Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) is more efficient, in terms of air space, such that a whole ?multiplex?, or ?ensemble?, of digital radio services occupies only the same space as a single, analogue radio station. The end result is superior quality, clear sound, and a wider range of radio stations, some exclusive to digital radio.



Key Features

As soon as you switch it on, a DAB radio locates, or ?acquires?, all the digital radio stations available in an area, and lists them, alphabetically, by name. You can then scroll through the list to find the radio station that you want to listen to, or select and store your favourite stations on ?preset? buttons, for future use. The BBC network, and Digital One, multiplexes currently provide some 20 national digital radio stations, between them, and access to many local and regional multiplexes, including hundreds more stations, so, whatever your taste in radio, you are unlikely to be lacking in choice.

Digital radio is also, technologically, more sophisticated than its analogue predecessor, allowing supplementary textual information ? which is displayed on a scrolling LCD (?Liquid Crystal Display?) screen on the front of a DAB radio receiver ? to be broadcast alongside audio data. This information may include, for example, the title of a music track, the name of an artiste, a competition telephone number, or the latest weather report.

Some, more advanced, DAB radios also include further additional functions, such as the ability to pause, or rewind, live radio broadcasting. This can be useful if your listening is interrupted for any reason. Do bear in mind, however, that, during these operations, data is continually stored in the internal memory buffer of the receiver, which may shorten the life of the batteries. Another possibility is recording radio broadcasts to a memory expansion card (an ?SD?, or ?Secure Digital? card, or similar), but bear in mind, too, that 1 minute of digital radio transmission, at the standard bit rate of 128 kbps, represents approximately 1 MB of storage space, when assessing your requirements for storage capacity. The Pure Evoke 3 Digital Radio, for example, features pause and rewind functions, and includes an SD memory card slot.

With regard to battery life, if portability is an issue, beware that DAB radio receivers ? because of the additional power required to decode digital transmissions, illuminate scrolling displays, etc. ? are more ?battery hungry? than analogue radio receivers. Many models have the option for rechargeable batteries, offering, perhaps, 15, or 20, hours of portable use on a single charge. The Pure Pocket DAB 1500 Digital Radio, for example, offers up to 24 hours playback on a single charge.

Conclusion

Digital radio provides a huge choice of radio stations, with coverage extending to 80%, and upwards of the UK, all of which can be listened to at near CD quality, and completely free from the interference often associated with traditional FM, and AM, radio transmissions. DAB radio receivers, themselves, are simplicity itself, in terms of use, with no configuration or specialist knowledge required, and offer a range of features and functionality that just is not possible with analogue radio.