Harris Corporation Transmitters Support Launch of First DAB+ Digital Radio Services in Australia

July 21, 2009 - PRLog -- SYDNEY, Australia, (SMPTE Australia, Stand No. D11) — Harris Corporation , an international communications and information technology company, announced the sale and installation of its DMB 670 transmitters to support the build out of DAB+ digital radio services in Australia, the largest such service in the Southern Hemisphere.  Installed and commissioned for Broadcast Australia pty Ltd by local Harris agent — The Bridge Networks (TBN) — the transmitters form the infrastructure foundation for the provision of DAB+ service to Australia’s national broadcasters — the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).  



DAB+ digital radio offers interference-free reception, digital sound quality and a wide and varied choice of stations that broadcast both nationally and locally.  Launched in early July, the new digital radio service in Australia has a countrywide reach encompassing five major cities — Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney — enabling over 60 percent of the nation’s population to receive DAB+ digital radio.  



"Australia is pioneering DAB+ digital radio in the world, and Harris is delighted to share in this momentous event by supporting the build out of the country’s first digital radio broadcasting infrastructure,” said Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris Broadcast Communications.  “The success of digital audio services worldwide has fuelled the consumer demand for multimedia capabilities.  Over time, the added functionality that DAB+ brings is set to considerably enhance the consumer experience by offering high-quality multichannel audio and rich media services, such as mobile video.”



The core of the digital operation is Broadcast Australia’s Network Operation Centre (NOC) in Sydney, which provides centralized monitoring and forward control of all the transmission sites.  At its NOC, Broadcast Australia receives the encoded and multiplexed signal and provides broadcast transmission services for its customers.  This hub allows Broadcast Australia to effectively manage the performance of the entire network, respond remotely to any issues and keep clients abreast of the live status of their broadcast.  



“The customer had a unique requirement, and Harris actively collaborated with The Bridge Networks and Broadcast Australia to design new products to meet the customer’s needs,” said Chris Dredge, national sales manager at The Bridge Networks.  “With a wide variety of power levels to address every transmission strategy, the Harris DMB transmitters allow broadcasters to better serve consumers by offering distortion-free reception and superior CD-quality sound that considerably enhance the overall listening experience.”



Available in power levels from 125 W to 10 kW, the DMB 670 mates the world-standard DAB665 exciter with a new, compact amplifier system to provide powerful, efficient, air-cooled DAB/DMB transmitters.  With a unique modular design that provides for maximum redundancy, along with dual, auto-switching transmitters and exciters to eliminate off-air time, the DMB 670 is able to support the demanding requirements of Broadcast Australia and their end customers.



All DMB 670 transmitters utilize Harris PowerSmart™ architecture, which features a new 50-volt LDMOS device that minimizes parts within the transmitter — creating a compact and energy-efficient solution that provides robust transmission output for reliable delivery of multimedia services.  PowerSmart enables television and radio broadcasters to lower the cost of ownership over the course of the transmitter life through a cost-effective, compact and “green” energy-efficient design.



Harris Broadcast Communications offers products, systems and services that provide interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire media delivery chain. The Harris ONE™ solution brings together highly integrated and cost-effective products that are ideal for emerging media business models and for customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-definition services.



About The Bridge Networks

The Bridge Networks is a leading service and product supplier to the Broadcast and Satellite Industries within Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands and the United Kingdom. With a highly qualified team of skilled Engineers, Installation Technicians, Riggers and Product Specialists, combined with access to world-class products, The Bridge Networks provides comprehensive solutions to any broadcast or satellite systems requirement. For further information, please visit www.thebridgenetworks.com



About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries.  Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and 15,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists.  Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services.  Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.

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