Digital Technologies:
We have seen radio technology change in many ways over the
past few years, radio originally used Long Wave (LW) used in the 1940’s and
Medium Wave (MW). Then developed into Amplitude Modulation (AM) in the 1920’s, Frequency
Modulation (FM) in 1950’s. Now, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) which is used
today.
LW- In radio,
longwave refers to parts of the radio spectrum with relatively long wavelengths.
MW- Medium wave
is part of the Medium Frequency (MF) radio band which mainly uses for AM radio
broadcasting.
AM- AM
broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation.
FM- FM
broadcasting is a broadcasting technology which uses frequency modulation to
provide high-fidelity sound via broadcast radio.
DAB (or Digital Audio
Broadcasting) is a radio technology which is now used to broadcast in several
countries, especially over Europe for example in the UK DAB is mainly used.
Since 2006 an estimated of over 1000 radio stations now broadcast in DAB
format. DAB is liked and used simply because it provides listeners with a wider
range of choice and provides an all-round better sound quality to its
listeners.
Due to the way DAB technology is,
broadcasters now have the ability to transmit more stations than they ever have
been able to before. Audiences in large major towns or cities in the UK can
access from 30 and 50 radio stations with DAB, that’s more than double what’s
available with analogue. Digital radio uses he spectrum more efficiently which
makes it possible to broadcast more channels with the same frequency.
DAB delivers a more improved sound
quality, the technology lets the receiver access the strongest signal it can
find and basically ignore everything else. This gets rid of the crackle and
fade which is all too familiar with analogue radio.
DAB digital radio will tune into a
station at just a touch of a button, which eliminates the need of fine tuning
to the station in order to receive the best quality. If a DAB set is used, this
allows the audience or listener to scroll through a list of stations that are
available by name, then tune by just pressing a button.