22-05-2011, 08:16 AM
At a recent IEE lecture it was pointed out that although the bit rates on DAB are a bit on the low side they are good enough for all but critical listening. This really means fixed installations with high quality equipment. In that situation he said there is also Freeview and Freesat both of which use adequate bit rates for high quality.
Apparently there is still a lot that could be done with MP2 at current bit rates by using improved coders at the TX. Since this would be a negligible cost why isn't this being done?
Yes, we are saddled with an obsolete audio codec for DAB. It's bad that DAB receivers have only recetly been fitted with updated codec capability. Even if they have, few will dare mention it for fear of harming DAB sales. It's also a regulatory failure that car radios still don't have a mandatory "must fit DAB" on new cars.
Apparently there is still a lot that could be done with MP2 at current bit rates by using improved coders at the TX. Since this would be a negligible cost why isn't this being done?
Yes, we are saddled with an obsolete audio codec for DAB. It's bad that DAB receivers have only recetly been fitted with updated codec capability. Even if they have, few will dare mention it for fear of harming DAB sales. It's also a regulatory failure that car radios still don't have a mandatory "must fit DAB" on new cars.
www.borinsky.co.uk Jeffrey Borinsky www.becg.tv
