FM switchoff - when? plus car radios

My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years. Now
if that's the case, then that's an awful lot of radios going to the
scrap heap. Also, virtually every car manufacturer is still fitting
non-DAB radios, in such a way that they can't even be replaced (IE built
into the facia).

Surely FM switch off must be way down the line, not just 2 years?
Will the old FM VHF spectrum then be sold off?

Adrian

"Adrian" wrote in message
...
My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years.

There is no date set for FM switch off at the moment. It is likely to be
many years yet before a date is set. I would suggest FM will still be alive
and kicking by 2015/2020.

Adrian wrote:
My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years. Now
if that's the case, then that's an awful lot of radios going to the
scrap heap. Also, virtually every car manufacturer is still fitting
non-DAB radios, in such a way that they can't even be replaced (IE built
into the facia).

Surely FM switch off must be way down the line, not just 2 years?
Will the old FM VHF spectrum then be sold off?

Adrian
There is an OFCOM document on the OFCOM website stating that VHF/FM will
be around for Donkeys years, due to all of the analogue sets in
circulation. It's not something you can just add a 'set top box' as
Trannys do not work like that.

I would have a root round the OFCOM website, you may find something more
Contrete than my words.

Regards,

Rob.

"Adrian" wrote in message
...
My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years. Now
if that's the case, then that's an awful lot of radios going to the
scrap heap. Also, virtually every car manufacturer is still fitting
non-DAB radios, in such a way that they can't even be replaced (IE built
into the facia).

Surely FM switch off must be way down the line, not just 2 years?
Will the old FM VHF spectrum then be sold off?

Adrian

My local paper recently printed a letter which included the same assertion.
AFAIK FM radio will not be switched off in the foreseeable future.

As to the point of it, it depends on who you ask.
I have a DAB radio in the kitchen so I can listen to Virgin Radio in stereo,
but I prefer to listen to my Technics FM tuner connected to a rooftop FM
aerial.

In article ,
Adrian wrote:
My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years. Now
if that's the case, then that's an awful lot of radios going to the
scrap heap. Also, virtually every car manufacturer is still fitting
non-DAB radios, in such a way that they can't even be replaced (IE built
into the facia).

It's usually possible to buy an adaptor plate for these built in radios to
allow a better aftermarket type to be fitted. And FWIW DAB (with the
correct aerial) is vastly superior to FM for mobile use.

Surely FM switch off must be way down the line, not just 2 years?
Will the old FM VHF spectrum then be sold off?

There's only some debate at the moment and the implications of switching
off AM and FM are vast - given the number of radios the average household
have.

--
*Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Doctor D wrote:
As to the point of it, it depends on who you ask. I have a DAB radio in
the kitchen so I can listen to Virgin Radio in stereo, but I prefer to
listen to my Technics FM tuner connected to a rooftop FM aerial.

I'd prefer a DAB tuner fed through a good Hi-Fi system to any 'kitchen
radio'. It's hardly a reasonable comparison. DAB will sound nasty with a
poor signal too anyway, as does FM.

--
*I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

As to the point of it, it depends on who you ask.
I have a DAB radio in the kitchen so I can listen to Virgin Radio in
stereo,
but I prefer to listen to my Technics FM tuner connected to a rooftop FM
aerial.

DAB is better for MW stations such as 5Live and talkSPORT!

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Adrian wrote:
My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years. Now
if that's the case, then that's an awful lot of radios going to the
scrap heap. Also, virtually every car manufacturer is still fitting
non-DAB radios, in such a way that they can't even be replaced (IE built
into the facia).

It's usually possible to buy an adaptor plate for these built in radios to
allow a better aftermarket type to be fitted. And FWIW DAB (with the
correct aerial) is vastly superior to FM for mobile use.


Some modern cars can not have aftermarket head units installed due to the
audio unit being too integrated with the cars' computer.

Surely FM switch off must be way down the line, not just 2 years?
Will the old FM VHF spectrum then be sold off?

There's only some debate at the moment and the implications of switching
off AM and FM are vast - given the number of radios the average household
have.

--
*Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
ABC wrote:
It's usually possible to buy an adaptor plate for these built in
radios to allow a better aftermarket type to be fitted. And FWIW DAB
(with the correct aerial) is vastly superior to FM for mobile use.


Some modern cars can not have aftermarket head units installed due to
the audio unit being too integrated with the cars' computer.

Maybe, but aftermarket makers will always find a way round.

--
*Xerox and Wurlitzer will merge to market reproductive organs.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Adrian" wrote in message
...
My father has just asked me what the point of DAB was. I was hard
pressed to give a convincing argument.

He seemed to think that FM would be switched off in just two years. Now
if that's the case, then that's an awful lot of radios going to the
scrap heap. Also, virtually every car manufacturer is still fitting
non-DAB radios, in such a way that they can't even be replaced (IE built
into the facia).

Surely FM switch off must be way down the line, not just 2 years?
Will the old FM VHF spectrum then be sold off?

Adrian

Despite DAB being available (sound quality aside), the signals for DAB are
much less reliable and by no means 'blanket coverage' So until this
improves, its pretty much a second choice in the car as far as signal is
concerned unless you are close to a DAB transmitter that gives you good
signals when mobile. FM on the otherhand, is very reliable, has much much
better coverage. The other thing to note about DAB vs FM in the car is that
when an FM signal becomes slightly weaker, you can switch to mono and still
enjoy good quality sound. When DAB becomes weaker it just breaks up and
becomes unuseable. DAB is never going to become a good replacement for VHF
FM Radio until the bitrates and signal coverage improve considerably.