Hi Matt,

I haven't got the Stream 83i yet, but have found the following info, which may also apply to your Roberts radio.


"From Roberts:-

The 83i will accommodate an external aerial system.

You need to remove the two screws from the bracket around the aerial entry and with a sharp implement flip off the bracket through one of the holes.

Slide carefully down aerial shaft. You will then see a nut which holds the aerial on to the body of the radio. With 11 ml box spanner or long nose pliers, unfasten this nut and the aerial can be removed.

The vacant slot requires an F type connector which joins coaxal cable. "


Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on,

Cheers,

Chris.

Hi Chris,

Nice antenna set-up you have there.

This is the second time that I've received Germany on DAB, previously it was the Dasding mux carrying SWR transmissions on 8D & 9D.

The mux today on 7A is from Hamburg 1.

This all looks very encouraging for DAB Dx'ing, so I really have to look into getting a decent DAB+ tuner of some kind and to install a decent antenna. I'm still only using a Band III dipole at present, so a beam with a few dB's of gain should improve reception.

Enjoy the excellent conditions and good Dx, KT.

Just done rescan on my DAB and getting BBC Surrey and Northampton muxs.

Cheers Chris I will give that a try, will my current antenna receive any DAB, or do I need a DAB antenna? Bit of a stupid question I know.

Cheers,

Matt.

Hi KnobTwiddler,

The use of freed-up Band III TV frequencies looks like giving us real opportunities for DAB DX!

At the moment I just have a Panasonic midi system for DAB reception, connected to a loft-mounted 5 element Band III antenna (pointing NW to Doncaster). Last time there was a lift to Denmark and Germany (August?), I received a Danish DAB MUX (which I could hear) and a German DAB+ MUX (which I couldn't hear).
The midi system does not show any technical info, so I have no idea what frequencies were received.

Cheers and good DX,

Chris.

Hi Matt,

DAB uses vertical polarization. You'll get strong DAB signals using your vertical FM3, but you really need an antenna cut to the correct frequency band, for proper DX.

Here's how you cut a dipole to the correct size

http://www.radiobrandy.com/dipole1.html

Put the frequency you require in the box and click "both sides"

The dimensions are smaller than those used for FM radio, because the wavelength is shorter (higher frequency).

Cheers,

Chris.

British 144 MHz Ham radio stations have been in contact with Poland and Estonia.

Picking up BBC Radio Sheffield strongly here now on 104.1, Capital on 105.8 and GEM on 106.0 as well as rock on 105.2 which I assume is Kerrang from Brum. BBC Radio Leicester on 104.9 is knocking out the localish community station from Cambridge on 105.0.

Also getting a mind numbingly tedious sounding station called 'Magic' on 105.4 - no idea where that's from. New one for me that, though won't be rushing back to hear it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc2pknTf7wA

I'm getting the BBC nationals and Classic FM from about 7 different transmitters.

Loads of locals too, including BBC Lincolnshire on 94.9 which is unusual.

Relatively few stations from the continent, though. Mainly France and Belgium.

A very good tropo here but it's to the same area as yesterday: SE England and northern France. Some unusual ones though such as 90.9 Nostalgie, 93.3 Rire et Chansons and Fun Radio 88.9, all weak. There is a bit of Belgium too now with RTBF Pure FM 2 bars on 101.1.

From the UK lots of enhanced signals from around London & the SE including a 2 bar signal from Resonance 104.4, which is always nice to hear.

105.4 is Magic from the Croydon transmitter. 105.2 is Planet Rock nowadays, as Kerrang! went online-only earlier in the year.

I think I am getting NRK P1 from Norway on 97.6, RDS is there but won't give me a name!

Yep, confirmed to be NRK P1 by the RDS, though not sure what is on 99.9 from Norway

99.9 is probably DR P4 Syd from Rangstrup, Denmark. Try 95.1, 97.2 and 102.1 as well.

Thanks Nick, 95.1 is weak, 97.2 I can hear, but 102.1 is blocked by Lincs FM!

Good stuff- thanks. Hard to keep up these days!

Driving up the M1 today near J29 I got something on 87.8 playing She Loves You. Dropped out when I came off and got towards Chesterfield (during She Loves You). Any thoughts what that might have been? Don't really know my way round the band up there so interested in what it was

Getting Denmark with original flavour DAB here in London at the moment on 13B.

I'll upload some pictures and a short audio recording soon.

Here is a short recording of DAB from Denmark recorded here in London.

Nova fm - http://i39.tinypic.com/m9rlzk.jpg
DR Nyheder (News) - http://i44.tinypic.com/14ct98y.jpg
24syv - http://i42.tinypic.com/jpwxs6.jpg

Here is a recording of the 3 stations in order as above - http://www5.zippyshare.com/v/86380093/file.html

What a fantastic day for long distance VHF/UHF radio reception and for a change the Amateur bands chock-a-block with stations.

Edit: - The Mux received was Denmark 2 from North Jutland.

http://www.wohnort.org/DAB/denmark.html#Denmark

I've just noticed that I missed a few stations on the mux, but they were also recevied according to my display - Pop FM, radio 100 and The Voice

Edit 2: - Getting the same Mux on 8B from South Jutland even stronger - 3 blocks from full scale.

A great lift to be getting DAB from Denmark. I've caught it a few times around East Surrey and Kent and been perfectly listenable too.

Belgium on 12B is a favourite for destroying the BBC mux on a 'good' day around here.

I didn't do a full scan, but did have Reading and Southend battling on 12D.

Wonder if we'll get much today?

I've just put the DAB radio on. Denmark in coming through loud and clear, here in Lincoln. Radio Nova is one of the programmes on the MUX.

My working conditions at the moment are :-

5 element band III antenna in loft (pointing NW to Doncaster), Band III Fringe Electronics pre-amp, Panasonic midi system (SA-PM45DB)

Last night, I spent at least 30 minutes speaking to a Dutch amateur (PH3FM) on both 2M & 70CM FM.

Chris.

Lots of enhancement to the south east, and France/Belgium- Lille, Boulogne etc at RDS, BBC Essex at RDS from Great Braxted on 103.5. Also Heart Sussex on 102.4 at RDS- not a huge distance, but usually obliterated by BFBS on 102.5.


Location: Farnborough, Hants.
Equipment: Sony STSB920, 3 element Triax

Really crazy today!! Have Radio538 on a pocket sony radio with just the earphones, stereo too!

Was hearing Luxembourg on 88.9 & 100.7 here earlier this morning for the first time since my 5 element aerial went up.

Will do another scan later. Was getting a French station on 96.5, not sure where this was from?