Digital radio unpossible in Canberra

Enginerd said :

Digital radio maybe in Canberra next year as part of a regional rollout trial. Currently we are up against Darwin, Hobart and Townsville. If this doesn’t happen Canberra is in the 100 regions scheduled to get digital radio by 2011/12.

Following on from RandomGit’s comment at post #11…

WTF? What do you mean “up against”, it’s not hosting the bloody Olympics. Seems a really odd situation to me.

Waiting until 2011 and beyond sucks dogs balls, so get writing to your MPs people.

Please. 😛

Maybe if they turned of analogue TV, it would free up some funding to speed up the process?

i’m very interested in getting digital radio. apart from better quality, i like the data streaming that goes along with it. still, i can see from the perspective of those rolling the tech out that high population centres are a better testing ground, and so are a better investment to start off with.

Digital radio maybe in Canberra next year as part of a regional rollout trial. Currently we are up against Darwin, Hobart and Townsville. If this doesn’t happen Canberra is in the 100 regions scheduled to get digital radio by 2011/12.

Reminds me of when radio first began. The “capital cities” were all given multiple commercial licences while “regional centres” only received one. Thus you had Hobart with around a quarter of Canberra’s population getting two commercial stations while Canberra only had one until 1975. Out of interest Launceston also initially had two commercial stations.

Overheard said :

Personally, I’d like to have it here. I’d like to get Radio National and 666 in FM quality as I can at the coast (RN and ABC South East).

You can get RN in FM. I do. Point a decent FM antenna towards Mt Ulandra, (34 49 18S 147 54 00E),
horizontal polarisation.

I’d be interested to know what the idea is behind this law. It’s like a WTF moment, how can it be possible?

I used to really enjoy radio, but these days can’t find a station in Canberra that plays what I like. Digital radio would hopefully open up some new options.

Hasn’t stopped all the big chains selling those overprices mono receivers though.

I don’t know enough about broadcast spectrum with any authority. I just wonder what the experiences of those using it now are. Are we that connected that it gives a consistent, clear signal?

Three related stories. I’ve been plagued with WiFi internet dropouts, denials of service, etc on and off (lately on, which is to say ‘off the air’) since April 2008. It sometimes dictates which side of the house I sit.

My GPS phone rarely works for the reason I chose that model: the GPS. A tech at Droptus told me they’re hopeless in built-up areas, don’t use them. Not good for business in other cities.

This morning while every thing else was closing down or dropping off, ABC DiG radio just dropped off the air.

I don’t if these are all relevant, but having suffered through the pixilation issues of a set-top box, I’m wondering how connectivity is going.

Personally, I’d like to have it here. I’d like to get Radio National and 666 in FM quality as I can at the coast (RN and ABC South East). And yes, back when I had a shed and a garden, pottering and listening to football and Newsradio all weekend were great.

Good point Holden and the added data features of digital radio open up some interesting options such as score readouts on the screen of the radio.

Most disappointing thing so far is the total lack of integration of digital radio in new products.
They’ve all being stand along units so far. When I look at my home, all the radios are built into other systems. A part of the satnav/CD unit in my car, in the AV Receiver of my home theatre and in my iPod dock.

Art said :

Radio is old. Not the programs on it, but the technology itself. Like television, it relies on us planning our days and nights around being near it. I think on-demand stuff and podcasts will be of far more use. Gosh knows I’m never near a radio or in the car when AM is on ABC or All Things Considered from NPR is on NewsRadio so I just stream it off the internet.

This is good and I don’t mind the odd bit of podcast action. But it doesn’t work so well for live sports, haha!

Nothing wrong with radio Art. I’m finding 1053 is quite nice whilst driving. No cretins in the studio attempting to be funny about some current affair, just good oldies. Sometimes it’s nice not knowing what the next song is going to be.

Oh, and who cares if it takes a while to come in. You car stereo will need to be replaced so you’re not going to get it tomorrow unless you have a grand or so for a new head unit and install.

At current digital radio prices, my enthusiasm is significantly reduced.

Radio is old. Not the programs on it, but the technology itself. Like television, it relies on us planning our days and nights around being near it. I think on-demand stuff and podcasts will be of far more use. Gosh knows I’m never near a radio or in the car when AM is on ABC or All Things Considered from NPR is on NewsRadio so I just stream it off the internet.

Pathetic. It really reinforces Canberra’s reputation as being the bush capital.