DAB
Using the digital audio
broadcasting system (DAB)
Overview of DAB
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is a new multimedia broadcasting system that
transmits audio programmes with a quality comparable to that of CDs. This is made
possible by the use of a microcomputer in the DAB tuner which uses the radio signals
sent from multiple aerials and multi-path signals (reflected radio waves) to boost the
strength of the main signal. This makes DAB almost immune to radio interference
even in a moving object such as a car.
Each DAB station bundles radio programmes (services) into an ensemble which it
then broadcasts. Each service contains one or more components. All ensembles,
services, and components are identified by name, so you can access any of them
without having to know their frequencies.
Furthermore, additional information (called programme associated data) can be
broadcast along with the services in the form of texts.
Notes
• The DAB system is actually in a testing phase. This means some services have not been
sufficiently defined or are presently being tested. At present, such services are not supported
by the optional DAB tuner unit XT-100DAB.
• DAB programmes are broadcast in Band-III (174 to 240 MHz) and L-Band (1,452 to 1,492 MHz),
with each band divided into channels (41 in Band-III and 23 in L-Band). One ensemble is
broadcast per channel by each DAB station.
Ensemble
Service
Service
Service
Component
Component
Component
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Programme-associated data
1 0
DAB
GB
49