Poll: DAB+ is the future? Digital terrestrial radio broadcasting

Which method do you prefer when listening to radio

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
If your government and regulators don't listen to you, then it doesn't speak well for you.

Why is the UK the only country that has such problems? :D Why? :D
 
Hot news:

What does the explosion DAB+ services in the UK mean for listeners and broadcasters?
UK radio and audio expert Matt Deegan of Folder Media shared his insights with DRUK's Ford Ennals on what the recent huge expansion of small-scale DAB+ digital radio services in the UK means for listeners and broadcasters. Business models include a combination of advertising, donation-based, DJ subscription, or funding from local government.
News | WorldDAB
 
"Thousands of listeners across the UK will be able to enjoy a richer and wider range of radio programming thanks to an innovative new technology called small-scale DAB. Pioneered by an Ofcom spectrum planner, small-scale DAB provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves."
News | WorldDAB
A small-scale revolution for local radio - Ofcom
 
Yes, it is the future :p

"Swiss radio broadcasters have decided to shut down FM as originally planned on 31 December 2024, according to a press release published by Digimig, the Swiss broadcaster working group on digital migration. On the same date, FM radio licences expire. From that date onwards, radio programmes will no longer be broadcast via FM. With the return to the original switch-off date, consumers have more time to switch technology.

The radio industry is aware that there is no future for FM after 2024."

Switzerland will switch off FM end 2024 | WorldDAB blogs | WorldDAB
 
If I were in power, I would switch FM off immediately.
There is no point in the slow death, just do it as soon as possible.

A similar question - When are you going fully electric?

We live in a decade that will dramatically transform our way of living and our habits. It is inevitable.
 
MagicBoy said:
I do have four devices that are FM, including the car.
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Don't worry, over time they will get obsolete and replaced by something that supports DAB+.

MagicBoy said:
The OP keeps posting even more nonsense every couple months is an impressive feat in digging yourself a deeper hole... :cry:
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The only deep hole in which one currently is you in your deep hole.

I am not in a hole, you are the troll.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Did you say 32kbps? Isn't that sub-AM quality?
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Hmm. This sound was recorded back in 2012:


And this one in 2018:


I find 32 Kb/s the satisfactory minimum bitrate with which the service is ok to the listener.
More modern and precise compressions will only improve, of course
 
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That is data from 2013 which used significantly worse codings/compression algorithms.
It claims you need minimum 160, recommended 192 and quality 300 Kb/s which is just insane because it would mean 3-4 radiostations on a DAB+ channel.

The FM sound always includes a barely audible for some but pretty frustrating background static noise.
Also, the theoretical and never achievable in reality FM frequency range is narrow, it lacks highs and lows.



Hear this comparison:


 
Good news:

"Germany's annual Audio Digitisation Report 2021 published this week reveals that the number of DAB+ radios in German households has risen by more than 5 million to almost 22 million within the last year, corresponding to a relative annual growth of 30 percent. The number of FM radios continues to fall."
News | WorldDAB
Digitalradio DAB+ mit Wachstumsschub: Plus 30 Prozent / 5 Mio. Geräte mehr in Haushalten / Digitalisierungsbericht der Medienanstalten 2021 | DAB+ Mehr Radio (dabplus.de)
 
More news from the UK:

"
September 17th
The UK regulator has published details of the applicants for Round Two of the small-scale DAB advertisements. In total, 30 applications were received among 18 areas across North West England and North East Wales. Four areas failed to attract any applications: Chester & Ellesmere Port, Clitheroe, Rhyl Ruthin & Mold and Wirral. A selection process will now take place. Details of the areas to be advertised in a forthcoming Round Three have also been confirmed. 25 areas in all four nations of the United Kingdom will be advertised, probably in the fourth quarter of 2021. Areas to be advertised in a forthcoming Round Four will be made announced at the same time as the Round Three advertisements."
DAB Ensembles Worldwide | Latest News & Updates (wohnort.org)
 
I take your point about background and non-critical listening. Hell, I listened to Radio 1 and Radio 2 when it was on AM.

We'll accept quite low audio quality if in doing so we get some additional benefit, or if there's no alternative. Radio at work / whilst driving / in the background / non-critical; that's all fine. What sticks in the throat though for me is the UK Government (indirectly) peddling the lie that the DAB we got 20+ years ago was "digital, so it's better". This was part of the campaign message on the TV adverts with the little black puppet and it's Barry White-esq voiceover.

I so wanted DAB to be great. IIRC, there was a channel that carried something similar to talking books. Unfortunately it sounded like they were being read out underwater. There were other channels that I could get on DAB that weren't available locally on FM, but they sounded awful too. DAB+ offered a glimmer of hope, but that was soon dashed when the bitrates showed that they were/are using the more efficient algorithms to pack in more stations rather than to increase quality.

The point here is that we still have FM, so we have a choice. At the moment, I find no compelling reason to switch to DAB as a choice. It's sort of force on me if I jump in the car and put on the radio. The default is to always go to DAB. But I still have he choice.

You've chosen to abandon DAB in favour of streaming (BBC HD AAC 48kHz 320kb/s) for a specific channel. Would you really choose to go back to DAB for this station after that?

Incidentally, the fact that you're using streaming rather than DAB means you're akin to the son of Satan as far as our German friend is concerned. For him, it's DAB+ Über alles. Which brings us to the reason this whole thread exists. Parts of Europe have gone DAB+, but at much higher bitrates than the UK's services. That seems to be a point that Dagmar Dusseldorf persistently ignores. What he thinks of his DAB+ service isn't the same for us.

BTW, lovely tuners. Pricey; probably more than a lot of folk spend on an entire audio system, but lovely nonetheless.
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Ask your local radio stations to start broadcasting with higher bitrates. What exactly don't you understand?
 
MagicBoy said:
They don't give a ****
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Prove it. When you ask them about higher bitrates, what do they say?

Oh, we will postpone the analogue turn off, even despite the fact that our radio stations don't broadcast there?

I am not sure if you are trolling or just naive that anyone believes in your stupid arguments here.
 
Peoples are going in the right direction. After Norway (2016) and Switzerland (2023), it's now time for Italy.

Radio Rai says it is reasonable to switch off FM by 2030
20.09.2021 - Italy
it-ed6e2b1f4508b8d75c63827fa7d8d0bd.gif

According to Roberto Sergio, the Director of Italy's public broadcaster Radio Rai "I have not calculated a date [for the switch off], I just said to get there as soon as possible and taking into account everyone's needs. Since we said before that the switch-off with regard to television lasted ten years, it seems reasonable to think that we can return to that perimeter: 2030 would go in that direction, then if we were able to do it sooner, in my opinion it would be better for everyone.
(newslinet.com) Read more
News | WorldDAB
 
I suspect it's all a business model:

the poor get low quality free-to-air DAB+, while "the rich" get internet monthly fees of dozens of pounds to get streaming :o :rolleyes: :cry:

I am NOT going to pay a single penny for streaming.
It's enough that I am paying for their advertisements.

Mr_Sukebe said:
Not that it matters anymore when we're using services such as Amazon music, spotify, or can carry around our whole music collection on our phones.
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It's only the "yours" that doesn't include the much larger radio stations' compilations.
And a professional selection of new acts. Which you have no access to because you don't know about their existence.
 
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Applications for small-scale DAB round two published
22.09.2021 - United Kingdom
gb-1674fbf6dc097793ed59ab21f9925986.gif

UK's Ofcom has published the applications received to operate small-scale radio multiplexes in North West England and North East Wales. A total of 30 applications were received for 18 of the areas advertised in Round Two.
(Radio Today) Read more
 
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