HD Radio Goes Alpine

Michael Hedges October 1, 2006

Interest in HD Radio received a boost from Swiss broadcasters after a successful demonstration in and around Luzern. Over 200 broadcasters, technical specialists and regulators from six countries attended the two days of discussion and explanation. Swiss technical consultant and broadcaster Markus Ruoss, a strong proponent of HD Radio, organized the event as the first public HD Radio demonstration in Europe.

HD Radio™ is the trademark in-band AM and FM digital technology developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation. Broadcast Electronics (BE) manufactures and supports HD Radio digital solutions. Radio Sunshine, primarily owned by Markus Ruoss, purchased the HD Radio system for field trials and operation in the Luzern area. The system was put in place by BE in April.

The oft-quoted expression “radio is the last medium to go digital” was again repeated throughout the demonstration and discussions among broadcasters. Because the demonstration was preceded by months of field trials in the challenging eastern Swiss terraine broadcasters were satisfied that, indeed, an alternative to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and its derivatives are workable. Most of Switzerland’s privately owned radio stations serve relatively small service areas.

The highlight of the HD Radio Days demonstration was a 60-minute tour bus trip through the mountain region near Luzern. The high-tech outfitting allowed observers to hear the transmission quality of the three offered signals as well as watch digital displays of spectrum analysis. One major technical consideration in Switzerland is 100 Khz signal spacing, much tighter than most countries. Another consideration, immediately apparent from the bus tour, are Swiss mountains.

The first part of the bus tour demonstrated good digital reception where the FM signal was unusable. Inside the coverage area, the system “operated perfectly,” said Markus Ruoss, even with a simulated interfering signal. The multicasting feature, which Rouss called the “killer ap,” was demonstrated on the Radio Sunshine frequency rather than a test channel.

“Most of the members of our association (Verband Schweizer Privatradios – VSP – Association of Swiss Private Radios) are of the opinion that HD Radio is a very interesting opportunity right in Switzerland, with its many and sometimes little radios,” said Energy Zürich Managing Director Jürg Bachmann. “The possibility to make three, four or five programs on the same frequency and in a digital quality without enormous investments is very attractive.”

The HD Radio demonstration broadcast Radio Sunshine, Energy Zürich and a speech-based service channel. Bachmann said that many of the smaller Swiss broadcasters would be more attracted to HD Radio because of the need to make the digital switch rather than multi-channel offerings. And the cost factor, he said, is important.

“Over ten years, the cost is nothing,” he said with the conviction of the recently converted.

VSP members held a private meeting following the Luzern demonstration to discuss the wide and varied digital possibilities now available. Bachmann also noted that private broadcasters continue to work with the public broadcaster SSR-SRG idée Suisse in the Swiss DAB Konsortium. “It is important for us that there is not only one digital solution for radio,” he added.

SSR-SRG idée Suisse radio co-ordinator Marc Savary said the HD Radio demonstration was “interesting” and “useful” but the public broadcaster remains totally committed to a DAB strategy.

“SSR-SRG’s digital radio strategy is DAB development; phase one will cover the entire country by the end of 2008, phase two with the private broadcasters (DAB-Konsortium) in German-speaking Switzerland and the third phase in 2009 for SRS-SSR multimedia programs.”

Normalizing Swiss digital development plans with recent ITU RCC 06 conventions is necessary, he said, because a phase-out of the present FM radio broadcast band is in international negotiation, though not expected for more than a decade. In the short term, he said, HD Radio might provide an “end of the shortage of (FM) frequencies.”

The Swiss public broadcasters have invested heavily in DAB planning and infrastructures leading Savary to mute his interest.” HD Radio does not seem to be an attractive solution since, really, it is only digitizing current frequencies. Offers such as presented in Luzern probably involve a reduction in quality and even transmission power.”

“SRG-SSR follows this test with interest,” he admitted, because HD Radio “could offer interesting and advantageous solutions in outlying areas or mountains.”

Every person involved in the demonstration and field tests resolutely praised the Swiss media regulator Bundesamt für Kommunikation (BAKOM). In remarks opening the discussions BAKOM Director for New Media Marcel Regnotto told the audience that, from the regulators perspective, facilitating new technical platforms should be the obligation of all regulators.

Technical papers on the HD Radio field trials will be submitted to BAKOM later this year prior to full authorization.

Previously published in Radio World International, September 2006, in a slightly different form.