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   station directory latest radio news air today feedback features  | |  Feedback archive An archived selection of comments and e-mails can be found below. Please be patient while the page loads. |
  | Your Letters
BBC National DAB in Essex I have recently bought a DAB digital radio, but have been slightly disappointed with the reception. When I tuned it in, I have been able to receive good reception of local stations such as BBC Essex, but not of national stations. One of the main reasons I bought the radio was to listen to BBC7. At the moment the only way I can receive it is to open my bedroom window and stick the aerial out at a precise angle! Is this likely to change when the Danbury transmitter is switched on, and if so, when is this likely to be? Stuart The BBC keep news of new DAB transmitters close to their chest as they rely on an outside company to install and commission their network of transmitters. When the DAB transmitter is switched on, you will no doubt receive BBC7 loud and clear! The BBC is aiming for 85 percent coverage by population for its DAB services, by the end of 2004. Ed. Problems with reception I've bought a Roberts DAB radio, but - disappointingly - reception is very poor (weak signal and slight distortion) in two postcodes where the radio is sited. What could the problem be? Peter The distortion you hear is caused by a poor signal. You can usually hear a gurgling or break-up of the sound when the signal is too poor for the radio to "decipher". In this situation, I would advise moving the radio about to see if reception improves. If you can, take the Roberts upstairs and try locating it near to a window facing in the direction of your neareast transmitter, to see if the signal improves. Position the aerial vertically at first and move it around if you have no joy. You might borrow or buy a DAB aerial if all else fails - this may help improve the signal. Ed. Can't pick up DAB where I live Hi, I live in the Stroud Valleys, near Nailsworth. Although I want to buy a new radio (my old one is on its last legs), I have been told not to even consider DAB digital radio in the near future, as there are apparently no plans to bring DAB digital radio to the Stoud Valleys in the foreseeable future. Why is that? Should I just go ahead and buy a World radio as planned in the first place? I can't get Freeview digital tv either so maybe it would be easier to move? Can you enlighten me, please. Sofia There are a lack of frequencies for DAB digital radio at the moment, so there are no plans for local DAB digital radio stations in some areas as there isn't space on the available spectrum. Bundles of local DAB stations also have to be spread geographically in such a way so that they do not interfere with each other (as there are few different frequencies to choose from, they cannot crossover). However, national stations broadcast up and down the country on the same frequency - one frequency for BBC national stations and another for national commercial stations, so there isn't a problem with overlap or with them taking up lots of frequencies. I would always advise doing a postcode check and checking for any new transmitters (on the same page), to see if you can at least receive the national DAB stations. There's talk of more space on a new DAB Band becoming available from 2007 onwards, but this (if it ever happens) is a long way off. Ed. Does the Bush DAB package actually come with a DAB digital tuner? Regarding the Bush DAB hi-fi component system: this unit looks nice, interestingly the Comet site Matthew Comet's description is a little confusing. Having contacted them, the Bush DAB package Which DAB digital radio would work well with my motorcycle? I'm hoping that you can assist me in choosing the right DAB radio to meet my needs. Briefly, I am looking for a personal DAB radio that I can connect to the AUX input on my motorbike's intercom system so that I can listen while on the move. It needs to be small enough to carry in my pocket, not have a telescopic aerial (ruling out Perstel) and offer reasonable reception. The problem that I have is that I don't intend using the supplied headphones but a jack to jack lead, meaning that I will be without an aerial at all. Which product would you recommend, and are there any ways around the aerial problem? If there is any way to buy a jack to jack lead that will work as an aerial, that would be great. Andy All digital radios need an aerial of some sort, but the length of aerial need not be the same as that for FM reception (as an aside: 1.2 metres is recommended for FM). All other personal DAB radios other than the Perstel units use the headphone cable as the antenna, sometimes employing a sheath covering the cable itself for this purpose. I would think to stand any chance of picking up a signal, you'd have to use a splitter at the headphone socket with one cable carrying the audio to the AUX input and another "dummy" cable performing the task of picking up a signal. Your best bet is to buy from a store where you can take it back if it doesn't work, but in all honesty I think you might be expecting a bit much from the technology. Never say never, though: has anyone had any success with a DAB radio on a motorcycle? Ed. Would like to listen to BBC Radio Cornwall and BBC Radio Devon on my DAB radio I have had a new DAB digital radio for Christmas and am thrilled with it. The only problem is, I can't find BBC Radio Devon or Cornwall on it. As they are my local stations and I listen regularly, I would like your advice please. Stephan BBC Radio Devon and Cornwall will be carried on the local digital multiplex (basically, a bundle of stations) for Plymouth and Cornwall, which will launch in October 2004. Until then, these stations are not available on DAB digital radio. The rollout of local stations in local areas is well underway, but some areas have yet to get local DAB digital radio stations. Ed. Recording to cassette deck. I'm thinking of buying a DAB digital radio but I want to be able to record programmes onto cassette. Are there digital radios that will let me do this or do I have to wait until I can afford digital recording equipment? anon Several DAB digital radio models, such as the Pure Evokes have a "line out" socket that enables you to connect the radio to any other hi-fi component with a spare "line-in" or "aux" input, such as a cassette deck or separate amplifier. Providing your cassette deck has phono inputs (most do), you simply attach the necessary cable between the radio and your cassette deck. This way, you can make recordings in real-time of shows as you listen to them. All you need is a cable with a 3.5mm (stereo) jack on one end and two standard phono jacks (for stereo) on the other. Maplins Electronics sell the type of cable you would need. Ed. Disappointed with my choice here in Ayr I bought a DAB radio on the basis that according to the map, I'm very likely to receive about eight of the national stations. I can disappointingly only receive one station of Country and Western - which I hate. I've travelled around the town trying to re-tune without success - is the map so inaccurate? Paul You should be able to pick up stations on the Ayr local DAB digital radio multiplex - if you're picking up 3C (country music), you will also get all stations on that same multiplex e.g. Smash Hits Radio, The Storm, UCA Radio, etc. It sounds as if the signal you're getting is very poor and your radio may benefit from an external aerial. Ed. A tall order! When is your website going to have a 'view printable page' facility, so one can download and print what is 'on screen', rather than the 70 percent that seems to come out. Can you also denote, which radio station websites have a 'view printable page' facility and which do not? And those where 100 percent of the 'page' on the screen, prints out, not 75 percent. Also, which have a specific 'traffic & travel' phone in line and which do not? Something to think about in 2004! DMW You should be able to set the page up so that it prints in landscape - not an ideal solution, I realise, but changing our pages now is such a tall order we'd literally have to go back to the drawing board and recreate them again - the pages are not created dynamically from a database like some sites, so there is no set template we can easily alter. I think the traffic and travel phone line numbers are only really useful to those wishing to call "on the move" and is not something I would consider adding to our pages. Ed. Who are you and where do you come from? I quick note to say how much I enjoy linking up to Radio-Now. I have your site listed in my favourites list and I am a regular reader of the feedback and news sections of the site. You are providing a very informative and interesting service, but out of curiosity could you provide information on Radio-Now, a "what you are" and "who you are" information section? Keep up the good work. David Thanks for your comments, David. I'd like to say there's an interesting story to tell about the site, a dotcom success (of sorts!) perhaps, but alas there isn't! I'm sorry to shatter the illusion, but like so many sites on the internet, this one is reliant very much on our visitors and other information services for its information. I simply put it all together! It would be great to work on the site full-time, but there are bills to be paid of course and so it takes a back seat to the day job. However, I very much enjoy doing it and as long as people still visit, I'll keep on doing it! If I get a chance, I'll put up a "who we are" page. Ed. Which portable DAB radio should I choose? Hey Ed. Just thought I would write to ask if you had a good Christmas and to wish you a Happy New Year! And to all your visitors, too! It's been a long wait for a DAB digital radio, and now xmas is over with I can afford to finally buy one. I quite fancy the Cambridge Audio DAB500 to start off my new hi-fi system, but I would like a portable radio for downstairs living room and kitchen, do you have any suggestions? I've read the reviews but I would like to know from someone with experience of a DAB digital radio. Can anyone help? James My Christmas was fab, thanks. Now, I've heard some good reports about the Intempo PG01 - apparently it's very good at picking up DAB radio signals, more so than the Evokes in weaker signal areas. But, if I had the choice, I would probably go for the Evoke 2 or the Pure Tempus 1 - the latter having a clock alarm built in. Which models do our visitors recommend? Ed. Why do some DAB digital radios only come with one speaker? Firstly, why is it that so many of the portable DAB digital radio models only come supplied with one speaker? Surely, it's better to have two speakers to take full advantage of DAB digital sound quality? Secondly, why is it that many 'mainstream' electrical manufacturers (particularly the Far East giants) have yet to release portable DAB radios in the UK? To be honest, I find difficulty in choosing a model when most of the suppliers on the market are unknown to me. Lee Some of the earlier DAB digital radio models, such as the Pure Evoke 1 only had one speaker because adding an extra speaker would have tipped the balance in being able to offer a DAB radio for under GBP100.00; an extra speaker would have added at least another tenner onto the price. The majority of portable DAB radios now have two drive units - even the retro-looking Bush TR2003 portable manages to cram in twin speakers. Many (if not all) of the current range of DAB radios and tuners on offer are manufactured in the Far East already, a few being re-badged for the British market. I think the Perstel units originate, in design, from the Far East. The larger manufacturers are yet to step on board as they are seeing how the market develops for these products. Suppliers like Pure Digital are building a name for themselves as a result of providing high-quality and highly-reviewed products. To my mind, reviews and feedback are the most important factors - as long as the product looks and performs well, it doesn't necessarily matter that much who it is manufactured by. Ed. Where is that birdsong from? I've never heard of Bloomberg Radio, but when flicking through the stations, I too came across D1 Temp which seems to play a looped tape of a dawn chorus. In the dead of a sleepness night it makes an interesting break from the World Service or Planet Rock trying to work out where on earth it was recorded. The wood pigeons waking up are very clear but there are a few jungle sounds that I cannot identify - does anyone know what this tape is? I'm sorry for the folk who seem to have lost Bloomberg Radio, but I shall miss D1 Temp if it goes! By the way, I am happy with my DAB digital radio, but whilst my Roberts has a battery option as well as mains, I object to it consuming a full six pack of big ones in a single night! I live on a continuous-cruising boat so mains is occasionally a problem. I shall run the engine in future - it'll be cheaper than Duracell! Colette Blimey! Bloomberg Radio - I remember that one - it finished this time last year and I believe the web radio stream has since ceased, too. The chorus tape was used before the launch of Classic FM and makes another appearance on the empty slot of D1 Temp on the national commerical DAB digital radio multiplex. Perhaps the jungle sound is farm machinery? Happy new year. Ed. Jazz FM coverage in Dorset Janet in Weymouth asked about the coverage of Jazz FM in Dorset. If it's Jazz you want to listen to I suggest you give up on Jazz FM. GMG Radio don't seem to be committed to the station or Jazz (if you read the excellent radio news section on this site) you will notice that GMG sees the name Jazz FM as a "hindrance to attracting new listeners" (their words, not ours. Ed). Try tuning in to AccuRadio on the internet. Going through the internet is a bit of a pain, but the music choice is brilliant and you actually get to choose it.You have also to be a little forgiving on the occasional station ads spoken in a thick-as-syrup East Coast American accent. Give it a go - I certainly highly recommend it. David Want to listen to cricket on DAB digital radio I am thinking of buying a DAB digital radio this Christmas, but am not sure if I will be able to listen to the cricket that is on R4 Longwave. Can you please advise. Bruce Generally speaking the cricket can be heard on the part-time station Five Live Sports Extra on DAB digital radio, except when other sporting events clash (usually international football or Wimbledon, for example). If you want to check the schedule for Sports Extra and perhaps compare it with Radio 4 LW, you can do. Radio 4 LW only "appears" dynamically on DAB digital radio when programmes such as "Yesterday in Parliament" or "Morning Service" are being broadcast. Ed. DAB - Damned Amazing Broadcasting ?? Hi. I was sick and tired of hearing my wife's tranny crackle and hiss all the time, so I have bought her a DAB digital radio for her main Christmas present. After spending about three months diligently reading DAB reviews wherever they appeared and actually listening to a couple of sets I opted for the good old Evoke 1. Before wrapping it for Christmas I naturally tested it and was immediately blown away by the superb quality and huge choice of stations here in Portsmouth. I only wish I had been able to afford a DAB radio a couple of years back when it emerged. I have digital radio via cable TV, but it's definitely not the same listening pleasure as hearing crystal clear sound coming out of a little semi-wooden box... brilliant! If anyone has popped into this site to see what DAB digital radio is all about I can only say "buy a dab radio now!" You definitely won't regret it. Please ensure you check coverage for your area though... Merry Christmas and a happy 2004 to all... Anon DAB digital radio generally does offer a better choice of stations if, like me, you're fed up of hearing repetitive playlists on other stations, day in, day out. Stations like that are such a yawn. With DAB, you are at least able to tune away to something completely different, when the mood takes you. Don't forget, we've details of loads of the latest discounts, to save you more than a few quid on the latest products. You'd be mad to buy anywhere else. Ed. Less enthralled by DAB I don't like DAB digital radio - its going to be the death of real radio. It's not live most of the time and its not interactive. I have had a DAB digital radio and sold it. It's just not radio - it's a jukebox with a robot DJ. I will fight it all the way. Free radio forever! Moggie I like it because it gives me the music I enjoy. Ed. YOURradio spreads Christmas cheer How bad has the music got on YOURradio? Since it changed, I just had to switch stations. Who wants to listen to Merry Christmas everybody twenty-four days before Christmas? Even the guy who wrote it said it should only be played on Christmas Day. Frank DAB's great, but are the adverts misleading? I listen to the station talkSPORT here in Scotland, where, at certain times, Switch Digital places adverts advising that you would get "all the stations you got before when you switch". This is patently not true for a large area of Scotland, notably Aberdeen and North-East area. Do you agree that the advert is misleading and perhaps needs to carry a rider? I look forward to your reply, particularly as my wife bought me a DAB digital radio for my last birthday and I am an avid Radio Five Live listener! Tom I think the advert needs to be revisited and people made aware of which stations they will actually be able to receive if they buy a digital radio. Personally, if I can get more new stations than those I can already pick up on FM, so much the better: it's added value. If I'm a sports fan and can pick up talkSPORT and Five Live without interference in the evening, the idea's sold on me. Ed. Where can I go to check DAB coverage? I am thinking of buying a DAB digital radio specifically to listen to BBC Radio 4, Five Live and 7. I live on the Flyde Coast in Lancashire and would like to know if reception is good for these stations in this area. Anon I would do a postcode check, although sometimes you may get better reception than this search would suggest. If you can pick up the BBC's national multiplex, you'll be able to receive all of those stations on the multiplex. Ed Will we get DAB digital radio in Carlisle? I have been given a digital radio as a present. Could you please let me know when we will get digital radio in Carlisle? Andrew A tricky one - I would keep checking the future coverage information pages and do a postcode search at the same time - just in case you're covered already. There are no immediate plans for a local DAB multiplex for Carlisle, as far as I know. Ed. Can I get Jazz FM in Weymouth? I have just bought a DAB as a Christmas gift in the blind belief that we would be able to receive Jazz FM in Weymouth! Having plugged it in and realised that there are only a few stations available, could you please tell me whether there is ever any likelihood of us being able to receive this station down here in Dorset? It was the only reason I bought it in the first place and now it looks like I'll have to take it back! Janet Jazz FM is not available in Weymouth, but the BBC is to turn on its national DAB transmitter to serve Weymouth by the end of 2003, which will give you a number of extra BBC radio services, albeit not Jazz FM. Some oeople reading this will no doubt be thinking "Jazz FM doesn't play that much jazz anyway"; Jazz FM plays more classic/smooth soul during the daytime hours, so perhaps all is not lost. Ed. BBC reception in Medway is poor? I have just purchased a digital radio and live in Medway. I am having trouble getting a clear reception for the BBC stations and am wondering if some kind of signal booster is necessary. All other stations are clear. I have placed my radio near the kitchen window as this is the best place I can get reception. John The official postcode check says you are only 'fairly likely' to receive BBC services in your area - try the check here. The BBC are adding more transmitters for some parts of Kent, which are to be switched on by the end of 2003. Unfortunately, the BBC don't usually say when others will be installed. Have you tried an external aerial at all? Most DAB radios have a socket for their connection. If you can, borrow one first, or see our pages for installation, product and stockist information. Ed. BBC Radio 4 in the South of France My wife is English and is a big fan of radio 4 "The Archers". For Christmas I want to find a way for her to be able to listen to her favourite programme again - only we live in Aix en Provence. Benoit Do you have broadband internet access where you are? If not, this could be a good, if slightly "alternative" present to "listen again" to the BBC's programmes on Radio 4. Ed. Other local DAB multiplexes Is it possible to tune into other areas DAB radio multiplexes (I live in London 19 floors up; could I receive the Kent local multiplex? Is it possible for Pirate radio stations to be received if they broadcast on a seperate channel from the BBC/commercial one? Steve |
