DAB digital radio overview >

DAB digital radio is like analogue radio, only better

Analogue radio signals are subject to numerous kinds of interference on their way from the transmitter to your radio, caused by mountains, high-rise buildings and weather conditions.  DAB, however, uses these effects as reflectors creating multipath reception conditions to optimise receiver sensitivity.  Since DAB always selects the strongest regional transmitter automatically, you'll always be at the focal point of incoming radio signals. This eliminates the hiss, crackle and fade so familiar on analogue radio. DAB is broadcast on terrestrial networks, and you are able to receive it using solely a tiny non-directional stub antenna. You receive digital quality radio programmes even in the car without any annoying interference and signal distortion.

DAB is easy to use

With DAB digital radio there are no frequencies to remember and sets are tuned by station name.  National stations stay put, so there's no retuning on the move.  Some DAB Digital Radios let you pause and rewind live radio.  And with some of the latest models, you can record radio to a memory card.  For the first time this puts you in control of when you listen to the radio.  You can stop time, go back in time, or set a timer to record a future programme.

DAB gives you more choice

Because digital radio uses the spectrum more efficiently than analogue, it is possible to broadcast more channels using the same frequency, making room for broadcasters to expand their station portfolios.  For example, listeners in most major towns and cities in the UK can receive between 30 and 50 radio stations with a digital radio, which in many cases is more than double what is available on analogue.

There are new, unique stations on DAB with programmes designed for different segments of the population.  DAB means you can have stations dedicated entirely to dance, hip-hop, garage, rock, jazz, big band, country, pop, soul and disco.  Or you can get stations specifically for young children, the mature listener, ethnic communities, news junkies, sports fans, lovers of the spoken word, world music and classical buffs, ...in other words, something for everyone.

DAB gives you more information

DAB offers further advantages as it has been designed for the multimedia age.  All DAB Digital Radios all come with an LCD display on which you will often see messages via Dynamic Label Segments (DLS) about the station or the music to which you're listening.  Each DAB broadcaster (multiplex operator) has 20% of its capacity reserved for data services.  Some stations already transmit the latest news, travel, and weather, what's on now and next, website addresses and phone numbers.  Some DAB Digital Radios come with an Electronic Programme Guide so you can see up to a week in advance what's on, select programmes by genre and pre-select what you listen to.

DAB is free

And what’s more, it’s free!  Unlike some digital television services, you don't have to pay to receive DAB Digital Radio. Once you've bought the product, you'll enjoy all the benefits of digital radio completely free.

More information

For more on DAB digital radio, visit digitalradionow.com.