«BBC Radio and National Grid Wireless have announced a trial of a new transmission technology which will allow the two organisations to assess the practicality of digital radio services in the medium-wave bands. The trial, which will last for a year, will be centred on Plymouth. From the end of April, the BBC and National Grid Wireless will re-use a current medium-wave frequency in the Plymouth area to broadcast a trial digital service using the digital radio mondiale (DRM) standard. DRM is an emerging technology which has been designed to facilitate digital radio at frequencies below 30 MHz. The BBC, which has been involved in the engineering research and development of the standard over the last few years, already makes the BBC World Service available on short-wave using the technology to some parts of western Europe and north Africa.(...)»
Há até quem pense que isto vai substituir o DAB:
«The two big advantages of DRM is that it can be broadcast via existing AM transmitters, so no need for all that expensive investment. Second, and more important, DRM signals are stronger and can be broadcast for much longer distances than DAB. Why is this important? At present only around 85% of the UK can receive DAB, with the BBC inching its way towards its target of 90%. But even those who can get it can only listen to the stations on the two national multiplexes (soon to be three) and their regional multiplex offerings. DRM could transform that. But the adoption of DRM, as a replacement or as a rival to DAB, could be a huge spanner in the works of digital radio in the UK. DAB has only just got off the ground, and two rival systems could cause no end of consumer confusion, even with radios that can receive both. The DRM trial comes at a tricky time for DAB, with listeners such as the Guardian's Jack Schofield complaining that the signal quality is not as good as analogue FM. One critic devastatingly branded it "the new medium wave". So much for the digital revolution.»
Tudo porque há quem continue descontente com o DAB:
«This is piffle, especially in a British context. It reflects the disappointment in some quarters with the perceived failure of digital broadcasters in the UK to deliver on their promise of CD-quality sound.»
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