NorthEast Radio Watch is where I read it first.
In 1999, Canada decided to embark on Digital radio using the Euopean model called Eureka DAB. In the United States, we went down a path called “IBOC”, which uses “clever” techniques to embed analog and digital signals in the same bandwidth, avoiding having to set aside new bandwidth and convincing everyone to switch to digital radios (the Digital TV transition could have been a model to handle radio – but most radio listening is in cars, which tend to stay in service for 10 years)
In Canada, Europe, China and Austrailia – the approach taken was to not turn off analog or overlay digital on analog – but to set aside new bandwith for an all digital band – one where all the channels are multi-plexed on a single signal (kind of how Sirius and XM work). In that method, the radio station doesn’t have to own their own transmitter – they provide programming to a central aggregator who then runs all of the stations through a single transmitter. You either can hear all digital stations or none of them.
According to NERW, it is thought that no more than 1000 DAB radios were ever sold, and after 10 years, the experiment is over. The CRTC (the agency in Canada that regulates radio) has cancelled the permits and pulled the plug.
HD radio in the United States is faring little better. The “L” band frequencies used in Canada are used by the military in the United States.
Just wanted to thank you for your efforts in making this site available. I can see its been alot of work and requires a bit to maintain. Although navigating sometimes is a little frustrating, I’ve found it to be quite resourceful. Very much so. Thanks again!