DAB+ Alpe-Adria Region

What means DAB?

DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcast and is a digital transmission form for the reception of digital radio. It is basically a further development of FM (frequency range 87.50 to 108.00). DAB covers the frequency range 30 MhZ to 3 GhZ.

The frequencies allocated to DAB are Band I (47 to 68 MHz), Band III (174 – 230 MHz), in some countries ‘Channel 13’ (230 – 240 MHz) and parts of the L-band (around 1.46 GHz).

Basically, the DAB band is divided into different ranges and extends from A to D, with 13 also extending to F. It starts at 5A (174,928 MHz) and ends at 13F (239,200 MHz).

Whereas with FM it was only possible to broadcast one programme on one frequency (e.g. Ö3 on 90.40), with DAB/DAB+ it is possible to broadcast more than 10 programmes on one frequency (e.g. 11D). The number depends on the bit rate used for the individual programmes.

DAB+ is a further development of DAB and primarily represents an improvement in sound quality.

>> DAB at Wikipedia

Availability of DAB in the Alpe-Adria region (as of December 2024)

DAB and its successor DAB+ have already been successfully introduced in many countries around the world.

DAB+ has been active in Austria since 2015. Test operation began in 2015 and DAB+ has been active in Vienna since 2018. A nationwide mux was launched on 28 May 2019, initially in Vienna. Other transmitters were gradually put into operation, including Graz/Schöckl, which can also be received in Carinthia. In Central Carinthia, the Klagenfurt 1/Dobratsch site went on air on channel 6A in August 2020. Since 2024, the Multiplex (MUX) DAB+ MUX 2-StBK on 6D and DAB+ MUX 3-StBK on 6B are operating from main transmitter sites with local programmes for Carinthia, Styria and Burgenland.

Slovenia broadcast a DAB package on channel 10D from Krvavec (supply transmitter for large parts of Slovenia) and is constantly enlarging the network. 10D covers most parts of Slovenia.

Initially, DAB was still broadcast in the old standard, but for some years now it has been broadcasting in the DAB+ standard. For some time now, a MUX has also been broadcasting on 7D in Ljubljana. Another Multiplex (MUX) (R2) was launched in October 2020, with one version for the west of the country and one for the east. It broadcasts on 12B for the east (includes the transmitter sites Plesivec and Pohorje) and on 12C for western Slovenia (includes sites such as Kuk).

In Italy, DAB is currently in the development phase, but mostly (still) only as a supplement to FM. Only a few radio operators are currently specifically promoting the expansion of DAB+ in Italy, such as RTL 102.5 with ‘EuroDAB’ and a consortium of nationwide radio stations with ‘DAB Italia’ (formerly Club DAB). Both have significantly expanded their broadcasting network in recent years and are also represented in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The stations broadcast from Attimis/Porzus (DAB Italia) and Faedis/Pedrosa (EuroDAB) north of Udine. However, these locations only cover the parts of Friuli situated in the plain; Carnia in the north and the Tarvisiano (region around Tarvisio) are not covered. DAB Italia is present also in Trieste and Gorizia. EuroDAB is not present in Trieste or Gorizia.

FRIULIVG DAB is transmitting from Aviano/Castaldia (northwest of Pordenone) and from Trieste/Monte Belvedere. It contains local and semi-regional stations.

RAI is broadcasting DAB+ from the position of Monte Venda (transmitter pictures) one bouquet on 12D. Also on air since November 2013 is a new RAI DAB+ mux from the Aviano/Castaldia location for Pordenone and the surrounding area.

In Veneto, most of the larger cities are covered, such as Verona, Treviso, Venice, Padova and Vicenza. Both EuroDAB (now 9A, in past 12A) and DAB Italia (7D, originally 12C) broadcast from numerous high-altitude locations such as Conco/Monte Rubbio, Velo Veronese or Monte Grappa. In the region around Padova, there are also active stations on 8C (Go DAB) and 8B (Veneto DAB).

Additional information:

In Italy, the operatures offer maps showing the region covered by the service. in Slovenia, the operator RTV Slovenija ofers a map: https://www.rtvslo.si/oz/oddajniki/dab

DAB-Bandscan Central Carinthia

K	Information	Position
5A
5B
5C
5D
6A	DAB+ Austria	Klagenfurt 1/Dobratsch
6B	DAB+ MUX 3-StBK	Klagenfurt 1/Dobratsch
6C
6D	DAB+ MUX 2-StBK	Klagenfurt 1/Dobratsch
7A
7B
7C	RAI DAB (on higher peaks)	Bologna/Colle Barbiano
7D	SLO DAB+ R3 Mux (in some spots)	Ljubljana 3-Šance
8A	DAB+ Austria (in some spots)	Graz 1/Schöckl
8B
8C
8D
9A	EuroDAB Italia (in some spots on higher peaks)	several positions in Emilia/Romagna and Friuli
9B
9C
9D
10A
10B
10C
10D	SLO DAB+ R1 Mux	Krvavec / Kranjska Gora-Brgovi
11A
11B
11C
11D
12A
12B	SLO DAB+ R2 E Mux	Plešivec (Uršlja Gora)
12C
12D	RAI DAB (on higher peaks)	Monte Venda (Padova)

13B
13C
13D
13E
13F

In the valleys, only the Slovenian muxes (10D and 12B) are currently receivable, in addition to DAB+ Austria on 6A.

However, the Italian muxes can only be received at altitudes of 800 to 3000 metres, especially in the southern mountain ranges.

DAB+ in Trieste

In Trieste, the regional capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia, DAB+ is only offered by two operators. The signals are broadcasted through local transmitter locations in Muggia south and at the Monte Belvedere situated north of the city centre. The transmitter Tinjan also provides Trieste with two bouquets from Slovenia.

Current bouquets/MUX available in the city:

7D DAB Italia, Trieste/Monte Belvedere, Muggia/Chiampore; national bouquet with nation-wide stations
9B FVG DAB, Trieste/Monte Belvedere est; local bouquet of Friuli Venezia Giulia region with regional and semi-regional programmes
10D, SLO DAB+ R1 Mux, Tinjan, main national bouquet of Slovenia, can be received in most parts of the city
12C, SLO DAB+ R2 West Mux, Tinjan, second national bouquet of Slovenia for the Western regions, can be received in most parts of the city

Currently RAI is not transmitting from the main transmitters of Trieste. In some areas of the city, especially on higher altitudes, it is however possible to receive RAI DAB with the main programmes from RAI transmitting from Monte Venda (close to Padova) or from Aviano (close to Pordenone) on 12D.

EuroDAB Italia can be received on some spots, specifically on the coast and in the hilly area of the city. There is although no local position.

In some spots of the city, also DAB+ from Croatia can be received: OIV Croatia from Učka on 11D.

More bouquets on the hills around Trieste (Carso):

As soon as someone leaves the city centre which is located between the sea and the hills that are surrounding Trieste, in altitudes of around 300-400 metres there are more channels that can be received even with simple devices. The list indicates some of them, on days with special atmospheric conditions even more can be logged.