Car radio that gets BBC Radio 4?

Qualitymark · 16-12-2011 10:36AM #1

Can anyone recommend a car radio that will allow me to tune in BBC Radio 4? My current one has AM, but it's useless.

padd b1975 · 16-12-2011 11:07AM

198 long wave, if your car has AM, it should have long wave.

Qualitymark · 16-12-2011 11:38AM

I used to get it on 720AM in my old car; in my new car the radio has AM but I can't tune in BBC R4. Think it may be the radio...

Doodah7 · 16-12-2011 03:00PM

Surely it is the aerial rather than the radio that is the problem here??

Cardinal Richelieu · 16-12-2011 03:21PM

When is LW BBC4 getting switched off?

AM BBC4 is extremely hard to tune in even with a decent aerial never mind a moving car.

Greenman · 16-12-2011 04:13PM

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

When is LW BBC4 getting switched off?

This might be interest.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/09/bbc-radio4-long-wave-goodbye :mad:

Greenman · 16-12-2011 04:14PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a car radio that will allow me to tune in BBC Radio 4? My current one has AM, but it's useless.

Whats the make and model of your radio?

Qualitymark · 16-12-2011 05:21PM

Panasonic, I think; maybe three years old.

If the aerial is the problem, is there any way of retrofitting a better aerial?

L1011 · 16-12-2011 06:09PM

tallpaul wrote: »

Surely it is the aerial rather than the radio that is the problem here??

Generally its the radio, many factory fitted units have no LW.

Qualitymark · 16-12-2011 06:23PM

No, as I've said, this radio has AM, but doesn't pick up BBC Radio 4.

L1011 · 16-12-2011 06:24PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

No, as I've said, this radio has AM, but doesn't pick up BBC Radio 4.

Can you tune down to 198 though? "having AM" and having LW are not guaranteed to be the same, my Fiat has one "AM" option that does tune down to LW, my Opel doesn't.

Technocentral · 16-12-2011 06:26PM

I don't drive but I listen to R4 on my phone through the net when going for a stroll or on public transport and find that the signal is fairly consistent over longish distances, maybe some kind of wireless net connection for your car audio system?

Qualitymark · 16-12-2011 07:02PM

Technocentral wrote: »

I don't drive but I listen to R4 on my phone through the net when going for a stroll or on public transport and find that the signal is fairly consistent over longish distances, maybe some kind of wireless net connection for your car audio system?

Unfortunately, I don't have a large data allowance on the phone.

ads20101 · 19-12-2011 07:12PM

Technocentral wrote: »

I don't drive but I listen to R4 on my phone through the net when going for a stroll or on public transport and find that the signal is fairly consistent over longish distances, maybe some kind of wireless net connection for your car audio system?

I was going to say the same thing. I listen to R4 regularly on my phone, through my car radio.

Qualitymark wrote: »

Unfortunately, I don't have a large data allowance on the phone.

Qualitymark - there are many tarriffs including ones on pay as you go that allows for a fair amount of data + you can just transfer over your number and you're unlikely to spend more than what you are spending already. I would say that this would be your best bet (and cheapest) instead of playing with aerials & car radios with an intermittent service at best. Shop around - you might find what you are looking for. Good luck:)

The Black Oil · 20-12-2011 12:38AM

What's worth listening to on Radio 4 outside of some of the main show? I wake up to Today (via internet radio), but don't listen to a whole lot else, sometimes Woman's hour, Today in Parliament, main news stuff, etc, but what else should I check out, particularly around 5pm ish?

Phone is only PAYG, 0.99 cent for 50MB of browsing until midnight, so if using it daily that would be a fiver a week. There must be some sort of add on to stretch that and get better value.

spank_inferno · 20-12-2011 12:51AM

I use the "Tuned in" app on Android played via Bluetooth or cable in the stereo

Also, the channel comes in pretty good on FM here in Wicklow

The Black Oil · 20-12-2011 08:42AM

I've that app. I tested it on home wi-fi (listening to 10 minutes of Radio 4). Seemed to use about 1MB per minute.

ads20101 · 20-12-2011 10:38AM

spank_inferno wrote: »

I use the "Tuned in" app on Android played via Bluetooth or cable in the stereo

Also, the channel comes in pretty good on FM here in Wicklow

I also use this app - honestly the best one out there, and yes the bbc stations use a fair amount of bandwidth as they all stream at 128 as standard (except radio 3 that streams at 320 - I sh1t you not - you really will need an unlimited plan if you are going to listen to this station in the car!!!).

Anyway, back to the point. Bbc stations used to have smaller bandwidths available (32 & 64) so if you have a limited plan then then change in the tune-in settings. I say used to because I have been informed that the smaller streams have been discontinued. I will check for myself in a mo & I'll get back to you.

ads20101 · 20-12-2011 10:56AM

ads20101 wrote: »

I also use this app - honestly the best one out there, and yes the bbc stations use a fair amount of bandwidth as they all stream at 128 as standard (except radio 3 that streams at 320 - I sh1t you not - you really will need an unlimited plan if you are going to listen to this station in the car!!!).

Anyway, back to the point. Bbc stations used to have smaller bandwidths available (32 & 64) so if you have a limited plan then then change in the tune-in settings. I say used to because I have been informed that the smaller streams have been discontinued. I will check for myself in a mo & I'll get back to you.

Ok, I've checked... R4 streams with 128kbps (57.6MB/hour) or 48kbps (21.6MB/hour)

Technocentral · 20-12-2011 12:23PM

Black Oil wrote: »

What's worth listening to on Radio 4 outside of some of the main show? I wake up to Today (via internet radio), but don't listen to a whole lot else, sometimes Woman's hour, Today in Parliament, main news stuff, etc, but what else should I check out, particularly around 5pm ish?

Phone is only PAYG, 0.99 cent for 50MB of browsing until midnight, so if using it daily that would be a fiver a week. There must be some sort of add on to stretch that and get better value.

Not at 5pm but some of the funniest comedy shows around with the best British comedians such as I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue and The News Quiz, I also listen to The Moral Maze, Any Questions, Loose Ends, Book At Bedtime and loads of others. I have unlimited data allowance on 3 (I used 20GB one month for no extra charge, not just on radio of course)

Cardinal Richelieu · 20-12-2011 03:07PM

Technocentral wrote: »

Not at 5pm but some of the funniest comedy shows around with the best British comedians such as I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue and The News Quiz, I also listen to The Moral Maze, Any Questions, Loose Ends, Book At Bedtime and loads of others.

I second that, the 6.30 comedy slot has some of the best comedy anywhere on the BBC. Bleak Expectations would be another to look out for

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleak_Expectations

Qualitymark · 20-12-2011 04:41PM

Yes, great shows, great comedy, wonderful news coverage, insightful investigative journalism. But in my current circumstances moving to a more expensive mobile phone deal purely to listen to BBC in the car wouldn't be feasible. Getting a decent aerial booster might be, if there is such a thing and if it's cheap to buy and instal.

coylemj · 20-12-2011 06:58PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Getting a decent aerial booster might be, if there is such a thing and if it's cheap to buy and instal.

Unlikely to fix the problem, can you receive RTE on 252 LW?

The Black Oil · 20-12-2011 10:50PM

Yeah, I've dipped into the those shows and used to podcast the News Quiz. Have reverted to the stream with lighter bandwidth, so I'll see, and maybe another phone service provider might be an idea.

Technocentral · 21-12-2011 11:17AM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Yes, great shows, great comedy, wonderful news coverage, insightful investigative journalism. But in my current circumstances moving to a more expensive mobile phone deal purely to listen to BBC in the car wouldn't be feasible. Getting a decent aerial booster might be, if there is such a thing and if it's cheap to buy and instal.

I'm pretty broke myself at the moment but my unlimited internet works out at about 15 a month, so for less then the price of a pint a week (or a dvd rental) I get hours (I would be out walking or on public transport about 15 hours a week) of pleasure listening to the likes of BBC and NPR, some things are worth paying a bit for I think, personally.

Qualitymark · 21-12-2011 02:15PM

Technocentral wrote: »

I'm pretty broke myself at the moment but my unlimited internet works out at about 15 a month, so for less then the price of a pint a week (or a dvd rental) I get hours (I would be out walking or on public transport about 15 hours a week) of pleasure listening to the likes of BBC and NPR, some things are worth paying a bit for I think, personally.

Unlimited internet on your phone? What plan is this, and what provider?

ads20101 · 21-12-2011 02:30PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Unlimited internet on your phone? What plan is this, and what provider?

I am with three and they have an unlimited plan - well to be honest it is a 15gb fair usage policy (that they don't openly tell you) but they won't charge after this only reserve the right to slow you down. You'd have to listen to a massive amount of Internet radio to get to 15gb anyway. They do this with pay as you go as well if you top up by 20 each month. I'm sure the other providers do something similar - have a look around:)

Qualitymark · 21-12-2011 02:40PM

ads20101 wrote: »

I am with three and they have an unlimited plan - well to be honest it is a 15gb fair usage policy (that they don't openly tell you) but they won't charge after this only reserve the right to slow you down. You'd have to listen to a massive amount of Internet radio to get to 15gb anyway. They do this with pay as you go as well if you top up by 20 each month. I'm sure the other providers do something similar - have a look around:)

I went with Vodafone as the main person I talk to on the phone is with them (also heard that 3 coverage wasn't the Mae) - was spending a fortune on long covos with the Vodafone customer. Unlimited broadband would be nice (sigh) but not worth it for raised call bill.

Technocentral · 21-12-2011 04:17PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Unlimited internet on your phone? What plan is this, and what provider?

Three as ads201 mentioned, I just checked and I used 26gb one month and didn't get charged extra or notice speed drop (bbc and npr stream at 32kb so probably wouldn't be affected if there was a speed drop), its called flex plan and there are a couple of options starting at 25 a month.

Marcusm · 21-12-2011 04:24PM

Black Oil wrote: »

What's worth listening to on Radio 4 outside of some of the main show? I wake up to Today (via internet radio), but don't listen to a whole lot else, sometimes Woman's hour, Today in Parliament, main news stuff, etc, but what else should I check out, particularly around 5pm ish?

Phone is only PAYG, 0.99 cent for 50MB of browsing until midnight, so if using it daily that would be a fiver a week. There must be some sort of add on to stretch that and get better value.

Start the week, In our time, The Archers (even), Call you and yours (less aggressive than Liveline), News at One, the various comedy shows on at 6:30, Any questions, many of the quiz shows (e.g. Just a minute - not the Larry Gogan thing).

The Black Oil · 21-12-2011 05:23PM

Can you listen back to these or do you have to be listening live? Obviously some have podcasts available, but maybe that's more bandwidth, I'm not sure.

Car radio that gets BBC Radio 4?

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