What Is Digital Radio Broadcasting?

Traditional AM/FM radio stations use analog signals to transmit programming to listeners. To broadcast analog signals to radio receivers is no longer necessary for the success of AM/FM radio stations. Digital radio broadcasting, with clean efficient sound, created slow demise of analog radio broadcasting. Analog is going digital. Digital radio broadcasting is rapidly changing the sound of traditional AM/FM radio in a global market.

Definition

In its basic form, digital radio broadcasting, according to "Digital Radio Guide," "...is an application of the technology in which sound is processed and transmitted as a stream of binary digits."

Benefits

Digital radio broadcasting transmits much higher sound quality than an analog signal. Digital AM/FM radio provides significantly better reception for car and portable radio systems.

Access

The analog signal transmitted in traditional AM/FM radio is replaced by the digital signal, but a radio station's location on the AM/FM dial is not changed.

Effects

Digital AM radio sounds like FM radio. Digital FM radio sounds near CD quality.

Features

An AM/FM digital radio station offers more choices in its programming to the listener, for example, in number of music genres, increase in sports and entertainment, more interviews and talk radio.

Resources

• The only AM/FM digital system F.C.C. approved in U.S.