Choosing certainty in DAB+: How to make the right decision?
How can you be sure you are making the best choice for DAB+?
As a local broadcaster with a license for DAB+, you are faced with an important decision: which transmitter network really suits you? Comparing options seems simple, but appearances can be deceptive. Differences in network design and the interpretation of coverage maps can cloud the picture. Fortunately, you’re not alone. At Broadcast Partners, we help you gain clarity so you make a choice your listeners can truly count on.
Can you compare apples to apples?
Not always. Some operators build based on a single transmitter in a high mast, while others use several lower masts. The result? Differences in coverage quality.
Because you pay a flat fee for each network, the bottom line is where you get the most value for your money: the quality of the broadcast network. And quality starts with understanding what you’re really getting.
How do you get a handle on the differences?
This is where the so-called propagation model comes into play. All operators base their NLPO offerings on the ITU 1546-2 model. This model uses a standard antenna height of 10 meters and considers only general topographic data. It provides a level playing field for an initial comparison. But what does this really say about what your listeners experience?
How do you look at maps the right way?
Maps based on the same model can still look different. That’s because operators present coverage differently. The legend tells you the real story, and that’s crucial.
At Broadcast Partners, we make it simple:
Purple: Areas where the field strength is above the standard. This means reliable reception, and the darker the color, the stronger the signal.
Blue: Areas where reception is possible but does not meet official requirements. These colors are never more than 9 dB below the standard. At more than 9 dB below standard, reception is virtually impossible.
As a result, you can be sure that our maps present an honest and transparent picture.
What makes Broadcast Partners different?
We go a step further than the ITU standard. In addition to this model, we also use our practical model, which we have used successfully for FM and DAB since 1998.
What makes this model unique? It assumes a realistic antenna height of 1.5 meters – exactly how most listeners listen to radio, and it takes into account the entire topography, from tall buildings and bridges to forests and hills. We do this with the reliable Longley-Rice model, which gives a much more accurate prediction.
What does this mean for your choice?
Want to compare maps from different operators? Then look critically at ITU maps and legends. However, do you want to be sure what your listeners are going to experience? Then choose maps based on Broadcast Partners’ practical standard. These not only give you a technical picture, but let you feel how your listeners will experience your signal.
Still in doubt?
Please feel free to contact us. We are happy to think along with you so you can make an informed choice. Because with Broadcast Partners you can be sure that you will deliver quality – and your listeners will hear it too.
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