ABC Radio services for VAST

[earlsdon]

Neigbour who contacted the ABC re lack of ABC radio services on VAST received the following:-

The Radio services will move to VAST, almost certainly before the close of analog terrestrial TV in 2013.

As well as the regional direct satellite viewers, all ABC radio transmitter sites across the country will need a new receiver. This process/requirement is taking time to put in place.

It can’t be that far away – a dual transmission period will be required.

[mtv]

Neigbour who contacted the ABC re lack of ABC radio services on VAST received the following:-

The Radio services will move to VAST, almost certainly before the close of analog terrestrial TV in 2013.

As well as the regional direct satellite viewers, all ABC radio transmitter sites across the country will need a new receiver. This process/requirement is taking time to put in place.
It can’t be that far away – a dual transmission period will be required.

It's good that ABC radio will be added to VAST, but the second part sounds misleading, like you'll no-longer be able to receive any ABC radio stations without a 'new receiver' when that occurs.

One interpretation is they are talking about digital (terrestrial) radio and yes, you will need a digital radio (DAB+) receiver for it, however, unlike analogue TV, there is no current plan for existing analogue radio transmissions to cease, only for digital services to commence and operate in addition to the analogue radio services.

The other interpretation is that ABC plans to receive the radio services broadcast via VAST and re-transmit them via terrestrial analogue/digital, requiring a 'new' VAST receiver at the existing transmission sites, which will replace some existing links/receivers currently used at those sites.

Either way, it's great that more ABC radio stations will be added to VAST.

[earlsdon]

I understood each ABC radio transmitter site was required to have a VAST box to confirm the signal was okay. Nothing to do with the digital radio (DAB+) system. As far as I know there are no plans to discontinue any terrestrial analogue radio services.