The FM radio switch off is coming – www.digitalradioupgrade.co.uk
Soon, FM radio services (88 to 108MHz) will be switched off to a digital only format – DAB. We will be assisting in coverage survey work for this fundamental change.
What is Digital Radio / DAB?
DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting (the name of the system). To listen, you need a DAB digital radio – you can’t receive digital stations on a traditional FM/AM radio.
Where DAB digital radio is available?
Currently, around 86% of the UK can receive DAB digital radio. To find out if your area is covered, use this postcode checker on Get Digital Radio.
BBC local radio
BBC local radio services are broadcast on DAB by commercial operators, because the BBC only has the capacity to broadcast its national services. For advice about specific local radio reception problems, you should contact the local operator.
Reception problems
With DAB, you may sometimes get ‘bubbly’ or ‘underwater’ noises, or the sound may break up or cut out altogether, but you will not experience the hiss, crackling, fading or station overlap that you get with FM or AM radio. The noises or break-up are usually caused by a weak signal. Try the following to strengthen the signal that your radio receives.
Aerial: make sure the radio’s aerial is fully extended, whether it is the telescopic type or a thin wire. If you sometimes have trouble tuning to a particular station (getting a “Station not available” message), try touching the aerial as you select the station, thus using yourself as an aerial booster. With a personal (handheld) radio, the aerial is often in the headphone lead, so make sure it is not coiled up or twisted.
Location: signal strength can be reduced in very built-up areas, in basements, and inside buildings with walls of materials such as thick stone or reinforced concrete. Placing the radio near a window can help, and reception may be better upstairs than downstairs. Many DAB radios can display the signal strength on their screen, which can help you find the best position. If you still can’t get good reception, you may need an external aerial.
External aerials
Most DAB radios can take an external aerial – unscrew the fixed aerial and attach the cable from an external aerial in its place. DAB aerials are different from FM/AM or TV aerials, so make sure you have the right type. An indoor aerial may be enough, but for the best reception you can install an outdoor aerial. This should ideally be on the roof or high up on the outside of the building, though it may also give good results in the loft. To listen to DAB radio in your car, you need a DAB aerial – an FM/AM aerial will not work.
Interference
DAB is less affected by interference than FM/AM radio. However, sudden interruptions, especially in regular bursts, may be caused by an electrical appliance or a faulty central heating or fridge thermostat. If possible, check an FM radio to see if it is affected by crackling noises. Try switching off or disconnecting your electrical appliances one at a time to find out what is causing the problem.
Equipment for receiving DAB digital radio
When buying a DAB radio, look for the DAB logo. Some analogue radios are advertised as “digital”, but this only means that they have a digital display rather than a tuning dial or bar. DAB radio sets available include portables, clock radios, hi-fi tuners, DAB adapters, personal (handheld) radios and car radios. Some radios allow you to pause, rewind and even record live radio. You can get a DAB receiver that plugs directly into your computer, or a PCI card that goes inside it, so you can listen to DAB radio on your PC or laptop. (This is not the same as listening via the internet.
Sound Digital has confirmed the full line-up for the new national DAB multiplex, and the official switch-on date
18 radio stations will be included on the new platform when it is officially turned on, on February 29th 2016. Three of them will be broadcasting in DAB+; Fun Kids, Jazz FM and a new service called Magic Chilled from Bauer.
Premier Christian Radio, which was recently at risk of losing its only national slot on D1, is launching a second service called Praise! whilst Asian Sound Radio’s new station will be called Awesome Radio.
In total, there will be eight specialist music stations, three talk stations, three Asian stations, three Christian stations and one for kids.
The full line-up is:
talkRADIO
talkSPORT2
Virgin Radio
Share Radio
Mellow Magic
Magic Chilled (new)
Absolute 80s
Kisstory
heat radio
Planet Rock
Sunrise Radio
Awesome Radio
UCB2
Premier Christian Radio
Premier Praise!
Panjab Radio
Fun Kids
Jazz FM
Most services will start broadcasting, or move from D1, on February 29th 2016. Other services will launch within a month of this date. The only confirmed start date we know of is talkSPORT2 which will launch on March 15th 2016.
The new multiplex covers less of the population than D1, so Absolute 80s, Premier Christian Radio and Planet Rock will lose parts of the UK from its broadcast area, including parts of the South West, South East, East Anglia, Wales and Scotland. Sound Digital will be using a network of 45 transmitters which it estimates will provide coverage for 73% – 75% of UK households and 63% – 65% of major UK roads.
The Secretary of State, Rt Hon John Whittingdale MP, will perform the official switch-on of the new multiplex network built by transmission provider Arqiva at a central London event on Tuesday 1st March. This event will also see the launch of the national Big Retune campaign to encourage listeners to retune their digital radios to access the full range of available stations. Scott Taunton, Chief Operating Officer, UTV Media plc, said: “Today marks a landmark moment for British broadcasting, with confirmation that the biggest expansion in radio choice for a generation is just weeks away. UTV is proud to be broadening the range of speech radio programming through the launch of talkRADIO and talkSPORT 2, as well as reuniting the British public with the iconic Virgin Radio brand.”
Dee Ford, Group Managing Director Radio, Bauer Media, said: “The launch of the UK’s second national DAB multiplex is a significant moment in radio’s digital development. Bauer is the UK’s leading commercial digital radio broadcaster, and the national launches of Mellow Magic and Magic Chilled, heat Radio, KISSTORY, Absolute 80 and Planet Rock on the new multiplex offer exciting programming to drive consumer take-up.”
Steve Holebrook, Managing Director of Arqiva Terrestrial Broadcast, said: “Since the licence was awarded in March 2015, Arqiva has been working hard building the new national transmission network and we are delighted to have delivered this in record time. We are also pleased to be able to be bringing next generation DAB+ to the market for the first time as well as additional diversity of channels such as Jazz FM, Fun Kids, Asian and Christian channels.”
Source: https://radiotoday.co.uk/2016/02/18-radio-stations-confirmed-for-new-dab-multiplex/
Interested? DAB radio websites Get Digital Radio and UK Digital Radio.