What is going on with DAB?
Discussion
My biggest beef with DAB is that, over much of the country we now have fewer stations now than we did a few years ago which is really annoying.
I think it was when many of the stations moved to the 'Sound digital' network, and as we all know, Sound Digital has terrible coverage.
I personally think DAB is the Minidisc of this era. A good idea but already outdated when it arrived. I think cars will all be fitted with internet radio as standard soon, which will render DAB pointless.
I think it was when many of the stations moved to the 'Sound digital' network, and as we all know, Sound Digital has terrible coverage.
I personally think DAB is the Minidisc of this era. A good idea but already outdated when it arrived. I think cars will all be fitted with internet radio as standard soon, which will render DAB pointless.
dfen5 said:
I love DAB. Works most of time, FM used to cut out more I reckon.
Internet radio will mean using sim data, not everyone has unlimited data and 3G / 4G still not good enough to be reliable for car radio..
That’s not my experience. I use Spotify and internet radio as my only inputs and never get a drop out. I have a 40gb plan and play Spotify for at least 8 hours a day and never use up my data. Internet radio will mean using sim data, not everyone has unlimited data and 3G / 4G still not good enough to be reliable for car radio..
craigjm said:
That’s not my experience. I use Spotify and internet radio as my only inputs and never get a drop out. I have a 40gb plan and play Spotify for at least 8 hours a day and never use up my data.
Matches what I do. DAB doesn't have all the stations and when I find one I like it has too many dead areas for a car journey. Using my phone to stream to the car is much more reliable. Spotify is mostly offline anyway because I download my main playlists. craigjm said:
Matt Cup said:
Does the UK offer a SiriusXM format for radio? I preferred using that in the states over the dab I have used here.
No The choice of channels on SiriusXM is massive. There is certainly something for everyone.
Satellite radio would seem to be a much better option for coverage and number of channels carried.
I can't understand why more countries have not gone down the satellite route?
Edited to add: I am guessing it's to do with the practicalities and cost of covering such a huge area such as North America with FM and DAB vs Satellite. The model would not work over here.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 16th December 21:26
All the DAB I came across seemed ropey. If I relied on data for internet radio when driving I'd hardly ever hear any radio. My average car journey is out of signal for a large percentage of the time.
Satellite radio is incredible. That's the step up that's needed. Everything else is the same old crap in comparison and worse than FM for me at least.
Satellite radio is incredible. That's the step up that's needed. Everything else is the same old crap in comparison and worse than FM for me at least.
Lord Marylebone said:
craigjm said:
Matt Cup said:
Does the UK offer a SiriusXM format for radio? I preferred using that in the states over the dab I have used here.
No The choice of channels on SiriusXM is massive. There is certainly something for everyone.
Satellite radio would seem to be a much better option for coverage and number of channels carried.
I can't understand why more countries have not gone down the satellite route?
Edited to add: I am guessing it's to do with the practicalities and cost of covering such a huge area such as North America with FM and DAB vs Satellite. The model would not work over here.
Edited by Lord Marylebone on Sunday 16th December 21:26
No idea how it worked though and didn’t realise it was satellite. I assume it’s subscription based whereas dab is free to air?
I just use amazon prime to stream through my radio which does the job although it’s not great.
i noticed about 7 or 8 months back dab reception became much worse in all 3 of my motors at the same time around central scotland. i reckon they have been f
king around with the broadcast network somehow. ok for me i just use internet radio and youtube with the screen off but the mrs is a technophobe she just wants a dial on the console.
king around with the broadcast network somehow. ok for me i just use internet radio and youtube with the screen off but the mrs is a technophobe she just wants a dial on the console. Funny you should say about Scotland - thats where I've noticed it too - but not just there. Drive down to England and there are huge areas of patchy or no reception along the motorways.
Internet radio is better. No only is mobile signal better, but if you're listening to a podcast or catch up radio then it can buffer and it doesnt matter if the signal drops out for 5 or 10 seconds.
Internet radio is better. No only is mobile signal better, but if you're listening to a podcast or catch up radio then it can buffer and it doesnt matter if the signal drops out for 5 or 10 seconds.
craigjm said:
What is inefficient about it?
Cos you don't get no signal? If I were to set off to drive to my 3 nearest towns I'd have unusable or no signal for a minimum of 30% of the journey, possibly much more. I never bother with mobile internet as a passenger around my home patch because I know it's going to be useless for the majority of the way and I'll be poking hopelessly at the screen.
I sure hope 5G plasters every single wrinkle of this country because if all radio and all self driving cars depend on unbroken signal the current set up is hopeless even in some heavily populated places.
Edited by bloomen on Monday 17th December 19:53
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