Buying A Digital Radio
|
By :
Sean Clark
Submitted
2007-07-19 16:22:14 |
Instead of a using a conventional, analogue sound wave, DAB employs purely digital transmission techniques, and a digital signal, which is decoded on reception, results in clear, interference-free sound, devoid of any of the hiss and crackle often associated with traditional AM, and FM radio broadcasts.
Key Features
A single digital radio “multiplex, or “ensemble” – the name given to the groups, or blocks, in which digital radio stations are broadcast, each of which contains multiple services – occupies only the same air pace as a single conventional FM station. This means that more digital radio stations are available, and with the national BBC network, and Digital One, multiplexes supplying coverage to 80%, and upwards, of the UK, a wide choice can be accessed by listeners throughout the country.
Digital radio – in addition to some radio stations which are available exclusively to digital listeners – offers a level of functionality that simply is not possible with traditional analogue radio. The efficiency of digital transmission means not only more radio stations, but the possibility of transmitting additional information to accompany a radio broadcast. This may take the form of textual information – such as the title of a programme, or piece of music, or news, or weather, updates – which is displayed on a small screen. This feature is known as “Radio Display System”, or “RDS”, for short. Some models include a feature known as “textSCAN”, which allows this textual information to be scrolled top and fro, or an “Electronic Programming Guide” (EPG), which provides details of upcoming broadcasts, typically for seven days, in advance. Some DAB radios also allow you to pause, or rewind, live radio broadcasting, or to record to a memory expansion card, or external recording device. The Roberts RD11 Digital Radio, for example, includes pause, rewind and recording features.
Other considerations include where, exactly, you intend to listen to a digital radio. Exclusively battery powered – employing either rechargeable batteries, or standard, typically AA, or AAA, disposable batteries – and mains powered models are available, or, for convenience, a combination of the two. Bear in mind that the cost of disposable batteries, although, at first glance, the cheaper option, can soon mount up. The Pure Oasis Digital Radio, for example, is a mains and battery model, offering up to 15 hours of portable use.
If you are a music lover, it is worth considering the quality of the loudspeaker(s) provided by a digital radio. A stereo model may prove adequate, but it may also be worth investigating whether or not external speakers can be attached, or, indeed, if there is a connection for, say, an MP3 player, music from which can then be reproduced by the radio speakers.
Conclusion
DAB radio offers a huge choice, and availability, of radio stations – not to mention clarity of sound far superior to that achievable by analogue means – and digital radios, themselves, are very easy to use, with no complicated configuration required. A digital radio will automatically locate all the radio stations available in any given area, with no need for manual tuning, or re-tuning, even if you are listening while travelling. |
Author Resource:-
Sean Clark is Head of eCommerce at Tribal UK.
Find a guide to buying digital radios at www.tribaluk.com - your home for quality electrical goods delivered FREE of charge to your door!
|
|
|
Article From eArticles |
Can't find what you're looking for? Try Google
Search!
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles :
|
|
|
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
