Will the UK ever adopt DAB+?

[bilky asko]

Almost five years since I started this thread and now DAB+ is soon to be a reality nationally. Well, three stations, but it's a start.

It's interesting looking back on this thread, with people calling for DAB to be shut down, which seems like a bit of a silly idea now.

Indeed - since my own original contribution to this thread, the entire household (as well as the car) is DAB, and the local station has joined DAB.

[Philip]

Nine years (!) since the last post in this thread, DAB+ has truly taken off in the UK, to the point where from next month the only vanilla DAB stations left on the Digital One multiplex will be LBC and Talk Sport.

I find it interesting only because when I started this thread in 2011, I didn't think the UK would launch any DAB+ stations, let alone get to this point of the majority of stations being in the format.

But once the radio companies noticed there wasn't much of a drop in audience figures, they realised they could change existing stations to DAB+ and squeeze in more spin-offs.

So unfortunately for the listener, sound quality hasn't really increased, but at least choice has.

[WillPS]

Huge swell of pre-DAB+ radios expected in charity shops over the next months then I guess.

[Nick Harvey]

Huge swell of pre-DAB+ radios expected in charity shops over the next months then I guess.

If you know what you're doing, a lot of old Pure DAB radios can be plugged into your computer and have their software upgraded to DAB+.

[WillPS]

Huge swell of pre-DAB+ radios expected in charity shops over the next months then I guess.

If you know what you're doing, a lot of old Pure DAB radios can be plugged into your computer and have their software upgraded to DAB+.

Worth knowing. I don't normally see Pure radios though, it's usually variously badged generic stuff - presumably from Vestel.

[Tardisrotor]

Admitting my ignorance but what's the difference between DAB and DAB +?

[Philip]

Admitting my ignorance but what's the difference between DAB and DAB +?

Here is my attempt at explaining in the very simplest terms:

DAB is based on older compression technology called MPEG-2, so each station needs more bandwidth in order for the station to have an acceptable sound quality to the human ear.

DAB+ is newer (2006) and uses a newer compression technology called MPEG-4 which means you can use less bandwidth per station and still have an acceptable sound quality.

Most countries launched with DAB+ only, but as the UK launched DAB a lot earlier it's taken a long time for DAB+ to be adopted.

[Tardisrotor]

I understand. Thank You.

[Charlie Wells]

Nine years (!) since the last post in this thread, DAB+ has truly taken off in the UK, to the point where from next month the only vanilla DAB stations left on the Digital One multiplex will be LBC and Talk Sport.

I find it interesting only because when I started this thread in 2011, I didn't think the UK would launch any DAB+ stations, let alone get to this point of the majority of stations being in the format.

I seems slightly ironic that the switchover from DAB to DAB+ has essentially happened before the switchover from FM/MW to digital. The latest date for an FM radio switch-off I've seen is now until at least 2030, according to the DCMS back in 2021.

The said the switch-off/over of LW and MW to digital does appear to be happening. Radio 4 long wave is due to be switched off sometime this year, and has already ended its opt-outs. There does appear to have been some last ditch calls not to switch it off, though I doubt it'll be reprieved. On medium wave I think all BBC local radio has moved off those frequencies, with just 5 Live left on it. I'm not sure how many commercial radio stations are still using MW.