DAB update - Classic FM

[Old Grumpy]

So personally I would be happy for the BBC to keep DAB going for a few more years to come. I don't think there are so many benefits/advantages for broadcasters as there purportedly are for swapping over from FM to DAB. Most of the broadcasters simply want to have more channels - more opportunities to put out rubbish programmes - and more outlets for commercial advertising, and don't seem to be interested in audio or reception quality at all.

Yep - let's just go back to the Light Programme, Home Service and Third Programme

[LMcD]

Yep - let's just go back to the Light Programme, Home Service and Light Programme

Do you mean Home Service, Light Programme and Third Programme?

[Old Grumpy]

Do you mean Home Service, Light Programme and Third Programme?

Yes, indeed, thank you. I wrote Third Programme second, the realised it should have been third. Christmas brain fatigue!

[LMcD]

Yes, indeed, thank you. I wrote Third Programme second, the realised it should have been third. Christmas brain fatigue!

What was wrong with 2LO?

[Dave2002]

We had a power cut last night - lasted 2-3 hours. Took a while to find an FM radio and get it tuned back into several radio stations - making sure the batteries were OK.

All other methods of having entertainment and communication with the the outside world were limited. Probably plugging in an old telephone to the incoming line might have worked - and we do have one for that purpose. Unfortunately it's probablyl not compatible with the cordless ones we normally use, so that would require unplugging the base unit for the cordless ones in order to get the stand alone phone to work. Out of two mobile phones, only one was able to get a strong enough signal to make contact with the outside world and find the number for electricity emergencies [105 in our case]. Then using that number we were able to contact a help line, and it seemed as though the outage should have been up to 4 hours - so it was fixed within that time frame. Not a bad result this time, but we have had previous failures where there have been a chain of estimated completion times which kept receding further forwards in time.

Radio was not the absolute highest priority though. Being able to see and also to keep warm were also important. Now planning a more comprehensive box of kit for such emergency situations.

Getting the FM radio working was definitely a good thing. Some battery radios do DAB as well as FM/AM, and there may also be some hybrid radios which can do many modes of comms - even somehow linking to the internet, though how much resilience can be built into just one radio device I'm not sure.

[oddoneout]

We had a power cut last night - lasted 2-3 hours. Took a while to find an FM radio and get it tuned back into several radio stations - making sure the batteries were OK.

All other methods of having entertainment and communication with the the outside world were limited. Probably plugging in an old telephone to the incoming line might have worked - and we do have one for that purpose. Unfortunately it's probablyl not compatible with the cordless ones we normally use, so that would require unplugging the base unit for the cordless ones in order to get the stand alone phone to work. Out of two mobile phones, only one was able to get a strong enough signal to make contact with the outside world and find the number for electricity emergencies [105 in our case]. Then using that number we were able to contact a help line, and it seemed as though the outage should have been up to 4 hours - so it was fixed within that time frame. Not a bad result this time, but we have had previous failures where there have been a chain of estimated completion times which kept receding further forwards in time.

Radio was not the absolute highest priority though. Being able to see and also to keep warm were also important. Now planning a more comprehensive box of kit for such emergency situations.

Getting the FM radio working was definitely a good thing. Some battery radios do DAB as well as FM/AM, and there may also be some hybrid radios which can do many modes of comms - even somehow linking to the internet, though how much resilience can be built into just one radio device I'm not sure.

Which illustrates the kind of problems that arise from the "just use a mobile" official view. It involves several assumptions a) possession of mobile and ability to use it b) always charged c) signal available d) power cut doesn't shut down the masts.
There are a good few 'not spots' around here, so even when there aren't power cuts, being able to use a mobile at home isn't guaranteed. I still have a basic plug in landline phone as a spare due to ongoing issues over many years(and not just in this house) which can sometimes be solved, or at least worked around until the problem goes away of its own accord, by using something simple(no answerphone, no base station/cordless combo) , and if there's a power cut the fact that now the router and phone have to share a socket wouldn't matter.

[Dave2002]

I still have a basic plug in landline phone as a spare due to ongoing issues over many years(and not just in this house) which can sometimes be solved, or at least worked around until the problem goes away of its own accord, by using something simple(no answerphone, no base station/cordless combo) , and if there's a power cut the fact that now the router and phone have to share a socket wouldn't matter.

Bear in mind though that if there's a major power cut that priorities will change, and also some things become harder. For example, if you don't have a good working torch, and know where it is stored and accessible, then you wouldn't be able to unplug the cordless base station and plug in your spare land line unit. Even if you can get close enough with the right kit, without good lighting chances are that you wouldn't be able to put the plugs into the respective sockets.

[oddoneout]

Bear in mind though that if there's a major power cut that priorities will change, and also some things become harder. For example, if you don't have a good working torch, and know where it is stored and accessible, then you wouldn't be able to unplug the cordless base station and plug in your spare land line unit. Even if you can get close enough with the right kit, without good lighting chances are that you wouldn't be able to put the plugs into the respective sockets.

I have a selection of small torches in various locations, and a couple of large rechargeable lantern type ones, one upstairs and one down, although I do need to get a replacement for one of those as it doesn't hold its charge very well any more.
Telephone unplugging and replugging can be done by feel, as the landline box is easy to access(well relatively - I do need to get down to floor level to reach it just above the skirting board, but the desk in front has open shelves for the router etc so doesn't block it) and only has one socket now. The double socket arrangement failed less than 3 years after installation so now the front cover is off to expose the master socket into which a splitter is plugged. Admittedly the modern plastic jobbies with the little tag at the side are a pain to get in - the old jack plugs were not only far more robust but didn't have a right or wrong way to put them in.