Insight into in-car Digital Radio

The digital entertainment age is truly upon us. It began with the introduction of Compact Discs for music back in the hyper-colour world of the 1980s and continues with the roll-out of digital television replacing analogue broadcasts in Australia region by region.

Radio is going the same way, in Australia – well, metropolitan Australia at least. Available now are a number of digital stations, both old and new, commercial and community. And the static free clarity, ability to pause and rewind (on some radios) and accompanying data that is broadcast with the audio, all enhance the experience of one of the oldest mass entertainment mediums mankind has utilised.

It seems natural to consider, like CD players, MP3 capabilities and SD cards before it, digital radio will make the cross-over to our automobile life, and outside of Australia this is certainly becoming increasingly commonplace.

Digital radio can be broadcast in in two main forms, land and satellite-based broadcasts. Satellite broadcasting has the benefit of coverage, enabling, for example, those setting out on a cross-nation Cannonball Run style drive to set their favourite satellite digital station and have it in-car for the entire trip.

Land-based digital radio is more restrictive in its broadcast range, akin to traditional FM radio stations. The beauty of this, however, is that it enables the content to more local of nature. Given that data broadcast, received and presented on a digital radio screen can be independent of the audio, this means those on the go can get local weather and news in text form along with a more regional based audio stream to accompany the drive.

The digital broadcast itself can utilise several protocols or technologies. You may find terms such as DAB, DAB+, DMB or even DAB-IP bandied around in boffin circles. Essentially they are all differing ways of getting numbers into a receiver and having that receiver interpret and re-present that data to you.

Of the two audio systems available, DAB+ utilises the superior AAC and AAC+ codecs to interpret the data, DAB uses the out-dated and inefficient MP2 audio codec.

So is the Australian driver ready for the digital radio? motoring.com.au recently requested feedback on the subject.  The answers ranged from the less enthusiastic such as “I am happy with my car radio” and “digital radio?” to the more embracing “Bring it on”.

Some drivers feel concerned about the distraction possibilities of added screen information accompanying their audio; others want to see more technology commonplace in their vehicles, wanting the ability to stream their own data into their cars as they travel.

Whether the Australian driver is ready or not is almost irrelevant, however -- the content needs to be available. As it stands, Australian digital radio content providers and governments have only in recent years managed to allocate spectrum broadcast bands and get data out on the air waves, predominately in metro areas. And here-in lies the problem for Australian mobile audiophiles.

Australia is a large country with a small population. In the US, satellite and digital radio provider Sirius XM can put broadcasting infrastructure in place knowing it will be beaming advertising into well populated areas regardless of the geography. The same decision is easy for European broadcasters. Australia on the other hand has specific pockets of population, making the viability of providing digital coverage outside of capital cities not commercially attractive... The infrastructure and background manpower required to produce digital content can far outweigh those of the relatively simple process of broadcasting a FM signal.  

Either way, like digital television in this country, digital radio will eventually replace its analogue parent. While it is currently an aftermarket option or process, more and more manufacturers are equipping their vehicles with DAB/DAB+ equipment.

BMW recently announced that all vehicles can now be optioned up with a DAB tuner. According to the Munich based manufacturer: “BMW customers can now enjoy the new digital programming without any restrictions. What's more, the digital sound quality is superb – without any interference, background noise, crackling or fading. The Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+) tuner features easy channel preset and automatic station search functions so that drivers are not distracted – and this contributes to more traffic safety. “

Likewise Audi Australia has made a similar announcement, offering a digital radio upgrade for the A6, A7 and A8 range.

Down Under the Audi A8 4.2 FSI and 4.2 TDI models are now equipped as standard with the digital radio DAB+ and digital television package, with digital radio combined with digital television and BOSE Surround Sound system as an optional package on the A8 3.0 TDI for $7500.

All A6 and A7 models can be ordered with the DAB+ and digital television package. It's priced at $3130 for A6 models and $3180 for A7s.

Interestingly in the same announcement, Audi acknowledges the limitations of digital audio in this country by pointing out: “Digital Radio DAB+ is currently available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide – servicing more than 60 per cent of Australia’s population.”

So for now, that crystal clear static free digital audio, accompanied by album art, weather and news and traffic information will remain the realm of the city dweller.  

Currently there are no plans to increase coverage of digital content by Australian broadcasters both commercial and non-commercial. In fact, it's likely that a new generation of internet based radio systems (delivering content via the 3G, or future 4G mobile network) will replace digital radio systems before then. These systems will literally open a world of content for Australian road users.