Closure of FM Radio

[capt jack]

I'm old enough to remember a similar furore when FM replaced MW/LW way back when.

Yes DAB will happen - according to the interviewee on the Radio 4 Today programme it's because the "way in which we consume radio is changing". Loosely translated I think this means "it's a good way of creating change for the sake of it". John Humphrys was unimpressed, but the DAB-man was well-prepared in the art of completely avoiding the question by repeating the same answer over and over!

Chances are someone will be working on a way of charging for DAB (like Sky TV) or taxing it! And DAB radio manufacturers must be rubbing their hands in glee!

Yes you can buy a device called the Pure Highway, which is a DAB receiver that transmits the DAB signal to your radio - as an FM signal. Which strikes me as a tad ironic!

I do have a DAB radio in the house, and the sound quality is very good. The reception is however very sensitive to the position and inclination of the (very substantial) ariel, and so I wonder just how this would tranlsate into receiving a good consistent DAB service on the move?

Hey-ho - that's progress for you. Find a problem that doesn't exist, then create a solution for it and charge people for the privilege!

Cheers

Jack

[chopper_harris]

Originally Posted by Magnum357

I think there is a bigger problem about the DAB system in the UK. I understand that the EU is using Digital 2 which is better than Digital 1. A lot of people like myself still say that FM is better than Digital. I suppose it will sort its self out. The TV's in out Volvo's will not work, no loss there then only ever watched it 3 times.

You are alluding to DAB+, which is now a worldwide standard.

The Pure Highway has an undocumented hack which can upgrade it to Digital 2, enabling it to receive DAB across mainland Europe.

Pure did not want to pay the additional licence cost per unit to enable DAB+ on UK supplied Highways, but this is easily sorted :

http://www.pure.com/au/support/kb.asp?Product=VL-60905
http://www.pure.com/dabplusOZ/docume...activation.pdf

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

The primary problem with DAB radio (whatever standard is employed) is that it is power intensive.

Today you can buy a pocket sized FM radio with earphones. Pop in a couple of batteries and you can enjoy radio for hours.

Do the same with DAB and you'll enjoy less than 5-6 hours of radio.

Why? DAB is essentially MP3 encoded so in addition to outputting noise (sorry - music or whatever!) the radio has to decompress the signal first.

All that maybe Ok in a car which generates power. Not so good in the hills for a day out..

Des. . .

[Magnum357]

Originally Posted by chopper_harris

You are alluding to DAB+, which is now a worldwide standard.

The Pure Highway has an undocumented hack which can upgrade it to Digital 2, enabling it to receive DAB across mainland Europe.

Pure did not want to pay the additional licence cost per unit to enable DAB+ on UK supplied Highways, but this is easily sorted :

http://www.pure.com/au/support/kb.asp?Product=VL-60905
http://www.pure.com/dabplusOZ/docume...activation.pdf

I got it wrong again. Yep Dab+. So if thats better than Dab why are we not going for Dab+ if thats what everbody else is using.
Or is it me who has it wrong again.

OH why I am at it how come a topic like this generate aggro as some posts back indicate. Some very uptight people about.

[jacko-lah]

So, they are listening to thier 'customers' again, and taking thier views into account.

NOT!

Will it cost less to run ? No. Will it give a better service ? No. Do we want it ? Not really.
Most (99.9%) of the public are happy with FM.
I'd shoot the ruddy lot of them (or make them get a proper job stack shelves)

[Bernard333]

As long as I can still get Radio 4 on long wave I will be happy , only problem is I am not a cricket fan and during the summer they broadcast hours of cricket commentary and the FM version runs the normal content which really ****es me off when I want to listen to womans hour and the afternoon story , really helps the motorway miles to dissapear .

[marcus.grant]

Yes the labour government are pushing this through, as digital is the future... I agree with TV, but radio should stay as it is till new cars have DAB as standard.
There will be kits seen on in halfords but didn't sell well, but its for non fitted radios, unlike most Volvo's.
Thing is radio is part of a safety system, not used often but its there, free and never lets us down.
I'm happy with the current arrangement TBH, and see no need to change.
Plus I can only see scrolling info as another cockpit distraction.

[chunderground]

the government is planning to end FM transmissions in 2015 to force us to buy digital radios. The problem is reception on FM is better than DAB radio so nobody is buying the digital radios and the broadcasters are getting nervous and delaying transmitting on digital as nobody has a DAB radio. In short it looks like consumer power is winning this battle and the government will have to scrap this stupid idea. So in short dont be blackmailed into going digital unless FM gets switched off.

[NewVolvo]

As this FM-ending story is likely to happen sooner rather than later, it would mean that ALL classic cars will have useless radios then!

But at the same time, I hope they can come up with a solution for this (unless there already is a solution and I simply don't know!).

[sixaparrat]

My '58 reg Mondeo Ghia has a Sony DAB as standard