Digital Radio Oceane

Digital Radio Oceane (DRO) is a digital radio broadcasting system, which is currently being trialled in New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Frequencies

DRO is the second digital broadcasting system to utilise the LF (longwave) spectrum, alongside Digital Radio Mondiale. Frequencies below 500 KHz penetrate ocean water well, and so were seen as ideal for use in island nations . Navigational beacons currently using these allocations will move to alternative frequencies, should DRO be implemented permanently in these nations. Stations testing in Noumea currently use a channel 'block' with a centre frequency of 196 kHz.

Current Allocations

Several stations are trialling DRO in New Caledonia. These include;

  • Radio Djiido (Noumea only)
  • RFO (Noumea and Lifou)
  • NRJ
  • Radio Rhythme Bleu (Noumea only)

In Vanuatu, only Laef FM is trialling the service.

Interference Concerns

Early observations made by a team of RFO engineers suggest that thunderstorm activity in tropical areas may undermine reception. However, an algorithm is being developed, which potentially will reduce interference from thunderstorms at these frequencies by 60-70%. DRO has returned favourable robustness results when compared with DRM and DAB. A pool of 500 testers was formed in Noumea, with a survey to be completed in January 2009.

Receivers

Currently no receivers feature DRO as standard, however, most European radios cover the LW band, and so can be rewired accordingly. For the purposes of the trial, each tester was given a modified Sangean ATS-505, tunable to 196 kHz. Should DRO become standard in these South Pacific nations, receivers will become available through local distributors.

See also

  • Digital Radio
  • Digital Radio Mondiale

References

"Longwave Dxing ibid".

"Testing Interference in Digital Radio Systems: A Practical Approach", Australian Communications and Media Authority (2008) at p 22.