What will happen to car radios when we all go digital?

[johnny61]

I wonder if my poor Five Live reception will improve when we go digital?

[AlBags]

Eventually .. yes.

[237SJ]

I`ve just bought a new car with an analogue radio and I was wondering the same thing. There used to be lots of digital stations on my DAB radio but as most of them seem to have closed down, I wonder if all digital radio will ever happen. I hope not.

[boxtops]

Some parts of the country will still be on AM/FM though?

[Buenchico]

5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra are available to you, in your car, by simply purchasing one of these:
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Chris

[Buenchico]

Boxtops:
The target date for switching off the FM transmitters (as defined by the Government's 'Digital Radio Action Plan') is 2015 but most observers believe that to be unrealistic. The actual completion of the switchover will probably be well after that. (The UK Government signed an international agreement on the allocation of radio frequencies, which committed the UK to completing the digital switchover of TV services by 2001. So we're running 11 years late on that agreement; something similar is likely to happen with radio as well).

Chris

[old-wos-is-name]

I have DAB radio at home, not many stations ( south Lincolnshire) If I had DAB radio in the car, would it pick up the DAB stations as flawlessly as the existing car radio does with the FM stereo, traffic reports etc. Is DAB a general all over the country signal or a local transmitter signal?

[237SJ]

DAB is certainly not all over the country. When my mother lived in the South West I made the mistake of buying her a DAB radio for her birthday. The radio signals had never been good there due to the hills but at least she could get about five stations. When I bought her the DAB she could only get Radio 2 and that was only upstairs (North facing). A complete joke. Large parts of the country will be cut off radio-wise when we switch to DAB.

[old-wos-is-name]

yes, 237sj,
I only get radio 2 and 4 on a good day, and 2 local stations. this is what worrys me about a DAB car radio, looks like we are going back to the days of radio luxenbourg, signal drifts in, signal drifts out, even had a job to get horace batchelors address, somewhere in Bristol, I think.

[237SJ]

LOL I used to get a good signal on Radio Luxembourg (only after about 8pm though)!

[old-wos-is-name]

Not trying to change the blog,
But radio luxembourg sunday night, 7 o'clock, the top twenty, this was at a time when the BBC would only play 45 minutes of pop a week. so every one under the age 20 would try to tune in to 208 mtrs.
looks like the government is going to control the airwaves again.

[Buenchico]

O-W-I-N:
DAB coverage is provided by this national network of transmitters:
http://i41.tinypic.com/oir7f6.jpg

The BBC stations broadcast are Radios 1, 1 Xtra, 2, 3, 4, 4 Extra, 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra, 6, Asian Service and World Service. The Digital One transmitters carry Absolute Radio , Absolutes Radio 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Radio Extra, Amazing, BFBS, Classic FM, Jazz FM, Planet Rock, Premier Radio, Smooth FM, TalkSport and UCB UK

Local transmitters, shown here
http://i39.tinypic.com/wlrnfl.jpg
provide additional stations, usually including the local BBC station(s), together with local commercial services and other commercial stations (such as Heart, Gold, Capital and Kiss - but the selection of stations varies from one transmitter to another).

I use my portable DAB radio inside the car. Theoretically the metal body of the vehicle should stop most of the signals from reaching its telescopic aerial but I get good reception across East Anglia, London and the south East of England. (I've not tried it in Lincolnshire).

Chris

[Buenchico]

O-W-I-N:
Use the postcode checker here to see which stations you should be able to receive:
http://www.ukdigitalradio.com/

The system is still being improved, with more transmitters going on air every month.

[old-wos-is-name]

buenchico,
That is amazing. I will have to relocate the position of the radio ( why do they not put an external aerial socket on the back anymore?) It looks like I can get lots of good stations, so I will miss that lovey dovey radio two thing in the morning ( thanks for a hundred years of being my friend and lover, etc.) and play with my DAB retro bush radio instead. I wonder if I connect a aerial lead centre core to the antenna on the bush, and the other end to a large metal rod in the loft or outside wall ( or a cheapo aerial from a boot sale) if that would improve reception ( I live in a cottage which is lower than the road outside)
thanks,
alf

[Hopkirk]

I thought they had put off switching everyone to digital indefinitely.

[Buenchico]

Possibly pushed back to 2017, Hopkirk - but don't hold your breath!

July 2011:
http://www.smmt.co.uk...ion-in-uk-automotive/

October 2011:
http://www.telegraph....ality-of-digital.html

Chris

[Ann]

Probably be obsolete like my lovely little 5" screen mini analogue Casio tv - it was a present only a few years ago and I loved it when travelling, now I can't use it - very annoying isn't it!