Have a good read of this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Radio_Mondiale

It looks very interesting and addresses the need for radio services in isolated areas, where the ABC has shut down their HF transmitters.

But it does mean our valve radios are going to be unable to be used - eventually. Just like analogue TVs.

The writing is on the wall.....

Just plug them into the valve radios.

See this thread re September issue of Silicon Chip:

https://vintage-radio.com.au/default.asp?f=1&th=1124#10419

This does seem to be the only alternative. I do hope the old am gear stays around at least another decade but alas I think it will mean more of our beautiful old sets put in the not interested bucket . I will be using mine the best way I can.

How could a move to DRM be economically justified. Apart from rendering obsolete literally millions of privately owned radios the expense in new transmitters would be horrendous.

As well there is so much online digital radio I do not see a complete scrapping and rebuilding of the AM radio network a realistic proposal.

The ABC crowd shriek at everyone to listen to them using their mobile phones with an app and now this DRM is being touted about.

If nothing else, 20 years to late.

Yet another source of randomly sprayed EMR noise.

Marvellous! (NOT)

Actually, I think the economics might be its downfall, although:

1. Most existing transmitters can be used, including the ABC SW ones that were recently shut down.
2. It can co-exist with analogue.
3. Signal is in-band - it will not interfere with adjacent services any more than analogue does and requires less Tx power than analogue for the same coverage.

Noise free long distance radio that will cover areas outside the reach of other technologies is an attractive idea.

I was skeptical at first but it does look interesting when you read more about it.

In the USA we have in band on channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcasts on AM and on FM. There's less AM IBOC signals than there were five to ten years ago. An AM station with IBOC has hash noise 5 to 10kHz away from the station's AM carrier. Few people have bought digital receivers, though.

Given Australia's low population except for the major cities and the great distances for the rest of the scattered population centres do not see it as a viable proposition.

AM stereo died long ago and think that the owners of radio networks particulary those in regional areas are pretty content with the status quo as it is.

There's less AM IBOC signals than there were five to ten years ago.

That's alarming! Going the way of AM Stereo?

QUOTE:

Old cars saving radio, but it's ‘next in line’ for disruption

Radio businesses have not been hit as hard by digital disruption as traditional print and television for a simple reason - the cars Australians drive are old.

The average registered vehicle in the country was made more than a decade ago, and this has made it difficult for radio listeners to switch to new digital formats, Citi analyst David Kaynes says.

While consumers can stop buying newspapers and switch to online formats, and televisions and accessories are regularly upgraded, people are slower to buy new cars.

The average age of all motor vehicles registered in Australia was 10.1 years in January 2017, a figure that has remained stable for years, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

For passenger vehicles - 75 per cent of all vehicles on the road - it was 9.8 years.

This means the average motor vehicle nationally is a 2007 model, built in the same year the first iPhone was released. More than a third of passenger vehicles were built before this.

Drivers in older cars "cannot access digital radio, or connect a smartphone to play alternative audio through the car’s stereo", Mr Kaynes said in a research note.

About 70 per cent of weekday revenue for metro radio stations is generated from the breakfast and drive slots.

Hopefully not any time soon!

http://radiotoday.com.au/life-after-death-the-future-of-am-radio/

"There's less AM IBOC signals than there were five to ten years ago."

And yet AM-Stereo is making a comeback!
This site gives updates: http://meduci.com/stations.html
It says 4BC Brisbane is rejiggering for stereo revival.
I see there are half a dozen around me so will be installing my Clarion AM-st radio in my 1991 Lumina for listening when touring.

Why do AM stereo radios have have that AM-st button (Clarion, Delco...)? For wideband mode? Was it before good auto-mode circuitry?

"Why do AM stereo radios have have that AM-st button ....?"

Have you ever tried to use AM stereo under anything less than perfect reception conditions? If you had, you'd know why.

I suppose it could be automated but the jumping in and out of wideband stereo mode as you drive along would be most distracting. I used to have a car with AM stereo and most of the time I turned it off, it was just too annoying.

"Why do AM stereo radios have have that AM-st button ....?"

I concur with Ian's opinion here. I still have one of these Clarion radios, though it hasn't been used for probably 30 years, and it would "pop" out of stereo at the drop of a hat even if the signal was strong.

Will see if I can track down the owners manual to see the function of the various buttons.