DAB Radio

[10ClarionSt]

Does anyone know anything about DAB radio? I read somewhere that they have to reduce the quality of some instruments in order to get them all on the broadcast, so I'm not convinced about it. Is it true that you can pick up UK FM stations if you tune in from Europe? I don't even think people in the trade know much about digital anyway. Am I wrong and can someone tell me anything?

[Ralph]

DAB is effectively broadcast mp3's (or frequently mp2's). It is decoded by the radio in real time rather than being played from a hard disk. As with a CD you might rip to your hard disk in mp3, there are a variety of bitrates that can be used. The lower the bitrate, the worse it will sound but the less bandwidth is used (or space on your hard disk). So music will be broadcast at 192kbps and will sound just like a track you may have on your computer or mp3 player. individual instruments cannot be changed in this process although bass frequencies as a whole may be affected for example.

You may be able to pick up UK FM or DAB stations in Europe provided you are reasonably close. Broadcasters won't want to waste power broadcasting to people who aren't going to buy their advertisers products. Short, medium and long wave transmissions will carry much further than FM so you should be able to receive these in mainland Europe although even these transmissions are targetted at a specific audience.

Just for completeness sake, and probably more information than you ever wanted, there is a DAB version of short wave communications being tested worldwide at the moment called Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) which means that you may be able to sit in deepest darkest Africa and listen to Terry Wogan in the morning!

[Pinotage]

DAB gives lots of new stations and they are a pleasure to listen to as they have fewer adverts than the fm stations. You don't need to dial thru wavelengths, or even know wwhat it is as the station name is displayed. also you get an extra line of information as well as teh station name. Many music stations show the name of the track & artists that they are playing.

I have readthat the compresion routing used means the sound quality is not as good as fm, but I can't tell the difference, plus you don't get the hiss and interference you do on fm.

I started with a portable DAB and upgraded to a CD/fm/DAB hi fi.

Get a cheap portable and see if the stations available in your area suit you. I'm getting about 30 stations - not listened to them all - I listen mostly to adult rock stations 'The Arrow', 'Planet Rock' and 'Storm'

[fibifooz]

My husband bought me a DAB radio for my birthday in December, and I can't get any signals to lock on it, as they are all too weak. I can use the FM part of the radio but that can be on any ordinary radio, so I am disappointed. Just have to keep checking the website for more information on new areas released. I'm in South Wales, 30 km NW of Cardiff.,on the M$ corridor.

[Pinotage]

Re Fifibooz's lack of signal - coverage of the UK is about 85%. Before buying a DAB it is wise to check coverage where you are. At the link below it will list the digital stations available at your postcode

http://www.digitalradionow.com/statf.php#results