Reliable audio contribution is a key part of keeping local radio on air. For Mario Schömitz and the team at ams – Radio und MediaSolutions, the challenge was to establish a reliable and redundant DAB+ contribution workflow for seven local radio stations across East Westphalia-Lippe and the Warendorf district in Germany.
As a technical service provider, ams is responsible for delivering the stations‘ audio programmes and associated data to the DAB+ platform operator Media Broadcast. The signals are transmitted redundantly using 2wcom IP-4c audio codecs, ensuring reliable contribution for each station.
Rather than building a separate infrastructure for DAB+ contribution, the team decided to integrate the new workflows into its existing MPLS network, which already connects the local radio stations.
Having followed an all-over-IP approach for more than ten years, extending the established network to include DAB+ audio streams was a natural next step.
One particular challenge, however, was that the IP-4c devices had not previously been approved for operation by Media Broadcast. As part of the project, this changed, allowing ams to use its preferred solution for DAB+ contribution.
The integrated network diagnostic tools of the IP-4c also proved valuable during implementation. Features such as PING, Traceroute and TCP Dump helped the team identify potential network issues and significantly reduced the effort required for troubleshooting.
For Mario Schömitz, choosing 2wcom was not simply about finding a suitable solution for this particular project. It was also about continuing a long-standing partnership built on reliability and technical support.
“We have been using several 2wcom devices in continuous 24/7 operation for many years, and they have proven to be extremely reliable. Combined with excellent technical support, this made the decision to use 2wcom for our DAB+ contribution an easy one.”
Beyond the reliability of the equipment, Mario particularly values 2wcom’s approach to innovation and product development.
“2wcom has been an extremely reliable partner in broadcast technology for many years. New developments are implemented quickly, and the team continues to bring fresh ideas and creative solutions to the industry.”
For Mario Schömitz and ams, the project demonstrates how an established IP infrastructure, combined with reliable audio codecs and practical network management tools, can provide an efficient foundation for DAB+ contribution.
By extending its existing network rather than introducing an entirely separate workflow, ams has created a solution that builds on years of operational experience while supporting the evolving requirements of local radio broadcasting.