The Sonifex PC-DAB4 is a DAB+/DAB radio-capture PCIe card that receives and decodes the entire contents of four DAB+/DAB ensembles, rendering each audio service as a virtual Windows audio-capture device for use with multi-channel recording or monitoring software. Broadcast data services, including DLS text, MOT slideshow, and full information from the fast information channel (FIC), are also available through a simple application programming interface.
The number of ensembles is factory-set, but is field-expandable through a purchased expansion key (up to four ensemble per card). Multiple cards can be installed, allowing simultaneous monitoring or recording of more than four ensembles.
Features
The card supports both legacy DAB MP2 audio coding as well as the new HE-AAC v2 encoding used with DAB+ broadcasts.
Any application that records from standard wave input devices can be used to record the audio streams from the DAB+/DAB radio-capture card. A recording level and mute control are provided for each service through the devices' mixer ports.
A sample monitor application is included, which displays a control panel for each card and creates buttons for each audio service. When a button is clicked, it plays the audio through the default output device while displaying information obtained from the service and any DLS text and MOT images being broadcast.
A sample application is provided with the card, allowing monitoring of DAB+/DAB audio and data as well as providing diagnostic ensemble spectrum displays, signal quality indicators and an uncorrected error counter. Each card panel displays the ensemble name and identifier, along with the phase reference correlator level and signal spectrum.