With the rise of internet radio and digital channels via your TV, does anyone reckon it's worth buying a stand alone DAB radio any more? Other than the obvious advantage of portability, would I just be wasting my money on one of these?

It really depends on where you'd plan to listen to one. If it's somewhere other than where your television or computer is then yes it is worth it! Its also alot less mucking around to use than having to go through the tv or pc.

I bought a seperate DAB and was initially quite pleased. Over time I've revised my opinion.

You get a lot of choice, but as the number of staions increases, more of them are broadcasting with lower bitrates(I think that's the correct term)

The practical result is that you get a number of stations not even broadcasting in Stereo and that number is only going to increase!

Satellite radio is less compressed, why not use that?

Alternatively look at a good FM radio and a decent aerial, you can get better results! It's not by accident that elsewhere in Europe people aren't buying it.

This country is being conned by the government to make more money from more staions.

Don't do it!!

Rant over.

Actually I'd agree with you Pat - so called digital radio being inferior in quality to mono radio i.e. not even stereo is unacceptable. Perhaps just a standard radio is the answer. But is there an analogue switch off like there exists with digital tv? If so that could seriously dent the longetivity of anything bought now.

***longevity

Hello again Brucie.

I do prefer Patrick, but leaving that aside in a supercilious manner (oops and sorry)my resonse is. I don't know!

Regardless of the date they want to switch off, it always ends up being put back anyway. If people don't buy into it, they won't, or can't do it.

Tom have you ever listened to one of those really old radio's that are built like furniture? Now I'm no Luddite, or an audiophile purist, but that really is sound! If you want the best digital can offer, then go with the less compressed option, use the satellite connection.

I suppose it depends on how much trouble you want to go to and how much your prepared to spend?

Apologies my good man - won't happen again.

Brucie apologies are unneccesary.

Got a flight to catch to Russia.

Moscow

Brucie apologies are unneccesary.

Got a flight to catch to Russia.

Moscow

Moscow = must go????

Cheers guys. I've always feared that the rates of compression for DAB radio (is it about 128kbps or something?) means that the sound isn't going to be as crystal clear as we're lead to believe.

BTW I'm just about to get a freeview box and I think they offer quite a few radio stations. Anyone else on here gone down this route?

"I have recently bought a Pure 702ES, and am very pleased. Even though I could get digital radio through my TV receiver I would not be able to get my local radio station which is FM broadcast. So I get best of both with my DAB/FM/AM seperate.

Strictly speaking, DAB is probably never going to be as good quality as you can get with a quality FM receiver and good aerial in a good reception area. However, compared to the rather variable signal I tended to get in my part of north London, I've found DAB to be a more reliable substitute - and much more convenient for roaming around stations.

The future from an hifi point of view is multicasting. Some ISP already provide high bitrates for BBC broadcasts and this will be rolled out to other ISPs fairly soon. The Codecs are about to change to 128kbps AAC which will beat DAB, satellite & Freeview.

I do have to concede that it is better than the stand alone FM radio I have.

But I'm also annoyed as I've lost Jazz FM from the stations I can get in East London and I'm too cheap to get broadband!

I thought Jazz FM didn't exist any more. Isn't it 'Smooth FM'? Perhaps that's why you lost it.

If that's the case, then egg on my face!

With DAB it is good to look for things, provided you know the name and you've got your wits about you. (unlike me)

On FM I'd have just gone to the appropriate frequency.

Thanks, I'll have a look out for Smooth FM. Does sound a bit like Smashey and Nicey in terminal decline, doesn't it?

Ok so my Goodmans DAB Ghettoblaster ain't exactly state of the art,
.....however I find it difficult to tune into certain DAB stations ....lots of whooshing and bubbling noises depending on how near I'm standing to the unit! ..I like the choice of stations (and the readout telling you which song is being played)
......I wondered what happened to Jazz FM as well!

Patrick,

Jazz FM was fairly good early on (though disjointed), when it actually did jazz (weekend blues programme was terrific) but it went downhill when they didn't pick up an audience quickly enough. It would be interesting to find out if there is any good podcasting alternative.

I think the franchise should have been taken away and given to someone with a commitment to that kind of music. I suppose that this is what the BBC does best.

Interestingly, or not depending on your perspective. I was flicking through different channels on NTL last night and Jazz FM appeared.

Given that we were entertaining at the time, I was told in no uncertain terms to switch the TV off!

I've not had time to look into this in any more depth. So it leads me to question whether:

This is just a mistake and Smooth FM hasn't had its name changed by NTL?
[or]
There is another Jazz station broadcasting through satellite?

I must admit that I was an occasional listener as opposed to ardent, but could find tuning in to Jazz FM a real treat.

Tried tuning into Smooth FM without much success thus far. Still, the name itself makes me feel middle aged.