Abroad

Q. Will my DAB digital radio work abroad?

A. This depends on what digital radio player you have and what country you’re in. Although much of Europe, Canada and Asia implement the DAB transmission system, the frequencies used can vary. DAB isn't available in the USA. In the UK, the frequencies used are 'Band III'. In some other countries, the frequencies used are sometimes 'L Band'. For more info about DAB worldwide, visit http://www.worlddab.org.

Coverage

Q. Can I get DAB digital radio everywhere in the UK?

A. Not yet. Both commercial radio and BBC services currently cover about 85% of the population. Use the DAB postcode checker on this site to see what stations you can receive where you live.

Delayed Transmission

Q. Why is there a delay between DAB and analogue radio?

A. If you were to listen to the same station on two radios, one analogue and one DAB, you would notices a few seconds delay between the two – with the DAB broadcast slightly after the analogue. This is because all station transmissions start as an analogue broadcast and then the signal must be transformed into a digital transmission using Mpeg2 encoding and COFDM modulation. The digital signal must then be converted back to the sound that you can hear by the radio. This takes a couple of seconds – resulting in the delay when you hear it.

Electronic Programme Guides (EPG)

Q. What is EPG?

A. EPG stands for Electronic Programme Guide, and is broadcast on some multiplexes. It is very similar to the programme guides found on Sky or Freeview, and allows you to see what is coming up over the coming week on some stations, as well as find out detailed information about the programme on air now. It can also let you set an advanced timer record for future programmes. To see the EPG, you must have an EPG compatible radio like the Roberts MP30 or the SOUND 41.

PausePlus

Q. I’ve seen some radios have a pause and rewind live radio functon. What is this?

A. This function enables you to pause live radio or record onto some digital memory, whether it is built-in or an external memory card. The pause facility means you can pause live radio, go away to answer the phone and then re-start your listening just where you left off. Some let you rewind the last half hour of programme if you missed part of a conversation, or if you'd like to hear a particular song one more time. You can even fast-forward through recorded items if you don't like a song. Some Roberts radios allow you to press record and start recording straight away such as the Gemini 55 - others will start recording after you have programmed it, just like your video.

Stations

Q. I can't receive some stations listed on the postcode checker.

A. The postcode checker gives a good rule-of-thumb guide as to whether DAB services are available in your area. However, it can't take into account local conditions, obstructions or building materials. If you are having difficulty receiving a good signal, try moving your radio to a slightly different location and do another AutoTune.Other suggestions for improving localised reception problems are to extend the aerial more fully or move the aerial (particularly wire aerials - try different places to stretch it out). It may be necessary to use an external aerial if this does not resolve your problem.