Simple DAB Clock Radio?

patpending · 05-09-2008, 09:33

My clock radio has just given up the ghost after 20 years' service.

I would now like to replace it with a DAB/FM clock radio, mains powered, big LED time display, two alarms.

Through suggestions I have seen the Pure Siesta (http://www.amazon.co.uk/VL-60872-Sie...0603278&sr=1-4) though there are cheaper ones on ebay.

The display may not be huge.

I know that DAB+ is coming and this one says it is upgradable (by throwing it away and buying a new one?)

Any suggestions?

sancheeez · 05-09-2008, 11:03

My wife has the black version of the Pure Siesta.

Has always worked perfectly and she seems happy enough with it. Nice little clock radio really and always a bonus to be able to wake up Radio Kerrang instead of the pap they play on Radio 1/Forth FM ....

patpending · 05-09-2008, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by sancheeez

My wife has the black version of the Pure Siesta.

Has always worked perfectly and she seems happy enough with it. Nice little clock radio really and always a bonus to be able to wake up Radio Kerrang instead of the pap they play on Radio 1/Forth FM ....

Thanks for the info.

I wonder if I can get Birdsong radio as my alarm?

Just so I know: if your wife wakes up in the dark, can she easily see the time on the display?

JasonWatkins · 05-09-2008, 14:52

i've also got the black pure siesta, but i got mine in the local cash converters after they'd mistaken it for a regular clock radio and marked it up at £5 whole pounds

Has worked perfectly for the past year and I love it - what i particularly like about it is that it gets quite a few stations with a good reception. The one i had before that barely picked up the BBC stations.

sancheeez · 05-09-2008, 14:52

The display has always seemed clear enough to me in the dark.

I think it's one of these ones that has quite a narrow viewing angle but I can't say we've ever had any issue with it.

It does seem to pick up quite a lot of stations. No idea how good or bad the reception in our area is though as it's the only DAB radio we've ever owned.

patpending · 05-09-2008, 18:28

thanks guys.

DAB reception here is good on two portables I have (one of which is hard-wired into my hi-fi).

Thanks for the display info. I think a Siesta should be good (though a "Get up you lazy lump!" sounds like a better brand for an alarm!

)

JasonWatkins · 05-09-2008, 19:14

there's actually a USB port on it because it's supposed to be upgradeable, but i don't think they've ever released any new firmware for it or anything.

al007 · 06-09-2008, 10:45

another thumbs up for the siesta. I bought my parents one after their tape clock radio (yes it was that old) failed. My dad is a total technophobe but finds it very easy to work and they are more than happy with it.

chunkc · 06-09-2008, 11:12

If you want cheap...
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5136230.htm
at 30 quid... got one not bad at all.

patpending · 09-09-2008, 18:40

Update: just bought one.

To my amazement, whilst you can no longer buy most things at Boots, I bought the Pure Siesta at Tesco (of all places!) today!

The requirement for having a backup battery for power cuts appears to be bypassed by the radio setting its own time(!) and remembering its settings.

You can also set alarms for weekdays only or weekends only. And FM for one alarm but DAB for another.

The biggest surprise so far is the tiny (half inch high) time display, white on grey, less than half the size I would have expected!

DAB reception is marvellous on the right-hand side of the living-room table, but non-existent on the left! Clearly, I have to sleep on the right-hand side of the table...

alanwarwic · 09-09-2008, 18:46

Dab Radios start at £15. (Instore at Tescos. Web prices tend to be much higher)

I would assume most DAB Radios have 'Alarms'.
So beware that a clock/radio with DAB could possibly be so labelled in order to sell at a premium price the more competitve DAB Radio market.

It could be a case of less for more.

I use my BT Aviator in same manner.

patpending · 09-09-2008, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

Dab Radios start at £15.

I would assume most DAB Radios have 'Alarms'.
So beware that a clock/radio with DAB could possibly be so labelled in order to sell at a premium price the more competitve DAB Radio market.

It could be a case of less for more.

I use my BT Aviator in same manner.

The main differences are presumably:

- mains operation
- the large time display
- ease of setting alarms
- ease of seeing if the alarm is set, I suppose.

What is a BT Aviator? a telephone?

Even in Tesco's there was an own brand DAB clock radio for thirty pounds and a SONY analogue clock radio for IIRC eight pounds.

I said to myself that, in a world where a tank of petrol costs seventy pounds, there is no point messing about. Mind you, I have yet to experience Tesco's legendary aftersales service!

05-09-2008, 09:33	#1
patpending Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,612	Simple DAB Clock Radio? My clock radio has just given up the ghost after 20 years' service. I would now like to replace it with a DAB/FM clock radio, mains powered, big LED time display, two alarms. Through suggestions I have seen the Pure Siesta (http://www.amazon.co.uk/VL-60872-Sie...0603278&sr=1-4) though there are cheaper ones on ebay. The display may not be huge. I know that DAB+ is coming and this one says it is upgradable (by throwing it away and buying a new one?) Any suggestions?

05-09-2008, 11:03	#2
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	My wife has the black version of the Pure Siesta. Has always worked perfectly and she seems happy enough with it. Nice little clock radio really and always a bonus to be able to wake up Radio Kerrang instead of the pap they play on Radio 1/Forth FM ....

05-09-2008, 14:44	#3
patpending Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,612	Quote: Originally Posted by sancheeez My wife has the black version of the Pure Siesta. Has always worked perfectly and she seems happy enough with it. Nice little clock radio really and always a bonus to be able to wake up Radio Kerrang instead of the pap they play on Radio 1/Forth FM .... Thanks for the info. I wonder if I can get Birdsong radio as my alarm? Just so I know: if your wife wakes up in the dark, can she easily see the time on the display?

05-09-2008, 14:52	#4
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 53,670	i've also got the black pure siesta, but i got mine in the local cash converters after they'd mistaken it for a regular clock radio and marked it up at £5 whole pounds Has worked perfectly for the past year and I love it - what i particularly like about it is that it gets quite a few stations with a good reception. The one i had before that barely picked up the BBC stations.

05-09-2008, 18:28	#6
patpending Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,612	thanks guys. DAB reception here is good on two portables I have (one of which is hard-wired into my hi-fi). Thanks for the display info. I think a Siesta should be good (though a "Get up you lazy lump!" sounds like a better brand for an alarm! )

05-09-2008, 19:14	#7
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 53,670	there's actually a USB port on it because it's supposed to be upgradeable, but i don't think they've ever released any new firmware for it or anything.

06-09-2008, 10:45	#8
al007 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New milton, South west hants Posts: 21	another thumbs up for the siesta. I bought my parents one after their tape clock radio (yes it was that old) failed. My dad is a total technophobe but finds it very easy to work and they are more than happy with it.

06-09-2008, 11:12	#9
chunkc Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: My House, Earth Posts: 947	If you want cheap... http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5136230.htm at 30 quid... got one not bad at all.

09-09-2008, 18:40	#10
patpending Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,612	Update: just bought one. To my amazement, whilst you can no longer buy most things at Boots, I bought the Pure Siesta at Tesco (of all places!) today! The requirement for having a backup battery for power cuts appears to be bypassed by the radio setting its own time(!) and remembering its settings. You can also set alarms for weekdays only or weekends only. And FM for one alarm but DAB for another. The biggest surprise so far is the tiny (half inch high) time display, white on grey, less than half the size I would have expected! DAB reception is marvellous on the right-hand side of the living-room table, but non-existent on the left! Clearly, I have to sleep on the right-hand side of the table...

09-09-2008, 18:46	#11
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Dab Radios start at £15. (Instore at Tescos. Web prices tend to be much higher) I would assume most DAB Radios have 'Alarms'. So beware that a clock/radio with DAB could possibly be so labelled in order to sell at a premium price the more competitve DAB Radio market. It could be a case of less for more. I use my BT Aviator in same manner.

09-09-2008, 19:12	#12
patpending Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,612	Quote: Originally Posted by alanwarwic Dab Radios start at £15. I would assume most DAB Radios have 'Alarms'. So beware that a clock/radio with DAB could possibly be so labelled in order to sell at a premium price the more competitve DAB Radio market. It could be a case of less for more. I use my BT Aviator in same manner. The main differences are presumably: - mains operation - the large time display - ease of setting alarms - ease of seeing if the alarm is set, I suppose. What is a BT Aviator? a telephone? Even in Tesco's there was an own brand DAB clock radio for thirty pounds and a SONY analogue clock radio for IIRC eight pounds. I said to myself that, in a world where a tank of petrol costs seventy pounds, there is no point messing about. Mind you, I have yet to experience Tesco's legendary aftersales service!

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Simple DAB Clock Radio?