Private broadcaster Radio Regenbogen and T-Systems network operator Media & Broadcast plan to begin Germany’s first HD Radio field trial at the end of August. The standard carries a conventional analogue FM programme and a digital transmission on the same frequency, with capacity for additional programmes or data services.
Listeners in the Rhine-Neckar region can continue receiving Radio Regenbogen on 102.8 MHz with standard FM radios. Compatible HD Radio receivers will also provide the new Regenbogen Gold and Regenbogen Comedy formats. Radio Regenbogen Managing Director Gregor Spachmann said this evolutionary approach was the reason for testing a technology already used by more than 1,300 stations in the United States.
Media & Broadcast sees HD Radio as an option for a later digitisation of the FM band and is participating as the technical partner. Egon Kraus, head of the Radio business unit, said the trial would gather operational and reception data from simultaneous FM and HD Radio transmission and help define future receiver requirements.
The Baden-Württemberg State Institute for Communications, LFK, also supports the pilot. LFK President Thomas Langheinrich said the test would determine whether HD Radio could provide broadcasters with a useful additional digital service.
Planning for the pilot is under way following laboratory measurements conducted with the Federal Network Agency and Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences. The organisers are seeking support from receiver and automotive manufacturers.
The project is also supported by patent holder iBiquity Digital Corporation, Audioexport Georg Neumann, Orban/CRL Systems, BE Broadcast Electronics and Ruoss AG, which led the Swiss HD Radio trial. Initial results are due to be presented at an LFK event in Stuttgart on 27 September.
