Chepstow, Gwent-based Ensigma Ltd is leading a UK-based initiative to bring to market a digital radio receiver by 1996. Under the title of the Digital Audio Broadcast Development Club, Ensigma has been in discussions with mobile radio companies, receiver manufacturers and chip makers about building a low-cost digital radio that will take full advantage of the British Broadcasting Corp’s digital network, scheduled to go on air in September next year (CI No 2,500). Ensigma is coy about saying with whom it is talking: it does not wish to be undiplomatic, but it says that it will name members of the club by the end of this year. Ensigma is a design consultancy company specialising in signal processing for the telecommunications industry. It was formed eight years ago. It has been working on a core processor for a digital radio for about a year and says working samples should be available in the fourth quarter of next year or the first of 1996. It says that a radio could be in the shops by the end of 1996. A digital signal opens up the possibility of having a receiver with far greater functionality: it could display the name of the radio station on air; display pictures; and could even scroll the lyrics of songs being played. Ensigma is talking to receiver manufacturers about features that could be incorporated to make the radio more attractive than current frequency modulation varieties, but says that the product would be very price-sensitive. Market research suggests, says Ensigma, that consumers would tolerate no more than a UKP100 differential between digital radios and the current types of radios.
