Going digital on the airwaves is still something worth pursuing.

My pick for a technology would be High Speed Multi Media (HSMM - mp3 steaming audio using wifi using overlapping HAMM radio channels; aka the hinternet) this is what I discussed at NCRC Gabriola. The reason is the number of receivers (ie smart phones, laptops etc) in use. On the technical side anyone broadcasting would be under Industry Canada in RSS-210.

The CRC covers the latest technologies and often files reports as slide shows during BTAC meetings. This slideshow deals with radio

Future of the broadcasting spectrum

View more presentations from Communication Research Centre.

and this with hybrids

Hybrid FM (+RDS) & Internet (v3)

View more presentations from Francois Lefebvre.

.

I managed to track down Matt Westervelt, in Seattle, on my way back from Mexico this summer. Matt should be considered one of the authorities on the subject of wireless networks. Matt recommends I follow up with Matt of BC Wireless for a Cdn view. Matt W has concerns with the technology. I may have been able to address most of his concerns if the L band were to be used for wifi.  L band use for digital audio broadcasting (DAB) use is under Industry Canada moratorium until (I don't know).  L band has (in Canada) 23 channels covering 1452.0 - 1467.5MHz.

My summer reading while in Mexico included one very topical book - Digital Audio Broadcasting Principles and Applications of Digital Radio, second edition, Hoegg and Lauterbach, Wiley Press, isbn 0-470-85013-2. While I was lost in most of the math the concepts were basically straight forward.  The book mentions some of the DAB tests undertaken in the Ottawa area in the mid 90's.

The benefit of the Ottawa tests were that it demonstrated an implementation of a Single Frequency Network (SFN). The benefit of a SFN is the economy of channel use, only one channel is used, with multiple transmitters (very cool).

In Canada, the CBC and Commercial sector chose the L band and DAB, it was implemented and failed. It was felt the high cost of the receiver was the cause. DAB systems can be terrestrial or satellite. The key issue with satellite is the limited time satellites are usable. The lifetime of satellites is about 15 years.



buenas noches y una cena agradable