Digital broadcasting

[Allan]

It seems that this topic has been taken over so here is what you seem to have adopted
www.digitalradiotech.co.uk
The topic heading now matches.

[Compo]

Alan for once, I have no quarrel with your facts, being an avid user of DAB I did not know this, I think a lot of people do not realise that if you switch to DAB totally you lose a lot of local content, in Somerset alone this means half a dozen stations who are not on the digital list, Somerset Sound, Orchard, Quay Radio and BCR to name but a few. Typical of the government of the day, that during the next election, 'the successful roll out of a digital TV and Radio network' will be listed as one of their achievements, when the truth is different.

DAB is great, as is freeview, but they both have a long way to go yet.

Compo

[richard p]

i dont know much about dab radio, but the digital tv thing is a mess. alot of people still seem to think that they will have to buy new tvs when it all goes digital , or pay a subscription to sky. we have a basic sky package, got it more for the kids than anything , but having had it for several years everything now appears to be a repeat, when you know what fred dibnah or spongbob is going to say next youve seen them too many times ( missus thought once was too many with fred )is freeview anygood?

[Allan]

Message deleted

[Mr Potato Head]

If you're into DAB, then this article is well worth a read... Also, if you're not into DAB, but like Radio...

Can't say that any TV is actually good... that's why more and more people are turning to box sets of DVD's and the internet for their televisual kicks...

Having said that, I have a Freeview Humax 9200 (A bit like Sky+) which works a treat! Can't have a satellite dish on our house, the National Trust won't let us!

[madasafish]

I can't see what the fuss about losing FM is. Lots of UK has lousy FM reception: we certainly have...
As far as digital TV, I'm waiting for HDI TV to be sorted and buy complete with digital.. current systems are a half way hodge podge (and expensive for poor quality vision imo)

[Mr Potato Head]

You'll be waiting an awful long time... currently the analogue switch-off is scheduled to be complete around 2012, but the current specification for Freeview isn't suitable for HD broadcasts, and there are not currently any plans to provide them.

Also, there are good arguments (like with audio separates) for separating your receiver from your display. Mainly that you can replace one without the other, and have multiple different sources, for one 'screen' and vice versa.

Of course, you can get an HD-ready TV with freeview built-in already (though there's no HD broadcast) and watch HD TV from Sky... but you'll have to buy a box

[Allan]

No message

[Chantal]

Allan, that's an extremely rude posting.

[richard p]

im confused , i thought allan had started a thread on digital broadcasting?

[Compo]

Allan, you my friend are a fully fledged control freak. we all agreed that the one place to discuss things generic and non gardening so we could go off track and have fun WAS IN HERE. You are trying to tell people what their opinions should be. You started a topic on Digital Broadcast, Mr. PH has stayed on topic. He just widened it but the connection is relevant.

I am impressed with digital radio, and if anyone buys a new product before it gets more popular, they should surely realise that it cannot possibly do everything that it says on the tin. I find the freeview box an exceptional way of receiving free diital radio and TV, and I also have a low cost mono digital radio, which I enjoy bbc six, one word and five live extra on. I am sure when I upgrade my own hi-fi I will want to be certain that it is in stereo.

We are all aware that this is a government target that they should leave to industry to resolve, however, life ain't like that.

I do suggest Allan that you cease to desist on this one, otherwise you will end up getting yet another forum 'locked'.

With respect

Compo

[Allan]

Removed

[Johnboy]

Oh how glad I am that I cannot get DAB! Truth to tell we have difficulty with FM and we have to have a booster on the TV aerial.
I had I Sky Dish fitted a few weeks ago but do not subscribe to them and it has meant that I can pick-up all the radio and normal channels through the TV should I want something particular to FM and now get BBC2 and Channel 5.
I mainly listen to Radio 4 on the old steam system
198 on the long wave.
JB.

[Geoff]

I bought a dual FM/DAB Roberts radio in the Spring after a neighbour told me they could receive DAB but I could not get a signal. I few weeks ago whilst decorating the kitchen my football MW portable gave up so I tried DAB again and found I could get excellent reception so had a choice of 5 live and extra. Now considering getting a robust DAB for the garden so am worried about the obsolescence Allan has publicised.
On the TV front our reception has always been poor, partly because the aerial is in the loft after repeated wind damage. Freeview doesn't work in our area. When the father-in-law died we inherited his Sky box and dish though the subscription had lapsed while he had been ill. I borrowed a signal meter and fixed it up myself with a £20 Freesat card and now get excellent reception. I can also choose Granada region instead of Border which is another bonus. I am annoyed that the Freesat range of channels is not the same as Freeview. For September Sky gave me the lot for free but didn't tempt me to take up a subscription. I found the documentary channels that I fancied were so poor in terms of content per hour, sometimes only 40 minutes, they were a waste of time.

[Compo]

DAB Radio's go heavy on the batteries from what I know, but there are now battery operated models available. Not sure that they will go obsolescent it is just that the organisers are finding difficulty in squeezing everything that they have to transmit into the available bandwidth.

Compo