receiver and the

32
EN 50255 Digital Audio Broadcasting system; Specification of the Receiver Data Interface (RDI), CENELEC

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related IPR issues. No decision has been taken by the WorldDAB Forum to date about
the viability of using including SBR into the standard and recommending its
incorporation into commercial receivers.

File caching in the receiver

The WorldDAB Forum has now established a specification for using an optional caching
facility in the receiver. The user will benefit from a so-called "rewind radio," which will
allow listening of the latest programme at any time. The caching device will also allow
the user to use the DAB receiver as a PVR (Personal Versatile Recorder) device for time-
shifted playout of audio events (with or without associated data). It should be pointed out
the use of caching may change the way how people access and enjoy radio listening. It
potentially widens the programming possibilities offered by the broadcaster but also
introduces new technical and operational problems (copyright, EPG, etc).
In September 2003 RadioScape which specialises in digital radio software launched a
new module called RS200L. 33 One of the features of this module is the inclusion of
Rewind Radio that enables about ten minutes of audio to be stored on chip RAM. This
can be used to listen to a news clip again or time shift by pausing and resuming the radio.
The module has been designed using the DRE200 chip from Texas Instruments, which is
probably one of the world's best selling receiver chips for the EU 147 standard. This chip
has now been superseded by a new version, DRE310, 34 that can decode more than one
channel simultaneously and includes time-shifted radio, announcement support, service
linking (FM/DAB ensemble switching), TII (Transmitter Identification Information) and
MP3/Windows Media Audio CD support.

TopNews
TopNews is a commercial name for Bosch/Blaupunkt's system which allows broadcasters
(and multiplex providers) to download via a suitable DAB data channel (e.g. MOT, MSC
packet mode) the news and other audio files or other objects coded in MP3 to the
receiver. 35 The user is appropriately informed of the existence of these audio objects and
could access them at their convenience. The broadcaster is responsible for contents and
needs to update the audio file contents regularly. There is no need for return link to the
service provider. This "audio anytime" system is particularly attractive for in-car
applications.

33
http://www.worlddab.org/pressreleases/RADIOSCAPE-LAUNCHES-THE-RS200L.pdf
34
http://www.worlddab.org/pressreleases/TI-uses-Radioscape-23-06-03.pdf
35
WorldDAB TC 075 available from http://www.worlddab.org/tc_presentations/2

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IP datacasting in DAB
The DAB system is capable of carrying IP packets (datagrams) using IP/UDP protocol.36
As these packets travel unidirectionally from a service provider to many users
simultaneously, this is a form of IP Multicasting, e.g., pushing the same contents to
several users concurrently. The IP datagrams are tunnelled through a DAB packet mode
service component (SC). This is done by encapsulating the IP datagram in an MSC data
group on packet mode transport level. It is not necessary to establish a connection
between the transmitter and the user prior to the transmission of data.
For connection oriented point-to-point transport, TCP has to be used (rather than UDP).
TCP requires an interaction channel for the return flow of acknowledgements.
Further work is necessary to be carried out similar to that performed by the DVB-IPI
project in order to specify the discovery and selection of the data services by the user.
The Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Project has developed a data broadcasting
standard describing an IPv4 and IPv6 datagrams encapsulation in MPEG-2 transport
stream. This system is commonly called Multi-Protocol Encapsulation (MPE) or Data
Piping37 and includes dynamic address resolution, multicast group membership and other
supporting procedures and protocols. The overhead due to encapsulation is reasonably
low, e.g., below 3%.
IP datacasting is an interesting option for the DAB systems required to work with IP-
enabled devices such as mobile phones and PDAs. The IP layer could be used as a
common communications layer between the two systems. IP datacasting over DAB will
bring the data content such as moving pictures, audio, web pages, computer programmes
and software upgrades reliably to each user (or a group of users) and will thus expand
significantly market opportunities of DAB. IP datacasting will pave the way towards the
personalisation of broadcast services.

TPEG transport in DAB

It is well known to all broadcasters that radio is an ideal (and the cheapest) medium to
inform travellers about the road conditions and traffic jams – provided that such
information is timely and relevant, in the correct location. Currently analogue FM radio
uses a well-established RDS-TMC (Traffic Message System) system. However, the TMC
is essentially limited to inter-urban road events and every decoder must have a location
database to interpret any message received.
TPEG was developed by the EBU to overcome these limitations. TPEG delivers very rich
location referencing information with every message, so that receivers do not need a
location database. Thus, navigation systems which are now becoming a standard
commodity in the car can "machine read" the location content and localise an event
directly onto the map display. A text-only device (such as a PDA) is able to present
36
ES 201 735 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol (IP) Datagram Tunnelling
37
EN 301 192 V1.3.1 (2003-05) Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); DVB specification for data broadcasting

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locally found names such as a railway station name and a platform number directly to an
end user as a text message. Such a message can be rendered in the language of choice of
the end user. TPEG can filter the information to avoid receiver overload, so that end users
can select massages on any number of criteria, such as the type of location, mode of
public transport, direction of travel, event, etc.
TPEG can be transported within the DAB system in the Transparent Data Channel (TDC)
in a stream-like format; bytes come out in the same order they go in. 38 The TDC
Specification allows TPEG data to be carried in three modes: packet mode, stream mode
and X-PAD. Nevertheless, this approach which is specified in the present version of the
DAB standard, involves several problems in terms of reception reliability and
interpretation. It has therefore been proposed to transport TPEG as one of the multimedia
applications in the MOT data channel. This would imply the following main advantages:
MOT is already implemented in most receivers and enables efficient object compression,
power saving and delta updates and has much lower overhead than TDC.

Advanced demodulation technique for COFDM

The Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) developed an advanced COFDM
demodulation technique 39 which reduces the effect of the Doppler effect and therefore
increases the maximum speed, allowing vehicle speeds up to 140 km/s while achieving a
target bit error rate (BER) of 10-4 . Canadian DAB broadcasters use L-Band (1452 to
1492 MHz) and would like to use Transmission Mode IV instead of Mode II, because the
former allows for a larger separation distance between on-channel re-transmitters than in
the case of Mode II. However, Mode IV in L-Band limits the speed to less than 100 km/h,
so this new technique could help. Further studies are required to investigate whether this
technique could be useful for VHF bands and whether the chip manufacturers could
accommodate it readily into their chip design.

Technical Standards
International Standards
ETSI Standards 40
Eureka 147 standards are formalised by ETSI and are available for download. The current
list of ETSI standards relating to Eureka 147 are in Table A.3. The main ETSI standard
for Eureka 147 is EN 300 401.

Table A.3: ETSI Standards relating to Eureka 147

38
Guidelines for TPEG in DAB, B/TPEG Plenary Group 00/113 available from www.ebu.ch/bmc_btpeg.htm
39
Thibault, Zhang, Boudreau, Taylor, Chouinard: Advanced Demodulation Technique for COFDM in Fast Fading
Channels, IBC 2003 Proceedings, p. 416 to 422
40
EBU BPN 062

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

Number Title
EN 300 401 V1.3.3 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB to mobile, portable and
(May 2001) fixed receivers
(THIRD EDITION)
EN 300 797 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution interfaces;
Service Transport Interface (STI)
EN 300 798 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution interfaces;
Digital baseband In-phase and Quadrature (DIQ) Interface
EN 301 234 V1.2.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Multimedia Object Transfer
(MOT) protocol
EN 301 700 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Service Referencing from
FM-RDS; Definition and use of RDS-ODA
EN 302 077 V1.1.1 Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters
(ERM); Harmonised EN for Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcast
(TDAB) equipment used in the sound broadcasting service.
ES 201 735 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol Datagram
Tunnelling
ES 201 736 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Network Independent
Protocols for Interactive Services
ES 201 737 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Interaction Channel
through GSM / PSTN / ISDN / DECT
ETS 300 799 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution interfaces;
Ensemble Transport Interface (ETI)
TR 101 495 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guide to DAB Standards;
Guidelines and Bibliography
TR 101 496-1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guidelines and Rules for
V.1.1.1 Implementation and Operation
TR 101 496-2 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guidelines and Rules for
V.1.1.2 Implementation and Operation
TR 101 496-3 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Guidelines and Rules for
V.1.1.2 Implementation and Operation
TR 101 497 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Rules of Operation for the
Multimedia Object Transfer Protocol
TS 101 498-1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Broadcast Website
V1.1.1 Application, Part 1:User Application Specification
TS 101 498-2 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Broadcast Website
V1.1.1 Application, Part 2: Basic Profile Specification
TS 101 499 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); MOT Slide Show; User
Application Specification
TS 101 735 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Internet Protocol Datagram
Tunnelling
TS 101 736 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Network Independent

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Number Title
Protocols for Interactive Services
TS 101 737 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Interaction Channel
through GSM / PSTN / ISDN / DECT
TS 101 756 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Registered Tables
TS 101 757 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Conformance Testing for
DAB Audio
TS 101 758 V2.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Signal Strengths and
Receiver Parameters
TS 101 759 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); DAB Data Broadcasting
Transparent Data Channel
TS 101 860 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); Distribution Interfaces;
Service Transport Interface (STI); STI Levels
TS 101 993 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); A Virtual Machine for DAB:
DAB Java Specification
TS 102 818 V1.1.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); XML Specification for DAB
Electronic Program Guide (EPG)

Receiver Standards
European receiver standards have been developed by CENELEC, IEC and national
standards bodies (e.g., UK). A list of relevant receiver standards is in Table A.4.

Table A.4: Receiver Standards for Eureka 147

Reference Title
CENELEC EN Digital Audio Broadcasting system - Specification of the
50255 Receiver Data Interface (RDI)
CENELEC EN
50248 Characteristics of DAB receivers
CENELEC EN
50320 The DAB Command Set for receivers
IEC 62105 Digital Audio Broadcasting System - Specification of the
Receiver Data Interface (RDI)
IEC 62104 Characteristics of DAB Receivers

ITU Publications and Recommendations

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX A: EUREKA 147

The International Telecommunications Union has a number of publications and

Recommendations relating to Eureka 147 and digital radio in particular. The “DSB
Handbook - Terrestrial and satellite DSB to vehicular, portable and fixed receivers in the
VHF/UHF bands” is an aggregation of ITU input documents and data. Relevant
recommendations are in Table A.5.

Table A.5: ITU Recommendations relevant to Eureka 147

Reference Title
BS.1115 Low data rate audio coding
BS.774-2 Service requirements for DSB to vehicular, portable and fixed
receivers using terrestrial transmitters in the VHF/UHF bands
BS.1114-3 Systems for terrestrial DSB to vehicular, portable and fixed
receivers in the frequency range 30-3 000 MHz
BO.789-2 Service for DSB to vehicular portable and fixed receivers for
broadcasting-satellite service (sound) in the frequency range 1
400-2 700 MHz
BO.1130-4 Systems for digital satellite broadcasting to vehicular, portable
and fixed receivers in the bands allocated to BSS (sound) in the
frequency range 1 400-2 700 MHz

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX B: WEBSITES

APPENDIX B Relevant World Wide Websites

Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) www.atsc.org
AsiaDAB www.asiadab.org
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) www.abu.org.my
Audio Engineering Society (AES) www.aes.org
BBC (DAB) www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio
BBC (Research and Development) www.bbc.co.uk/rd
BBC Training (Centre for Broadcasting Skills) www.bbc.co.uk/woodnorton
BBC World Service (Radio) www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice
Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) www.cba.org.uk
Crown Castle International www.crowncastle.com
Crown Castle UK www.crowncastle.co.uk
DAB Canada www.digitalradio.ca
Dalet www.dalet.com
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) www.drm.org
Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) www.dvb.org
European Broadcasting Union (EBU) www.ebu.ch
Financial Times (Media and Telecoms.) www.ftmedia.com
Ibiquity (HD Radio) www.ibiquity.com
International Telecommunications Union www.itu.int
Lucent Technologies (Lucent Digital Radio) www.lucent.com
National Association of Broadcasters (US) www.nab.org
National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters www.shortwave.org
US (NASB)
National Radio Systems Committee US (NRSC) www.nrscstandards.org
National Transcommunications Ltd. (NTL) www.ntlradio.com
North American Broadcasters Association www.nabanet.com
(NABA)
Office of Communications UK (Ofcom) www.ofcom.org.uk
Radio Academy (UK) www.radioacademy.org
Real Audio www.real.com

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX B: WEBSITES

Roke Manor Research (UK) www.roke.co.uk

Sadie www.sadie.com
Sirius Satellite Radio www.siriusradio.com
Thales Broadcast www.thales-bm.com
World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) www.worldbroadcastingunions.org
World Radio Network www.wrn.org
WorldDAB www.worlddab.org
WorldSpace Radio www.worldspace.com
XM Satellite Radio www.xm.com

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS

APPENDIX C Glossary of Acronyms

AAC Advanced Audio Coding
AAS Advanced Application Services
ADR Astra Digital Radio
AM Amplitude Modulation
API Advanced Programming Interface
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
BBC British Broadcasting Corporation
BER Bit Error Rate
Bit Binary digit
Bitrate Rate of flow of bits per second
BSS(S) Broadcast satellite services (Sound)
BWS Broadcast Website
CA Conditional Access
CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CCETT Centre Commun d’Etudes de Telediffusion et Telecommunication (Research
Laboratories of France Telecom and Telediffusion de France)
CD Compact Disc
CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
CEG Consumer Equipment Group
CELP Code Excited Linear Prediction
CEMA Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association
CEPT European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
codec Coder / Decoder
COFDM Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex
CP Continual Pilot
CRC Communications Research Centre Canada
CRTC Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
DAB Digital Audio Broadcasting
DARS Digital Audio Radio Service

138
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS

DAT Digital Audio Tape

DAW Digital Audio Workstation
DMB Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
DQPSK Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
DRB Digital Radio Broadcasting
DRDB Digital Radio Development Bureau
DRM Digital Radio Mondiale
DRP Digital Radio Promotion
DSB Double Side Band
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
DSR Digital Satellite Radio
DTH Direct to Home
DTS Digital Theatre System
DTT Digital Terrestrial Television
DVB Digital Video Broadcasting
DVB-H Digital Video Broadcasting – Handheld
DVB-T Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial
DXB Digital Extended Broadcasting, a German-funded project
EBU European Broadcasting Union
EIA Electronic Industries Alliance (formerly Electronic Industries Association)
EMK Electronic Media Kiosk
EPG Electronic Program Guide
ETI Ensemble Transport Interface
ETS European Telecommunications Standard
ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute
Eureka European R and D programme
FAC Fast Access Channel
FCC Federal Communications Commission (US)
FIC Fast Information Channel
FM Frequency Modulation

139
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS

FDMA Frequency division multiple access

FHG Fraunhofer Institute (Germany)
FIC Fast Information channel
GPS Global Positioning System
GSO Geostationary (Satellite) Orbit
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
HEO Highly Elliptical Orbit
HVXC Harmonic Vector Excitation Coding
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IFPI International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
iMP Integrated Media Player
IP Internet Protocol
ISDB-TSB Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial for Sound
Broadcasting
ITU International Telecommunications Union
ITU-R ITU Radiocommunications Sector
IBAC In-Band Adjacent Channel
IBOC In-Band / On-Channel
JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group
kbps 1000 bits per second
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
LF Low Frequency
LW Long wave
LEO Low earth orbit (satellite)
MATS Mobile Aeronautical Telemetry Services
MCI Modular Control Interface
MD Mini Disc
MDI Multiplex Distribution Interface
MF Medium Frequency
MHP Multimedia Home Platform
MLC Multi-Level Coding

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS

MP3 MPEG Audio Layer 3 (see MPEG)

MPEG Moving Pictures Expert Group
MPS Main Program Service
MOT Multi-media Object Transfer
MSC Main Service Channel
MW Medium wave
NAB National Association of Broadcasters (US)
NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
NICAM 728 Near-Instantaneously Companded Audio Multiplex (728 is bit rate in kbps)
NRSC National Radio Systems Committee (an industry sponsored technical
standard setting body, co-sponsored by CEMA and NAB in the US)
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
P2P Peer-to-Peer Networking
PAD Programme Associated Data
PC card A plug in card for a Personal Computer, which allows it to receive DAB.
PDA Personal Digital Assistant
PNG Portable Network Graphics
POF Point of Failure
PTY Programme Type Codes
PVR Personal Versatile Recorder
QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
QPSK Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
RAM Random Access Memory
RDS Radio Data System
RDI Receiver data Interface
RF Radio Frequency
RSCI Receiver Status and Control Interface
SBR Spectral Band Replication
SCA Subsidiary Communications Authorization
SDC Service Description Channel

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS

SDI Service Distribution Interface

SFN Single Frequency Network
S-DAB Satellite DAB
SDARS Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service
S-DMB Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
SIS Service Information Service
SLS Slideshow
SMIL Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
SR Sveriges Radio (Swedish Radio)
SSB Single Side-Band
STL Studio-to-Transmitter Link
SW Short-wave
Simulcasting Simultaneous transmission of a programme
T-DAB Terrestrial DAB
TCM Trellis coded Modulation
TDC Transparent Data Channel
TDM Time Division Multiplex
TDMA Time Division Multiple Access
T-DMB Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
TMC Traffic Message System
TMCC Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control
TOA Threshold of Audibility
TPEG Transport Protocol Experts Group
TTSL Total Time Spent Listening
UEP Unequal Error Protection
USB Universal Serial Bus
VHF Very high Frequency
VPN Virtual Private Networks
VRT Belgian Public Service Broadcaster
W(A)RC World (Administrative) Radio Conference

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DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS

WiFi Wireless technology brand (coined by WiFi Alliance)

WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
WMA Windows Media Audio
WorldDAB Organisation for promoting digital radio (DAB) based on the Eureka 147
system.

143
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