Canada in Digital Radio Limbo (and so is everyone else)
BobTheFraudStruble
"OTTAWA, Ontario — Going nowhere: These two words succinctly sum up
the state of Canadian digital radio broadcasting, or DRB.
Despite years of offering Eureka-147 DAB simulcasts of AM and FM
signals in L-band (1452–1492 MHz) in major metro markets, broadcasters
have virtually no listeners and no market profile.
“L-band DAB is in limbo,” said Canadian broadcast technical consultant
Wayne Stacey, who has been involved with Canadian DRB for the past 20
years. “In fact, from a transmission standpoint, the band is dying.”
Meanwhile, HD Radio — the iBiquity Digital in-channel, on-band (IBOC)
system — has been authorized for experimental FM broadcasts in Canada
since 2006.
Yet, despite the willingness of the Canadian Radio-Television and
Telecommunications Commission to fast-track licenses in this format,
“not one broadcaster has come to us to request one,” said CRTC Vice
Chair Michel Arpin. “Industry Canada, who is in charge of the radio
spectrum, has said that they are also willing to set HD Radio
standards, but nobody has cared to file a request with them either.”
“AM and FM are technologies decades out of date,” said David Bray; a
partner in Hennessy & Bray Communications, which has been heavily
involved in Canadian DAB. “Younger listeners are tuning out in
significant numbers. Yet broadcasters have been unwilling or unable to
agree on a unified course of action. Instead all of their efforts have
been directed to protecting their fragile profit margins in the short
term. That’s fine if you plan to retire within five years or so. For
those planning on a career in the industry beyond that, the future is
in peril."
Why DAB failed
In June 1990, the now-defunct Canadian Association of Broadcasters
dazzled delegates at its annual convention in Ottawa, driving them
around in a van equipped with a DAB receiver. This was before
widespread use of the Internet or satellite radio, at a time when
analog services ruled and cellphones were still the size of bricks.
Given its CD-quality sound and reliable coverage, the Eureka-147 DAB
signals wowed the delegates and won their backing for taking Canadian
radio digital.
With the support of the Canadian government and the broadcasting
industry, Canada began to plan and then rollout DAB transmitters in
Montreal; Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor,
Ontario (across the river from Detroit).
In all cases, the 70-odd stations were licensed to simulcast existing
AM and FM program feeds. Original content was frowned upon, both
because the broadcasters wanted to move the Canadian public from
analog to digital, and also because new services might lead to new
competition, disrupting the existing broadcasting apple cart.
Unfortunately, the refusal of receiver manufacturers to supply the
Canadian market with low-cost L-band receivers kept the medium from
taking off.
“The problem is that Canada’s DRB plans used different spectrum from
Europe, where VHF-band DRB receivers were available,” said Arpin.
“Once the United States rejected DAB in favor of IBOC, that was it.
With only 30 million people, Canada was not large enough to justify
the mass-production of DAB receivers that couldn’t be sold
elsewhere.”
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Add General Motor’s withdrawal from a commitment to installed AM/FM/
DAB receivers in its cars, and the die was cast. The signals were
there, but no one had the radios to hear them.
(Save Wayne Stacey: “I still listen to CBC’s DAB services in Ottawa,
thanks to a DAB card in my computer,” he said.) One last hurdle:
Industry Canada is now reviewing its allocation of L-band for DAB. The
process, which is due to finish next year, will likely see radio’s
share of the band decreased for other services. As a result of this
review, Industry Canada stop issuing new DAB technical licenses in
2006, which is also when the CRTC decided to let broadcasters start
putting original programming on their DAB channels in a bid to attract
listeners.
Today, DAB transmitters at Toronto’s CN Tower and other transmitter
sites are beginning to fail due to old age, and when they do die, no
one replaces them.
“I know that a few broadcasters have handed back their L-band
licenses, rather than buy new equipment,” said Stacey. “CBC Radio has
given back theirs in Montréal. The service was taken off for tower
renovation, but it is not being restored after the work is done.”
HD Radio?
DAB’s demise was foreseen by the CRTC in 2006, when it reversed its
earlier DAB-only policy in favor of allowing HD Radio to be used in
Canada as well. HD Radio FM tests conducted in Toronto proved that the
digital technology could coexist with analog FM services.
However, Canadian broadcasters are not moving to add HD Radio
services, preferring instead to stick with analog AM and FM.
“Broadcasters here still want to see how HD Radio fares in the States,
where the rollout has slowed down and issues with AM HD Radio have yet
to be fixed,” said Stacey. “... So our broadcasters — already burned
by DAB — are understandably reluctant to commit any money to HD Radio,
especially in this economy.”
Today, Canadian radio is firmly committed to AM and FM, with no action
by either public or private broadcasters to make the permanent jump to
digital.
“I have to wonder what the broadcasters are thinking,” said Arpin. “It
is now possible to get Internet radio in the car over your iPhone,
with access to thousands of stations worldwide. Yet Canadian radio is
staying analog! What will they do when GM and Ford start putting
wirelessly connected Internet radios in cars?”
“Nothing can be done until Industry Canada decides what will be done
with the L-band,” said Stacey. “The whole future of L-band DAB is up
in the air.”
Radio World contacted several of Canada’s major broadcasters and
requested interviews; none were willing to prove a spokesperson to
clarify their digital plans.
What appears clear is that the Canadian radio industry, having
invested heavily in Eureka-147 DAB only to see it go nowhere, is
adverse to taking such a risk again.
“It’s not an understatement to say that the future of radio in Canada
may depend on a viable digital solution,” said Bray. “It is very
possible that, by the time they see the light, the power will have
been shut off.”
http://www.radioworld.com/article.aspx?articleId=108522&mnu_id=14
Globally, digital radio has been a flop. Even the BCC Trust Chairman
admitted that DAB is a flop - LOL!
RHF
BTFS,
I would 'bet' that more Canadians who live next/
close to the USA Border Area own and use IBOC
HD-Radios; then Eureka-147 DAB Radios.
Of course that's because many Canadians who live
next/close to the USA Border Area Listen to AM&FM
Radio Stations broadcasting from the USA.
Plus many Canadians are now using and Listening
to XM/Sirius {USA} Satellite Radios too . . .
just an honest 'opinion' ~ RHF
.
.
Richard Evans
> "Canada in Digital Radio Limbo"
>
> the state of Canadian digital radio broadcasting, or DRB.
>
> Despite years of offering Eureka-147 DAB simulcasts of AM and FM
> have virtually no listeners and no market profile.
>
> Wayne Stacey, who has been involved with Canadian DRB for the past 20
I haven't got time to read the rest, but thought I should say the Canada
have never really pushed their DAB radio system.
Also having it only on L-Band probably didn't help, as that makes it
very expensive to provide any reasonable coverage. I seem to remember
reading that coverage was very limited, and there were sod all receivers
available in the shops.
bolta...@boltar.world
Richard Evans <rp.evan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>Also having it only on L-Band probably didn't help, as that makes it
>very expensive to provide any reasonable coverage. I seem to remember
>reading that coverage was very limited, and there were sod all receivers
>available in the shops.
Using frequencies in the Ghz range is pretty dumb for an earthbound broadcast
system that needs to penetrate hills and buildings. You'd think they'd have
figured that out before they started the tests.
As for recievers - my Denon picks up L Band but its the only one I know of.
B2003
tony sayer
scribeth thus
>On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:31:10 +0100
>Richard Evans <rp.evan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>>Also having it only on L-Band probably didn't help, as that makes it
>>very expensive to provide any reasonable coverage. I seem to remember
>>reading that coverage was very limited, and there were sod all receivers
>>available in the shops.
>
>Using frequencies in the Ghz range is pretty dumb for an earthbound broadcast
>system that needs to penetrate hills and buildings. You'd think they'd have
>figured that out before they started the tests.
It is a good frequency band for a high capacity type of GSM phone system
but hardly appropriate for low cost Broadcasting;!...
>
>As for recievers - my Denon picks up L Band but its the only one I know of.
Does it pick up anything at all?..
>
>B2003
>
--
Tony Sayer
bolta...@boltar.world
tony sayer <to...@bancom.co.uk> wrote:
>>As for recievers - my Denon picks up L Band but its the only one I know of.
>
>Does it pick up anything at all?..
There were test transmissions here in London for years but they stopped them
last year. Last time I checked a few months back there was nothing there. Or
no DAB broadcasts anyway.
B2003
dave
>
> Using frequencies in the Ghz range is pretty dumb for an earthbound broadcast
> system that needs to penetrate hills and buildings. You'd think they'd have
> figured that out before they started the tests.
>
XM has decent coverage on S Band.
bolta...@boltar.world
Its via satellite so there usually won't be half a city between the
transmitter and your radio. Does it work indoors? I'll bet it doesn't.
B2003
dave
Los Angeles with a 10 KW transmitter on Mt. Harvard. It gets indoors
surprisingly well.
bolta...@boltar.world
dave <da...@dave.dave> wrote:
>XM is a hybrid satellite/terrestrial system. They cover a good deal of
>Los Angeles with a 10 KW transmitter on Mt. Harvard. It gets indoors
>surprisingly well.
Given that my 100mw wifi system which also operates in S band can barely
penetrate 2 walls in my house I find that rather surprising but I'll take
your word for it.
B2003
D. Peter Maus
>
>> XM has decent coverage on S Band.
>
> Its via satellite so there usually won't be half a city between the
> transmitter and your radio. Does it work indoors? I'll bet it doesn't.
>
>
Hit or miss. I've gotten satellite reception indoors without an
external antenna, internal antenna only, and without ear a window.
But it was a frame house.
When I checked the antenna orientation function on the radio, it
showed that, indeed I was receiving satellite signal, and not the
terrestrial repeater.
Near a window, no problem. With an external antenna, exceptional
reception.
So, yes, it does work, indoors. But it's not always easy.
hwh
> In article<iae340$v0j$1...@speranza.aioe.org>, bolta...@boltar.world
> scribeth thus
>> On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:31:10 +0100
>> Richard Evans<rp.evan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>>> Also having it only on L-Band probably didn't help, as that makes it
>>> very expensive to provide any reasonable coverage. I seem to remember
>>> reading that coverage was very limited, and there were sod all receivers
>>> available in the shops.
>>
>> Using frequencies in the Ghz range is pretty dumb for an earthbound broadcast
>> system that needs to penetrate hills and buildings. You'd think they'd have
>> figured that out before they started the tests.
>
> It is a good frequency band for a high capacity type of GSM phone system
> but hardly appropriate for low cost Broadcasting;!...
They thought at one time that it would be good to replace analog
low-power community radio and perhaps local radio. National and some
regional radio could use Band III.
gr, hwh
hwh
L-Band DAB would use kiloWatt power as well as 1,7 MHz channels.
Standard 2,4 GHz Wi-Fi would use rather wider channels.
gr, hwh
RHF
> boltar2...@boltar.world wrote:
>
> > Using frequencies in the Ghz range is pretty dumb for an earthbound broadcast
> > system that needs to penetrate hills and buildings. You'd think they'd have
> > figured that out before they started the tests.
- XM has decent coverage on S Band.
Dave,
Canada gave-up on Eureka-147 DAB and opted for
the American XM/Sirius Satellite Radio System with
some Canadian 'Content' = what-works-works-! ~ RHF
Plus Canada has a agenda for a more active and
aggressive 'transition' from the old AM/MW Radio
Band to the larger; almost exclusive use of the FM
Radio Band as a Local City/Metro {Community}
Urban Radio Service with the fewer AM/MW Radio
Stations being utilized as Regional/Provincial Radio
Broadcasters serving larger Rural Areas having fewer
people per 10,000 km2, ~3,861 Sq.Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_Canada
Majority of the Population ~85% in "Clusters" in
Localized City/Metro Areas : That are best served
by the FM Radio Band Stations.
Much Smaller ~15% of the Population Dispersed in
vast Non-Localized Rural Areas : That are best served
by the AM/MW Radio Band Stations; with a few
Shortwave Radio Stations too.
Plus Canada has 50% of it's Population within 50km
of the US Border; and 75% of it's Population within
100km of the US Border.
http://www.unitednorthamerica.org/canadapop.htm
Meaning American FM Radio Stations in equal numbers
to the number of Canadian FM Radio Stations provide
indirect Radio Service to this large segment of the
Canadian Population.
http://www.howderfamily.com/blog/canada-close-to-the-border/
-and- YES Canadian's do Listen to American Radio.
So... *IF* IBOC 'Digital' FM HD-Radio in the USA ever
becomes 'established' and 'accepted' in the USA : As
the Standard form of FM Radio Listening and thus the
Standard means of FM Radio Broadcasting : You can
expect that IBOC 'Digital' FM HD-Radio will also in-time
become 'established' and 'accepted' in in Canada :
Just due to the close proximity of the vast majority of
the Canadian Population to the USA along the Border;
and the simple fact that American Radio Signals :
DO NO STOP AT THE BORDER [.]
It Remains MHO that the Future of Terrestrial Radio
Broadcasting in the USA is FM Radio; and the Future
of FM Radio is IBOC 'Digital' FM HD-Radio with HD2
Channels in the USA.
NOTE : IBOC 'Digital' FM HD-Radio* with HD2 Channels
in Canada makes sense too. One Radio Station on One
Frequency with an HD1 Channel in English; and an HD2
Channel in French; or an HD2 Channel in the Language
of one of the Local First People's of Canada.
* Single Point {Co-Located} Radio Service Serving a
Diverse Bilingual & Bi-Cultural Population.
Conclusion : IBOC 'Digital' FM HD-Radio* with HD2
Channels represents both Economy and Efficiency
in Canada as a National Nation-Wide Radio Service.
radio - be-it-analog-or-digital - just listen ~ RHF
.
.
RHF
> On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:37:33 -0800
>
> >boltar2...@boltar.world wrote:
>
> >> Using frequencies in the Ghz range is pretty dumb for an earthbound broadcast
> >> system that needs to penetrate hills and buildings. You'd think they'd have
> >> figured that out before they started the tests.
>
> >XM has decent coverage on S Band.
- Its via satellite so there usually won't be half a city
- between the transmitter and your radio.
- Does it work indoors?
YES very good.
- I'll bet it doesn't.
- B2003
Sorry - You would lose.
Simple located the XM/Sirius Antenna Module*
In-the-Window; or On-the-Window or Outdoors
makes XM/Sirius Satellite Radio a natural for
any fixed Listening location at home or office.
* Little 2" Square Module.
http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/147/682/537/GxDT.jpg
http://www.carstereoworld.com/Images/satellite/antenna%2014215.jpg
Same goes for Auto/Car/Truck/Boat XM/Sirius Satellite
Radio a simple on-theroof/trunk or On-the-Window
Antenna Module is a low visibility natural.
* Little 1"~2" Square Module.
http://www.audioallies.com/images/AntennaSpecialists/XM20CP.jpg
http://www.carstereoworld.com/Images/satellite/xm8000f.gif
bolta...@boltar.world
RHF <rhf-new...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>Sorry - You would lose.
>
>Simple located the XM/Sirius Antenna Module*
>In-the-Window; or On-the-Window or Outdoors
>makes XM/Sirius Satellite Radio a natural for
>any fixed Listening location at home or office.
So it works indoors so long as you stick the antenna in the window or
outside.
Err, right.
I don't think you quite get what I meant by "indoors". Going by your definition
it would work quite well down a mine if the antenna lead was long enough.
B2003
Richard Evans
>
> They thought at one time that it would be good to replace analog
> low-power community radio and perhaps local radio. National and some
> regional radio could use Band III.
Perhaps replacing a low power FM TX of lets say 10w, with an L-Band TX
or 100w or so. I suppose that would be financially feasible, although
I'm not sure how well a low power L-Band TX would be received by in door
portables.
Richard E.
Richard Evans
> XM is a hybrid satellite/terrestrial system. They cover a good deal of
> Los Angeles with a 10 KW transmitter on Mt. Harvard. It gets indoors
> surprisingly well.
Presumably this TX is pretty power efficient, as they could build a very
efficient aerial system at L-Band frequencies. Probably not a bad idea
for local fill in transmissions. But for providing terrestrial coverage
over a large area, it would be better to use a frequency that travels
better, and copes better with the terrain.
SMS
> NOTE : IBOC 'Digital' FM HD-Radio* with HD2 Channels
> in Canada makes sense too. One Radio Station on One
> Frequency with an HD1 Channel in English; and an HD2
> Channel in French;
I expect that in Quebec it'll be the other way around, but it's pretty
clear now that Canada will follow the U.S. with HD Radio. No matter what
the Canadian government may want to do, the problem is that no company
is going to want to make receivers that only work on some strange
Canadian digital system. Mexico will also eventually use the U.S. system.
The world really needs to coalesce around one standard for IBOC, and
perhaps another standard in another band that everyone can agree on. At
this juncture it would make the most sense for all countries to adopt HD
as it has the most receivers available and is the most widely used
digital system.
dave
Same as GPS reception indoors I suspect.