FM / DAB coverage

[Don Petter]

Hadn't even considered DAB in the car, mangerton - it wasn't in there when I got it -I thought it might move around a bit much - must investigate. I like DAB in the house mind you.

I've used a Pure Highway in the car for a few years now. Excellent reception with external aerial (see recent thread discussion). Audio quality - well you know about the cons of that, but to get R4Extra, R5 and R5Extra in the car is a big plus for us.

The only slight annoyance on long journeys is moving into an area where there is interference on the FM frequency being currently used. (Within 40 miles of home it's easy to find one which stays clear.)

If only Pure had arranged for the radiated signal to have an identifier like the normal FM stations, you could press scan on the Highway to find a new clear frequency and then let the car radio RDS find it again automatically. As it is, I set things up with four Highway intermediate presets that I have found to be useful ones, and then tune four of the car radio presets to these, on the FM2 band which I don't otherwise use.

Then when, on a trip, the dreaded Radio 2 breaks through (it always seems to be that!) I can just press another intermediate preset on the Highway followed by the equivalent number on the radio. This is possible with care while on the move - other jugglings with frequencies would definitely be a no-no.

[An_Inspector_Calls]

Well, if that map is accurate, surely any govt insisting on FM turn-off have got a mega vote-loser on their hands when the issues are debated widely, haven't they?

You need to read the coverage plan document I linked before you jump to conclusions when comparing DAB and FM coverage. In the coverage plan document you can read:

1.[2]4 In addition to planning for higher field strength, for in-vehicle listening we have planned for reception in 99% of locations for 99% of the time. This is a deliberately cautious approach at this stage which, in practice, means we are planning coverage so that a listener would only lose reception in marginal coverage locations if they happened to be sat in stationary traffic during certain atmospheric conditions.

Notice that for DAB they are targetting coverage down to in-vehicle level, something never done for FM.

[Old Grumpy]

End of Radio 3 on FM in sight?

This article would suggest so.

[Dave2002]

End of Radio 3 on FM in sight?

This article would suggest so.

I probably agree about listening at home, at least at present. However I'm not intending to buy another car for years, and our current vehicles only have FM. Switching R3 from FM to allow another station to keep FM would seem to be the wrong approach, and the MP who may have suggested that doesn't seem to have a grip on reality. Maybe eventually the FM network will have to go, but in that case surely all the channels will have to migrate, or is there some other "plan"?

I still hope that FM can keep going for at least another 5 years. I also think that the conditions for triggering any FM switch off are very biased, as there are several so-called digital platforms, so the digital device market is not just one whole sector, whereas FM is FM is FM AFAIK. I would still oppose any suggestion that we start to turn off FM in the near future.

[Honoured Guest]

I still hope that FM can keep going for at least another 5 years.

When the UK converted to decimal currency, a street-interviewed old dear said she thought the Government should have waited to do it until after all the old people had died.

[teamsaint]

End of Radio 3 on FM in sight?

This article would suggest so.

incidentally, and perhaps off the point, lots of PR stuff seems to have reached the Journos on this one.
daytime 6music is certainly not cutting edge, or anything like it.

[mangerton]

I probably agree about listening at home, at least at present. However I'm not intending to buy another car for years, and our current vehicles only have FM. Switching R3 from FM to allow another station to keep FM would seem to be the wrong approach, and the MP who may have suggested that doesn't seem to have a grip on reality. Maybe eventually the FM network will have to go, but in that case surely all the channels will have to migrate, or is there some other "plan"?

I still hope that FM can keep going for at least another 5 years. I also think that the conditions for triggering any FM switch off are very biased, as there are several so-called digital platforms, so the digital device market is not just one whole sector, whereas FM is FM is FM AFAIK. I would still oppose any suggestion that we start to turn off FM in the near future.

Do any MPs have a grip on reality?

I'm in exactly the same situation as you. My car has FM/AM and will not be replaced in the near future. I have just re-read what I posted above in 2012. I must admit that I bought a DAB+/DAB/FM portable last year, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it performs. I bought it because my new mobile phone (an "upgrade" ) does not have a radio, and it's useful for trips away.

[Nick Armstrong]

Feel a bit guilty, as I'm a DAB convert - it's the only radio (other than internet) that works properly at home (even with a rooftop aerial, FM was horrible - the tuner was accordingly junked last summer); and the DAB radio in the car acquired last year is a revelation - clear and strong and never a hint of interference or drop out. I'm afraid I don't miss FM one bit.

[Old Grumpy]

I have no DAB radio at home - 'cos there is no DAB radio signal. Perhaps one of the shiny new transmitters will cover our area of domicile, but I still don't see why I should have to buy a DAB set when we have several fully functioning FM receivers in the house. FM receivers in both cars too.

I did write to our MP a while ago on this issue - and got the same Vaizey whitewash back as is now being spouted.

OG