What is digital radio?
At the beginning of last year the Federal Government passed a motion that said by 1 January 2009, all major Australian cities will have access to the next generation in radio, called ‘digital radio', or digital audio broadcast (DAB).
While radio has been around for years and to must of us seems quite functional, digital radio will be a free service yet it will offer many interactive features that analogue radio just can't – and all you need to do to access them is buy a radio with a built-in digital receiver.
Click to enlarge |
| Pure Siesta |
Why should I buy a digital radio?
Essentially, digital radio offers much better sound quality than analogue, but with other enhanced features including more stations and text information displayed on the radio's LCD about the program on-air, such as song and artist details, or weather and sports results.
Finding a station is also easier with a digital radio because users can search via station name instead of frequency.
A digital radio also offers a sort of ‘PVR' service, which allows users to rewind and record programs, just like a Foxtel PVR when connected to a TV.
What can I expect to pay?
Like most audio equipment, the digital radio's price will vary depending on the amount of features packed into the unit.
While most of us picture a bedside clock when asked to imagine a radio, the digital radio will come in various form-factors, just like the current analogue AM/FM radio.
Customers should expect to pay anything from under $150 to over $15,000 depending on the product.
