Demo shows success of low-bitrate video on DAB

RadioScape has participated in a joint demonstration with Microsoft, NTL Broadcast and Tandberg Television of the next key advance for DAB technology at the NAB show in Las Vegas.

RadioScape has participated in a joint demonstration with Microsoft, NTL Broadcast and Tandberg Television of the next key advance for DAB technology at the NAB show in Las Vegas.

Broadcast video content from CNN International encoded in Windows Media 9 and DAB audio content from Capital Radio Group was IP encapsulated and multiplexed using RadioScape digital radio infrastructure products.

This was uplinked via satellite from the UK and then rebroadcast locally via DAB.

Using only 150Kbyte/s, impressive full motion streamed video was then received on a personal computer using RadioScape's unique, software-based DAB receiver card.

The demonstration also included portable applications with streaming video to a PDA sized screen using only 64Kbit/s.

Data over DAB on the move was demonstrated using an HP Compaq IPAQ PDA with an Etheractive DAB datacard sleeve.

"DAB is perfectly suited for portable devices as it can provide a very low cost means to access video and data anytime, anywhere making it a key technological advance for innovative products that are being designed for tomorrow's digitally-connected, mobile society", explained John Hall, RadioScape's CEO.

"It is a very robust technology that was specifically created to be used to receive digital content on the move - you can even receive it at 300km/h on a speeding train.

Because DAB uses relatively little power with low processor requirements, it is ideal for mobile applications that want to access the huge explosion of television programming, which is currently only available via cable or a satellite dish".

Currently at the demonstration stage, it is anticipated that the first products are likely to be hand held PDAs and dedicated video devices.

Other devices that could benefit from this technology include mobile phones where broadcast technologies provide a simple and cost effective method for receiving both video and rich data.

Combined with conditional access, this could open up new revenue options for mobile operators.

One of the advantages of the RadioScape DAB solution is the flexibility of its end-to-end software defined radio approach.

Through this RadioScape can quickly bring new technologies such as video to market with the entire end-to-end capabilities required for a broadcast quality service.

RadioScape predicts that the initial demand will be in the Asia Pacific region where the culture of listening to radio is less established but video is very popular.

RadioScape's unique position as leading innovator of both the transmitter and receiver ends of Eureka 147 DAB RadioScape's skills at creating software solutions have resulted in its unique position of being an end-to-end innovator for DAB.

During 1999 NTL, in conjunction with RadioScape, developed a revolutionary, software-based way of implementing, controlling and monitoring digital radio transmissions for the start of Digital One.

This system is now used for virtually all commercial DAB radio stations in the UK.

In addition, RadioScape designed the DAB software stack that is used by Texas Instruments in its DRE200 DAB receiver chip.

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