As part of the digital Britain report, it was proposed that national FM radio be switched off to free up bandwidth for DAB broadcasts. I believe that FM radio should be retained. I also believe that if we are to switch to a digital format, there are several formats which have considerable advantages over DAB.
I suggested to the last government that FM should be retained and DAB allowed to die. Their response was that DAB had to proceed since there were already a few million DAB sets in the UK. The fact that there are hundreds of millions of FM receivers in the UK seemed lost on them.
Why is this idea important?
As part of the digital Britain report, it was proposed that national FM radio be switched off to free up bandwidth for DAB broadcasts. I believe that FM radio should be retained. I also believe that if we are to switch to a digital format, there are several formats which have considerable advantages over DAB.
I suggested to the last government that FM should be retained and DAB allowed to die. Their response was that DAB had to proceed since there were already a few million DAB sets in the UK. The fact that there are hundreds of millions of FM receivers in the UK seemed lost on them.
Currently, the Parliamentary plan is to switch off the use of FM radio as a way of broadcasting for many radio stations by 2015, and I have to deeply oppose this. I agree that technological advancement and the digital switchover is necessary, but radio has to be an exclusion to this. Instead of FM, stations are going to be forced to broadcast on DAB, a technology which relies on the receiving ariel being in one place. In the home, this is acceptable, albeit an inconvinience. In cars however, this is by its very nature, impossible. Not only this, but currently, few but the most expensive of cars come equipped with DAB radios, and they are difficult to add. The Car being one of the main places that many people listen to the radio, advertising revenue would fall and many of our countries beloved radio stations would fall into losses, and eventually out of business.
This is a simply crackpot idea of the Labour government, and must not be allowed to go ahead.
Why is this idea important?
Currently, the Parliamentary plan is to switch off the use of FM radio as a way of broadcasting for many radio stations by 2015, and I have to deeply oppose this. I agree that technological advancement and the digital switchover is necessary, but radio has to be an exclusion to this. Instead of FM, stations are going to be forced to broadcast on DAB, a technology which relies on the receiving ariel being in one place. In the home, this is acceptable, albeit an inconvinience. In cars however, this is by its very nature, impossible. Not only this, but currently, few but the most expensive of cars come equipped with DAB radios, and they are difficult to add. The Car being one of the main places that many people listen to the radio, advertising revenue would fall and many of our countries beloved radio stations would fall into losses, and eventually out of business.
This is a simply crackpot idea of the Labour government, and must not be allowed to go ahead.
It is estimated that there will still be 20 million vehicles that will not have any form of DAB radio by 2015 and although the Culture Minster Ed Vaizey has put off the shutdown of the FM transmitters until at least 50% of listening is digital, and when national DAB coverage is comparable to FM. While locl DAB coverage must reach 90% of the population and all major roads.
This is all very fine in theory but total coverage of DAB signals will never match those of FM and there is still the problem of of tramsmitting traffic information – currently transmitted within the FM singnals of Classic FM.
There are now many thousans of vehicles now fitted with built in traffic information devices and many more portable GPS units that also rely on these signals!
I would suggest that 2020 might still be too early to swich entirely to digital radio for both car and home users.
the industry might require an early change, but the industry as a whole have been very slow to move on digita, especially the car industry.
Keep FM going as long as possible – the quaility is far better and the coverage and availability is far in excess of DAB – Nick Ward, Bedford
Why is this idea important?
It is estimated that there will still be 20 million vehicles that will not have any form of DAB radio by 2015 and although the Culture Minster Ed Vaizey has put off the shutdown of the FM transmitters until at least 50% of listening is digital, and when national DAB coverage is comparable to FM. While locl DAB coverage must reach 90% of the population and all major roads.
This is all very fine in theory but total coverage of DAB signals will never match those of FM and there is still the problem of of tramsmitting traffic information – currently transmitted within the FM singnals of Classic FM.
There are now many thousans of vehicles now fitted with built in traffic information devices and many more portable GPS units that also rely on these signals!
I would suggest that 2020 might still be too early to swich entirely to digital radio for both car and home users.
the industry might require an early change, but the industry as a whole have been very slow to move on digita, especially the car industry.
Keep FM going as long as possible – the quaility is far better and the coverage and availability is far in excess of DAB – Nick Ward, Bedford
I am a full time carer for my disabled wife and we often listen to our local radio station on FM especially when we are out and about.
Are you (The goverment) going to assist us and many more like us to upgrade all our radio equipment so that we can get the radio stations that we like listening too. I doubt this very much so I ask you to reconsider this plan, as upgrading all our TV's have cost us a lot and now the prospect of having to upgrade or change all the radios we have will just be crippling.
Why change things that don't need changing?
Why is this idea important?
I am a full time carer for my disabled wife and we often listen to our local radio station on FM especially when we are out and about.
Are you (The goverment) going to assist us and many more like us to upgrade all our radio equipment so that we can get the radio stations that we like listening too. I doubt this very much so I ask you to reconsider this plan, as upgrading all our TV's have cost us a lot and now the prospect of having to upgrade or change all the radios we have will just be crippling.
Scrap the idea now use the savings involved and seel off the DAB frequencies instead rather than the Fm that does function in most places of the Uk unlike DAB-( which does not work in this area)
Why is this idea important?
Scrap the idea now use the savings involved and seel off the DAB frequencies instead rather than the Fm that does function in most places of the Uk unlike DAB-( which does not work in this area)
The country is in a financial mess, which the people will have to pay for over many years. We all know this, and must accept it. It is unreasonable to force the ordinary people of this country, who are already having to pay for government mis-management, to spend money replacing perfectly good radios, when the only benefactors would be a few importers, and several far east manufacturers.
The choice MUST be left to the people, and market forces MUST be the deciding factor. If digital radio is the way forward, let the technology prove itself, and market forces sort it out, in a similar way to video or dvd recorders. It is getting harder to buy video players, as market forces and superior technology make dvd players/recorders more popular. Soor, VHS will die the death, but it will be by market forces, NOT government direction.
Why is this idea important?
The country is in a financial mess, which the people will have to pay for over many years. We all know this, and must accept it. It is unreasonable to force the ordinary people of this country, who are already having to pay for government mis-management, to spend money replacing perfectly good radios, when the only benefactors would be a few importers, and several far east manufacturers.
The choice MUST be left to the people, and market forces MUST be the deciding factor. If digital radio is the way forward, let the technology prove itself, and market forces sort it out, in a similar way to video or dvd recorders. It is getting harder to buy video players, as market forces and superior technology make dvd players/recorders more popular. Soor, VHS will die the death, but it will be by market forces, NOT government direction.
In common with probably millions of people all over the UK I would like to be able to retain the FM radio signal. Please review the plans for Digital Broadcasting; even when the take-up of digital radio increases in the population, please do not switch off the analogue FM signal. This would lead to horrendous waste and expense all over the country.
Why is this idea important?
In common with probably millions of people all over the UK I would like to be able to retain the FM radio signal. Please review the plans for Digital Broadcasting; even when the take-up of digital radio increases in the population, please do not switch off the analogue FM signal. This would lead to horrendous waste and expense all over the country.
It doesnt seem all that long ago we were all having to get used to FM frequencies for our favourite radio stations. Now we are (possibly) going to totally lose FM in favour of DAB. Why? I havnt seen any good write ups for it. In fact, it seems to me that its an excuse by government who may be looking to get more taxpayers money if they switch off FM and force people against their wills to get DAB. I cant afford it. My car is the only place I listen to a radio and I wont replace it in favour of DAB. I live in a rural location and I doubt very much if I could receive DAB.
I say keep FM and if anyone wants DAB, let them get it. Dont force it on the taxpayer. As the saying goes, if it aint broke etc!!
Why is this idea important?
It doesnt seem all that long ago we were all having to get used to FM frequencies for our favourite radio stations. Now we are (possibly) going to totally lose FM in favour of DAB. Why? I havnt seen any good write ups for it. In fact, it seems to me that its an excuse by government who may be looking to get more taxpayers money if they switch off FM and force people against their wills to get DAB. I cant afford it. My car is the only place I listen to a radio and I wont replace it in favour of DAB. I live in a rural location and I doubt very much if I could receive DAB.
I say keep FM and if anyone wants DAB, let them get it. Dont force it on the taxpayer. As the saying goes, if it aint broke etc!!
Since I was a child I have enjoyed listening to and exploring "steam" radio and do not see any point to changing things so that we will no longer be able to listen to the BBC and local radio unless we buy very expensive DAB radios.
I would be forced to only be able to listen to CD's in my car and would have to buy expensive equipment in order to listen on my hifi.
From my experience of TV the sound quality is much poorer than that obtainable on UHF/VHF frequency modulation broadcasts and nothing like as reliable as the broadcasts on MW/LW amplitude modulation broadcasts.
My crystal set would also cease working after 90 years.
I cannot see the point with radio so implore everyone to join a petition to save analogue radio, for all the frequency bands to go silent would be a disaster and a waste of the investment millions of people have put in when buying good, functional radios.
Why is this idea important?
Since I was a child I have enjoyed listening to and exploring "steam" radio and do not see any point to changing things so that we will no longer be able to listen to the BBC and local radio unless we buy very expensive DAB radios.
I would be forced to only be able to listen to CD's in my car and would have to buy expensive equipment in order to listen on my hifi.
From my experience of TV the sound quality is much poorer than that obtainable on UHF/VHF frequency modulation broadcasts and nothing like as reliable as the broadcasts on MW/LW amplitude modulation broadcasts.
My crystal set would also cease working after 90 years.
I cannot see the point with radio so implore everyone to join a petition to save analogue radio, for all the frequency bands to go silent would be a disaster and a waste of the investment millions of people have put in when buying good, functional radios.
why oh why, what ever next, is the goverment getting money from this dab stuff, do they know how many cars do not have dab radios in cars and the cost to US to change over from fm to dab, or is it that they earn so much money that they forget about avarage joe, i would love to meet the person that thinks all this up, i live in the REAL world…….. (for now)
Why is this idea important?
why oh why, what ever next, is the goverment getting money from this dab stuff, do they know how many cars do not have dab radios in cars and the cost to US to change over from fm to dab, or is it that they earn so much money that they forget about avarage joe, i would love to meet the person that thinks all this up, i live in the REAL world…….. (for now)
I recognise that Mr Vaizey has made some mildly encouraging noises recently but I wish to add my voice to the debate about the threatened shut down of the FM channels on the radio. The FM Channels MUST be maintained. My concerns fall into two areas:
1. Cost
2. Performance
1. I have 7 FM receivers about the house and one in the car. I would not afford to replace them with similar quality DAB devices so I would do without. As I listen only to BBC R3 & R4, there is no obvious net gain (to me) from switching to DAB, merely additional unnecessary expense.
2. Currently, DAB is not fit for purpose. I have only one DAB receiver (a portable) which I use when I am out walking the dog but it suffers from frequent "hiccups". I have approached the BBC in the past to ask if the DAB signal is poor in the Gosport area and they tell me all is fine. Well, it is not fine! DAB does not work properly. Even when reception strength is OK, the sound quality is as good on DAB as it is with FM.
Why is this idea important?
I recognise that Mr Vaizey has made some mildly encouraging noises recently but I wish to add my voice to the debate about the threatened shut down of the FM channels on the radio. The FM Channels MUST be maintained. My concerns fall into two areas:
1. Cost
2. Performance
1. I have 7 FM receivers about the house and one in the car. I would not afford to replace them with similar quality DAB devices so I would do without. As I listen only to BBC R3 & R4, there is no obvious net gain (to me) from switching to DAB, merely additional unnecessary expense.
2. Currently, DAB is not fit for purpose. I have only one DAB receiver (a portable) which I use when I am out walking the dog but it suffers from frequent "hiccups". I have approached the BBC in the past to ask if the DAB signal is poor in the Gosport area and they tell me all is fine. Well, it is not fine! DAB does not work properly. Even when reception strength is OK, the sound quality is as good on DAB as it is with FM.
The BBC (ex-Auntie) has invested heavily in this 30 year old technology and is going to be relied upon by the Government to determine when the majority of the listening public have switched over to DAB. Is the BBC to be trusted to provide an unbiased assessment in light of the investment? Living outside London and the south east (Northumberland) we are in the minority and our inability to be heard (sic), as is still the case with broadband connectivity, means that, when anaglogue is switched off, we will no longer be able to hear J Humphries et al. Yes, employ new technology for all the benefits its offers the licence payer, but to enforce the introduction of an out-dated DAB system and to shut down the analogue network that clearly is not yet 'broken', strikes me as being irresponsible. Are any other states introducing DAB at present, what else is available – there may even be a financial, but not necessarily face-saving, benefits!
Why is this idea important?
The BBC (ex-Auntie) has invested heavily in this 30 year old technology and is going to be relied upon by the Government to determine when the majority of the listening public have switched over to DAB. Is the BBC to be trusted to provide an unbiased assessment in light of the investment? Living outside London and the south east (Northumberland) we are in the minority and our inability to be heard (sic), as is still the case with broadband connectivity, means that, when anaglogue is switched off, we will no longer be able to hear J Humphries et al. Yes, employ new technology for all the benefits its offers the licence payer, but to enforce the introduction of an out-dated DAB system and to shut down the analogue network that clearly is not yet 'broken', strikes me as being irresponsible. Are any other states introducing DAB at present, what else is available – there may even be a financial, but not necessarily face-saving, benefits!
My memory is that when the idea of moving to digital radio was first mooted it was being ‘sold’ by the Government of the day on the basis of a better quality. Unfortunately that Government, with the then current mood being for diversity, quickly succumbed to the temptation to go for quantity rather than qualitySo however the good the original idea may have been it was immediately undermined.
As with television, there are out there in the world only a limited number of companies and organisations capable and willing to produce GOOD QUALITY programme. To artificially stretch demand can only dilute that talent and result in an ever increasing output of dross.
At a purely personal level as a pensioner I do not welcome the cost of having to replace all the radios in my house plus that in my car.
This seems to be for the sake of change, without there being any genuine underlying need or benefit. The present Government should have the courage to change as necessary any legislation that will remove the prospect of this unwelcome change.
Why is this idea important?
My memory is that when the idea of moving to digital radio was first mooted it was being ‘sold’ by the Government of the day on the basis of a better quality. Unfortunately that Government, with the then current mood being for diversity, quickly succumbed to the temptation to go for quantity rather than qualitySo however the good the original idea may have been it was immediately undermined.
As with television, there are out there in the world only a limited number of companies and organisations capable and willing to produce GOOD QUALITY programme. To artificially stretch demand can only dilute that talent and result in an ever increasing output of dross.
At a purely personal level as a pensioner I do not welcome the cost of having to replace all the radios in my house plus that in my car.
This seems to be for the sake of change, without there being any genuine underlying need or benefit. The present Government should have the courage to change as necessary any legislation that will remove the prospect of this unwelcome change.
Analogue/FM radio needs to be retained becuase it is a proven and effective form of broadcasting. Digital radio is unstable and provides poor quality sound over large tracts of the country. The retention of Analogue radio will ensure that millions of perfectly serviceabe radios continue to be used and not thrown away, almost certainly into landfill. The exchnge/refurbishment of analogue radios for the use of poor people is at best a smoke screen and at worst a lie becuse the system would not be able to deal with the millions of radios involved. Moreover, the majority of the "target people" would not be able to afford the batteries needed or have access to electricty to run the equipment. The Analogue/FM system provides accurate time checks whilst digital does not and never will do. Digital radio receivers uses more power than Analogue receivers and therefore the adoption of a digital radio system would be a retrograde step in the unversal quest for the efficent use of energy.
Why is this idea important?
Analogue/FM radio needs to be retained becuase it is a proven and effective form of broadcasting. Digital radio is unstable and provides poor quality sound over large tracts of the country. The retention of Analogue radio will ensure that millions of perfectly serviceabe radios continue to be used and not thrown away, almost certainly into landfill. The exchnge/refurbishment of analogue radios for the use of poor people is at best a smoke screen and at worst a lie becuse the system would not be able to deal with the millions of radios involved. Moreover, the majority of the "target people" would not be able to afford the batteries needed or have access to electricty to run the equipment. The Analogue/FM system provides accurate time checks whilst digital does not and never will do. Digital radio receivers uses more power than Analogue receivers and therefore the adoption of a digital radio system would be a retrograde step in the unversal quest for the efficent use of energy.
I foolishly bought a DAB radio 4 or 5 years ago. What a waste of £200 that was. Reception is appalling.
DAB is '80s technology, superceded in the '90s and overtaken by the internet in the noughties. It's an idea out of it's time and needs to be binned.
Look to the internet (mobile and fixed) and iPlayer for the future. Make appliances wifi compatible. Beef up the broadband and we could end up making and exporting internet compatible devices to the rest of the world.
Why is this idea important?
I foolishly bought a DAB radio 4 or 5 years ago. What a waste of £200 that was. Reception is appalling.
DAB is '80s technology, superceded in the '90s and overtaken by the internet in the noughties. It's an idea out of it's time and needs to be binned.
Look to the internet (mobile and fixed) and iPlayer for the future. Make appliances wifi compatible. Beef up the broadband and we could end up making and exporting internet compatible devices to the rest of the world.
FM/Analogue radio provides superb reception over the whole country whilst digital radio is unstable and has extremely poor quality and coverage.
Digital radio uses more power which will mean the requirement of more resources and therefore a retrograde step in the quest for energy efficiency. The change to digital radio would involve the scrapping of millions of perfectly serviceable analogue radios. The business of the exchange and so called refurbishment of analogue radios for the use of people in the third world is smoke screen. The system would not be able to handle the millions of radios involved and therefore millions of radios would end up in landfill. Furthermore, only a limited number of poor people would be able to afford the batteries needed or have access to electricity to run the radios. The era of accurate time checks would end.
Why is this idea important?
FM/Analogue radio provides superb reception over the whole country whilst digital radio is unstable and has extremely poor quality and coverage.
Digital radio uses more power which will mean the requirement of more resources and therefore a retrograde step in the quest for energy efficiency. The change to digital radio would involve the scrapping of millions of perfectly serviceable analogue radios. The business of the exchange and so called refurbishment of analogue radios for the use of people in the third world is smoke screen. The system would not be able to handle the millions of radios involved and therefore millions of radios would end up in landfill. Furthermore, only a limited number of poor people would be able to afford the batteries needed or have access to electricity to run the radios. The era of accurate time checks would end.
To force everyone to buy digital radios when we already have perfectly good analogue radios in our homes and in our cars is wasteful in terms of resources and the environment. The signal and sound quality is better on FM.
Why is this idea important?
To force everyone to buy digital radios when we already have perfectly good analogue radios in our homes and in our cars is wasteful in terms of resources and the environment. The signal and sound quality is better on FM.
We should all be grateful for scientific and technical progress , otherwise we should still be using crystal sets and winding up horned gramaphones. However the abolition of the FM radio services is a step too far. Purely on a personal level, this household owns 3 vehicles with analogue radios.On top of that there are some 29 radios in this house, from mini personal/ headphone jobs , stereo tuners , radio /cassette/C.D players/ TVs , , a radio telephone, 2 Freeplay and 4 other wind ups to a deliciously expensive Bose number and a several of small transistor radios of various types. If the Government makes compulsory the dumping of these radios, or even the seemingly worthy recycling for the 3rd World, the financial outlay for us here will be enormous.We have 1 digital radio only and it is rarely used.
Having reserched this, it seems that digital radios consume more electricity / battery power than standard ones, although there are energy saving models available. Most people , post 2015, will to SOME extent be sourcing cheap radios , probably made in China or the Far East .Can the economy of these models be guaranteed? I suspect that electricity/ battery consumption will rise.Not environmentally friendly. Why encourage the use of economy light bulbs only to have the effect counteracted by electricity guzzling radios?There is also the problem of poor reception in many areas.
The Conservative Party , now Government , is in favour of personal choice for the individual and encouragement of each and every one of us , to be self sufficient and non State reliant. It also wishes to leave behind the "nanny state" and interference of Socialism that we have to tolerate every few years when Labour are in power. DO NOT now decide that "Nanny knows best " and that each and every one of us be COMPELLED to dump millions of functioning radios for no particular reason, other than a commercial one.
Why is this idea important?
We should all be grateful for scientific and technical progress , otherwise we should still be using crystal sets and winding up horned gramaphones. However the abolition of the FM radio services is a step too far. Purely on a personal level, this household owns 3 vehicles with analogue radios.On top of that there are some 29 radios in this house, from mini personal/ headphone jobs , stereo tuners , radio /cassette/C.D players/ TVs , , a radio telephone, 2 Freeplay and 4 other wind ups to a deliciously expensive Bose number and a several of small transistor radios of various types. If the Government makes compulsory the dumping of these radios, or even the seemingly worthy recycling for the 3rd World, the financial outlay for us here will be enormous.We have 1 digital radio only and it is rarely used.
Having reserched this, it seems that digital radios consume more electricity / battery power than standard ones, although there are energy saving models available. Most people , post 2015, will to SOME extent be sourcing cheap radios , probably made in China or the Far East .Can the economy of these models be guaranteed? I suspect that electricity/ battery consumption will rise.Not environmentally friendly. Why encourage the use of economy light bulbs only to have the effect counteracted by electricity guzzling radios?There is also the problem of poor reception in many areas.
The Conservative Party , now Government , is in favour of personal choice for the individual and encouragement of each and every one of us , to be self sufficient and non State reliant. It also wishes to leave behind the "nanny state" and interference of Socialism that we have to tolerate every few years when Labour are in power. DO NOT now decide that "Nanny knows best " and that each and every one of us be COMPELLED to dump millions of functioning radios for no particular reason, other than a commercial one.
We should stop the idea of introducing digital radio immediately. I have one digital radio in my house, it doesn't work and I don't even live in a rural area. I have 4 FM/AM radios in my house plus another 2 in my and my wife's car. They all work perfectly and don't need repalcing. Why should anyone waste money repacing perfectly good radios with DAB radios that don't work any better and generally much worse.
Why is this idea important?
We should stop the idea of introducing digital radio immediately. I have one digital radio in my house, it doesn't work and I don't even live in a rural area. I have 4 FM/AM radios in my house plus another 2 in my and my wife's car. They all work perfectly and don't need repalcing. Why should anyone waste money repacing perfectly good radios with DAB radios that don't work any better and generally much worse.
The switch off of the analogue radio signal for national radio stations projected for 2015 should be scrapped indefinitely. The public should not be dictated to over this. I have not heard one good excuse for doing it. I have six radio sets including the one in my car, all of which work perfectly well and have done so for many years. They will still be around long after the digital muck is dead and buried. Anyone who is desperate to listen to digital radio can do so on their PC or Freevew box or via umpteen other methods already. I have heard that portable digital radios do not work properly especially in cars. This idea nearly cost Ben Bradshaw my vote and I am still very angry with him for introducing it.
Why is this idea important?
The switch off of the analogue radio signal for national radio stations projected for 2015 should be scrapped indefinitely. The public should not be dictated to over this. I have not heard one good excuse for doing it. I have six radio sets including the one in my car, all of which work perfectly well and have done so for many years. They will still be around long after the digital muck is dead and buried. Anyone who is desperate to listen to digital radio can do so on their PC or Freevew box or via umpteen other methods already. I have heard that portable digital radios do not work properly especially in cars. This idea nearly cost Ben Bradshaw my vote and I am still very angry with him for introducing it.