When was digital radio invented

They complained that accessing DAB meant them having to buy new sets and that the signal was often non-existent and unreliable. Radio was cheap, ubiquitous and used a common standard.

Not so in the digital era. Yet another standard, Digital Radio Mondiale DRM , which piggy-backs on existing frequencies, including Short-Wave still important in international broadcasting has its adherents in some parts of the world. One thing seems clear: the dream of the inventors and developers of the original Eureka project for DAB back in the s to be THE radio standard in the digital age is never going to be realised. There was and remains a mode that is almost universal — the internet.

However, this initially required a fixed-point connection and with more than a fifth of UK listening taking place in cars, the inability to stream in moving vehicles was a major problem. The sheer complexity of introducing and regulating the system was also a major factor, Mr Goddard adds. It was a hugely complicated undertaking. As a result, Mr Goddard suspects that DAB's time may have passed before it even arrived, with other forms of digital technology - such as broadband - allowing listeners to access radio on their laptops and phones.

But Paul Donovan, radio critic of the Sunday Times and a strong supporter of DAB, believes its tipping point in public popularity cannot be too far off. He blames a failure of manufacturers and broadcasters to collaborate effectively - the BBC began broadcasting DAB in , he points out, but sets were not commercially available for another four years. As coverage extends people more people will buy into it.

You may have a DAB-only radio if you bought a digital radio during the trial period, brought a digital radio in from overseas or you're driving a fancy European car, such as the Ford Focus RS , which is fitted with a head unit that includes DAB digital radio amongst its features.

It's more efficient than the old standard that uses MP2 and means a higher quality signal is possible than before. It sits on your windscreen, much like a portable GPS, and works with your current car stereo either via the auxiliary jack or a built-in FM transmitter. At the time of writing, the only mainstream model to feature digital radio is the new Toyota Camry , albeit only in the top-of-the-range Atara SL variant. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read.

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