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Digital Radio Mondiale, a Better Standard Than US-Adopted IBOC?
Gsparky2004 writes "Over at Engineering Radio, Paul suggests that Digital Radio Mondiale (or 'Digital Radio Worldwide') may be a better alternative than the US-adopted, proprietary IBOC system. But he's concerned that the FCC is too far down the 'IBOC is the way!' road and won't accept an open source alternative, even one that may work better." For a slightly more pointed take on the matter, check out this anti-IBOC site, which paints IBOC as something akin to the devil himself.
I think there are different groups with different aims here. The anti-IBOC page given seemed to want to keep it analog-only, they say IBOC causes interference with the analog part. They aren't promoting Digital Radio Mondiale that I can tell. IBOC will at least retain analog compatibility, Digital Radio Mondiale will eliminate any analog compatibility completely, so their antique radio from 1930 won't work anymore. Or for that matter, the radio in my car from just a few years ago, not that I use its radio.
I'm ambivalent about it. I don't listen to AM/FM radio anymore, it's podcasts and playlists for me. I don't think it makes sense to keep a century-old format alive just to keep antiques (literal and figurative) alive. For that, I'd suggest hooking up an AM modulator to the line out of a music device, and they'll get their mushy distorted sound the way they like it.