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THE
INITIALS DAB STAND FOR DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING
It is the next generation
of radio and sometimes referred to as Digital Radio. As AM (or Medium
Wave) was surpassed by FM (VHF) - DAB is the next generation.
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BROADCASTS
ARE IN DIGITAL BITS AS OPPOSED TO ANALOGUE
The difference can be likened
to the improvement CDs had over vinyl records. True CD quality becomes
a reality with DAB.
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INTERFERENCE
WILL BECOME A THING OF THE PAST
Wave goodbye to multipath,
hissing, cross-channel overlap and foreign interference. As long
as there's an acceptable signal, reception will be perfect.
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DAB
WILL BE BROADCAST FROM A MULTIPLEX
Multiple frequency usage
(as on AM and FM) will become antiquated. One National multiplex
frequency, for example, will carry ALL the national services.
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NATIONAL
STATIONS WILL APPEAR AT THE SAME PLACE ON YOUR SET ANYWHERE
On FM, Radio One appears
in 22 different places - but only in one place on DAB. Changing
channels will be much simpler too.
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DAB
OPENS UP FURTHER RADIO SPECTRUM FOR NEW RADIO STATIONS
New spectrum is likely to
mean new radio services.
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THERE
WILL BE AT LEAST 6 NATIONAL BBC & 6 NATIONAL COMMERCIAL STATIONS
The BBC nationals, Classic,
Virgin and Talk Radio are already broadcasting on DAB. Most local
areas will be able to receive 16 local stations. London may have
as many as 24 local stations.
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OCCASIONAL
SPECIAL SERVICES ARE POSSIBLE BY CHANGING STYLE OF OUTPUT
For example, 4 mono channels
could replace 2 stereo ones for scheduled periods. This enables
the accommodation of special parliament, financial or sports output.
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AS
WELL AS RADIO THERE ARE EXCITING POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSMITTING
DATA
Data uses could extend to
moving text, graphics and fast internet type downloads.
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TEXT
& PICTURES ON YOUR RADIO WILL COMPLEMENT BROADCASTS YOU CHOOSE
For example, stations will
be able to transmit text about artists being played.
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DAB
RECEIVERS FIRST BECAME AVAILABLE IN 1997
Prototypes were expensive
at several thousand pounds but this has already been halved. By
mid 1998 DAB car sets will probably cost little more than a hi-fi
CD in-car set. Ten years from launch it is anticipated that 40%
of us will be tuning to a DAB.
