Live DAB+ test transmission in Geneva during the EBU Radio Week 2012 with 100W ERP
Revision as of 19:40, 26 February 2012
Contents |
Explanation
During the EBU Digital Radio Week, a live DAB+ transmission using 100 Watts ERP is taking place.
The idea is to demonstrate a working setup using mmbTools coupled to a VHF power amplifier, mask filter and antenna. This kind of setup can be used by local or community radios to build affordable DAB+ transmission. The full setup cost is around 20'000 €. The most expensive item is the 600W power amplifier. The antenna used has a gain of 5dB so the maximum radiated power of this kit is around 1.8 kWatts, that is enough to cover a medium/big city (depending on terrain topology and antenna location)
The coverage has to be evaluated but will probably be patchy as the radiated power is limited and antenna location is far from ideal (roof from EBU). However, the signal should be received in Grand-Saconnex area and west Geneva county.
Content
Content on the multiplex will vary. At the moment it is:
Program | Bitrate | SID | Program Type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Banane | DAB+ 88 | 4002 | Student Radio | |
Radiobus | DAB+ 88 | 4003 | School radio | (Open Broadcast outage at the moment) |
Maxxima | DAB+ 88 | 4004 | Dance | |
Backstage Radio | DAB+ 88 | 4005 | User Generated Radio | |
Nashvillage | DAB+ 88 | 4006 | Country Music | SVG RadioVIS for this program |
LeMixx | DAB+ 88 | 4007 | Funk&Groove | |
Uzic | DAB+ 88 | 4008 | Techno Minimal | |
Voxinox2 | DAB+ 88 | 4009 | Young Seniors | |
Chat | DAB+ 64 | 4112 | File loop | James Cat purr |
The transmission is on channel 10A. Ensemble label is EBU/UER and EID 4FFF.
Some channel are with RadioDNS/RadioVIS hybrid radio slideshow service activated. Nashvillage is demonstrating RadioVIS SVG slideshow showing a small voting application for the next song (working on Frontier Silicon Milan module based prototype firmware). At the moment no DAB slideshow is made but it may be activated later in the trial.
Coverage estimation
Coverage estimation using Radio Mobile (free software from Roger Coudé). Parameters have been set to:
- Broadcast, location probability 95%
- Antenna height: 10m
- Receiver height 1.5m
Model doesn't take into account buildings and reflections so it is a rough estimation. In our measurement campain, we have noticed lots of reflections on Salève mountain that contribute to the signal.
Pictures
More pictures on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/opendigitalradio