When the discussions were about turning off the FM radio signal, I was horrified. Yes, we used online for our radio needs in the livingroom, but we had portable FM/MW radios using them in the kitchen and in the workshop.
Then, we bought a bluetooth speaker system so we could use online radio via the bluetooth anywhere in the house, not just the livingroom, and within reason it works outside in the garden too. We bought a DAB radio for the workshop and now FM/MW isn't needed domestically at all and since changing our car in 2017 that came with a DAB radio, we haven't listened to - or needed - FM/MW radio at all.
Are we typical and FM/MW is dead and not required?
The whole subject seems to have dropped off the media.
FM Radio
Re: FM Radio
Mick F wrote:Are we typical and FM/MW is dead and not required?
No you're not typical. Not that many cars have DAB. Ours doesn't and neither did my company car recently handed back.
When available, DAB is my first choice (H-H-Hancock's Half Hour) but FM/MW is still needed by some peeps so should be kept going for a few more years until DAB ownership reaches a suitable and fair critical mass.
Cycling UK Life Member
PBP Ancien (2007)
PBP Ancien (2007)
Re: FM Radio
I dislike DAB for 4 reasons.
1 it's slow to turn on and to tune in
2 it eats batteries (in effect it's a small computer). The batteries in our FM sets typically last a couple of years
3 No two DAB radios decode at the same rate, thus if you have DAB playing in one room, switching another on in a adjacent room leads to wierd and unlistenable echoing.
4 Audio quality is generally poorer than FM.
I am happy with FM and am in no rush to change.
1 it's slow to turn on and to tune in
2 it eats batteries (in effect it's a small computer). The batteries in our FM sets typically last a couple of years
3 No two DAB radios decode at the same rate, thus if you have DAB playing in one room, switching another on in a adjacent room leads to wierd and unlistenable echoing.
4 Audio quality is generally poorer than FM.
I am happy with FM and am in no rush to change.
geomannie
Re: FM Radio
Our younger daughter's car has a cassette radio. Our present car doesn't even have a CD tray.Spinners wrote:No you're not typical. Not that many cars have DAB. Ours doesn't and neither did my company car recently handed back.
It was buying a more modern car with a DAB radio that tipped the balance for us. I've almost forgotten about analogue radio.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: FM Radio
Dab is not always reliable round here. So still having fm onto fall back on is useful home is either internet,satellite or dab. But car you need fm . Dab in the house needs you to be upstairs for most stations
NUKe
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landsurfer
- Posts: 5327
- Joined: 27 Oct 2012, 9:13pm
Re: FM Radio
My cars got DAB .... but seems to be unable to actually ever find a signal ! ... so it's mostly R4 FM, and SD card downloads (hardcore, Trance, gay electro pop, Kate bush, mike Oldfield et al .. ).
Last edited by landsurfer on 8 Jan 2019, 7:01pm, edited 1 time in total.
“Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot.”
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Re: FM Radio
I’ve just checked DAB coverage. We have eleven BBC stations available here and that’s it. Surely coverage has to be better than this before they switch off FM.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life
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E2E info
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E2E info
Re: FM Radio
you wont ever get DAB in a smartphone but most have an FM radio.
The only thing good about DAB is there is an old fogeys radio station called Angel that plays old stuff ( i mean olde stuff ) You need a DAB+ set to receive that. Some times quite interesting
The only thing good about DAB is there is an old fogeys radio station called Angel that plays old stuff ( i mean olde stuff ) You need a DAB+ set to receive that. Some times quite interesting
Last edited by mercalia on 8 Jan 2019, 7:14pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Cyril Haearn
- Posts: 15215
- Joined: 30 Nov 2013, 11:26am
Re: FM Radio
Just another upgrade to increase sales of new equipment 
Like scrapping perfectly good cars so new ones can be sold
New systems should surely be better than old ones, in every way, especially energy use
What about 'remote' sparsely populated areas?
Like scrapping perfectly good cars so new ones can be soldNew systems should surely be better than old ones, in every way, especially energy use
What about 'remote' sparsely populated areas?
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
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landsurfer
- Posts: 5327
- Joined: 27 Oct 2012, 9:13pm
Re: FM Radio
Cyril Haearn wrote:What about 'remote' sparsely populated areas?
In reality .. the majority of the UK !!
“Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot.”
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Re: FM Radio
Can you get "traffic messages" (TMC) on DAB ?
If going down the M6 I used to have TMC on but using DAB I don't seem to be able to get it.
If going down the M6 I used to have TMC on but using DAB I don't seem to be able to get it.
You'll never know if you don't try it.
Re: FM Radio
landsurfer wrote:Cyril Haearn wrote:What about 'remote' sparsely populated areas?
In reality .. the majority of the UK !!
Yep. We're still a "fringe reception" area for national FM stations here! No local stations on DAB but I've almost line of sight to BBC Norfolk's MW transmitter on the banks of the Great Ouse near the A47.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: FM Radio
FM turned off? I just bought this!
Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Re: FM Radio
cycleruk wrote:Can you get "traffic messages" (TMC) on DAB ?
If going down the M6 I used to have TMC on but using DAB I don't seem to be able to get it.
Is that still a thing?
I thought everyone used smartphones or satnav for stuff like that these days.
In my opinion even DAB is temporary, the obvious path forward is internet based stuff. A lot of modern cars have built in cellular access and whatever ones reservations that's the direction everything is going and presumably at some point the infrastructure will improve to service it.
Re: FM Radio
al_yrpal wrote:FM turned off? I just bought this!
Al
Looks like a copy.
I've got a raft of old valve stuff in my attic including a few portables.
I have to make up 90v batteries by stacking 3v button cells to run them!
Not sure that any of the portables have FM though, a few of the mains powered ones do.
If they turn off FM then I'll have to make a pirate transmitter - back to my youth!
