DS Forums

victor mel · 13-04-2015, 10:53

When will mobiles come with DAB radio or is this not possible?

DevonBloke · 13-04-2015, 11:26

Wouldn't it be a massive battery drain? I guess Dab chips/tuners will get more efficient.
A nice idea that looks like it might be coming at some point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...hone-push.html

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-...market-1208938

de525ma · 13-04-2015, 11:30

There was some lobster phone thing a few years ago...

DAB is a bit of a white elephant. It's inefficient, reception is sub-par, half the stations on local multiplexes are only in 64kbps mono when they are stereo on FM. Perhaps things will improve with DAB+... But then that makes all the old sets obsolete.

If you're on EE or 3 then the data coverage for streaming radio is nearly as good as DAB. It's more likely to be the winner... There's just not much incentive for manufacturers to put the DAB chips in the phone.

Stig · 13-04-2015, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by victor mel

When will mobiles come with DAB radio or is this not possible?

Surely, the future is streaming as soon as you have a decent data plan.

DevonBloke · 13-04-2015, 12:54

128 Kbps at 5 hours listening per day would be about 9 GB per month!
Although I suppose a lot of that would probably be over WiFi so actually DAB is probably something that we don't need in a phone. Not least because of the quality issues mentioned above.

jaffboy151 · 13-04-2015, 13:23

Though if listening on the phone in car via Bluetooth as I do as every station on dab I listen to has been removed you can happily listen at 48 or 64kbps HE-AAC which more then match almost all stations in terms of quality on dab so alot less then 9gb of data can be used.
I often use yourmuse app to stream absolute 80s & 90s at 24kbps, not for data use but in a vain attempt to keep the stream going as I pass through the 3 or more worst Three masts in my journey which suffer from congestion and crap backhaul.

omnidirectional · 13-04-2015, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by de525ma

DAB is a bit of a white elephant. It's inefficient, reception is sub-par, half the stations on local multiplexes are only in 64kbps mono when they are stereo on FM. Perhaps things will improve with DAB+... But then that makes all the old sets obsolete.

DAB+ seems to be a non starter in the UK, despite being adopted in most other countries.

The new national multiplex recently awarded by Ofcom has promised a single DAB+ station, with everything else being broadcast in 80k mono or less.

gomezz · 13-04-2015, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stig

Surely, the future is streaming as soon as you have a decent data plan.

AND decent signal coverage which is not the case round here.

Everything Goes · 13-04-2015, 15:19

Tune in Radio works for me and works on Android and iOS as well as a PC.

http://tunein.com/

DAB is awful im afraid as others have pointed out. Work stated on DAB back in 1981 with the first demo in 1985. The first transmission in the UK was in London in 1993 with a full BBC radios proper launch in 1995. Ancient audio codec and equally ancient error correction system with a race to the bottom to broadcast as my stations into as little bandwidth as possible means very poor sound quality Plus battery life has been an issue too. While it should be consigned to the digital dustbin Ofcom have failed on every level as usual. DAB+ should have been mandated but they listened to the broadcasters and money men im afraid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10569231

jaffboy151 · 13-04-2015, 15:31

Yeah it was a very safe choice by the regulator to choose the bauer bid, it's understandable though after the channel 4 failed startup, it just leaves a very boring more of the same line up with only a token dab+ (HE-AAC) station, it puts the future of traditional radio listening in the occasional and in the background box with anything for quality or long periods will be Internet/mobile based where better quality feeds/standards are available.

P.S
Don't forget a dab+ (HE+AAC) feed at equal bit rate to that found on the Internet or via an app like tunein will still be lower quality due to the build in error correction needed on digital radio.

moox · 13-04-2015, 16:13

It's worth pointing out that DAB+ is very slowly happening - some of the newer local muxes have a couple of services in DAB+, most radios sold today can either do it out of the box or can be upgraded to do, and I believe the proposed "national" (select bits of the UK, really) second mux will have some DAB+ too

jaffboy151 · 13-04-2015, 16:48

At this moment in time there is no dab+ broadcasting in the UK, there was a trial on the Cheshire, North Wales mux but that has finished now.

dragonrapide · 13-04-2015, 16:58

Down in Sussex DAB radio is very hit and miss as is freeview. We have a DAB clock radio and sometimes it is perfect and other times I have to move it around the room to get a signal that does not squark with interference. Even walking in front of it causes it to screech on some programs. Quite honestly it is a pile of junk. It would seem we have gone backwards with radio technology. Internet radio is fine if you have good broadband, but it eats up your allowance if you use it on your phone.

moox · 13-04-2015, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonrapide

Down in Sussex DAB radio is very hit and miss as is freeview. We have a DAB clock radio and sometimes it is perfect and other times I have to move it around the room to get a signal that does not squark with interference. Even walking in front of it causes it to screech on some programs. Quite honestly it is a pile of junk. It would seem we have gone backwards with radio technology. Internet radio is fine if you have good broadband, but it eats up your allowance if you use it on your phone.

That is because there hasn't been much investment in improving coverage, yet - except for the BBC's multiplex. It would be a lot better than it is if an FM switch off ever happens and coverage has to be improved.

It's like saying that digital TV is crap because the same problems existed in the 90s that DAB has today - bad coverage, easy to lose signal. It makes no sense - and with digital TV a lot of money was spent to get coverage up to analogue standards so that analogue could be switched off, and now there are hardly any complaints about reception

swb1964 · 13-04-2015, 17:25

DAB reception of the BBC is excellent in Derby, much more solid than the ropey FM coverage and more reliable than streaming.

Argos sell a pocket DAB radio with headphones for 25 quid. Admittedly this means having to carry two gadgets instead of one, but with no sign of DAB equipped mobiles it might be an investment worth making.

de525ma · 13-04-2015, 18:45

And in the "Internet of Things" 5G future, where it is foreseen that there will be wireless internet everywhere as a matter of course, DVB and DAB may be consigned to the past in favour of IP based technology anyway.

Everything Goes · 13-04-2015, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevonBloke

Wouldn't it be a massive battery drain? I guess Dab chips/tuners will get more efficient.
A nice idea that looks like it might be coming at some point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...hone-push.html

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-...market-1208938

The first link points out how there has been a steady decline in listeners particularly among 15-24 year olds. This may be down to streaming services or just the way people listen to music these days.

No Smartphone manufacturer has taken up DAB and they have been trying to do this for years without success. In fact Samsung ditched FM radios from its flagship phones. The S3 was the last one to have that feature.

swb1964 · 14-04-2015, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by de525ma

And in the "Internet of Things" 5G future, where it is foreseen that there will be wireless internet everywhere as a matter of course, DVB and DAB may be consigned to the past in favour of IP based technology anyway.

And no doubt 6G mobile will be pipe music direct to aerials in our brains, bypassing our ears entirely

Seriously though, 5G is at least 5 years off, and probably another 2 or 3 more before it becomes the norm. Meantime DAB is still a good way to listen to radio on the move and given the generally good results I get with my DAB walkman I'm surprised there are no phones that support it...

Zebb · 14-04-2015, 10:19

Nokia phones have had it for over four years.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia-Digita.../dp/B004K80ICI

13-04-2015, 10:53	#1
victor mel Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kent Posts: 2,855	Dab When will mobiles come with DAB radio or is this not possible?

13-04-2015, 11:26	#2
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Wouldn't it be a massive battery drain? I guess Dab chips/tuners will get more efficient. A nice idea that looks like it might be coming at some point. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...hone-push.html http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-...market-1208938

13-04-2015, 11:30	#3
de525ma Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 787	There was some lobster phone thing a few years ago... DAB is a bit of a white elephant. It's inefficient, reception is sub-par, half the stations on local multiplexes are only in 64kbps mono when they are stereo on FM. Perhaps things will improve with DAB+... But then that makes all the old sets obsolete. If you're on EE or 3 then the data coverage for streaming radio is nearly as good as DAB. It's more likely to be the winner... There's just not much incentive for manufacturers to put the DAB chips in the phone.

13-04-2015, 12:45	#4
Stig Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK Posts: 10,383	Quote: Originally Posted by victor mel When will mobiles come with DAB radio or is this not possible? Surely, the future is streaming as soon as you have a decent data plan.

13-04-2015, 12:54	#5
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	128 Kbps at 5 hours listening per day would be about 9 GB per month! Although I suppose a lot of that would probably be over WiFi so actually DAB is probably something that we don't need in a phone. Not least because of the quality issues mentioned above.

13-04-2015, 13:23	#6
jaffboy151 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Woore, Cheshire/Shropshire Posts: 1,675	Though if listening on the phone in car via Bluetooth as I do as every station on dab I listen to has been removed you can happily listen at 48 or 64kbps HE-AAC which more then match almost all stations in terms of quality on dab so alot less then 9gb of data can be used. I often use yourmuse app to stream absolute 80s & 90s at 24kbps, not for data use but in a vain attempt to keep the stream going as I pass through the 3 or more worst Three masts in my journey which suffer from congestion and crap backhaul.

13-04-2015, 13:36	#7
omnidirectional Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10,879	Quote: Originally Posted by de525ma DAB is a bit of a white elephant. It's inefficient, reception is sub-par, half the stations on local multiplexes are only in 64kbps mono when they are stereo on FM. Perhaps things will improve with DAB+... But then that makes all the old sets obsolete. DAB+ seems to be a non starter in the UK, despite being adopted in most other countries. The new national multiplex recently awarded by Ofcom has promised a single DAB+ station, with everything else being broadcast in 80k mono or less.

13-04-2015, 15:02	#8
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Quote: Originally Posted by Stig Surely, the future is streaming as soon as you have a decent data plan. AND decent signal coverage which is not the case round here.

13-04-2015, 15:19	#9
Everything Goes Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the future.... Posts: 11,259	Tune in Radio works for me and works on Android and iOS as well as a PC. http://tunein.com/ DAB is awful im afraid as others have pointed out. Work stated on DAB back in 1981 with the first demo in 1985. The first transmission in the UK was in London in 1993 with a full BBC radios proper launch in 1995. Ancient audio codec and equally ancient error correction system with a race to the bottom to broadcast as my stations into as little bandwidth as possible means very poor sound quality Plus battery life has been an issue too. While it should be consigned to the digital dustbin Ofcom have failed on every level as usual. DAB+ should have been mandated but they listened to the broadcasters and money men im afraid. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10569231

13-04-2015, 15:31	#10
jaffboy151 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Woore, Cheshire/Shropshire Posts: 1,675	Yeah it was a very safe choice by the regulator to choose the bauer bid, it's understandable though after the channel 4 failed startup, it just leaves a very boring more of the same line up with only a token dab+ (HE-AAC) station, it puts the future of traditional radio listening in the occasional and in the background box with anything for quality or long periods will be Internet/mobile based where better quality feeds/standards are available. P.S Don't forget a dab+ (HE+AAC) feed at equal bit rate to that found on the Internet or via an app like tunein will still be lower quality due to the build in error correction needed on digital radio.

13-04-2015, 16:13	#11
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	It's worth pointing out that DAB+ is very slowly happening - some of the newer local muxes have a couple of services in DAB+, most radios sold today can either do it out of the box or can be upgraded to do, and I believe the proposed "national" (select bits of the UK, really) second mux will have some DAB+ too

13-04-2015, 16:48	#12
jaffboy151 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Woore, Cheshire/Shropshire Posts: 1,675	At this moment in time there is no dab+ broadcasting in the UK, there was a trial on the Cheshire, North Wales mux but that has finished now.

13-04-2015, 16:58	#13
dragonrapide Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: shoreham-by-sea Posts: 827	Down in Sussex DAB radio is very hit and miss as is freeview. We have a DAB clock radio and sometimes it is perfect and other times I have to move it around the room to get a signal that does not squark with interference. Even walking in front of it causes it to screech on some programs. Quite honestly it is a pile of junk. It would seem we have gone backwards with radio technology. Internet radio is fine if you have good broadband, but it eats up your allowance if you use it on your phone.

13-04-2015, 17:05	#14
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	Quote: Originally Posted by dragonrapide Down in Sussex DAB radio is very hit and miss as is freeview. We have a DAB clock radio and sometimes it is perfect and other times I have to move it around the room to get a signal that does not squark with interference. Even walking in front of it causes it to screech on some programs. Quite honestly it is a pile of junk. It would seem we have gone backwards with radio technology. Internet radio is fine if you have good broadband, but it eats up your allowance if you use it on your phone. That is because there hasn't been much investment in improving coverage, yet - except for the BBC's multiplex. It would be a lot better than it is if an FM switch off ever happens and coverage has to be improved. It's like saying that digital TV is crap because the same problems existed in the 90s that DAB has today - bad coverage, easy to lose signal. It makes no sense - and with digital TV a lot of money was spent to get coverage up to analogue standards so that analogue could be switched off, and now there are hardly any complaints about reception

13-04-2015, 17:25	#15
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	DAB reception of the BBC is excellent in Derby, much more solid than the ropey FM coverage and more reliable than streaming. Argos sell a pocket DAB radio with headphones for 25 quid. Admittedly this means having to carry two gadgets instead of one, but with no sign of DAB equipped mobiles it might be an investment worth making.

13-04-2015, 18:45	#16
de525ma Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 787	And in the "Internet of Things" 5G future, where it is foreseen that there will be wireless internet everywhere as a matter of course, DVB and DAB may be consigned to the past in favour of IP based technology anyway.

13-04-2015, 18:53	#17
Everything Goes Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the future.... Posts: 11,259	Quote: Originally Posted by DevonBloke Wouldn't it be a massive battery drain? I guess Dab chips/tuners will get more efficient. A nice idea that looks like it might be coming at some point. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...hone-push.html http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-...market-1208938 The first link points out how there has been a steady decline in listeners particularly among 15-24 year olds. This may be down to streaming services or just the way people listen to music these days. No Smartphone manufacturer has taken up DAB and they have been trying to do this for years without success. In fact Samsung ditched FM radios from its flagship phones. The S3 was the last one to have that feature.

14-04-2015, 08:43	#18
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Quote: Originally Posted by de525ma And in the "Internet of Things" 5G future, where it is foreseen that there will be wireless internet everywhere as a matter of course, DVB and DAB may be consigned to the past in favour of IP based technology anyway. And no doubt 6G mobile will be pipe music direct to aerials in our brains, bypassing our ears entirely Seriously though, 5G is at least 5 years off, and probably another 2 or 3 more before it becomes the norm. Meantime DAB is still a good way to listen to radio on the move and given the generally good results I get with my DAB walkman I'm surprised there are no phones that support it...

14-04-2015, 10:19	#19
Zebb Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 652	Nokia phones have had it for over four years. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia-Digita.../dp/B004K80ICI