Sunday, September 11, 2011

Important but not so Visible Services

Many people seem associate radio strictly to a smaller broadcasting service within commercial AM/FM frequency and recently with internet radio. It is true that commercial broadcast radio is going through a period of uncertainties and changes. But if we look further than that, or even look back at what radio was defined in their earlier time, the services that they are offering are actually abundant and broad. The less recognized services, but actually really important are widely use within the aviation industry or offshore radio for navigation purposes. Although they are still considering the transition to digital format, it will still take sometime due to the international standards that they need to adhere to as it must be implemented worldwide to prevent chaos and ensure safety.

The reason why I post this is related to our project. Since the term "radio" is too broad (including amateur radio, broadcast television, wireless spectrum, navigational, etc), losing focus is quite likely. I have a hunch that the "future" which we are looking into is actually commercial broadcast radio future, instead of the broader and official definition of radio. I would like to clarify this as this will provide a base for the work.

And as for anyone who wants to have a feel of aviation radio and offshore radio, do enjoy the links below:
Bear in mind that it is not always active, especially during wee hours. Enjoy!!

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