33 replies to this topic

[alanh]

DrP,
There is many times more mobile phone repeaters than broadcast radio towers. Broadcast Australia has portable FM transmitters which were used in the floods in North Queensland.
Kinglake FM community radio station happens to have given the most people the most accurate information during the fires in Victoria.

Telstra has had a transportable telephone exchange since a Canberra suburban phone exchange burnt down which from memory was in the 1960s. A transportable phone exchange only helps landlines, and not mobiles. Mobile towers need a high speed connection to the Telstra operating centre in Melbourne to operate even between a pair of phones which are right next to each other. Phone number on mobiles can be anywhere in Australia, unlike landlines which use an exchange prefix which keeps all the phone number localised in that area. A landline phone is useless if the house has burnt down includes the phone line and handset.

GoForMoe,
To put your discussion in perspective only 3.5 % of listeners are listening on line, and this is a common figure in Europe as well.

AlanH

Edited by alanh, 21 December 2011 - 01:21 PM.

[DrP]

Not a single thing said above rebutts the fact that both mobile and radio services are usually back in action promptly after a disaster.  Its just been one long pointless waffle, which of course is what we have come to expect.

[Malich]

alanh, on Dec 21 2011, 01:20 PM, said:

A transportable phone exchange only helps landlines, and not mobiles.

Which is why Telstra has several transportable GSM base stations. Google "SatCOW" for the most portable & recent example that I'm aware of. They have others ranging right up to transportable building size (which is what most mobile base stations are anyway), with satellite, microwave, fibre, and copper backhaul capability.

But the silly edge cases you're focussing on have nothing to do with the real purpose of this thread, and everything to do with something else...

[GoForMoe]

alanh, on Dec 21 2011, 02:20 PM, said:

GoForMoe,
To put your discussion in perspective only 3.5 % of listeners are listening on line, and this is a common figure in Europe as well.

AlanH

So what? Listeners doesn't make the technology superior. DRM+ is the best digital radio technology; and DVB-T2 with MPEG-4 is the best DTV technology; but people klomp around just fine with HD Radio and ATSC.

You still haven't answered my question - between DAB+ and Internet Radio over 3G; which do you believe is the better investment - knowing the high prices of DAB+ radios, the coverage limitations and the variety and quality of the radio stations available.

As phone apps like the Tune In Radio one mentioned earlier in this thread make the process considerably easier, and cars continue to implement iPhone/iPod docks rather than DAB+ - it is a good solution for people wanting more choice than AM/FM provide.

[Slattery]

Tune in Radio using the Telstra Next G network bluetoothed through the Holden Commodore Stereo works a treat

[Trigg]

Interesting -

http://theage.drive....0222-1tmh3.html


iPhone retrofit for older cars


Matt Campbell
February 22, 2012 - 9:33AM



Click to play video

A US company has developed an in-car docking station for smart phones.
Owners of older cars will soon be able to listen to their music collection in the car, with a US company planning to release an in-car docking station for iPhones.
The system, called Dash, could spell the beginning of the end for the humble car radio.
Developed by US start-up company Devium, the new system has a docking station that allows motorists to snap-in their iPhone 4 or 4S and listen to their tunes without fiddling with cables or having the battery run down by a Bluetooth audio connection.
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The phone is instantly charged as soon as it is docked, and also gives you access to all of your phone's apps - you can even send text messages on the go (provided you use the voice-operated app system).
The phone has a movie screen for the kids on long trips, or, if you have a sat-nav application loaded, it can direct you to your destination through your car's speakers. Front-seat passengers can also browse the internet for movie times or nearby restaurants.
The only switch on the system is a volume knob, though it does have an in-built FM tuner and auxiliary input. Devium will also offer a Dashboard app that twists the portrait-oriented screen to a landscape view for easier use.
"Dash doesn't require that you learn a new interface to use your stereo," the company's website claims. "You already know how to use your phone to access your music, your navigation app, your phone calls, and the incredible number of other apps in your phone's marketplace."
The company claims it will release a range of magnetic faceplates for the system, so even if you update your phone you can still have it as part of your car stereo system.
The Dash system is still in the patent pending stage, but the company says it will be on sale by July next year. Interested parties can pledge money towards the mass-market launch of the unit, with donations of $300 or more securing one of the first batch of Dash systems.

[Trigg]

Trigg, on 18 December 2011 - 09:17 PM, said:

No,  But thinking about getting one of these installed soon <a href="http://www.orioncara...312_avr6.1.htm" target="_blank">http://www.orioncara..._avr6.1.htm</a>

Installed one of these yesterday. DAB has been faultless so far! Drven through Osborne Park, Trigg, North Beach, Karrinyup, out to Joondalup, with no drop outs!

Sound quality is awesome.

[Slattery]

Tune in radio via Telstra Next G through the Holden IQ system for me daily!

[James Doherty]

Having purchased an Orion AVR6.1 about 12 months ago and installing a combined DAB/AMFM antennae, in place of the existing analogue antennae on the roof of the car,  the reception on DAB is perfect throughout the whole melbourne metro area,with no dropouts at all.

This also includes the whole of the Geelong area and beyond, including Bacchus Marsh and Gisborne, it is imperative to have a quality DAB antennae for reliable reception which you can purchase from dabonwheels in the UK, the antennae i'm using is a Blaupunkt Shark Line A-RD T 01-M.

Recently installed JVC DB56 DAB equipped headunit in my other car, with a magnetic mount antennae on the roof, reception with this setup is flawless, i'm of the opion it has a very slight edge over the Orion as far as reception goes.
This particular headunit was reviewed by dabonwheels who said it was the best DAB unit they have ever tested, i will concur with that, especially considering i'm using a $35 antennae and i picked up the headunit for $199 online.
Further to the JVC unit, it has an excellent AM/FM section in it, great dxing from AM.
The magnetic mount antennae is a KINETIC DMA-1004 awesome.

As far as DAB radio goes in the car,i find it  superior to FM, the quality of the sound is excellent with good stereo seperation.