The thesis addresses the workings of digital and analogue broadcasting, their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the current state of broadcasting in Slovenia. The thesis focuses on the analogue technology of frequency modulation (FM) radio and digital terrestrial radio broadcasting (DAB), also known as the technology of DAB+ digital radio. Terrestrial broadcasting consists of broadcasts where the transmitters are located on the ground. The thesis is especially focused on DAB+ digital radio, which is a newer version of DAB and utilizes more efficient coding methods (HE-AAC2 - High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding) which has also been in active use since 2007, the coverage of Slovenia with digital radio and the inner workings of digital radio DAB+. Furthermore the issue with covering a very geographically diverse part of Slovenia with a digital radio signal and the solution to said problem using modern network engineering tools, digital network planning tools and tools used for predicting coverage of geographical areas with a digital signal is presented.
Presented in the thesis are also measurements, taken before the new DAB+ system in Idrija was established, which help to illustrate the current state of coverage in rural areas of Slovenia, which is unsatisfactory in a lot of remote but populated areas. The coverage in Idrija was unsatisfactory prior to the establishment of the new DAB+ system. The before state doesn't concur with the current goals of coverage in Slovenia.
The thesis also covers tools used to make accurate computer network coverage models of large geographically diverse areas such as the Idrija basin, where a new DAB+ system is being planned. It also covers software used to pick a suitable antenna array and tools used for field measurements. The result of the thesis is the establishment of a new DAB+ system on the Idrija 1 transmitter site and the measurements made after the new system has been established. The results of the measurements show an up to 50 % increase in reception possibility of digital radio signals.
The thesis illustrates DAB+ system planning, their design, end execution and field measurements which are taken to guarantee quality of service to the end user.
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