All posts by Trev
Below are all of Trev's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
Thank you for the kind welcome Michael and hello to everyone. I think that I should point out that I am well aware of the capabilities that the DAB system has. However, as is usually the case technology has improved greatly since it came on the air back in the late 1990's. I am also well aware that DAB is here to stay unfortunately. It is in real need of updating or limits must be placed on the multiplex operators to maintain high broadcast quality standards. For years analogue radio has been delivering the highest possible quality that the technology can deliver. DAB multiplex operators are not. However I guess we will have to wait and see what develops but I do not like the situation at all. It is obvious that we will be left with a substandard digital radio system for years to come, much like the US had to put up with substandard NTSC 525 line TV for many years. The fact is that most current DAB broadcasts sound hard on the ears whatever we receive them on and it is a massive step backwards. Standards are seriously dropping. If I were a professional broadcaster I would be appalled at the output of DAB.
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Trev: Russ Dring and JamesE absolutely agree gentlemen. We all know that with any broadcasting system compromises have to be made, we accept that of course we do. However DAB is just not working. I started listening to DAB in about 2001/2. Pure then known as Videologic brought out a cheaper tuner than the ARCAM one. I think the ARCAM was around £800. I was not going to spend that on a tuner for a system that I had no experience of. Back then bit rates were higher in particular the BBC. But since then as we all know the bit rates are so low that DAB is just not working. I have absolutely nothing against digital I use it everyday like most of us. But it is not being done right. Even back then I noticed that DAB was nowhere near as natural as FM. I got so annoyed with listening to substandard audio I recently went back to FM. Digital broadcasting has the potential to blow analogue away but not the current DAB system we use in the UK. I did not like the idea of going through a multiplex either. What's wrong with broadcasters using their own individual transmitters just like DRM?
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Hi Brian I do not know where you got your information from but "The Archers" has always been broadcast on the BBC HOME SERVICE now Radio Four of course. The same for many popular comedies too such as "The Goons" and others. The BBC LIGHT SERVICE had "Wagoners Walk" and a few comedies. As for DAB capable of being broadcast to the same comparable area as FM with lower power well this is complete nonsense. Just try listening to DAB in the car or even on the move with a portable. There may well be cheap DAB receivers available but they suffer from very poor sensitivity. A number of them have been compared with my old PURE EVOKE ONE in my area (BRENTWOOD) Not a single one could receive a reliable signal. I know that the industry is determined to continue with DAB but for me it's the end of radio. Poor, unreliable reception and poor sound quality full of digital artifacts.
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Hi again Brian I have to appologise I have just been informed by some one much senior to me that in fact "The Archers" was indeed first broadcast on the "Light Service". Dear God what else can I get wrong today.
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Friday 15 November 2013 1:30AM
DAB has only two advantages, a) more resistant to general interference and b) better stereo channel separation with lower noise that is if one can find a stereo broadcast. The signal strength however is far too patchy with the usual muddy problems. Bit rates are far too low leading to poor audio bandwidth and artifacts, don't waste good money on a hi-fi tuner with DAB. There is also that damned telescopic whip which can break easily. Although also a problem at FM at least at long and medium wave the antenna is built inside. DRM I think would have been a better bet. I have given up on DAB and returned to FM simply because of the lousy quality which seems to be getting worse. FM is far more natural and in spite of narrow bandwidth so does AM. If DAB is the future then it's goodbye to portable listening at least for me.