DAB

The audiophile grade DABs sold abroad won't work on worldspace. But worry not, it seems XM is coming to India as well soon ;).

Hi Shahrukh,

YES ! you are correct.

The WorldSpace system was the first digital audio broadcasting system which transmitted directly from satellite to its subscription based receivers.

Also, though this is DAB, the digital is used to squeeze in as many channels as possible... Not the best quality possible.

Though technical details are sparse, it appears that WorldSpace uses the MP-3 format of lossy audio compression. The MP-3 datarate ....no idea, though my WILD guess is that it is between 128 KBps and 192 KBps..

Anyone with more difinitive knowledge ... please post.

There are no other DAB ( Digital Audio Broadcasting ) transmissions available terrestrially over India. The DAB radio in India is usless.

As far as I know, AIR has done some experimental DAB Shortwave transmissions...

Nothing planned for domestic reception

The MP-3 datarate ....no idea, though my WILD guess is that it is between 128 KBps and 192 KBps..

I do not think Worldspace is even 128 kbps. Clarity of many channels is less than what one notices with 128 kpbs MP3 recordings.

Hi !

I have Worldspace radio BPL Dive attached to my Marantz AVR-4500. I sounds great.

I would not be fair to compare it with CD. But compared to AM and Stereo FM - Worldspace is really outstanding.

Setting up the attena is crucial. If you can have it installed at your roof-top and have cable running to your receiver, it helps.

And the content is superb. No ads. Complete songs. And the RJs don't talk trash. It feels like the good old radio & sounds like today's technology. Good range & variety of channels.

And to top it all - just costs Rs. 1800 for BPL Diva Receiver (with remote & volume control, so you could plug it straight to power amp) with 3 months subscription and standard antenna. Worth possessing Digital Source Component.

More info at worldspace.in & worldspaceradio.com

Regards

Sanjay

Hey Amp_nut & kspv,

You guys must be having an audiophile grade ears to know the difference being transmitted digitally.

I have always found it interesting that there are persons willing to pay double or more for Radio, with half the number of channels.... than Cable TV.

I get 175 Digital Channels on Cable TV ( and about 80 of the same channels in analog) for Rs 300 per month, and many have told me this is a 'Rip off' !

No one has ever said that for 80 Radio channels, delivered at less than Full Fi quality...

reignofchaos schrieb:

The audiophile grade DABs sold abroad won't work on worldspace. But worry not, it seems XM is coming to India as well soon ;).

Any idea by which year the XM will start operating in India.

Is DAB broadcasted over the net or will it be over the air? I get a whole lot of radio channels on iTunes on my Mac. Is that DAB??

on my Mac.

Ah-Ha ! So you are one of those from the 'other' side ! Mac not PC

Jest Kidding, pal.

Is DAB broadcasted over the net or will it be over the air? I get a whole lot of radio channels on iTunes on my Mac. Is that DAB??

THAT is a Great question. It brings us to What Is DAB ?

DAB is actually Supposed to refer to DAB RADIO.

DAB radio is Terrestrial ( NOT SATELLITE) Radio developed initially by the BBC.

In DAB radio, in addition to the actual audio information (speech and music), the system is able to transmit graphic images and text information at a low transmission rate.

Satellite radio such as Worldspace is ... to me, NOT DAB Radio.

However, given the High tech recognition that DAB Radio now has, Satellite Radio often wants to jump onto the DAB Bandwagon (IMHO).

Shahrukh, you have taken the relaxed def to its logical limit .... does ALL Digital Music transfer qualify as DAB ?

Obviously not, and therefore, staying with the proper definition, Sat Radio is NOT DAB radio

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Ah-Ha ! So you are one of those from the 'other' side ! Mac not PC Jest Kidding, pal.

Yeah, I'm a convert. Totally on the other side.



Amp_nut, Virgin radio transmits digital music via a physical line (Internet) so why isn't that DAB?

After all,

1. It's DIGITAL
2. It's AUDIO
3. It's a BROADCAST

Also any clue when we can expect some good DAB radio (the stuff u play on via a DAB tuner) in India?

I guess so is any mp-3 played out from a HDD using say Apple's Airport Express or any WiFi transmission... ?

IMHO, DAB should Refer ONLY TO

DAB (Terrestrial) Radio.

Ofcourse every one will have their own pespective.

As far as i know, there are no plans for DAB Terrestrial Radio in India. The wait... as of now .. is Indefinite !

Amp_Nut schrieb:

As far as i know, there are no plans for DAB Terrestrial Radio in India. The wait... as of now .. is Indefinite ! :.

Damn!! Why do all these things take so long to x=come here!!!

Even FM took ages!!!

Hi Shahrukh,

Look at it this way :

1. Some audiophile reports on DAB that I have read are not very enthu for DAB.

2. Your Digital Set Top Box for CATV now brings to you Stereo, good quality sound ... as good as what the broadcaster puts out on his satellite. VH-1, Channel [V] and MTV should sound decent,,, atleast as decent as FM radio.

Would be nice to hear from those who have tried listning to this on their stereo / HT.