DAB Standard

ABajaninCork

This has probably been asked 100's of times, but wanted to ask:

What is the DAB platform used in Ireland. Would it be DAB+?

I'd like to order a new clock radio, but need to know the standard here....

TIA

The Cush

ABajaninCork wrote: »

This has probably been asked 100's of times, but wanted to ask:

What is the DAB platform used in Ireland. Would it be DAB+?

I'd like to order a new clock radio, but need to know the standard here....

DAB at the moment, there will be some DAB+ tests from June.

watty

DAB is obsolete
DAB+ is practically so

Better to have a good Analogue one with LW/MW/VHF. My 1980s Clock Radio gives better choice than DAB ever will here.

My "better" FM sets give better quality. Digital TV has many advantages, though many of the claims are spurious, especially for HD and saving spectrum.

But there is no need to save Radio spectrum, nor does DAB add anything to Radio listening.

ABajaninCork

Do you think so?

I've got DAB equipment which worked well in the UK before I moved over, and of course will not work here now!

I've found listening to DAB a pleasure, No interference and crystal clear sound. You can also 'rewind' the radio and tag songs if you wish.

The Cush

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I've got DAB equipment which worked well in the UK before I moved over, and of course will not work here now!

I've found listening to DAB a pleasure, No interference and crystal clear sound. You can also 'rewind' the radio and tag songs if you wish.

What DAB equipment will not work here? I have Roberts radios and a Blaupunkt car radio, DAB only and all working OK with the RTÉ DAB Mux. I'd use DAB more if Newstalk were available and the network was more widely available when driving.

watty

All UK DAB gear will work here for now. Of course though RTE should have launched DAB+ from the start and may at any future stage change to DAB+. Some UK gear does DAB+ out of the box and some can be updated.

They are secretive and have very little meaningful consultation or Technical road maps.

There is currently no official DAB+, any DAB+ was tests to see how stupidly low the bit rate could go rather than the current bit rate and more quality.

ABajaninCork

Ah - didn't realise it would work here now. When I moved in 2008, wouldn't work at all. TBH, I thought it would be later in the year the DAB would start working.

Minstrel27

It depends on where you are of course. It wont work where I am for example but will half an hour away.

The Cush

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Ah - didn't realise it would work here now. When I moved in 2008, wouldn't work at all. TBH, I thought it would be later in the year the DAB would start working.

The RTÉ DAB Mux was officially launched on 1st Dec 2008 and now covers about 55% of the population in the Dublin/Louth/Meath, Cork & Limerick regions.

No further expansion planned for the moment, the focus at the moment is on digital television and analogue TV switchoff later this year.

A 2009 report on DAB from the BAI is available here - http://www.bai.ie/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=12

http://www.rte.ie/digitalradio/index.html
http://www.digitalradioltd.com/rte-expand-dab/
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/new-media/item/14555-rt-expands-its-digital-rad

ABajaninCork

I live in Cork City. Just tried my DAB radio and it won't work. Says No Service

Need to dig out the booklet methinks...

watty

Coverage is poor

marno21

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I live in Cork City. Just tried my DAB radio and it won't work. Says No Service

Need to dig out the booklet methinks...

RTE DAB in Cork City is from the main TX for the city at Spur Hill.

However, in the city centre, out towards Blackpool and The Glen and in some of the Southern Suburbs, coverage comes from the relay at Collins Barracks.

Certain other parts of the city get coverage from Mullaghanish.

A quick although not definitive test would be to test where your best RTE Radio 1 service comes from. You should be receiving on 89.2 to indicate you actually receive good signal from Spur Hill. If you receive on 88.2 (Crosshaven), 89.7 (Collins Barracks), or 90.0 (Mullaghanish), you may be out of luck.

ABajaninCork

Okey dokey. I'll give that a shot...

Hotblack Desiato

DAB is ill-conceived, technically obsolete and offers nothing worthwhile to either broadcasters or listeners. No commercial broadcaster in the UK or here wants it, which is telling.
FM is the best medium for audio broadcasting, and isn't worth selling off for any other use. DAB broadcasts are too low quality, too prone to breakup, and the receivers are far too expensive and far too power hungry. When I can get DAB+++ at quality superior to stereo FM, on a ten euro shower radio powered for 6 months by two AA cells then get back to me. Until then it sucks for the use case of most radio listeners and they will rightly shun it.