Digital radio

The development of a digital direct-broadcast satellite radio system for the FRG is discussed. The project is being undertaken by the postal-service and research and technology ministries, the radio-television networks ARD and ZDF, the Technical University of Hannover, and the Telefunken and ANT companies under the project management of DFVLR and will utilize one 12-GHz transponder of TV-Sat (to be launched in fall 1985) to provide 16 stereo channels at -103 dB W/sq m over the whole territory of the FRG. The terrestrial links from the studios to the central earth station, the QPSK modulation scheme, the reception and conversion to 1 GHz of the 14-MHz-bandwidth satellite signal, the cable distribution system (allowing direct distribution of the 1-GHz signal or of a converted 118-MHz signal), and the prototype receiver are illustrated with diagrams and photographs and characterized. The planned system is seen as the best way to provide the sound quality offered by digital recording media (compact disk and PCM magnetic recorder) to radio listeners.