ChatterBank0 min ago
DAB Radio
9 Answers
Reading Wispy68's question and Another O.G's reply.
I bought a D.A.B portable the idea was obviously to use it out and about.
At home its basicaly unlistenable, most stations are unavailable and those that are have a kind of burpy interfereance.
Even when I am out many miles from home and I retune I can't get all the stations.
So my question to those of you who also have DAB is. We are being told to repalce our old radios with these are we being conned. I am not going to buy another.
I bought a D.A.B portable the idea was obviously to use it out and about.
At home its basicaly unlistenable, most stations are unavailable and those that are have a kind of burpy interfereance.
Even when I am out many miles from home and I retune I can't get all the stations.
So my question to those of you who also have DAB is. We are being told to repalce our old radios with these are we being conned. I am not going to buy another.
Answers
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Scientific evidence proves that with a good signal, the sound quality of DAB in the UK is inferior to FM - and the BBC website shows that some of its DAB stations broadcast stereo programmes in mono! The 'bubbling mud' sound happens when the signal is weak because DAB has very poor error correction. The newer DAB+ system being adopted by other countries is less...
14:38 Fri 22nd Jan 2010
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I think your experience is just unfortunate. I've listened to DAB without problem. Although I confess the DAB tuner I have in my middle room doesn't seem to get the signal it once used to.
Fact is that the government would like to see analogue radio phrased out in preference to digital, much as they have imposed with TV, but they seem to be finding it slow going. There are plenty of folk who feel that the DAB spec we've adopted in the UK is not the best option, and some who say it may need to be overhauled to more recent yet apparently incompatible specs.
Personally I think buying one to try is not such a bad thing. Just get a good quality but not too pricey model.
Fact is that the government would like to see analogue radio phrased out in preference to digital, much as they have imposed with TV, but they seem to be finding it slow going. There are plenty of folk who feel that the DAB spec we've adopted in the UK is not the best option, and some who say it may need to be overhauled to more recent yet apparently incompatible specs.
Personally I think buying one to try is not such a bad thing. Just get a good quality but not too pricey model.
Scientific evidence proves that with a good signal, the sound quality of DAB in the UK is inferior to FM - and the BBC website shows that some of its DAB stations broadcast stereo programmes in mono! The 'bubbling mud' sound happens when the signal is weak because DAB has very poor error correction. The newer DAB+ system being adopted by other countries is less susceptible to errors and is more efficient, but Ofcom has so far prevented any UK stations from using this system
Internet radio usually gives far better sound quality, and offers a much larger number of stations. At home, if you have a computer and a broadband connection, I recommend you give it a try - and it's now possible to buy radios with a built-in wi-fi connection for little more than the price of DAB ones. You can carry these sets around the house and listen to internet stations without the need for a computer.
For digital radio away from home, I suspect some form of mobile internet service is where the future lies, so given the problems you describe I agree with your conclusion: I certainly wouldn't buy a DAB set.
Internet radio usually gives far better sound quality, and offers a much larger number of stations. At home, if you have a computer and a broadband connection, I recommend you give it a try - and it's now possible to buy radios with a built-in wi-fi connection for little more than the price of DAB ones. You can carry these sets around the house and listen to internet stations without the need for a computer.
For digital radio away from home, I suspect some form of mobile internet service is where the future lies, so given the problems you describe I agree with your conclusion: I certainly wouldn't buy a DAB set.
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