In article , DAB sounds worse than
FM wrote:
X-posted to uk.rec.audio hopefully to attract Jim Lesurf's attention.
OK. Although I'm not sure I can provide all the info you may require...
:-)
and your (totally incorrect) assertion about MW allowing a frequency
response in the UK of 9kHz is incorrect:
Poppycock.
Look at the encoder and transmitter technical specifications
http://www.transmittersrus.com/inovo_222.htm
(pre-emphasis defeated): "PROOF" mode: ±0.5dB, 10Hz-15kHz 222-00
(NRSC): ±1dB, 10Hz-9.7kHz 222-01 (Euro MW): ±1dB, 10Hz-8.7kHz 222-02
(US SW): ±1dB, 10Hz-6.2kHz 222-03 (Int'l SW): ±1dB, 10Hz-4.85kHz
Can't comment on the above as I don't know the official limits in various
areas around the world, for various purposes. However it may be worth
bearing in mind that a TX may be specced to exceed what is legally
permitted in a given area in order to ensure that - when combined with what
feeds it - the results are not excessively limited in performance.
Hence I assume you can buy TX/modulators with a given specified max
bandwidth, but this does not mean you don't have to filter the input for
use in a given area/application.
You can have virtually any frequency response you like on medium wave.
From the tech speacs above you can see that in PROOF mode its up to
15kHz, and you can always go higher. Weather the tuner lets you decode
it is another thing. Solution. Build your own.
In any given political/geographic area there will be legally enforced
limits on the transmission bandwidth, etc, which is allowed for a given
purpose. You can obviously build items that exceed this, but it may not be
legal to use them
Broadcast MW uses envelope AM. MW receivers use envelope detectors.
Envelope AM is inherently double-sideband, so the maximum audio
bandwidth will be 4.5kHz.
My understanding is that in the UK (and in the EBU area) the 'medium wave'
(HF) broadcasts that use AM are legally permitted under a set of
requirements which include:
1) That the carrier frequencies are all nominally integer multiples of
9kHz.
2) That the channels allocated are centered on these and are nominally 9kHz
wide in total. i.e. extend +/- 4.5 kHz either side of the assigned carrier
frequency.
3) That modulation is essentially limited to be restricted to this
allocated transmission bandwidth. I don't know the current specs, but I
assume they come from the EBU/WRC agreements. I assume they mean that
any transmitted power has to be well below a given level once you reach or
exceed +/- 4.5 kHz from carrier. I think the actual limit frequency is set
lowe than this for 'guard' purposes.
4) So far as possible, nearby transmitters are given carrier frequencies
and channels that are no closer than 'alternate'. i.e. the attempt is made
to avoid people having two signals of similar power in adjacent channels,
or on the same channel. Alas, HF being 'promiscuous' this tends not to work
amazingly well. :-)
5) That simple AM is the standard method used for 'medium wave'
broadcasting (and also 'long wave'). This produces symmetric sidebands, so
means the nominal audio bandwidth should not exceed 4.5 kHz. I think the
actual limit is less than this for 'guard' purposes. Allowing higher
modulation frequencies would mean spilling into a total of *three*
channels, so I would be surpised if this is permitted unless the
'spillover' power levels are attenuated by a significant factor at
transmission.
However the actual specifications have varied with time. So a few decades
ago some european 'medium wave' stations broadcast using a wider
transmission bandwidth, but this has been stopped as it increases
interference problems.
Also, other specs are nominally permitted. Obvious examples being things
like Rugby time signals which are not intended as audio broadcasting.
For various historic reasons I think the situation in other world areas is
different in some details. e.g. IIRC Africa (?) used (uses?) 8 kHz carrier
spacing and channel bandwidths. So the USA may use 10 kHz for all I know.
My recollection is that 9 kHz is now widespread as the standard.
However where the band is crowded I'd expect people to be required to only
transmit with a transmission bandwidth of one allocated channel. Otherwise
the interference problems become much worse. For simple AM this means
limiting the modulation (audio) bandwidth to half the transmission
bandwidth or half the nominal carrier spacing.
To determine the precise details someone would have to get the relevant
specs from the WRC/EBU/Ofcom or whoever represent the permission
authorities for a given area/application.
All the above is to the best of my recollection. If it is wrong, someone
can point me at the relevant WRC/EBU/FCC/etc official documents for the
currently enforced specs.
Slainte,
Jim
--
Electronics
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Armstrong Audio
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Barbirolli Soc.
http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html