[chrysostom]

Thoughts?

I'm aware that it's pencilled in for 2015, but from what i've been reading it's only national broadcasters that are affected, and the analogue equivalent will be local radio, so listening in the car etc (without a DAB) will be nigh on impossible.

Anyone have any info or insights about this, or hesitance to actually switch to DAB?

[Yudster]

I'm still confused as to how it will work. Many places simply can't pick up the digital signal due to location - I remember people in london telling me that they can't listen to digital radio because of the tall buildings, they reckoned you had to be on the top few floors of anything in the City to be able to listen. And even around here we can't pick it up in some places, it doesn't work in our house for a start. When we realised all this a few years ago I assumed that all the issues would be addressed and sorted out before the switch, but as far as I know nothing has changed yet.

[Boboff]

Radio one is broadcast regionally at times though?

I really can't see Virgin Heart etc not broadcasting on FM, why would a commercial station do this? If they are still in the market the BBC will have to stay there?

With regard to reception I would imagine its the same as TV, when they turn the analogue off they turn the digital up so you get a better signal?

[Latina]

I'm still hoping they'll come to their senses and just never do it.

[MK Chris]

DAB never really took off the way digital TV did, did it? I can't see them doing it (car radio being one of the reasons I would imagine.)

[Latina]

Maybe I'm seeing it wrong (or only from a modern perspective), but I've always felt that radio serves a different purpose to TV. It's far more suited to people on the move as it doesn't require settling down to focus on it, and it's something that you know will always be there, with only the most basic of devices needed to pick it up*. I just can't imagine it not being available wherever I am.

And, much like digital TV, digital radio with an even slightly bad signal is practically impossible to contend with compared to analogue.

*These are the same reasons I object to too much camera malarky on R1.

[DevilsDuck]

Im sure I read somewhere that the UK was one of the first to push DAB and due to this the technology is actually quite far behind most other countries and that it needs an overhaul before it can be switched over!

[DevilsDuck]

I said that in the other dab thread that was going on. Elsewhere there's a thing that's DAB+ which is apparently a much better platform.

thats probably where I read it then! Stupid UK trying to be the best!

[Sidders]

DAB is awful. Every DAB radio I've had has been totally unreliable. I'm not sure whether this is to do with the technology itself or whether the signal is just crap round here.

[Johnny 1989]

I haven't really had any problems signalling wise with DAB, it's normally quite good in (k)Ilford. I use it to listen to BBC 6 Music & Virgin Radio when it used to be on (the FM & AM signal for Virgin Radio was always poor back then), however it's a case of quantity over quality on there. Although there are good stations such as 6 Music & Planet Rock there's about a dozen dance stations that all sound the same.

DAB is a rather old fashioned technology which, ironically enough, means the sound quality is worse than FM (although a marked improvement on AM). I believe they are trying an alternative with digital radio being transmitted via the existing AM frequencies. How the sound quality will improve though, I don't know.

[Nicola_Red]

I have problems with both FM and DAB signals in my flat - I live on the third floor of a tall block. I specifically bought a DAB radio to listen to Moyles cos I couldn't get a decent FM signal on Radio 1, although Manchester Rock Radio is fine on FM. But even the DAB signal for Radio 1 is patchy. I hate that interference noise DAB radios make with a passion. It's most frustrating.

[DevilsDuck]

has your DAB radio got an tv ariel input on the back? Ours does and we plugged it in and the signal was perfect. Only downside is we normally have the radio on in the kitchen and we dont have a tv ariel output in the kitchen