Digital Radio Information

Digital radio was introduced in the UK by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1995. Digital Audio Broadcasting otherwise known as 'DAB' works on a higher frequency than FM radio.

Most major cities throughout the UK can receive the BBC's digital radio signals through the use of DAB radios, SKY TV, Cable and Freeview television.

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) offers interference free listing because unlike the other types of radio bandwidths such as FM, MW and LW signals are received by more than one transmitter. This means that the signal received is twice as strong as any other signal type.

85% of the population is covered and coverage is also in constant expansion bringing the digital age to more and more people throughout the UK.

There are currently over 50 Digital radio stations transmitting in Britain.

If you live in a basement or underground flat or your home is constructed from steel framed or reinforced concrete you may not be able to receive digital radio. If you live in a remote or rural area where you receive weak signal strength for your mobile phone or poor FM radio reception your DAB coverage may also be limited.

Common Digital Radio Questions

Digital Radio is a new technology which offers a great variety of entertainment. As with any new technology many questions are posed about its capabilities. The following are some common questions and answers which you may have considered about digital radio.

Which stations can I receive in my area?

The amount of radio stations you receive depends on the transmitter coverage in your area. Similar to FM radio, national and local stations are available with local stations transmitting to limited areas.

In addition to the existing FM or AM stations now broadcasting digital radio new stations are already being created. New stations are added constantly, supplying an ever expanding range of coverage to bring digital radio to those who previously couldn't access it.

Can I take my DAB radio abroad and still listen to the same stations?

Sorry, but DAB digital radio is a terrestrial technology, using land-based transmitters. You can only listen to stations when you are within their coverage range.

What is Multiplex?

A multiplex is a block of frequencies containing digital radio stations.

There is one national commercial multiplex owner (Digital 1) operating nine services.

The BBC has a separate national commercial multiplex for its stations. There are local multiplexes around the country, each broadcasting an average of seven services, plus the local BBC station, and there are several regional multiplexes covering a wider area and broadcasting up to 11 services each.