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DAB radio reception question |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,167
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DAB radio reception question
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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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Fylde Coast
Posts: 8,103
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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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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: East London
Posts: 25,845
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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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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,167
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Thanks, good information & ideas there.
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Darn Sarf
Posts: 28,726
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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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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: TheEssexSunshineCoast Clacton
Posts: 15,212
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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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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,455
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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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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: S.West England.
Posts: 18,032
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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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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,684
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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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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: S.West England.
Posts: 18,032
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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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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: S.West England.
Posts: 18,032
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Quote:
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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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 24,092
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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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