DAB digital radio switchover - what switchover? 

I do have a radio with excellent reception of: FM, DAB+, and very important with thousands of radiostations from INTERNET. Also Spotify. This radio is High Quality.Greetings from me in the Netherlands.

Hi Ray, interesting video. Fortunately for me, here in Australia, analogue AM and FM radio is still going strong. We do have DAB radio, but there is very little interest. One big problem is that unlike DTV, there are no set top boxes, the radios have to be replaced in most cases for DAB. Your idea of using a transmitter is certainly a good way of keeping old radios going. In cars, some people use mp3 transmitters, which allow the signals to be heard on the FM radio and if in range, these signals sometimes can be heard via short range DX. Using a VCR. I have found a way to make DTV signals travel from the set top box, through the VCR and out on to an analogue BW VHF TV. It seems to work quite well. Anyway, take care. Robert.

As I recall, the last serious change in radio frequencies was back in November 1978 when Radio 2 moved from long wave to medium wave and radio 4 moved from medium wave to long wave and radio 3 got demoted to the old radio 1 frequency.

Hi Ray. Great information has always.Thank you for sharing and take care. Cheers Bobby

As a guy with a long career in telecomm./radio/electronics here are my views: Here in Norway the DAB switchover (FM switch-off) will happen in 2017. I agree with what you're saying, most people just wants to listen to the radio (simply put). NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) along with the BBC and other European government-owned broadcaster have been investing heavily in the development and deployment of DAB since the early 90s, and NRK has been pushing towards DAB and DAB+ ever since. Their main reasoning has been "DAB has much better audio quality", "You get so much more from a digital radio", and my personal favourite "The FM-spectrum is over-crowded" (we have 5 national FM-stations (and 0-4 local stations (depending on where you are(because of strict licencing laws and fees)))). We have, as you may know a quite challenging geography here Norway, with a lot of high mountains and deep fjords, not an ideal situation when you are planning transmitter sites. We now have good FM-reception in 99,5% of the country (which is great considering that if we divided the total area of the country by the population we would have about 1 square km each) and the national FM network can now be considered finished. DAB which transmits higher up in the VHF-spectrum needs a higher density of transmitters because of higher path loss(due to higher frequencies), and the required signal level at the receiver for a successful decoding of the transmission (remember, with DAB there will be nothing between no reception and perfect reception(audio-wise)). This has often been compansated by transmitting with a lot more power than comparable FM-transmitters. The level of complexity in a DAB receiver circuit (and software) is astounding compared that of FM (and AM), and has proved to be a patent heaven(or hell). This is made especially clear when you look at the pricing and availability of DAB receivers. After comparing the Norwegian market of DAB receivers with that of the of the UK, I can see it's about the same, both in available models and pricing. A cheapy DAB radio over here would cost from £35 and upwards, and we're closing down nationwide FM-broadcasting 4-3 years from now!!! So far China does not seem to make any decent (as in cheap China-decent) DAB receivers, I guess the worldwide market is not there yet. And has anyone thought about the enoooourmus heaps of FM radios that will be thrown out over all of Europe, over the next years? It should send shivers down the spines of most enviromental organizations. And it already does with alot of radio enthusiasts, myself included. I'm asking myself why can't we have both FM and DAB side by side.

Thanks; this reminds me not to panic, esp. since we hams haven't much problem creating our own signals far or near to whatever end. This got me thinking about TV. I have a couple of these in-line signal amplifiers you used when you'd run too much TV coax & splitters and you needed an in-house boost. I've also got various oldschool TV's around without digital converters. For fun I thought I'd create a signal on one of those video converter boxes that output VHF channel 3 or 4 (whatever content), run its output into the booster module and , instead of running the output directly into anything, stick a homebrew antenna on the output! I'll bet 1.2 watts should broadcast throughout the house! Hmmm...says here it draws 1.2 watts, not outputs 1.2 watts. Either you or someone had a video for a homebrew ammeter.... :) At any rate thanks; you never fail to grease my resourceful gears and get me excited about something possible in the shack.

Hi Radio Workshop, listening to internet radio in your car via the smartphone is good, but don't you think it can eat up your data?

Ray, A very good public service information video for anyone who, fearing the switchover from analogue to digital, is reluctant to discard their old radio my friend. I’m in the process of getting a few components together for the purpose of constructing a low power AM transmitter. Incidentally, did you download wartime broadcasts from the Old Time Radio website when you did a low power transmitter demonstration at the military vehicle rally? Old Radio Al and joernone have done some pretty neat demonstrations using low power transmissions - it was Al who introduced Old Time Radio to many of us. I own a DAB radio - it works reasonably well some of the time but it virtually works for most of the time! Regards, Phil.

Hi Ray, I bought a small transmitter a while back but have been very disappointed with the results. Do you happen to know where I might be able to buy a kit or even an assembled unit that works. I suppose no news is good news as regards the switchover. Thanks for the video, interesting as always. Chris

I have an EVOK pure H6 and it is not possible to download the latest software, is my radio too old?

I have also heard that smaller local and community stations are worried about being "left stranded" on FM which they think could become a "widely ignored backwater". HOW? No switchover will commence until half of all radio listening is via digital. So the other half of the audience will still listen via FM. Hardly what I would call insignificant. In fact, I believe that it will be precicely such small stations which could really win on the back of this - the Ofcom theory being that the freed up FM spectrum be used for lots of smaller stations that will spring up, with more FM licences being issued. DO NOT DISREGARD SMALL STATIONS! My local community station, Future Radio 107.8FM is brilliant! Many people simply like to listen to radio as a background, and so won't be too fussy whether it be BBC Radio 2 or their local small station. They might, however, not be too keen on having to discard their old faithful FM reciever and spending north of £50 on buying a DAB set. Also, why do you think that virtually every DAB set on the market includes an FM tuner? For that very reason. The DAB technology itself is already hopelessly out of date anyway and is sometimes here in the UK referred to as "Dead And Buried". Dear friends. Your old precious FM recievers are safe (although not too sure about the antique wireless sets which only have MW and LW). Do not let the British Brainwashing Corporation bully you into buying expensive, unnecessary and sometimes downright inferior Dead And Buried equipment to balance trade deficit with China.

Funnily enough, Ray, having just posted on another thread, and having now watched your video, it seems fitting for me to post (cut and paste) from my last entry. Sorry to plagiarise my own writing ;) "There is a lot of misunderstanding as far as digital versus analogue is concerned: First off digital is often more difficult to even pick up. So you have zero signal where FM often still gives you a signal, so works, versus not working at all. Secondly, those people talking about no grainy/hissy sound perhaps haven't used a DAB set in various situations, especially on the move! When I used to work day-long outside, my old FM radio would certainly hiss and buzz occasionally, but it would still work. When I used a DAB pocket radio to take its place (and it wasn't as compact either!) it would either work or not (I'd bought into the hype about how marvellous DAB was, so I thought I'd try). So from hearing either voice or music it would then cut out completely - moreover, it would cut out far more frequently than it did with my very reliable, more compact, FM radio - and the batteries on the analogue radio would last many days, versus just one or two days with the digital. On top of this, the DAB radio would sometimes suddenly produce a mighty loud 'click' which was way, WAY too loud. It would startle me. So I gave up with it and went back to my FM pocket radio. The radios in question was a Sony one, which cost me something like £26, versus £80-85 for the Pure DAB Pocket Radio, so it's not like I was comparing with a poor digital radio. Also, digital radio is categorically NOT always 'clear, pure sound'!!!! Like with ANY music system, it's only as good as the speakers on the end, not to mention the other gear in between! For example, if you plug in a cheap FM radio into a proper hi-fi system with decent gear, it'll sound much better than a standalone DAB portable radio............'well of course!' I hear some people chime; but that's my POINT! JUST because it's 'digital', so DAB doesn't in itself mean it's inherently better! In theory is should be more capable, but it rarely is because of the rest of the gear processing the sound. Besides, when you hear Joe Bloggs cooing over his newfandangled 'digital radio' he perhaps forgets that the 'digital' sound he's listening to originated in ANALOGUE format in most cases, as DJs use traditional turntables, folks! That's analogue!!!! I liken all this to putting a Ferrari engine into an old Landrover Defender, and expecting it to perform well, when patently it won't, as it's limited by the 'stuff' around it! So folks, don't get TOO hung up on DAB - especially as annoyingly, just in the last couple of weeks, here in the UK, they've shut down TWO of my favourite DAB stations in my area! Smooth 70s and Jazz FM. No longer available to me on DAB!!! How's that for 'progress'? And what about 'choice'? Well, I have less now than I did. So now I'm having to spend yet MORE hard-earned money on getting hold of an 'Internet' radio, so I can again listen to my favourite stations and music. So my £200 Pure Evoke 3, as good as it is, is going to be used far less now, because of these bright sparks (I don't think!) who push ads on how 'wonderful' DAB radio is, and the companies owning and operating the networks and stations not getting their act together!" So, as you can hopefully see, I'm a bit disgruntled by my experiences with DAB; but still they push DAB (well we know why, and money is at its root - or the lack of; not to mention apparent limitations/controversy on available bandwidth etc.). I've just managed to buy what looks to all accounts, like a very decent Internet radio, but at half price, because it's not 'perfect'. Besides, it might gain a scratch or two in no time anyway, so may as well save a tidy sum. I bought it form a website with the 'Buy-it-now' option. A seemingly excellent OXX Digital Black for just £68.00, including postage. There are several others still from that seller too. However, they aren't available any longer it seems, and their Danish website is down too. Sad to see companies making good products going down like this. Good, informative and 'cheeky' video though, Ray! Nice one :)

And he was right! It hasn't happened yet... seven years on!

It makes you wonder whether the broadcast standard should be DAB-4G, as opposed to DAB-T. Singapore abandoned DAB for internet radio because many Singaporeans listen to radio on their mobiles. When are you going to get an in-car radio with internet receiver? If you can hide it to prevent spoiling the original look of a 1961 Pontiac Catalina, all the better.

Hi Ray; the BBC won't agree to continue paying dual transmission costs for both FM and DAB ad infinitum. That's why, from their point of view, the "switchover" is necessary. It will, of course, be a shame to see the FM signal go for the millions who are perfectly happy to listen to national broadcasters on FM, but I guess that's what they call "progress"... What noone seems to mention is that FM isn't really being "swithed off" at all, ANYWHERE. It will be used for smaller local/community stations as it has been universally accepted both here in the UK and on the continent that DAB/DAB+ is inappropriate for small stations covering just a small geographical area. You won't see me discarding my precious old Sony 4 band reciever any time soon just because the buffoons at the BBC will stop broadcasting on FM. I will simply tune into my local community station, here in Norwich either Norwich99.9FM or Future Radio 107.8FM. And somehow I feel as if I won't be the only one.

Hi once again Ray. I think like most of the people replying to you. the Goverment right and propper cocked up the British upgrade to DAB. It is crap. I payed good money to upgrade to DAB and found the qaulity of the audio was rubish. I got hold of some technical info into DAB and was pretty well peed off to say the least. The first time the DAB startted breaking up on reception.In temper I slung the DAB radio into a brick wall. Untill we go to DAB+ I am not going to waste any more money on a new radio. 73 de G0WXU -John.

Yes I transmit LBC on FM.... So I can listen to it in the workshop and in my room on the VHF Valve radios I have..... But the MW ones are a tad expensive.... I might draw up a schematic to make my own..... Great Stuff!

DAB switch over. I have read various items on this subject and the way I believe they intend to roll it out is to make all national stations DAB only and hand FM broadcasting over to local and regional program providers only. The term digital switch over was really associated with Digital television and was completely different to DAB because this broadcast medium already has its own dedicated bands where as digital television replaced the 625 lines Pal broadcasting system completely and allowed broadcasting of multiplexes that make better use of the bandwidth and put more channels on the same air space.

Though I've seen and heard about many low powered FM transmitters available on eBay and in other places, I've not heard too much about low powered AM transmitters, though I don't doubt that they're out there. I too use my iPhone for listening to Internet radio, I use the OoTunes app, it isn't free, but it's awesome, I live in Australia and I can listen to the BBC World Service wherever I go. I have a few DAB+ radios, 2 of which can also receive Internet radio broadcasts via Wi-Fi. DAB+ is doing pretty well in the major capital cities in Australia as far as I know, but i personally think analogue radio does sound better. I don't know if a switch off date has been set for analogue radio here.

I have a Yamaha TD 500 AM/ FM /DAB 4G receiver bought in 2012 plugged into an old (1984) Akai AM U5 amplifier and after a bit of antenna fiddling with a home made three element Yagi for FM the thing works like a dream. There are stations on all "bands" here so far, though some of the AM and FM stations also have a digital transmission. Last count there were ~15 digital radio broadcasters. I don't use internet radio. On the other hand, my 18 year old analog, CRT TV is fed by a set top box and that will do me until the set goes phut. Sounds like there ought to be a market for a similar arrangement to the set top digital TV box with outputs in the MW or FM bands. Or for those willing to modify a radio with no external input, audio output from the digital receiver, a socket on the radio with connection to the volume pot. Vintage radio people can do this easily, or they should be able to.

I will never take up DAB, i will always be a faithful FM/LW/MW/SW,2,3,4,5 and 6. The radio have is a Roberts R-800 and the sound sound quality is rich and detailed, it also has tone control.

I'll only buy digital DAB+ radios here in Australia

The world will end before LW, MW and FM become silent.... Shortwave still going strong, whatever people say.

While DAB radio is probably great for the car (lots of choice etc) it’s a shame that the digital bit rate is set so low. The sad fact is, that a good stereo FM receiver with a good antenna still has better hi-fi quality than any current digital radio in the UK. I wish it was not like this, so we could all look forward to the digital switchover, but until we get “proper” digital radio in the UK we will be stuck with this archaic rubbish. The wool has been pulled over too many peoples eyes and they have been slowly groomed to accept the “less than perfect”. The concept of digital radio should not be that of cramming in as many commercial channels as possible within a single frequency (or mux) & "screw the quality" but to bring the standard of radio transmissions much nearer that of CD @ 44.1Khz

DAB is a bad technology because it solves a non problem. There is not enough of a quality gap between FM and DAB to switch. People already listen to online radios for digial. so DAB targets nobody. On top of whitch, it has its short commings. On FM/AM, if the signal is weak, you get static. on DAB, what happens? Does it cut?

If they do shut down and go for DAB here, I will guarantee that I will end up taking advantage of it.

Yes, it will be a very long time before the switchover.

I am currently looking for a simple and affordable solution to transmit multiple webradio stream into MW band so I can use traditional radio to tune in the latest information . do it on one webradio with single frequency is relatively easy and less fun for what I want to achieve.

I'm not impressed with DAB. I'm in an area which should be good for reception and it is when tuned in correctly but that's the problem, reception. I've had several DAB radios and 9 times out of 10 you have to scan for stations every time you turn it on which is an absolute pain and renders the device useless when used as an alarm clock radio. I won't buy another and will stick with FM.

I am against the switch over because on the best quality ans good quality receivers the sound quality is good, it does not need to be cold and sterile like it is on DAB.