Statement of Proposals

regarding

Revised Draft LAP Variation - Perth

ACMA File Reference: PF2005/1233 http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainterwr/_assets/main/lib100064/perth_explanpap

er_revdraft_lapvariat_dec05.pdf

Derek Hughes Chairman Radio Interference Group – Hamersley Towers (RIGHT) PO Box 2496 Warwick, WA, 6024 info@right.net.au For more information please visit:

Our response to the above document http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainterwr/_assets/main/lib100650/radio%20i

nterference%20group%20-%20hamersley%20towers.pdf

Our website http://www.right.net.au

Contents

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 1.1. Additional Advantages 3 1.2. Your Input 3

2. THE CURRENT SITUATION 5 2.1. Submission to the Draft LAP 5 2.2. “So the locals just believe the interference can never be fixed.” 5 2.3. The Benefits of FM Conversion of ABC Perth’s AM programs 5 2.4. Severe shortage of channels available for DRM digital radio 5

3. NATIONAL SECURITY 7

4. WA IS THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR A TRIAL OF THE DRM. 8 4.1. Affected Locations (include their surrounding suburbs) 8

5. TASKS REQUIRED OF ACMA TO IMPLEMENT 10 5.1. Suggested Perth Radio Dial 11

6. HOW TO USE THE CHANNELS FREED BY CONVERSION TO FM 13 6.1. DRM digital radio. The digital radio for country areas 13

7. ADVANTAGES OF DRM TO THE ABC 14

8. WHY DRM SHOULD BE TRIALLED IN WA 15 8.1. Single Frequency Network trials in WA 15 8.2. SFN Trial Suggested Frequencies 15 8.3. HF DRM trial Objectives should include a comparison between HF DRM and Satellite DAB digital radio 16

9. HIGH FREQUENCY DRM TRIALS 17

10. NEW BROADCASTING OPTIONS FOR NORTHERN WESTERN AUSTRALIA 18

10.1. The Existing Situation 18 10.2. New Options 18 10.3. Possible Future Directions 20

11. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL 22

12. CONCLUSION 23

13. ATTACHMENTS 24 13.1. Internet Links 24 13.2. Maps 24

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RIGHT is a non political, non profit group whose objective is to remove radio interference from Perth’s Northern Suburbs.

Radio Interference is causing;

a corduroy type of patterning over analog TV pictures

ABC Local radio can be clearly heard with your landline phone conversations

digital TV pictures to break into blocks and the sound to splutter

Faulty operation of electronic equipment such as personal duress alarms, security systems and garage door openers…..

The above effects will persist for at least the next 20 years until everyone has a DAB digital radio.

See & hear interference examples, at www.RIGHT.net.au

Around 150 000 people living in Hamersley, Balga, Balcatta, Gwelup + Girrawheen, Westminster, Nollamara, Stirling Warwick + Kingsley, Madley, Darch, Greenwood, Marangaroo, Koondoola, Dianella, Yokine, Osborne Park, Innaloo, Karrinyup, Carine, North Beach, Waterman, Marmion and Duncraig. all suffer these effects continuously to a greater or lesser degree.

Solution RIGHT proposes the following;

√ 720 ABC Local Radio goes to 95.3 MHz FM

√ 810 ABC Radio National goes to 98.5 MHz FM

√ 585 Parliamentary News Network goes to 100.1 MHz FM

√ 6 existing community FM stations will need an inexpensive change frequency to accommodate this and minimise interference to TV in SW WA.

1.1. Additional Advantages

√ Immediate removal of interference on the transfer to FM

√ Greatly improved sound quality of the above ABC radio stations

√ More DRM digital radio will be available to give country listeners FM radio quality.

Please visit www.RIGHT.net.au for more details.

1.2. Your Input

The ACMA planning is trying to prevent interference to SW WA analog TV which will occur at sunset on summer nights, where as; around 150 000 000 people are affected continuously for the next 20 years.

Please lobby the ABC Management that you need the AM frequencies for DRM digital radio.

• Convert Perth’s 720, Radio National and PNN to FM

• Trial DRM digital Radio in WA testing

Single Frequency Networks

1 “Shower” HF DRM to extend the coverage area in remote locations of ABC Local Radio

Marketing of receivers to an audience of around 500 000 people.

IGHT Committee

and their commercial counterparts.

Compare HF DRM to Satellite DAB for national coverage of ABC services.

R

1 “Shower” is where the signal is aimed vertically and reflects from the ionosphere around the transmitter site.

2. THE CURRENT SITUATION

2.1. Submission to the Draft LAP

We have made a submission2 to the ACMA’s Draft proposals for the Perth Licence Area Plan for radio.

2.2. “So the locals just believe the interference can never be fixed.”

This set of high powered transmitters has been causing interference from the time the area was settled.

No ACMA Electromagnetic Radiation protection standard for electronic equipment, as to the amount suppression which must be provided. (The only EMC standard is that it must not radiate, so what is a 50 kW transmitter?!) So buying a more expensive device may not fix your problem. So the locals just believe the interference can never be fixed.

2.3. The Benefits of FM Conversion of ABC Perth’s AM programs

We are writing to you to highlight the benefits of a move of the ABC’s Local Radio, Radio National and Parliamentary News Network to FM.

• Around 150 000 people within 6 km of the 210 m radiating tower. They would be very grateful to be able to use their corded and cordless phones with out a third party and to be able to watch particularly ABC TV without patterning all over the screen.

• Legacy of AM left when DAB digital radio starts in Perth soon. The cessation of interference which, would otherwise continue for a minimum of another 20 years. Then there will be saturation of digital radios to allow the transmitters to be switched off permanently.

• The received sound quality has not improved on the above stations since a new digital studio complex was opened last year. This is not possible using AM transmission. The conversion to FM will be an intermediate step on the way to digital radio.

2.4. Severe shortage of channels available for DRM digital radio

• Three Medium Frequency channels will become available for use with DRM radio in country areas where a block of three 9 kHz consecutive channels is rare. Since DRM and AM can travel thousands of kilometres at night the distance between stations has to be considerable.

• There is 120 channels in the medium frequency band which is shared between AM and DRM digital radio. Each AM or DRM transmitter requires 2 channels

• There must be but there is an offset resulting in an overlap of ±½ channel, so 3 consecutive channels are required to prevent interference to AM and 4 consecutive channels for DRM to a second DRM channel.

• On AM ABC Local Radio has 80 transmitters, Radio National 56, PNN 8, commercial 128 and community 15 and HPON 31 making 318 a total of

2 http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainterwr/_assets/main/lib100650/radio%20interference%20group%20-%20hamersley%20towers.pdf

transmitters for 120 channels prior to DRM digital! There are also 3 HF transmitters in the Northern Territory.

3. NATIONAL SECURITY

• Currently all ABC TV distribution of TV to country areas is owned by a foreign power. If national DAB was added to these satellites we would be vulnerable. If HF DRM is used it is owned by us and comes from multiple sources.

• If a satellite moves from orbit or is faulty large parts of the country loose all radio broadcasting.

4. WA IS THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR A TRIAL OF THE DRM.

For trials carried out in South West WA there is a variety of terrain, at least 2 000 km from other AM stations on the same frequency and the ability to use existing transmitter sites for remote monitoring of the signal. The variety of distances between stations would be an advantage.

4.1. Affected Locations (include their surrounding suburbs)

• Perth. ABC AM radio transmitters are surrounded by houses in Hamersley (Northern Suburbs of Perth)

• Sydney. ABC AM radio transmitters are surrounded by houses in Prestons (South West Sydney)

• Brisbane. ABC AM radio transmitters are surrounded by houses and a hospital in Bald Hills (Northern Suburbs)

• Adelaide. ABC AM radio transmitters are surrounded by school, shopping centre and houses in Reynella (South Western Adelaide).

• Melbourne. There is some parkland surrounding the transmitters in Bonds Road, Lower Plenty. (North East Melbourne in the Heidelberg/Eltham area.)

Town Site

Orange NSW Cumnock

Grafton NSW Grafton

Horsham Vic Horsham

Townsville Qld Brandon

Wagin WA Wagin

All of the above locations contain at least one 50 kW transmitter.

Commercial capital city AM stations have transmitter powers from 1 to 10 kW, where as commercial capital city FM starts at 20 kW and can be up to 150 kW. The ABC powers are always higher.

• If this clearance of high powered ABC AM transmitters from metropolitan areas is successful, then this will relieve other cities of interference, release 15 Medium frequencies for digital radio (DRM)

• ABC AM to FM in other Capital Cities. RIGHT has used similar planning principles to find FM channels in the other capital cities so that a consistent network can be produced.

• The ABC is using FM in 152 transmitters nationally. In the Eastern seaboard, they use FM for Local Radio, but does not use it for metropolitan Local Radio, Radio National or Parliamentary News Network. Therefore, the table of affected locations below will have similar problems and a similar fix can be used. However, for Sydney, further TV clearance will be required.

Therefore, in Newcastle, ABHN5A should be switched off and NBN change to its channel. Analog ABHN48 and translators on channels 50, 58 have been transmitting for many years and the other analog commercial stations require the same antenna. Digital ABHN37 is also on air.

Similarly, in Wollongong City WIN 3 should be switched off because the analog WIN 41 and digital WIN 40 are both on air.

• This will now allow use of 88 – 92 MHz for high powered FM in the Hunter Valley, Central Coast, Sydney and Illawarra areas.

• When these AM transmitter sites were established there was very few transmitters in Australia and so these transmitters were made very powerful to cover as much of the country as possible. The most powerful AM transmitters in Australia are 50 kW each. This is no longer the case.

• The regions surrounding the capital city areas have their own ABC local radio programs relevant to them. The most powerful transmitter in the country is ABC regional radio in Bendigo, Vic where the transmitter is 250 kW.

• The reason why FM by the broadcasters is preferred is that most people have FM receivers. A large proportion of them are stereo particularly in cars and home entertainment systems. Mobile phones and Ipods are now made with FM only radios. In addition, they can get all the audible frequencies from the original material. FM transmitters are less expensive to run than AM.

• The ABC has been able to produce stereo sound for its local radio capital city audiences for many years, but very few people have stereo AM receivers. In Perth, the stereo was switched off for a slight budgetary gain.

• In the last 30 years, all discs and CDs have been released in stereo and we cannot hear the stereo when it is played.

• Nearly all AM receivers are telephone quality even in Hi Fi equipment and there is no stereo.

• The politicians may welcome PNN in stereo, so that the Labor members can be on the left speaker and the Liberal members on the right speaker. The minor parties are in the middle! Thus, instant recognition of which side is talking!

• All stations in a licence area could also be required to transmit disaster information. This would provide a multiplicity of sources making terrorist attacks or natural disasters less likely to affect the radio distribution of essential messages. If this is not acceptable then, the redundant transmitters are moved to the adjacent regional areas, they can provide city coverage. This will mean greater distance from the DAB/FM/TV transmitters in case of disasters.

Original Alternative sites

Perth 6NM Northam 6BS Busselton Adelaide 5CK Port Pirie 5PA Naracoote Brisbane 4QS Toowoomba Sydney Lower Nepean/Upper Hawkesbury River area Melbourne Shepparton

• The ABC has not been responsible for its transmission facilities for nearly all of its history so this aspect has not been under its direct control.

5. TASKS REQUIRED OF ACMA TO IMPLEMENT

• Encourage GWN (Prime) and WIN to commence digital transmissions in SW WA as soon as possible.

• Encourage GWN (Prime) & WIN WA to introduce the combined 3rd commercial station in digital only, which has occurred in Hobart, and Murray Valley Victoria.

• Edit the Perth Radio Licence Area plan3 to enable the ABC AM services to be transferred to FM. The ABA is to check the proposed channels for the new transmitters and the frequency movements of community broadcasters. Instruct the community broadcasters to change frequency.

• ACMA are to produce the licence conditions for the new FM transmissions.

3 http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainterwr/_assets/main/lib100064/perth_explanpaper_revdraft_lapvariat_dec05.pdf

5.1. Suggested Perth Radio Dial

Perth Radio Dial with Bunbury Analog TV operating

FM

AM

600

900

800

700

1000

1600

1500

1400

1300

1200

1100

kHz

Italian (HPON 2kW)

6WF (National 50kW)

6RN (National 20kW)

Racing Radio (HPON 2kW)

88

108

107

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

90

89

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

6PNN (National “PNN” 100kW)

“6RN” (National 100kW)

6PPM “92.9" (Commercial 40kW)

6PCR (Community0.2kW)

6PLR (ABC “720” 100kW)

6RTR (Community 10kW)

6AR “100 FM Country” (Community 6.5kW)

6YMS “Move FM (Community 10kW)

6KCR (Community 0.2kW)

6CCR (Community 1kW)

6HFM “Heritage FM” (Community 0.2kW)

6NR “Curtin FM” (Community HPON 6.5kW)

? (Available HPON)

? (Available HPON)

6SON “Sonshine FM” (Community 16kW)

6EBA (Community 16kW)

6PER “Nova” (Commercial 40kW)

6MIX “94.5” (Commercial 40kW)

6NOW “96 FM” (Commercial 40kW)

6IX (Commercial 0.5kW)

6JJJ (National 100kW)

6ABC FM (National 100kW)

6SBS (National 100kW)

? (Available Commercial)

MHz

Formerly on 104.9 MHz (HPON 0.05kW)

6## Existing frequency changed to minimise interference with Bunbury TV 6## AM to FM conversion

6TCR “Twin Cities” (Community 4kW)

Formerly on 103.3 (Community HPON 0.05kW) 6PB (National 10kW)

6RPH (Community 5kW)

6PR (Commercial 10kW)

6IX (Commercial 2kW)

? (Available ) after Bunbury analog TV ceases

AM services moving to FM FM services moving to clear room for AM services

95.3 6PLR = 720 6WF (>100 kW EIRP) Move 95.3 6EBA to 104.1 MHz (16 kW)

98.5 6ABCRN = 810 6RN (>100 kW EIRP)

Move 98.5 6SON to 104. 9 MHz (16 kW)

100.1 6PNN = 585 6PB (>20 kW EIRP) Move 100.1 6NR to 107.7 MHz (6.5 kW)

Move 100.9 6AR to 106. 5 MHz (6.5 kW)

Move 103.3 HPON 102.1 MHz (50 W)

Move 104.9 HPON 102.9 MHz (50 W)

The AM Frequency Spectrum TV Effect on Radio

Very large stronger lighter & darker coarse pattern

Very large coloured coarse pattern

Relative visibility

Decreasing Visibility Channel 5 102.25 MHz Channel 3 90.68 MHz

Channel 5 106.68 MHz

• The ACMA needs to examine the field strength maps for ABC Classic FM to find any areas of poor coverage. For any areas of poor coverage a decision between translators or an increase of the main station power will have to be made.

• Advertise the move to FM and include where appropriate the use of existing FM antennas.

• Delete from the Perth Licence Area plan the transmitters on 585, 720 and 810 kHz and make these frequencies available for WA DRM licences.

• If disaster coverage is required the ACMA is to modify the licence conditions for the alternative country sites. The existing high power transmitters could be distributed to country sites particularly Busselton, Dalwallinu and Northam. A higher power transmitter in Busselton will require a shift of site as Busselton now surrounds the Busselton transmitter site.

6. HOW TO USE THE CHANNELS FREED BY CONVERSION TO FM

6.1. DRM digital radio. The digital radio for country areas

Available channels for DRM

DRM can use the followed;

• Medium Frequency band used by AM radio

120 channels are to be shared by 292 AM transmitters ABC is using 113 of those transmitters. Channels are used a pair at a time.

The coverage is region sized

In this band transmitters must be separated by 1 000s of km to prevent interference to each other at night time

• Radio Australia and domestic shortwave in Northern Territory use the High Frequency band. The HF band was used in WA, Qld and the Central Coast/Illawarra in NSW.

Coverage can cover continents

• VHF band, which is used by FM 100 channels shared by 1546 Transmitters. The ABC is using 515 of them.

Coverage is up to region size depending on the power.

Transmitters must be separated by 100s of km depending on the power to prevent interference

• VHF band, which is used by TV channels 0-5.

is shared with TV transmitters, which will close with the end of analog TV.

Up to region coverage

7. ADVANTAGES OF DRM TO THE ABC

• The ability to receive ABC’s traditional AM services in FM stereo quality over much larger areas than DAB digital radio which will be used in capital cities.

• DRM overcomes the poor reception at night near the edge of the daytime AM coverage area.

• DRM enables the traditional fading and fuzzy sound on HF radio to be “a thing of the past”.

• If after a suitable trial HF radio using DRM proves to be successful then

Radio National, Classic “FM” and JJJ could be implemented nationally very quickly

Only a small number of high powered transmitters are required thus reducing cost.

Remote area ABC local radio can provide continuous coverage between transmitter sites using shower HF DRM

These signals will penetrate buildings where as satellite signals cannot.

This could be very price competitive with satellite broadcasting.

• DRM receivers can operate in the Multi-Frequency Network mode in which the receiver rapidly switches between 2 transmitters of the selected station. Which ever is the best reception is the one heard. The broadcaster determines whether the other station is DRM or DAB and what frequency,

• Single Frequency Networks are transmitting identical programs from more than one transmitter in a reception area, freeing up DRM channels

• DRM should be able to cover the same coverage area with 1/3 less power.

8. WHY DRM SHOULD BE TRIALLED IN WA

• For market testing WA would be less expensive and more effective because;

There is one less commercial TV network to pay for advertising. The remaining 2 cover all of WA except Perth.

Commercial AM radio outside Perth and excluding Albany and Carnarvon is provided by two companies who can self-promote.

Macquarie Regional RadioWorks who owns Radio West. It operates in the south west of WA.

All commercial radio stations outside the South West are licensed to Redwave Media, which is owned by the West Australian Newspaper.

Market size is around 500 000 people some of which have no radio coverage at all and a significant proportion have a very restricted variety. There are also a large number of tourists and contractors to spread the word back to the other states.

8.1. Single Frequency Network trials in WA

• The abdicated 585, 720 and 810 kHz could be used for using the transmitters removed from service. This would allow large medium and smaller coverage areas to be covered for a trial without the need to purchase of new transmitters.

• There is a severe shortage of DRM radio channels until the eventual switch off of AM radio in probably 20 years.

• Under night time conditions the signals can travel huge distances. For AM there is a maximum of 3 stations in Australia on an individual radio channel. WA has a separation of over 2000 km from other stations. So interference should not be a problem.

• South West WA can provide flat, forested and over the ocean paths to test coverage areas.

8.2. SFN Trial Suggested Frequencies

Bold indicates the channels donated by Perth ABC AM going to FM

• 585 kHz ABC Mid West – 6GN Geraldton, 6DL Dalwallinu & 6NM Northam

• 801 kHz ABC South West – 6BS Busselton, 6BR Bridgetown, 6MJ Manjimup

• 1377 kHz Radio West South West – 6TZ Bunbury, Collie & Margaret River

Single Transmitters

• 711 kHz ABC Great Southern - 6WA Wagin

• 1341 kHz Radio West’s 6NA Narrogin

• 1521 kHz Radio West’s – 6WB Katanning

• 1566 kHz 6MM Mandurah

• 1593 kHz Easy Listening - 6EL Bunbury

8.3. HF DRM trial Objectives should include a comparison between HF DRM and Satellite DAB digital radio

• Determine the most effective way of distributing national ABC programming to the whole nation. For time zone reasons the nation will have to be divided into at least 3 zones.

• Give all Australians access to ABC local radio from their closest studio along with local commercial radio.

• Which is more effective in tropical Australia during the pre-monsoon build up lightning and the torrential rainfall?

• Determine the limitations on the user of portable radios in buildings.

• The ease of use of the receiver interface to the user

• Cost effectiveness of both systems

• Next year will have the most sunspot activity. This will make the radio mirror in the sky the most “cloudy”. So this will allow testing in a worst case scenario.

• The Ionospheric Prediction Service4 as a consultancy on propagation of HF and satellite broadcasting.

• ABC’s Domestic HF services

• Currently on air and are currently being upgraded:

Alice Springs 4.835 or 23.1 MHz, Katherine 5.025 or 24.85 MHz, Tennant Creek 4.835/11.88 or 23.1 MHz. All 3 transmitters are 50 kW each.

• Decommissioned:

Lyndhurst Vic: VLH 9.68, 11.88, 15.23 MHz @ 10 kW each, VLR 6.15 &9.68 MHz @ 10 kW each,

Prestons NSW: VLI 6.09 MHz @ 2 kW,

Bald Hills Qld: VLM & VLQ 4.92, 9.66 MHz @ 10 kW each,

Hamersley WA: 6.14, 9.61 & 15.425 MHz switching frequencies using a 50 kW and a 10 kW transmitter.

4 http://www.ips.gov.au/

9. HIGH FREQUENCY DRM TRIALS

Two types of trials are needed.

• Shower HF DRM

This is to extend the coverage of remote area ABC Local Radio and commercials in remote areas with the exception of the very large North West WA. The idea is to use similar power as is used for an MF service thus restricting cost.

Trial site should be Kalgoorlie for ABC Kalgoorlie/Esperance with Radio West’s 6KG. The coverage area would be circular and extend to the SA border at Eucla. Radio West’s 6SE could also be another candidate.

10. NEW BROADCASTING OPTIONS FOR NORTHERN WESTERN

AUSTRALIA

10.1. The Existing Situation

• Outside of towns there is little daytime coverage and it is variable at night, particularly in vehicles.

• Pilbara area is laden with iron ore which, absorbs radio waves close to the ground in the medium frequency band5

• ABC Radio Regional feeds 3 different program streams into Northern WA

• Kimberley, (Studio: Broome)

• North West, (Pilbara + Exmouth and Carnarvon) (Studio: Karratha)

• Out of area satellite, usually feeds fixed receivers in homesteads and mines. (Studio: Perth)

• AM radio is used by;

ABC Radio Regional except for small towns where FM is used.

Community broadcasters

Redwave Media’s 6FMS Exmouth, 6KA Karratha and 6NW Port Hedland

• FM is used by;

Low powered ABC Radio National transmitter and a small number of sites ABCFM. ABC Local Radio has 59 low powered repeaters of which 29 repeat North West Radio in other Local Radio areas.

Redwave Media’s6 Spirit FM and Red FM mostly use low powered FM with a couple of AM repeaters. Some of these FM repeaters are in the south areas of WA

Racing radio7 has low powered repeaters.

• Parliamentary News Network has no coverage.

• High Frequency Radio8 was used to provide a service for the Kimberley and another for the Pilbara/Gascoyne/Goldfields. This service used AM. The ABC closed down this service due to lack of audience response. DRM could change this. See Multiple Frequency Network below

• The total area of Western Australia is around 60 % of Australia’s landmass.

• The Kimberley region is a bigger area than Victoria and is subject to cyclones.

10.2. New Options

• The Department of Communications, Arts and IT headed by Minister Helen Coonan is currently planning the introduction to Digital Radio. Digital radio is administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. 5 Medium frequency (MF) band is used by AM broadcast radio and can be used by the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)

6 http://www.redfm.com.au/

7 http://www.rwwa.com.au/8 High Frequency (HF) is also called Short Wave

• DAB9 is a system which,

uses VHF (the allocation for TV channels 6-12) or UHF band. The 1.4 GHz section of the upper UHF band can be transmitted from a satellite.

can send multiple programs from a single transmitter.

can be up to CD quality sound depending on the number of programs transmitted from that transmitter.

• DRM10 is a system which,

can be used through the MF and HF band into the section of the VHF band where FM radio is used.

a single transmitter can transmit a single program only.

the sound quality is at near FM quality and stereo can be used.

Eliminates varying distortion (phasing), fading of short wave or “duck” talk of HF SSB. The signal needs to be poor for greater than 2 seconds to be heard. It is typical of digital broadcasting system; it is either perfect or not at all.

• DAB & DRM Both systems;

Transmit data including messages, and images. This would be good in disasters, statistical information such as commodity prices, weather forecasts and advertising.

Can be received in vehicles and fixed installations.

Operate in a Single Frequency Network. This is where more that one transmitter operates on the same frequency or channel in the same coverage area. This will free up more DRM channels for other locations.

Operate in a Multiple Frequency Network. This is where the receiver will imperceptibly switch between the frequencies specified by the broadcaster and you will only hear the best. This can also be done between DAB & DRM. So for example as you drive towards a town you may be listening to a DRM channel and when the DAB one is better the receiver will automatically switch. This may happen many times due to the terrain. It is extremely valuable in HF broadcasting where the frequencies vary depending on the time of day.

• DAB & DRM Comparison

Coverage depends on the frequency used.

MF 300 kHz (0.3 MHz) – 3 MHz (DRM & AM only)

Very few available additional channels are available for DRM as AM occupies most of the band.

The signal will penetrate buildings as AM does now.

A medium power transmitter can be used can cover a large district.

In theory the same coverage area can be covered with 33 % less power than using AM.

Coverage area is unpredictable and there is a mush zone around 100 km from the transmitter at night. DRM overcomes the mush zone.

9 Digital Audio Broadcasting 10 Digital Radio Mondiale

Affected by lightning strikes, which can be continuous in the tropical regions at the start of the monsoon season.

HF 3 MHz – 30 MHz (DRM & AM only)

can cover continents.

Signal will penetrate buildings

Affected by lightning strikes, which can be continuous in the tropical regions at the start of the monsoon season. Lightning must last continuously for nearly 2 seconds.

VHF 30 – 300 MHz (DAB & TV / DRM & FM)

High powered transmitters can cover regions, but terrain can exclude coverage.

Penetrates buildings as does FM now.

Coverage area is constant except at the edges in heavy rain.

UHF 300 – 3 000 MHz (3 GHz) (DAB & TV)

Line of sight so has a small coverage area unless transmitted from a satellite.

Satellite capacity is expensive and can only produce weak signals when covering areas as big as WA.

Will not penetrate buildings, particularly with metal roofs and blocks of apartments.

Absorbed by water. Rain is dense in cyclones and monsoons.

10.3. Possible Future Directions

• Provide HF DRM coverage from Esperance11 to the Pilbara / Goldfields / Inland using high powered transmitter for each service. This each transmitter must be able to switch frequency.

Services which could be provided are ABC North West, North West Radio (commercial ex Karratha), Radio National, JJJ and ABC Classic FM. Remote region commercial radio could also be added in WA. Redwave Media is the current licensee. All services should be transmitted in stereo.

Since a minimum of 2 frequencies will need to be used for each service, which will need to be switched twice a day.

The transmitting antennas must be steerable in the vertical direction12 using information from the Ionospheric Prediction Service13 in Learmonth. This information should be live, not a prediction.

11 Esperance was selected because it is at a longitude which is central to the coverage area. It is also away from cyclones. It is far enough south for coverage of Northern Goldfields and north. 12 The Jindalee Operational Radar Network for over the horizon radar uses similar HF antennas in Laverton WA. For details contact Executive Director, Business & Commercialisation Office Defence Science & Technology Organisation (http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/) and RLM Systems (http://www.rlmsystems.com.au/) who maintain JORN. 13 http://www.ips.gov.au/

Each channel should be 20 kHz wide to give stereo sound. Even Racing Radio would benefit by hearing the horses go past the finishing line!

The Kimberley could be served in a similar fashion but using ABC Kimberley and North West radio (Broome) as a program source. The transmitters should probably be using the shower system used by ABC Local Radio in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine. The transmitter site should in Fitzroy Crossing.14

The above will give experience which could be used at Radio Australia in Carnarvon WA and Brandon NQ

Receivers are already available for testing. Laptop Computers with an adaptor, can receive DRM are already available from WINRadio15, Melbourne. The inclusion of HF does not require any additional components over a DRM radio, which does not cover that band.

These receivers should be included in RFDS transceivers, and included with GPS receivers.

14 Fitzroy Crossing is near the geographic centre of the Kimberleys. 15 http://www.winradio.com.au/home/drm.htm

11. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL

• Radio National, JJJ and Classic FM are state based programs. PNN should use a similar system So, a selection needs to be made between;

• using a pair of HF frequencies per service per state. High powered HF DRM transmitters should be used to evenly cover each state.

• DAB L band transmission of the same program/state feeds.

The ABC feeds national programs with state based news inserts for Radio National, Classical, JJJ. So for 24 hour operation 6 HF required for each state. PNN is an identical program nationally, so will need 2.

This will make the allocation to ABC Local Radio, commercials and community stations a lot easier. Since PNN has an identical program nationally it could be provided to the whole country for the first time with strategically placed transmitters and a Single Frequency Network (SFN) by day and a second SFN at night. MFN could be used between day and night.

DAB digital radio is planned for capital cities, which is good for high noise environments.

• The ACMA should make the standard for receivers include;

DAB reception (Band 3 & L band)

DRM reception up to 120 MHz. Since computer filtering is used in the receivers it costs no more to provide these facilities.

Automatic MFN switching

Station selection is by pushing a scan button when desired. Station names are stored. Station name is the method of program selection and the received frequency should be displayed.

An “F” connector socket should be provided for antenna connection.

12. CONCLUSION

• Remove interference around metropolitan ABC AM transmitters through the conversion to FM starting with Perth.

• Conduct the trailing of DRM in WA for

Single Frequency Networks

“Shower”16 HF DRM to extend the coverage area in remote locations of ABC Local Radio and their commercial counterparts.

Compare HF DRM to Satellite DAB for national coverage of ABC services.

Marketing of receivers to an audience of around 500 000 people.

RIGHT Committee

16 “Shower” is where the signal is aimed vertically and reflects from the ionosphere around the transmitter site.

13. ATTACHMENTS

13.1. Internet Links

Digital Radio Mondiale http://www.drm.org/ DRM Manual for broadcasters http://www.drm.org/broadcastmanual/broadcastermanual.php EBU Technical Review - DRM BBC World Service Distribution Chain

http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_306-drm_bbc.pdf DAB

http://www.worlddab.org/ Digital Radio Australia

http://www.digitalradioaustralia.com.au/ Department of Communications, IT & the Arts

http://www.dcita.gov.au/ Australian Communications & Media Authority

http://www.acma.com.au/ ACMA's AM Radio Issues

http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.65646:STANDARD:1888769305:pc=PC_91723 WINRadio DRM Receivers, Melbourne

http://www.winradio.com.au/home/drm.htm

13.2. Maps

• ABC

Midlands radio consisting of Geraldton, Dalwallinu and Northam and South West radio consisting of Busselton, Bridgetown & Manjimup

• Map of Single Frequency Networks trial for SW WA

215

0 100 200 300 400 500

km

Geraldton

Esperance

Albany

N

Northam

Unique Program Feed

Bridgetown

Transmitter power rings50, 20,10, 5,4, 2, 1, 0.5 kW

Bunbury

Margaret River

Narrogin

Katanning

Merredin

Mandurah

78

41 Collie

Ascot WatersPerth

AM & FM

AM

89

Future BickleyDAB Transmitters

Legend

Scale

6KGShower HF DRM

500 km radiusCovers to the SA

Border

Kalgoorlie

Commercial South WA

• Map of Northern WA ABC local radio networks

SuggestedHF Kimberley Service

Suggested HF Pilbara/Gascoyne and Northern Goldfields Service

Available to car radios,which is not possible

outside towns at presentThe only other option

is satellite DAB

Northern WAABC

AM Transmitter Locations

2006

N

0

100

200

300

400

500km

Derby 6FXFitzroy Crossing

Community Broadcaster

Kununurra

Wyndham

Tom Price

Paraburdoo

Pannawonica

Newman

Broome

Geraldton

Carnarvon

Exmouth

326

432

Karratha

312

195

771

714

70

Port Hedland

239

219

395

150

IPSMeasuring Station

14 S

20 S

400 000 km2 129 E121 E

Suggested HF service vs Old SW service

Ionospheric Prediction Service at Learmonth measures the height of the radio mirror in the sky, so that the beam can now be aimed to the required area. They can also determine which frequency band should be used. This will result in much more stable signal strength.

DRM has Multi Frequency Networks where the broadcaster tell the receiver which frequencies contain the same programs. The receiver will monitor those frequencies and select the best one. This will resolve problems at sunrise and sunset.

DRM transmission system eliminates the phasing problems and short term fading (<2 seconds)

Esperance, well outside town limits, would appear to be good transmitter site. This should be much less susceptible to cyclones etc.

Only other option is DAB from a satellite in 1.5 GHz band. The choice may be between a rain affected expensive signal and a DRM signal affected by lightning!

A previous service was transmitted from Hamersley with similar aims using 6, 9 and 15 MHz bands.

Transmitter power rings50, 20,10, 5,4, 2, 1, 0.5 kW

Unique Program Feed

ABC Radio National covers towns with low powered FM transmitters

500 000 km2 129 E114 E

20 S

23 S

RIGHT WA 10 May 2006

info@right.net.au Page 28 of 30 http://www.right.net.au

• WA cross-sectional view of the earth & atmosphere for HF DRM

PilbaraRegion

IPSLearmonth

Esperance

Ionosphere Layer F2Day time

Ionosphere Layer D

Night time

Signal Paths range for HF broadcasting from Esperance WA to the Pilbara.

IPS Learmonth measures the height of the ionosphereand the vertical aim at the transmitters is adjusted to suit.The horizontal direction is limited to the width of the Pilbara.This will maximise the reliability and signal levels in the target area.

This drawing is to scale so the angles are correct.

GoldfieldsRegion

Cross section of the earth and its atmosphere

KimberleyRegion

Www.ips.gov.au/category/educational/other_topics/Radio_Communications/intro_to_HF_radio.pdf

RIGHT WA 10 May 2006

info@right.net.au Page 29 of 30 http://www.right.net.au

MF DRM Frequency Selection

RIGHT WA 10 May 2006

info@right.net.au Page 30 of 30 http://www.right.net.au