 |
| DAB
("original flavour") |
 |
| DAB+ |
 |
| Radio Numérique Terrestre (RNT) (DMB) |
 |
| DMB TV |
|
|
Ensemble Label
| EId | |
3 Stereo |
 3 Stereo | 4 Joint
Stereo | 3 Joint
St. LSF | 3 Mono | 3 Mono
LSF | 3 Dual
Channel | 3 Packet
Data | 3 Stream
Data | 3 Stereo
AAC + | 3 Mono
AAC + | | | IV | TII |
|
The development of DAB in Canada has effectively stalled and no clear route out of the impasse is currently visible. There are now fewer DAB ensembles operating in the country than there were five years ago. This state of affairs is tragic considering that at one time, Eureka 147 DAB had been tested and demonstrated more extensively in Canada than anywhere else, even Europe.
That leadership was due in no small part to the expertise at the Communications Research Centre Canada, but also to the active engagement of the public-service broadcaster CBC. Canada was not immune to the same commercial pressures existing in the United States, however. Under the licensing regime existing in both countries, larger radio stations jealously guarded the commercial advantages that their transmission contours gave them and were rigorously opposed to any system which would, in effect, level the playing field. According to a CRC account of the development of DAB in North America, "US broadcasters tried to derail this process at a number of time[s in order] to restrict the process to a IBOC solution".
DAB networks in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have been operating since early 1999 and in early 2000 a DAB transmitter was set up in Windsor, which provided a signal into Detroit (U.S.A), the home of the North American automobile industry. Some 10 Million potential listeners can receive DAB, about 35% of the population. In Ottawa, the nation's capital, there is one regular ensemble as well as an experimental ensemble that operates intermittently. An ensemble also operated briefly in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Both the Windsor and Halifax transmissions ceased some time ago, leaving only a rump of services operating in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. On the face of it, the transmissions appear to be half-hearted, suffering frequently from fundamental technical faults. In Vancouver, Wohnort observed transmissions taking place on the wrong frequency, while in Toronto some ensembles cease operation completely during hot weather.
If and when the roll-out of DAB resumes, the size of the country, and the nature of broadcasting within it, will eventually put a complete listing of ensembles beyond the scope of this page.
In contrast to other countries that have adopted and implemented DAB, 23 channels are allocated to DRB in the range 1452 - 1492 MHz as follows:-
|
DRB
channel | Frequency | DRB
channel | Frequency | DRB
channel | Frequency |
| 1 | 1452.816 | 9 | 1466.768 | 17 | 1480.720 |
| 2 | 1454.560 | 10 | 1468.512 | 18 | 1482.464 |
| 3 | 1456.304 | 11 | 1470.256 | 19 | 1484.208 |
| 4 | 1458.048 | 12 | 1472.000 | 20 | 1485.952 |
| 5 | 1459.792 | 13 | 1473.744 | 21 | 1487.696 |
| 6 | 1461.536 | 14 | 1475.488 | 22 | 1489.440 |
| 7 | 1463.280 | 15 | 1477.232 | 23 | 1491.184 |
| 8 | 1465.024 | 16 | 1478.976 | | |
|
Allocation plans are available in a variety of data and document formats at the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications site.
There is a web site devoted to DAB in Canada but this appears not to have been updated recently.
|
Sources:
Communications Research Centre
Industry Canada - Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
World DAB Forum
|
Block L8: 1465.024 MHz
DRB Plan: NS001
Operator: CBC Radio-Canada
Sites:
The DRB Allotment Plan allocated this channel to CBC Radio Canada. However, CBC shared Block L11 with commercial broadcasters during test transmissions which ran between June 2003 and October 2004.
Sources: Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
|
Block L11: 1470.256 MHz
DRB Plan:NS002
Operator: CBC, CHUM, Maritime, NewCap
Sites: Geizer Hill (200w)
On-Air: June 2003 - October 2004
These test transmissions have now ceased. There are understood to be no plans to resume these transmissions any time soon.
|
DAB Halifax
| B001 | | 3 RC
Premiere | 3 FM96.5 | 3 CHFX Radio FM | 3 C100 Radio FM | 3 Q104 Radio FM | 3 CBC Radio 2 | 3 CBC
Radio 1 | | | II | TII |
12.11.2003
|
Source: Observations, 12.11.2003
|
Block L1: 1452.816 MHz
DRB Plan: QU109
Operator: Montreal Private Stations
Sites: Mont-Royal (Montreal, QC)
On-Air:
|
Stations Privees
| 0010 | | 3 TEAM 990 | 2 RADIO ENERGIE | 3 ROCKDETENTE | 3 MTL BEST MUSIC | 3 RADIOMEDIA | | | II | TII |
16.10.2004 |
Stations Privees
| 0010 | | 3 TEAM 990 | 2 RADIO ENERGIE | 3 ROCKDETENTE | 3 MTL BEST MUSIC | 3 RADIOMEDIA | | | II | TII |
22.08.2006
|
| MTL BEST MUSIC | | 000F | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| RADIO ENERGIE | | 000D | 192 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | No PTy |
| RADIOMEDIA | | 000B | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| ROCKDETENTE | | 000E | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| TEAM 990 | | 000C | 128 kbit/s | Mono | No PTy |
Source: Observations, 16.10.2004 |
Block L2: 1458.048 MHz
DRB Plan: QU110
Operator: Standard Radio Inc.
Sites: Montréal (Place Ville-Marie) and at Laval
|
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has granted Standard Radio Inc. an extension to the time limit to implement digital radio services in Montréal and Laval. The Commission originally approved this authority in August 2001.
|
| CJAD | | kbit/s | | |
| CJFM-FM | | kbit/s | | |
Source: CRTC |
Block L4: 1458.048 MHz
DRB Plan: QU111
Operator: CBC Radio-Canada
Sites: Mont-Royal (Montreal, QC)
On-Air: September 1998 (pilot); October 1999 (launch)
The CBC conducted its first Montreal DAB test transmissions in 1993.
|
CBC Radio-Canada
| 13FD | | 3 CBC Radio One | 3 CBC Radio Two | 3 R-C Premiere | 3 R-C Culturelle | | | II | TII |
15.11.2002 |
CBC Radio-Canada
| 13FD | | 2 CBC Radio One | 3 CBC Radio Two | 2 R-C Premiere | 3 R-C Culturelle | 3 Pr..
No.. | | 3 SRN IP | 3 SRC IP | | II | TII |
15.11.2003 |
CBC Radio-Canada
| 13FD | | 3 CBC
R.. One | | 3 CBC Radio Two | 3 Premiere chaine | 3 Espace Musique | 3 Nou..
Gui.. | | 3 SRN IP | 3 SRC IP | | II | TII |
16.10.2004 |
CBC Radio-Canada
| 13FD | | 3 CBC
R.. One | 3 CBC Radio Two | 3 Premiere chaine | 3 Espace Musique | 4 Pre..
Nou.. | | 3 SRC IP | | II | TII |
22.08.2006
|
| CBC Radio One | | C020 | 96 kbit/s | Mono | Information |
| CBC Radio Two | | C021 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | Classical |
| Premiere chaine | | C022 | 192 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | Information |
| Espace Musique | | C023 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | Classical |
 Prem Nouvelles | 56 kbit/s | Mono LSF | (News and Information loop) |
| SRC IP | | A1C00012 | 128 kbit/s | Packet Data | |
Source: Observations, 22.08.2006
SRC, 22.08.2006
|
Block L7: 1463.280 MHz
DRB Plan: ON074
Operator:
Sites: CBC Building, Lanark Av.; Camp Fortune, Québec; Time MCI Las Brisas Building, Ottawa;
|
| CIMF-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CJRC | | kbit/s | | |
| CKTF-FM | | kbit/s | | |
Source: CRTC
|
Block L9: 1466.768 MHz
DRB Plan: ON075
Operator: Communications Research Centre
Sites:
On-Air: February 2005
|
CRC-Ensemble
23.08.2006
|
Note that at the time this Snapshot was taken, the ensemble was seen to be using the Transmission Mode I, optimised for Band III, rather than either the usual L-band Modes II or IV.
|
| CD Player | | C000 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 1 | | C001 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 2 | | C002 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 3 | | C003 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 4 | | C004 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 5 | | C005 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 6 | | C006 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CD Player 7 | | C007 | kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| Data | | C00002 | 224 kbit/s | Stream Data | |
| Data 2 | | C00003 | kbit/s | Stream Data | |
Source: Observations, 23.08.2006
|
Block L18: 1482.464 MHz
DRB Plan: ON070
Operator: CBC
Sites: CBC Building, Lanark Av.; Camp Fortune, Québec; Time MCI Las Brisas Building, Ottawa
On-Air: February 2003
|
CBC Radio-Canada
| 17DF | | 2 CBC Radio One | 2 CBC Radio Two | 2 R-C Premiere | 2 R-C Culturelle | | | II | TII |
14.11.2003 |
CBC Radio-Canada
| 17DF | | 2 CBC Radio One | 3 CBC Radio Two | 2 R-C Premiere | 3 R-C Culturelle | | | II | TII |
14.10.2004
|
Since the above Snapshot was taken, the configuration has changed as follows:-
|
| CBC Radio One | | C010 | 96 kbit/s | Mono | Current Affairs |
| CBC Radio Two | | C011 | 160 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | Culture |
| R-C Premiere | | C012 | 96 kbit/s | Mono | Current Affairs |
| Espace Musique | | C013 | 160 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | Culture |
| DMB CBLT | | | kbit/s | Stream Data | |
| DMB RDI | | | kbit/s | Stream Data | |
Source: Observations, 14.10.2004
CW, 07.06.2009
|
Block L19: 1484.208 MHz
DRB Plan: ON071
Operator:
Sites: CBC Building, Lanark Av.; Time MCI Las Brisas Building, Ottawa; Camp Fortune, Québec
| | CKBY-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CIWW | | kbit/s | | |
| CHEZ-FM | | kbit/s | | |
Source: CRTC
|
Block L21: 1487.696 MHz
DRB Plan: ON072
Operator:
Sites: CBC Building, Lanark Av.; Time MCI Las Brisas Building, Ottawa; Camp Fortune, Québec
| | CKQB-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CKKL-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CFRA | | kbit/s | | |
| CJMJ-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CFGO | | kbit/s | | |
Source: CRTC
|
Block L1: 1452.816 MHz
DRB Plan:
Operator:
Sites:
A feasability study in 2001 identified Block L1 as a potential additional channel for digital radio in the Greater Toronto Area. The plan involved the reallocation of the frequency assignment in St. Catharines, which in turn was dependent upon the reallocation of the frequency assignment in Peterborough. However, an area subject to incoming interference from Mount Forest would still exist in the GTA, particularly in the southern portion of Scarborough.
|
Source: Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
|
Block L2: 1454.56 MHz
DRB Plan: ON112
Operator:
Sites: Cn Tower (5kW)
|
| CFXJ-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CHWO | | kbit/s | | |
| Sur Sagar | | kbit/s | | Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and English |
Source: CRTC
|
Block L3: 1456.304 MHz
DRB Plan: ON113
Operator: Master FM
Sites: CN Tower (8kW) plus 1 relay
|
CHANNEL3
| C100 | | 3 1050CHUM | 3 104.5 CHUM-FM | 3 EDGE 102 | 3 680 NEWS | 3 CHFI | | | II | TII |
18.02.2003 |
CHANNEL3
| C100 | | 3 1050CHUM | 3 104.5 CHUM-FM | 3 EDGE 102 | | 3 680NEWS | 3 CHFI | | | II | TII |
17.11.2003 |
CHANNEL3
| C100 | | 3 1050CHUM | 3 104.5 CHUM-FM | 3 EDGE 102 | | 3 680NEWS | 3 CHFI | | | II | TII |
19.10.2004 |
CHANNEL3
| C100 | | 3 1050CHUM | 3 104.5 CHUM-FM | 3 EDGE 102 | | 3 680 NEWS | 3 CHFI | | | II | TII |
27.08.2006
|
| CHFI | | C201 | 192 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | No PTy |
| EDGE 102 | | C302 | 192 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | No PTy |
| 104.5 CHUM-FM | | C301 | 192 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | No PTy |
| 1050CHUM | | C300 | 192 kbit/s | Joint Stereo | No PTy |
| 680NEWS | | C200 | 128 kbit/s | Mono | News |
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has authorised Corus Radio to transfer the Service EDGE 102 (CFNY) from the Block L3 ensemble CHANNEL3 to the Block L8 ensemble CH___8 and Rogers Broadcasting to transfer the Service 92.5JACK (CJAQ) from the Block L8 ensemble CH___8 to the Block L3 ensemble CHANNEL3. The move will result in each broadcaster having all its services on one multiplex.
Source: Observations, 27.08.2006 |
Block L4: 1458.048 MHz
DRB Plan: ON114
Operator: Master FM
Sites: CN Tower (8kW) plus 1 relay
|
CHANNEL 4
| C004 | | 3 CFRB | 3 MIX 99.9 | 3 THE FAN | 3 EZ-ROCK | 3 JAZZ FM | | | II | TII |
18.02.2003 |
CHANNEL 4
| C004 | | 3 CFRB | 3 MIX 99.9 | 3 THE FAN | 3 EZ-ROCK | 3 JAZZ FM | | | II | TII |
17.11.2003 |
CHANNEL 4
| C004 | | 3 CFRB | 3 MIX 99.9 | 3 THE FAN | 3 EZ-ROCK | 3 JAZZ FM | | | II | TII |
19.10.2004 |
CHANNEL 4
| C004 | | 3 CFRB | 3 MIX 99.9 | 3 THE FAN | 3 EZ-ROCK | 3 JAZZ FM | | | II | TII |
27.08.2006
|
| CFRB | | C029 | 128 kbit/s | Mono | No PTy |
| EZ-ROCK | | C02C | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| JAZZ FM | | C02D | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| MIX 99.9 | | C02A | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| THE FAN | | C02B | 128 kbit/s | Mono | No PTy |
Source: Observations, 27.08.2006 |
Block L6: 1461.536 MHz
DRB Plan: ON1117
Operator: CBC Radio-Canada
Sites: CN Tower
On-Air: Autumn 1996 (pilot); June 1998 (launch)
The CBC conducted its first DAB test transmissions in Toronto in 1991.
|
CBC Radio-Canada
| 13CE | | 3 CBC Radio 1 | 3 CBC Radio 2 | 3 RC Premiere | 3 RC Culturelle | | | II | TII |
17.11.2003 |
- DAB Ensemble -
| C006 | | 3 CBC Radio 1 | 3 CBC Radio 2 | 3 RC Premiere | 3 Espace Musique | | 3 SRC_IP | | | II | TII |
27.08.2006
|
Since the above Snapshot was taken, the ensemble has been relabelled CBC DAB
|
| CBC Radio 1 | | C001 | 96 kbit/s | Mono | News |
| CBC Radio 2 | | C002 | 160 kbit/s | Stereo | Classical |
| Premier chaine | | C003 | 96 kbit/s | Mono | News |
| Espace Musique | | C004 | 160 kbit/s | Stereo | Classical |
| CBLT | | | kbit/s | Data | |
| RDI | | | kbit/s | Data | |
Source: Observations, 27.08.2006
CH, 07.06.2009
|
Block L8: 1465.024 MHz
DRB Plan: ON115
Operator: Master FM
Sites: CN Tower (8kW) plus 1 relay
On-Air: - January 2009
This ensemble has not been seen since January 2009 and is assumed to have ceased.
|
CH___8
| C058 | | 3 CHIN | 3 CHIN-FM | 3 Mojo 640 | 3 Q107 | 3 KISS 92 | | | II | TII |
18.02.2003 |
CH___8
| C058 | | 3 CHIN | 3 CHIN-FM | 3 Mojo 640 | 3 Q107 | 3 92.5JACK | | | II | TII |
17.11.2003 |
CH___8
| C058 | | 3 CHIN | 3 CHIN-FM | 3 Mojo 640 | 3 Q107 | 3 92.5JACK | | | II | TII |
19.10.2004
|
CH___8
| C058 | | 3 CHIN | 3 CHIN-FM | 3 Mojo 640 | 3 Q107 | 3 92.5JACK | | | II | TII |
27.08.2006
|
| CHIN | | C051 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CHIN-FM | | C052 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| Mojo 640 | | C053 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| Q107 | | C054 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| 92.5JACK | | C055 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission authorised Corus Radio to transfer the Service EDGE 102 (CFNY) from the Block L3 ensemble CHANNEL3 to the Block L8 ensemble CH___8 and Rogers Broadcasting to transfer the Service 92.5JACK (CJAQ) from the Block L8 ensemble CH___8 to the Block L3 ensemble CHANNEL3. The move would have resulted in each broadcaster having all its services on one multiplex. That transfer of services never took place.
Source: Observations, 27.08.2006 |
Block L9: 1466.768 MHz
DRB plan: ON116
Operator: Master FM
Sites: CN Tower (8kW) plus 1 relay
|
CHANNEL 9
| C009 | | 3 CJYE | 3 CJMR | 3 CIRV | 3 CIAO | 3 CFMX | | | II | TII |
18.02.2003 |
CHANNEL 9
| C009 | | 3 CJYE | 3 CJMR | 3 CIRV | 3 CIAO | 3 CFMX | | | II | TII |
17.11.2003 |
CHANNEL 9
| C009 | | 3 CJYE | 3 CJMR | 3 CIRV | 3 CIAO | 3 CFMX | | | II | TII |
27.08.2006
|
| CFMX | | C05F | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CIAO | | C05E | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CIRV | | C05D | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| CJMR | | C05C | 96 kbit/s | Mono | No PTy |
| CJYE | | C05B | 96 kbit/s | Mono | No PTy |
Source: Observations, 27.08.2006
|
Block L15: 1477.232 MHz
DRB plan: ON111
Operator:
Sites:
|
Block L4: 1458.048 MHz
DRB Plan:
Operator:
Sites:
On-Air:
This ensemble has not been seen recently and is assumed to have ceased.
|
DAB DEMO 1
| 0010 | | 3 CHUM RADIO | 3 QM-FM | 3 CFUN | | | II | TII |
13.02.2004
|
Source: Observations, 13.02.2004
|
Block L5: 1459.792 MHz
DRB Plan: BC211
Operator: CBC
Sites: Mt Seymour (CBC) (200w), Burnaby (200w)
On-Air: October 1998 (pilot); May 2000 (launch)
|
CBC/SRC
| 001A | | 2 Radio One | 2 Radio Two | 2 Radio 3 | 2 Premiere | 2 Culturelle | | | II | TII |
13.02.2004 |
CBC/SRC
| C102 | | 3 CBC Radio 1 | 3 CBC Radio 2 | 3 CBC Radio 3 | 3 SRC Premiere | 3 Espace Musique | | | II | TII |
13.10.2004
|
| CBC Radio 1 | | C001 | 128 kbit/s | Stereo | Information |
| CBC Radio 2 | | C002 | 192 kbit/s | Stereo | Classical |
| CBC Radio 3 | | C003 | 192 kbit/s | Stereo | Information |
| Espace Musique | | C005 | 192 kbit/s | Stereo | Classical |
| SRC Premiere | | C004 | 128 kbit/s | Stereo | Information |
Source: Observations, 13.10.2004
|
Block L6: 1461.536 MHz
DRB Plan: BC212
Operator: Corus Radio
Sites: Mt Seymour (Rogers)(200w), Burnaby (200w)
|
CORUS Radio
| 0010 | | 3 CKNW AM980 | 3 ROCK 101 | 3 NW2 AM730 | 3 99.3 THE FOX | 3 CKNW DEMO | | | II | TII |
13.10.2004
|
Since the above Snapshot was taken, this ensemble is reported to have ceased.
|
| CKNW AM980 | | 006F | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| NW2 AM730 | | 00C5 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| ROCK 101 | | 00C4 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| 99.3 THE FOX | | 00C6 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
Source: Observations, 13.10.2004
Corus Radio, 29.10.2004
|
Block L7: 1463.280 MHz
DRB Plan: BC213
Operator:
Sites:
|
No transmissions were observed on Block L7.
Source: Observations, 13.02.2004 |
Block L8: 1465.024 MHz
DRB Plan: BC214
Operator:
Sites: Mt Seymour (Rogers)(200w), Burnaby (200w)
|
CHANNEL8
| C010 | | 3 NEWS1130 | 3 Jack FM | 3 CISL | 3 Z95 | 3 CLEAR FM | | | II | TII |
13.02.2004 |
CHANNEL8
| C010 | | 3 NEWS1130 | 3 97KISS | 3 CISL | 3 Z95 | 3 XFM | | | II | TII |
13.10.2004
|
Since the above Snapshot was taken, this ensemble is reported to have ceased.
|
| CISL | | C003 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | No PTy |
| NEWS1130 | | C001 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | News |
| XFM | | C005 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | Rock |
| Z95 | | C004 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | Top 40 |
| 97KISS | | C002 | 224 kbit/s | Stereo | Soft Rock |
Source: Observations, 13.10.2004
|
Block L12: 1472.000 MHz MHz
DRB Plan:
Operator: OK Radio
Sites: Malahat Ridge
Two Services will be broadcast, CKKQ-FM Victoria and CJZN-FM Victoria, although OK Radio, who own both FM stations, propose to broadcast not more than 14 hours of non-simulcast programming each week. In granting the authorisation in March 2004, the Commission gave OK Radio 24 months to begin transmissions, although the licence itself is only valid until August 2006.
|
| CKKQ-FM | | kbit/s | | |
| CJZN-FM | | kbit/s | | |
Sources: OK Radio
CRTC |
Block L19: 1484.208 MHz
DRB Plan: ON122
Operator: CBC Radio-Canada
Sites:
|
These test transmissions have now ceased. There are understood to be no plans to resume these transmissions any time soon.
|
CHUM/CBC
| C000 | | 3 CKWW | 3 CKLW | 3 CIMX | 3 CIDR | 3 CBC Radio 1 | 3 CBC Radio 2 | | | II | TII |
18.10.2004
|
Source: Observations, 18.10.2004
|
|
