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razz
1-9-17, 2:02pm
Recently I read online where FM was being phased out of Norway in favour of digital radio etc. I had to look up what the difference was between digital and FM - http://www.explainthatstuff.com/radio.html

What happens now as it is expected that analog radio is going to disappear in favour of digital. What will that mean in practical terms for all the radios now in use? Do we lose free radio service? Will it all be fee-based?

Can someone please advise? TIA

Tybee
1-9-17, 2:26pm
I am curious, too, Bae? (I figure you would know,:))

Alan
1-9-17, 2:33pm
Radio frequencies are kind of cool once you understand a little about how they work. Right now, the usable spectrum runs from about 3kHz to about 3000GHz, with most portions set aside for specific types of use. Digital signals are better than analog signals because digital signals can be compressed and allow more information to flow on the same frequency, and because you can combine streams using unique headers, multiple channels can be transmitted on the same frequency. Lots of existing radios are capable of receiving digital format, most commonly in the US are the combination AM/FM/HD radios lots of vehicles already contain. I think our HD is called something else in Europe, maybe DAB?

I wouldn't worry too much about losing free radio service. Digital is a technology, not a business plan.

Tybee
1-9-17, 2:36pm
Thanks Alan, that is fascinating!

Rogar
1-9-17, 2:40pm
I read that, too. I could be corrected, but my understanding is that you will need a digital radio to hear digital broadcasts and traditional FM radio will no be able to receive the digital broadcasts. I don't think it will be fee based but a person will either need a digital radio or another form of digital reception. Most radio stations already stream a digital signal that you can get with any computer with internet access or from smart phones or tablets that have WiFi or other digital access. I have friends who want to get non-local radio broadcasts and use their phone or computer, which then can send a bluetooth signal to a speaker or radio with bluetooth capabilities. Maybe a simple comparison would be how a person listens to Pandora or Spotify, but not fee based. I don't think it will become widespread anytime soon, but might be the way things will go years from now. Maybe someone else more technical has a better explanation, but that's my rough understanding.