Tech explained - Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

[HEXUS]

There are now numerous digital radio stations broadcasting in the UK. We explain how they work, and why you might want to tune in.

Read more.

[Flibb]

I have a couple of DAB radio devices, my radio alarm clock is about to be replaced with an internet radio alarm clock, why I hear you ask? The reason is that the best wakeup radio broadcast has just been replaced by "amazing radio", which to me is truly unamazing at 7 in the morning, the now sadly missed channel was radio birdsong.
http://www.radiobirdsong.com/page003.html
so goodbye radio waves, hello wifi and and broadband connection.

[Singh400]

Someone recommend me a good DAB radio. I've been looking for ones for ages. Budget is flexible as long as it's an awesome DAB radio.

[Flibb]

What type are you after? Bedroom with alarm, stand alone indoors, indoors + option to be portable, one that fits in your pocket?

I currently have a pure evoke in the front room, connected to my hifi, but its built incharger means its suitable to take camping. Reception is al ot better than the cheap dab radio thats being retired from the bedroom.

[Singh400]

What type are you after? Bedroom with alarm, stand alone indoors, indoors + option to be portable, one that fits in your pocket?

In the bedrrom, with alarm. With good quality sound, with the ability to store x numbers of stations as favourite. Prefer something with a heads up time display too.

[Biscuit]

Remember the quality of the sound can only be as good as the signal which it is sent. A DAB radio will produce lower fidelity sound than FM radio so when you say an 'awesome radio' what you will actually get will be worse than a similar class FM radio meaning you are likely to be dissapointed with an exuberant purchase. Whilst the need for a DAB radio is closing in on us, as mentioned in the article; its life will be relatively short lived thanks to DAB+ so i wouldn't plummet too much money into anything yet.

[Nelviticus]

@Biscuit: what he actually said was 'amazing radio', which is the name of a DAB station, the one that replaced Birdsong (which was originally just a test transmission).

One rarely-mentioned major down-side to DAB and DAB+ (and Freeview for that matter) is that decoding those digital signals takes more power than the old analog ones which is why DAB radios are such hungry power hogs and why you don't get many (any?) MP3 player-sized portable versions. More electricity anyone? Pass the volts, doubles all round!

[Antagram]

Been looking at radio alarm clocks, and was considering DAB model for a long unit lifespan.

Problem is all of the Sony range I’ve seen is still analogue radio based. Even the newly released models that have a charging station for ipod/phone or Sony's own Walkman/phone list a digital tuner, buts it’s an analogue based digital tuner.