Digital Radio Q&A

【About Digital Radio】

Q1: What is Digital Radio? And, its features?
A: Digital Radio (terrestrial digital audio broadcasting) is a new digital broadcasting service. It can provide a variety of services with texts, still pictures, and simple moving images, as supplement to high-quality sound music programs. Its clear data reception is expected even with in-car receiving set and portable receiver.
Q2: Is it different from AM and FM radio broadcastings? Does it mean existing analog radio receivers will be unavailable?
A: Digital Radio is an another type of broadcasting from existing radio broadcastings (e.g. AM, medium frequency broadcastings, or FM broadcasting). With this newly started audio-oriented broadcasting, you can experience high-quality sounds equivalent to that of CD, and additional information added by texts and pictures on data broadcasting. Please note the current AM/FM services will be continued so that you will still be able to listen to the current analog programs.
Q3: When does it start?
A: Since 10th of October, 2003, test broadcastings have been taken place at two Development Test Stations located in Tokyo and Osaka.

【Broadcasting contents】

Q4: What kinds of programs are on air? Where to find program listings?
A: At the moment, current programs run by Digital Radio Promotion Association (DRP) can be found at DRP homepage http://www.d-radio.or.jp/ : See separate regular programs in Tokyo and Osaka.
*English version is not available due to technical limitation. Apologize for the inconveniences.
Q5: In some cases, we do broadcast some analog programs, but most of programs are original digital radio service.
A: At the moment, current programs run by Digital Radio Promotion Association (DRP) can be found at DRP homepage http://www.d-radio.or.jp/ : See separate regular programs in Tokyo and Osaka.
*English version is not available due to technical limitation. Apologize for the inconveniences.
Q6: Is it different from "one-seg" (one-segment TV broadcasting)?
A: One-segment TV broadcasting is a digital TV service which provides same programs as in terrestrial digital TV broadcasting for home viewers (some contents may differ. But unlike one-segment service, digital radio (terrestrial digital audio broadcasting) is unique in its audio-oriented feature particularly designed for portable/mobile devices, in-car receiving device and audio players. So as the name (terrestrial digital sound broadcasting) shows, it fits into sound broadcasting category. Unlike TV broadcasting, it can basically receive information without watching screen because of its audio-oriented nature.
Q7: What the four (three) digits numbers on PDA screen stand for?
A:

These numbers are allocated to each digital radio service. Each number is different depending on your receiver. Present channel numbers allocated are as follows;
Tokyo
9101 (101) Japan Broadcasting Corporation (a.k.a. NHK)
9202 (202) OTTAVA
9203 (203) TBS Radio Digital
9301 (301) UNIQue the RADIO
9302 (302) Cho！A&G+
9303 (303) Bunka Housou Plus / Nippon Cultural Broadcasting (NCB) Plus
9401 (401) Area Showcase
9501 (501) Suono Dolce
9502 (502) Nippon Housou DIGITAL/ Nippon Broadcasting System (NBS) Digital

Osaka

9102 (102) NHK
9201 (201) DRP Osaka
9301 (301) DRP Osaka
9401 (401) DRP Osaka
9501 (501) DRP Osaka
Q8: What are "Cho！A&G+", "OTTAVA"and "Suono Dolce"mean?
A: These are services' nicknames (common names). Hope some of them become your favorite stations.
Q9: Why texts or images popped up on screen?
A: Those services are called Data Broadcasting that shows texts and images with sound.
Q10: Some channels display moving images, is that true?
A: At present, most of programs are only with sound and still pictures, but some programs are already available with moving images. Those programs are receivable with existing digital radio devices..
Q11: Digital Radio broadcasting can be recorded?
A: Most of digital radio contents attaching "Copy Once Generation (Copy Once) " signal so that you can only record pictures and sound but you cannot make copies. If you have any enquiries on pictures and sound recordings, please contact relevant telecommunication firms or digital radio receiver manufacturers.
Q12: Subscribing to CATV, can I listen Digital Radio programs?
A: At the moment, CATV-only subscribers cannot listen to digital radio broadcasting.

【About Service Area】

Q13: What area is covered by the test broadcasting ?
A: In Kanto region, some parts of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama, and in Kinki region, some parts of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Hyogo are currently covered . Some specific area, depends on their geographic and building type, it may occur wave obstructions or create low signal area. Covered areas may also create blind spots such as inside tunnels, subways and enclosed buildings. Performance ability of each receiver can also affect receiving condition.
Q14: Is the digital radio service available in other areas rather than Tokyo and Osaka? And any plan to start service in other areas?
A: At present, digital radio service covers parts of Kanto and Kinki regions. You can use the digital radio receiver in these areas.
Other areas rather than Tokyo and Osaka are still under review at the moment. But DRP is aiming at country-wide service by 2011 at the earliest and actively engaging on its realization.
Q15: Is digital radio available on the train?
A: Firstly, you need to receive airwave to listen digital radio service, so in strong wave area stable receiving condition can be ensured even on the train. But if the receiver is located far away from transmitting points (Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Mt. Ikoma in Osaka), radio wave will likely be weakened by train wall and windows and reception of the wave becomes difficult. Please note that when you listen to the radio on the train, make sure the volume is set to minimum level.
Q16: Can I listen in enclosed buildings, subways and underground shopping centers? If not, any plan to make it possible?
A: Digital radio uses different transmission system from analog radio so that receiving condition may affected by following factors such as;
・Performance ability of digital radio receiver
・Height of receiving point, surrounding geography and condition of building
・indoor or outdoor
And you cannot listen at unreachable locations such as in underground shopping centers and subway stations. However, we are determined to consider such "blind areas" by taking closer look at listener's needs and the user population.
Q17: Is the service area the same as mobile phone and one-segment TV broadcasting service?
A: Digital radio is a broadcasting service, and its wave is different from that of mobile phone. In addition, even though one-segment is a same digital broadcasting service, but it uses different wave and transmission power. So, the receivable area of digital radio is different from both mobile phone and one-segment broadcasting.

【General information on the DRP and Test Broadcasting 】

Q18: What is DRP do?
A: Digital Radio Promotion Association (DRP) broadcasts on digital radio after given a license for Test Broadcasting. The DRP is jointly established by Japan Broadcasting Corporation (commonly known as NHK in Japan), commercial radio stations and TV stations, manufacturing companies, advertising and trading firms, telecom firms, and other companies and firms. The DRP is an incorporated association with approval from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Its objectives are to contribute to the promotion, advertisement and development of digital radio as a means of next generation's broadcast medium. The Digital Radio Promotion Association is also referred as DRP.
Q19: Which companies are participating ?
A: Companies offering broadcast programs are; in Tokyo: (4 broadcasting companies) TBS Radio & Communications, Inc., Nippon Broadcasting System (NBS), Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) , Nippon Cultural Broadcasting (NCB). BROADCASTING, In Osaka: (5 broadcasting companies) Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), FM 802, Osaka Broadcasting Corporation (OBC), Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), and NHK. The Association consists of 10 full member companies (including 8 companies listed before), and 56 supporting members, as well as 34 special members. (As of 1st of April, 2009)
Q20: What is Test Broadcasting ?
A: Test Broadcasting sets its purposes as to invest on technical verification of terrestrial digital sound broadcasting, assessment of the listener population, and development of broadcasting service. The DRP is licensed and broadcasts programs from Development Test Station (a radio station opens in experimental purpose for checking its practical use).
Q21: How to listen to the Test Broadcasting ?
A: You can now either purchase digital radio receiver-equipped mobile phone, or USB supporting tuner that can be used on you PC. However, the Test Broadcasting ends on July 2011. And official launch is scheduled to start with different frequency. Please remember that current receivers will become unavailable in due time.
Q22: Any fee occur in listening Test Broadcasting ?
A: It is free of charge as listening to existing analog radios. But if you use telecommunication function or similar kinds on your mobile phone, separate communication fees will occur.
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