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Old 29-10-2016, 02:07
Flufan
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Took a radio in to a relative who's in hospital but reception was virtually non-existent. Tuned right up and down on FM & AM with the aerial fully extended, but nothing. It worked fine when I tested it at home.

If I bought a digital radio and took that in for her instead, would that be likely to work much better or just be the same? I've no idea how the technology works! I don't have one already which I could test with.

Thanks, all.
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Old 29-10-2016, 03:01
diablo
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DAB is unlikely to be better, probably much worse unless you have a very strong DAB signal in your area. I have two DAB portables and FM/AM is much more reliable than DAB.

They used to have a radio service last time I was in hospital, though it didn't have the stations I wanted.
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Old 29-10-2016, 03:17
Fizzbin
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There's usually a lot of interference in hospitals, from all the equipment.

You might get a DAB signal if your relative is near a window though.

It might be better to try internet radio on a mobile, via mobile data or wifi if available.
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Old 29-10-2016, 04:26
Flufan
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Thanks, good information & ideas there.
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Old 29-10-2016, 14:31
d'@ve
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The analogue FM and AM bands are generally more resilient than DAB in poor signal conditions so if they aren't receiveable neither would DAB be - on an equivalent quality set. As mentioned above, you'll have a better chance of getting a listenable signal with AM/FM, Wifi or mobile data. Or if you have an old Long Wave portable, try that!
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Old 29-10-2016, 15:47
fmradiotuner1
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I took my FM radio into Colchester hospital when I was there and was in a room with no windows so there was not any stations to be heard.
Lucky I was only there for a few hours so did not really need it when by a window there was some signal just.
but its very bad in hospitals.
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Old 29-10-2016, 17:50
anthony david
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Many modern buildings such as hospitals are of ferro concrete construction, they may well also have energy saving double glazing which has a fine metallic coating. I remember having that fitted at my last house and it caused lots of problems with FM reception which was then better through the walls than the windows. I had normal double glazing fitted at my current house instead.
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Old 29-10-2016, 19:56
David (2)
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You can't expect too much from any radio in a hospital - unless the ambient signal is very strong.
Also remember, if you move a DAB radio from one location to another (eg home to hospital) that's most likely several miles at least (20 miles in my case for a fully equipped hospital). The signal strength will be different, maybe weaker, and the service may be different - different stations etc as location 2 might be served by different mast altogether (as in my case).
And if the service is different (different mast used at the other location) you will need to do a full re-scan each time u move the radio between locations.
...even on FM/am different masts serve different areas. My home location has a small(ish) relay mast for tv+FM (BBC) radio. If I travel around 8-10miles in any direction that signal can't be picked up anymore - you have to retune to a different BBC radio FM frequency.
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Old 29-10-2016, 20:52
barbeler
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Where I live the DAB reception is appalling, even though the terrain is flat and the transmitter less than 20 miles away. I used to be able to receive the local station in an upstairs room, but now even that isn't possible. I sometimes go for a walk with my radio, listening to the football commentary on away games, but even at 10 miles away, it can cut out every few yards; if it gets to an exciting bit I daren't even take a step from a point at which I can hear it. I really can't think how it's possible to receive it in a car.
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Old 29-10-2016, 22:07
David (2)
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Ok, I just remembered that in the main hospital, the one I mentioned before......firstly, mobile phone coverage is also a bit dodgy.....some service providers are stronger than others (EE/orange especially weak or non existent). I have been there many times in recent years and to different parts the complex and this is an accurate representation (O2 is much stronger).

Also, the hospital has a bed side integral infotainment system, providing telephone, satellite tv + radio services. But the whole thing is a pay service - u buy a card with a fixed amount of money on it (eg £10, £20, £30). When it's used up, you buy another.....can work out expensive! You do at least get the option of speaker or headphone outlet.
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Old 29-10-2016, 22:24
David (2)
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Where I live the DAB reception is appalling, even though the terrain is flat and the transmitter less than 20 miles away. I used to be able to receive the local station in an upstairs room, but now even that isn't possible. I sometimes go for a walk with my radio, listening to the football commentary on away games, but even at 10 miles away, it can cut out every few yards; if it gets to an exciting bit I daren't even take a step from a point at which I can hear it. I really can't think how it's possible to receive it in a car.

I think it's dependent on where u live. I only get around 20 dab stations (a lot less than some people on this forum), but this is on a pocket DAB radio and dab home hifi with indoor wire aerial. Reception is more or less rock solid though on both, and 20 varied stations is better than 5 BBC + 1 commercial FM option (which is all similar am/FM radios get unless you have an outdoor roof aerial - in this part the uk). Well, unless you constantly use the Internet for radio (or sky/freesat/freeview).

Dab power from masts is lower than for FM I think. Dab works on SFN relying on more masts with small signal footprints.....I think this is correct. Certainly in my experience, in the past I was able to pick up distant FM signals with a omnidirectional roof aerial, but the dab variation was not even detectable....again with a roof aerial and dab tuner. But times have moved on and I no longer have that setup to check the current situation.

If you previously had better dab signal than now, it might be a fault in the tuner I guess....I don't know if this is possible.
Maybe also signal footprint has a null in it,maybe to prevent interference with a another service in your direction???
That's assuming the mast you refer to is def a dab enabled mast.
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Old 30-10-2016, 02:19
spiney2
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All digital tv/radio reception is inherently much worse than analogue, because of the ''cliff effect'', so you need a good strong signal ......best digital recepton is probably DRM radio ........
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