DAB radio

[najaB]

But a good FM signal can rival CD quality, and DAB is nowhere near.

Since DAB can have a bit rate of up to 1.3Mb/s per multiplex poor audio quality isn't the fault of the technology but rather that of the broadcasters deciding to do things on the cheap.

 

[Dai Corner]

Since DAB can have a bit rate of up to 1.3Mb/s per multiplex poor audio quality isn't the fault of the technology but rather that of the broadcasters deciding to do things on the cheap.

Indeed.

The fact is, you can reach more listeners / advertisement targets with several low-fi stations than with one hi-fi one at the same transmission cost. Automate the production and the overall costs converge too.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

I'm not a fan of the time lag on DAB.

On FM it's always nice to have the BBC pips and clock in sync, you can't have this with DAB.

You can't listen to sport radio commentary at the ground as well on DAB. FM it's live

 

[philjo]

At Lords and other grounds they sell the personal radios that can pick up a Live feed of the BBC TMS and Sky commentaries when seated in the ground. It also has FM And radio 4 198 Long Wave but not DAB.
I have a receiver that tunes to FM and DAb upstairs - the signal is Quite good but I understand that if sat on our chimneys you can see Sandy Heath transmitter 10 miles away where the DAb is transmitted so almost direct line of sight from the transmitter. FM comes from Peterborough.
it does not appear possible to buy decent radios that receive Long Wave, so need DAb for the 5 live sports extra sports commentary.
For the main National stations I usually listen on FM.

travelling I find the DAB signal too unreliable especially if the train goes into tunnels and comes out in a different transmitter. I find using mobile 4g signal and BBC sports app more reliable for those trips, especially if you can use the train WiFi!

one major annoyance: Different DAB equipment decodes at different speeds so can have the same programme in 3 rooms all slightly out of sync with each other Which does not sound good if moving around the house.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

one major annoyance: Different DAB equipment decodes at different speeds so can have the same programme in 3 rooms all slightly out of sync with each other Which does not sound good if moving around the house.

For that precise reason have exactly the same DAB units with the same presets in different rooms at mine!

 

[haggishunter]

Since DAB can have a bit rate of up to 1.3Mb/s per multiplex poor audio quality isn't the fault of the technology but rather that of the broadcasters deciding to do things on the cheap.

It's rather that at good quality stereo bit rates the multiplexes can't carry enough stations to attain viability. DAB's only advantage over FM was more stations, but that is achieved by poor audio quality and cramming stations in to multiplexes. Fundamentally DAB was trying to apply digital through the mind-set of an analog service. DAB radios are hugely inefficient compared to FM, the transmission system is extremely complicated and expensive compared to FM and has been a contributory factor to the decimation of genuinely local content and info on the supposedly Independent Local Radio (ILR) network.

I can get much better coverage using Three 3/4G than DAB in the North of Scotland and EE is even better. In the age of streaming DAB is an inefficient oddity, and as IPv6 adoption accelerates the potential of IP multi-casting is transformed, it should be DAB that is switch off to free up spectrum better suited to data services with FM broadcasting retained indefinitely.

 

[Bobdogs]

Here in West Wales, we can receive all BBC DAB stations except........BBC Radio Wales, who's FM signal is very unreliable also.
We cannot receive any commercial programmes due to a different frequency?
Consequently, the only way I could listen to Murdocks cricket commentary was to drive to the top of a hill to listen.

 

[Dai Corner]

Here in West Wales, we can receive all BBC DAB stations except........BBC Radio Wales, who's FM signal is very unreliable also.
We cannot receive any commercial programmes due to a different frequency?
Consequently, the only way I could listen to Murdocks cricket commentary was to drive to the top of a hill to listen.

BBC Radio Wales and all their UK-wide stations including 5 Live sports are on satellite and terrestrial TV and online.

 

[PeterC]

You can't listen to sport radio commentary at the ground as well on DAB. FM it's live

I don't know which sport you want to listen to but, last time I checked test matches were broadcast only on AM and DAB not FM.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

I don't know which sport you want to listen to but, last time I checked test matches were broadcast only on AM and DAB not FM.

All of our radio stations in major cities down here in Australia have DAB along with thier FM and AM frequencies.
The AFL Triple M will have it on thier FM frequency (105.1) and on thier DAB station.

The cricket for instance would be on ABC Melbourne's AM frequency(774AM) and it would also be played on ABC Grandstand which is a DAB station. The ABC Melbourne DAB frequency would have other programing.

 

[bspahh]

I don't know which sport you want to listen to but, last time I checked test matches were broadcast only on AM and DAB not FM.

This is a post on the uk.sport.cricket Usenet group from 2013

Redirecting to Google Groups

It says that a low power FM transmitter at Old Trafford broadcasts Test Match Special at 62.3MHz

 

[Ralph Ayres]

I suspect about 0.000000001% of people notice this!

Make that 0.000000002%.

 

[Mojo]

I have a digital radio from the days I lived in Birmingham and there were so many pirate radio stations there (I lived in the city centre) listening to Radio 2 on FM or other radio stations was almost impossible because of the pirate radio stations cutting over. However this is the only digital radio I listen to (notwithstanding when I tune my Freeview TV to Radio 2 when I'm at home or at work) as I don't have any other devices nor see a need to get one.

 

[Dai Corner]

This is a post on the uk.sport.cricket Usenet group from 2013

Redirecting to Google Groups

It says that a low power FM transmitter at Old Trafford broadcasts Test Match Special at 62.3MHz

That's outside the normal FM broadcast band (88-108 MHz) so a special receiver would be required.

 

[cactustwirly]

My car has an FM radio no DAB as it's too old (also has a tape player as well ) . I don't think the quality is that good as there is a lot of interference, the DAB in my parents cars sounds a lot clearer.

 

[Bobdogs]

My car has an FM radio no DAB as it's too old (also has a tape player as well ) . I don't think the quality is that good as there is a lot of interference, the DAB in my parents cars sounds a lot clearer.

You can buy a DAB device (less than £50 on Amazon) which receives DAB broadcasts and sends them FM to your car radio.
They recommend that you install the aerial on the windscreen but mine is on the back window of my estate as I have a cigar socket in the back and makes installation a lot easier.
I have had mine for at least 6 or 7 years and works perfectly.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

That's outside the normal FM broadcast band (88-108 MHz) so a special receiver would be required.

Be for one of these:

Welcome to SoundDec - Audio Solutions - Product range

SoundDec product range

www.sounddec.com

 

[squizzler]

I agree with the OP's criticism of DAB but do reckon there will always be a need for proper broadcast audio (your TV on the other hand is usually fixed in one place and lends itself to receiving content down some sort of cable).

DAB uses a very high frequency compared to other radio so is susceptible to heavy walls or terrain (of simply being out of signal rage) just like mobile signals. It is not helped by using an antediluvian codec developed in the 1980's, and while the newer DAB+ uses the same frequencies it is much more robust.

I favour a system called Digital Radio Mondiale which combines the most sophisticated technology with the traditional FM and AM bands that have worked well since time immemorial, although we are more likely to see DAB+ since most DAB receivers 'in the wild' are thus enabled nowadays and the broadcasting network is already in place.

 

[philjo]

A brief item on the front page of today’s Daily Telegraph reports that the Government has announced that FM and AM stations will remain licenced for another 10 years. This is an extension from the current expiry in 2022.