Digital Radio/Hi-Fi

[Wispy68]

I am hoping to buy a portable digital radio. Is it possible to buy a lead which would connect the radio to a hi-fi unit?

[gilf]

Without knowing either the model of your HiFi or the portable Digital radio (DAB I assume) then we can't say. But I would expect there would be at least one type of connection if not multiple.

[Wispy68]

Hello gilf. Yes, I meant a DAB radio. Do you have one? If so, do you think they're worth having? I'm interested in Planet Rock, plays and discussion programmes. I'm not sure about which model I'll be buying, but hopefully the salesperson will be able to advise me (once I've saved the pennise to buy one). Cheers!

[Wispy68]

...Ooops! That looks a bit rude!! I meant 'pennies'!!

[gilf]

No I dont have one but I am tempted, However be aware that if you can't receive good reception on normal FM/MW stations you will still get a problem on DAB. Depending on where you live you may be be able to receive DAB boradcasts, and unlike 'normal' radio if there is no strong signal you will hear nothing rather than stuff with hissing etc.

[gilf]

Here's a basic map of where DAB is avaliable, :( I'm down in the bottom right hand corner with no coverage. http://www.worlddab.org/cstatus.aspx

[bobbobley]

and yes, you can get a lead in pretty much any hi-fi shop with a nifty wee optical connector for better sound quality (depending on the amp its being connected to)

[Hippy]

Definitely worth getting a DAB radio. I bought one to plug into the Hi-Fi system, and another extra tuner thing for the car radio. I live in and travel around the Newcastle upon Tyne area and there are a few tiny pockets of poor signal. There's more choice on the new system.

The system works on the VHF Band III frequencies, that is what used to be for the 405 line B&W television band used by the commercial channels (ITV, Tyne-Tees, Granada, ATV, Thames etc.).

The audio is encoded using a method broadly in line with the MP3 system, and in its fully fledged stereo full-bandwidth is at least as good as if not better than comparable VHF FM reception, and has a better siganal to noise ratio. Some DAB stations (BBC7 for example, broadcasting speech and archive material) are mono broadcasts to conserve bandwidth, although a stereo version is put out on Freeview.

Planet Rock, Jazz FM, OneWord, and Smooth are welcome additions to the regular stations. DAB is the future for radio.

[Wispy68]

Thank you very much for your replies. I'm even more tempted to buy one now! Cheers all.