Digital Radio

nfm

Member
Messages
856
I was browsing in WH Smith today and see that it is potentially planned to phase out the analogue radios by 2015, with millions of car owners left high and dry, with no radio in the new digital world.

Anyone ahead of the curve and aware whether there will be an easy fix for the Coupe (especially 4200 CC and GT, where there is not a separate Becker unit)?

Cheers
 

GDL

Junior Member
Messages
147
Listening to Radio4 today (I know, I'm old) and they said that the Government won't do it unless the listening figures get over 50% for all radio.
Current DAB levels (for Radio4) were around 25% of listening hours, or 32% of listeners.
They had claimed this was over 40% but were also including Internet listening.

Personally think that most stations have wound the DAB bit rate down so far (to 128 kbs) that they sound worse than FM.
I certainly won't be switching anytime soon.

Avoid switching and complain :)

Cheers

Gordon
 

nfm

Member
Messages
856
Sounds like a plan.

I also read yesterday that Linn are ceasing production of CD players, looks like my HiFi is obsolete then as it comprises tape deck, analogue radio and CD player!
 

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
I worked in the radio industry for a few years. Unlike TV, there are no plans to switch off analogue within the forseeable future. There are on average 7 radio sets in a household (excluding cars) which would mean a significant cost to replace each one, coupled with the fact that digital radio sets are more expensive. The second point is that radio broadcasters are not investing in digital output due to the prohibitive cost. Many local analogue radio services are not replicated in digital output, so the station you might be listening to currently would simply disappear if there was a switch over to digital. The BBC are cutting funding to much of their digital output and commercial radio companies are suffering from a slump in advertising revenues which means they have less money to invest also.

Don't be in any rush to spend a small fortune changing your current set up. If and when it becomes necessary then you could buy an add-on system to provide digital radio services if nobody comes up with a solution for the 4200.
 

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,310
Hmmmmmm interesting one this , worth keeping abreast of things thats for sure



regards loz
 

nfm

Member
Messages
856
Thanks MAF that makes me feel a bit better as I am currently intending to keep the Coupe long term and it struck me that the integrated screen/radio set up could be a particular problem.........
 

djmhall

Member
Messages
105
Slightly off topic I'm afraid, but let alone digital, it would be nice to actually get some sort of decent coverage of FM. My car is so deaf that I can rarely get to hear any normal station without flutter or noise. I have to drive to the other side of our village before I can even get Radio 2 or 4 (again showing age). I live in Wiltshire, but there are more remote parts of the world. Is this as good as they get or might I have a problem on my car?

Dom
 

reservoirfrog

Member
Messages
1,368
Dont think it can be a problem with the car if you can get a reception at one side of your village , it must be the signal.
 

white noise

New Member
Messages
28
A pure highway costs peanuts and gives good results if well installed. You can also put it in your pocket and use it with headphones when you reach your destination.